John W. Hill to Mary Scott Hill - April 17, 1862

Miss M S Hill
Bastrop

Dear Sister
It has only bin a few dayes sinse I wrote to you But as it is the last chance that I may have in some time and as Capt Moring from our Company is going to Texas. We are now ordered to be ready to leave here day after tomorrow All the cavalry is under one Brigadier-General and it is said that we are going back to Tennesse. I do not know for what purpose We are not going to take any wagons withe us nothing but pack mules. Brother Tom and Company got to this place day Before yesterday Bro Tom Geo. McGehee Sam Watkins36 joined this Company for the war All the rest of the Company Joined a three months Company that has joined the Regment latley. Wm. Hunt has not joined any Company Brother Bob has got back from Aburdean he looks a great eal better but is not well yet He is going back down there tomorow and stay till he gits well he reported all well down there when he come up Capt Ferrill is quite Sick and is going down with Bro Bob Lieut Burdett has resined and is going home there has ben two discharges since we got to this place from our Company F T Bots from Travis Co King Stuard from Burlesin Co James McGuire took Frank down to his uncles about twenty miles below Grand Junction I have not heard a word from them sinse they left I am afraid that Frank is very sick as Jim only intended to stay a few dayes. Cap was very glad when Dick37 told him that Aunty38 had sent him a Negro to Cook he does very well for a new hand Scott you will see more in the papers about the fight here than I could write to you in a week The news came a few dayes ago that Fort Pilow had fallen But the papers of 16th from Memphis did not say any thing about it Bro Tom and Company had a pleasant trip of it Dick Royston is gone down in Miss withe his Bro-in-law Mr. Pruit to get a horse he has not bin Sworne in yett Scott you must excuse all mistakes and write soon My Love to all and axcept the same for yourselfe

Your Bro
John. W. Hill

I wrote to Sister Sarah Some time sinse has she received the letter All the boyes join me in love to you all

Footnotes:
36. Sam Watkins was from San Marcos.
37. Dick--Dick Roiston who had been home on a leave.
38. Aunty was Mr. T. B. J. Hill, the mother of "Cap."

Goldman, Pauline S., ed., Letters from three Members of Terry's Texas Rangers, 1861-1865, Unpublished MA Thesis, University of Texas, 1930.