John W. Hill to Mary Scott Hill - September 30, 1861

New Orleans
Sept 30th 1861

Miss Scott Hill
Bastrop

Dear Sister
We arived in this City day before yesterday Safe and Sound. I Have travled over the City a good Eale. Have seen a great many New and Strange things I went to the Acadmey of Musick knight before last. Went to church twice yesterday heard two good Sirmons. There is to bee two hundred & fifty Northern Prisners here this morning on the Jackson Rale Road. There is a great many persons on the streets to witness there arival. We received orders last knight by Telegraph to go to Kentucky instead of Virginia We will leave here in the morning for Nasvile Tenesee [Nashville, Tennessee] where we will be mounted There is som dissatisfaction among some of the Companyes as to the change of our servise from Virginia to that of Kentucky There is four of the Comapnys that make up the Regment here. the fifthe Stubles (?) from La Grange Did not stop here though they stoped at the Grand Junction The other five Companys are on the Road

Bud McGuire1 got withe us at Houston and is still withe us He started from Home to join Robinsons Company of Infantry. Butt iff he can git a sadle and Six-Shooter I guess that he will stay withe our Company in the plase of Robert Ship2 [Shipp] Who was sick and we had to leave on the Road. His Brother Oliver was left behind with him He got here yesterday And reports Bob better but not able to travle I have nothing more to write that would interest you We are all well and getting along well. I would like for you to write to me But I do not know where to tell you to wright

My Love to all and axcept the same yourselfe.

Your Brother
John W. Hill

Footnotes:
1. Bud McGuire-Frank McGuire, who was a nephew of Mrs. Middleton Hill's. He was from Feyette County, Texas, and a member of Terry's Rangers.
2. Robert Ship - a neighbor of the Hills who owned a large plantation just across from the Hill's.

Goldman, Pauline S., ed., Letters from three Members of Terry's Texas Rangers, 1861-1865, Unpublished MA Thesis, University of Texas, 1930.