Robert Edward Hill to James H. Hill - February 23, 1862

My Dear Brother

You will not doubt be glad to hear that I am safe in the grand retreat from bowling Green We began to retreat from Green River on Sunday the 16th and fell back to bowling Green & found that the army had evacuated the place and on friday the yanks made their appearance and began to throw shell into the town without giving the citizens any warning the only damage done was the killing of one woman as I have since learned. We left Bowling Green on Friday evening about sundown and arrived at Nashville on Sunday night about 2 oclock & then fell back to this place - It would be useless for me to write you concerning the fight at Fort Donnelson as the telegraph and papers will have given you all that we can learn here A few of Creggs Regt have made their escape and are in our camp George Dechard 35 had a brother wounded in the fight he was left in Nashvill Where we will go from here I do not know but suppose to Decater Alabama or Chattanooga I will let you know as soon as we make our stand. Our Regiment was sent down between Nashvill & Donnelson to hunt up those that were making there escape and bring up the wagons and artillery that were left behind They have had a hard time no tents nothing to eat except what they can get by chance & raining all the time I am looking for them in to night I fear several of them will be sick from being so much exposed We have none of us received a line from any of you since the 10th of January I mean that the 10th is the latest news. I have written Nish a long letter & one to Uncle Tom and one to sister Mary since I have received any it is possible that some of the letters may have been lost. in the confusion of things Feb. 24th. Our boys have just come in all well John Cap Bob & bud McGuire the Yankes are in Nashville I reckon Give my love to all enquiring friends & as soon as we get quartered again I will write you Particulars

Bob

Footnotes:
35. George Decherd was from Bastrop County. He was a first sergeant in Company D of the Terry Rangers.

Goldman, Pauline S., ed., Letters from three Members of Terry's Texas Rangers, 1861-1865, Unpublished MA Thesis, University of Texas, 1930.