John Hill to Mary Scott Hill - December 19, 1861

Miss. M. S. Hill
Bastrop

Dear Sister
Yours and Bro James letter of the first of this month came to hand yesterday I was very glad to hear that you are all well. When I wrote my last letter to Bro Thomas we were about leaving on a scout Since that time we have bin traveling nearly all the time for the first week we spent in taking Horses Beef Cattle Hogs and Every thing that we could use to and advantage from the Union men in this country. On last Sunday we went up to Woodsvill a town on Green River where the Enemy has a large forse on the other side We found a lot of the Enemys Picket on this side of the River We pitched into them and wounded two and took one other prisnor and run the others into town where they had a large forse. On last Tuesday Col Terry withe Eight parts of Companys for there is yet a great many sick withe about Eleven hundred of Genl Hindmans infantry. Went up to the same plas withe the intention of trying to drive them back across the River. This is the place that Louisvill [Louisville] and Nashville [Nashville] Raid Road crosses Green River When they arived at Rowlets [Rowletts] Station one and half miles from town they come in sight of the enemy They were dranw up in line of Batle on a hill in a thick woods on bothes sides of the Road Instead of bringing on the atack withe the infantry and driving them off of the hill into and open field. Capt Ferril & Holt was plaised on the Right while Terry and the other comapnys on the left. The order was given to charge and Sutch a charge I do not Supose was ever mad before. Four or five hundred cavalry charging Some Say two Som more Regments of infantry where they had trees fences and Ditches long the Rail Road to feel behind But they pourd the shot and Six Shooter balls into them. While they gave back the miney Ball which come like bees. But they drove them back and when they got them into the field they gave it to them heavy. Col Terry10 was killed in the first of the charge There was two killed out of our Company Frank Lofton11 and Gov Bell that lived over the River at Mr Nunns. We had four wounded A young man Lue Giles12 the Dr do not think will live. Another young man by the name of Giles was wounded Slightly John Henry13 Slightly Sam Friedbarger14 broke his Collar Bone by the falling of his horse when he the Horse was shot Capt Walker lost one man His 1st Leut was badley wounded One other shot through bothe armes but not dangerous There was one [or] two slightly wound in Wharttons company. There was a good many horses killed There was but few of the Infantrey that were in the action After they the Enemy were driven back across the field Our Regiment was ordered back to give the Artilery a chance We had four Brass pieces. They gave it to them till they begun to recive reinforcements in large numbers and Genl Hindman gave orders for us to fall back. Now as to myself a few dayes ago I was apointed fourth Sargant by Capt Feril. On Tuesday there was a Sargant required from our Company to tak charge of the waggon Gard So you see that I was not withe [the] company in the fight. But was off some three or four hundred yards I cant describe my feelings when I saw the Enemy and Saw our Boyes charging them. Then here come one of Walkers men withe a young man behind him wounded through bothe armes. Then the news that Col Terry had fallen the Infantry running to and from the waggons And the Gard begging for Gods Sak to let them go. But like the Sailor Boy I was dertimed not to desirt my post. Though I would have given my all to have bin withe my Company They took the Waggons along Expecting to drive them across the river But they had two many on this sid[e] so we had to fall back to this place which is Eight miles from the River There is about four thousand troops here and we are looking for reinforcements Bob. Hill15 and Bro Bob was in the fight Cap16 did not come withe us he had some biles and could not ride I heard from him yesterday he was gitting better. Dick Roiston healthe is bad I heard a few dayes ago that he had aplied for a Discharge Charly Morgan17 has got a discharge and left us yesterday for home. He is going to take Johns18 Remains withe him. Col Terreys [Terry's] Remaines were taken home. The Enemeys loss is Estimated at from fifty to one hundred and twenty five. We are camped in Six miles of Mamouth Cave you must Excuse this for I have to use my catreag Box for a writing desk you must give my kindest regards to all the neighbors you all give it to me for not writing last week is the first week that I have missed in a long while I have writen Sister Mat T. I. Brooks19 Bro, Tom, Jim20 you Sister Sarah and all the rest. We have bin having the finest weather I ever Saw. dayes are warme and pleasant while the knights are cold. Write Soon and a heap of it to you & Jim did not fill two pages But I shal not grumble iff it is only a line you all must not wait for me to wright for I will eavry chance

Your Brother
John. W. Hill

Direct letters to Bowling Green Ky [Kentucky]

Footnotes:
10. Colonel Terry was the organizer of the regiment.
11. Frank Lofton and Gov. Bell were from Bastrop. They lived at Mrs. Nunn's, who had a farm a short distance from the Hill home.
12. Lue Giles was from Travis County.
13. John Henry was from Travis County.
14. Sam Friedbarger was from Bastrop.
15. Bob Hill was a son of Wylie Hill, who was one of the founders of Hill's Prairie.
16. Cap was D. O. Hill.
17. Charley Morgan was from Bastrop, Texas.
18. John was John Morgan, a brother of Charley.
19. T. Brooks was the husband of Martha Hill, who was a sister of the writer of this letter.
20. A reference to his brothers and sisters.

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