Robert Edward Hill to Mary Scott Hill - January 12, 1863

Hd. Quarters Tex. Rangers.
Camp Near Shelbyville.
Jany. 12th. 1863

My Dear Sister.

I would have written to you sooner, but have been absent from any of our boys that you know and with some who were wounded in the fight which took place at Murfreesboro which you wil have heard of long before this reaches you Our Regiment was in that fight and we lost in kiled wounded & Missing about 70 men—Brother John is in the hands of the Enemy his horse was shot from under him and Capt Ferg Kyle tried to get Brother John up behind him but the Yanks were so close on him that Brother John told him to save himself and he would have to surrender Several of the regiment saw Brother John get back to the wagons of the Enemy & I fel very sure that he was not wounded unless they did it when he surrendered. if he is not wounded he will be exchanged very soon and will again be with us Our Brigade got into the rear of the Enemy and were destroying there wagon train and taking prisoners when sent a force back to attack us that was too much for us and we had to give back and in giving back after we had destroyed a good many of their wagons was when they got Brother John they also had me for nearly two days but I had no chance to see Brother John and, in fact did not know, that they had Brother untill I saw the Comp after the fight was over. We had several wounded and I stooped to dress their wounds and before I was through I was in the Yankee lines I got all our Reg. that was with me out but one You can tell Cousin Nish that Phil Mullen 58 was wounded in the leg (not broke) Wayne Hamilton 59 also both belonged to our Comp. they were the only ones wounded at Murfresboro (I forgot to mention K . K. Rector J. P. Billingsley & Dave Nunn 60 were both wounded before the fight at Murfreesboro and while we were fighting them from Nolensvile. Billingsley was wounded on Christmas day they were both doing well the last time I saw them both able to ride on horseback Cousin Cap Bob Hill Brother Tom Cousin Gim & Frank Mcguire Cousin George Mcgehee are all doing very well—and safe thus far. have we not reason to be grateful to Our heavenly Father for his protection & merciful kindness in our preservation while so many have fallen on sides. The fight at Murfresboro is one of the hardest fought Battles and I suppose the heaviest loss on each side since this war began I have heard that our loss was between 7 & 8000 killed & wounded. the Yanks admit a loss oso says Genrl. Cheatham of 25,000. We took some where near 7000 prisoners and had their army as I thought completely whipped on Wednesday and I believe now if Genrl. Bragg had crowded the center & left wing as we did on the left we would have had a complete rout. We drove their right wing at least 3 miles strewing the woods with dead & wounded Yankees But from some cause I know not what, our left wing was stopped and the fight was kept up with cannon untill after dark. The next day the Armies lay in front of each other manuvering and nothing done except skirmishing So passed Thursday on Friday the same thing untill about 3 oclk. P. M. when General Breckinridg pushed his column on and drove the Enemy about a mile when they rallied their forces and retook the ground over which Breckenridge had driven them We all expected that Saturday would open the ball anew but to our surprise nothing of the kind took place and Saturday night our forces were withdrawn from the field that they had held in front of a force stated to be greatly their superior in number—We buried our dead and brought off our wounded and are now here. What will be done next I am not able to say. The Enemy occupy Murfresboro and have their pickets out five miles this side and our Reg as usual right in their face This place Shelbyvill is 25 miles from Murfresboro if the Enemy are not satisfied with our acquaintance at Murfresboro and follow us up I expect we will give them another turn here It will be some time before he can move as we destroyed his wagon train or at least between 4 & 500 wagons and all the mules to the wagons and supplies in the wagons. he will have to refit before he can try again—I hardly think he will follow us. You can tell Cousin Nish that Paul Jim Watkins 61 is also a prisoner. He was left at a Yankee Hospital to see that the surgeons were not interfered with by order of General Wharton and when our forces cavalry fell back Jim was left and the Yanks got One of the Surg said to our boys that he knew me at Perryvill Ky. and that he would see that Paul, Jim & Brother John should went for nothing I made the acquaintance of some of the Yankee Surg. in Ky that were very clever and perfect Gentlemen and by Genl Wharton having them treated kindly while he had them they may take notice & see that Brother John & Paul Jim are properly treated and furnish them with whatever they may need—at least I hope so.

Sam Fredberger 62 was wounded on the day before the fight by our own infantry Sam acted hastily and was very much in the wrong or he would not have been shot. Genl. Wharton was sent out on Tuesday to find out their position and was told that the Enemy were flanking him on the left so he extended his lines and sent back word to Liut. General Polk who sent a brigade of infantry and a battery of Artillery to protect a road Sam was sent out on the left and came upon our infantry skirmishers and they ordered him to halt when he as soon as he saw them supposed they were Yankees and drew his pistol and fired hitting him in two places a flesh wound in the side a very serious wound in the hip I saw him on the side a very serious wound in the hip I saw him on Friday 4 days after the wound I very much fear that he will die as he had Erysipelas. I left him in Murfresboro. K. K. Rector was wounded through the arm and was put in an ambulance and the boys were not able to bring him off so the Enemy has got him. Bob Ship has been missing ever since the 26th We suppose the Enemy has got him & Joe Ford 63—as they were together the last that was seen of them

We have had a good deal of rain putting the streams all up which I suppose was the reason of our backward movement as our Battle line extended diagonally across Stone River there at Murfresboro, a part of our force were on one side and a part on the other and to have drawn them all on this side would have to place us this side of Murfresboro 5 miles and there the Duck River at this place would still be in our rear and I suppose Genrl. Bragg deemed it prudent to get on Duck River.

I cannot but yet think that the fight is to end this war will be fought in Missip—and the next fight that will be made will be in Missippi if one is not already begun there

I do hope that this war will cease this next spring and that we may weather the storm and our bark ride safely out and all meet again around our fireside when we can enjoy each others society without the fear of Yanks or any one else to trouble us

And now My Dear Sister I know not hardly how to express myself or how to give consolation to our Dear Mother When sitting around the Camp fire I miss Brother John and no longer hear his cheerfull voice for he was nearly always trying to sing some song or had so much to say I miss him so much yet I feel sure that he was not wounded nad thankful to our heavenly Father that he was not killed and is only a prisoner. Yet, I know, from Brother John's nautre that it is almost death with him to be a prisoner and in their hand and I hope that it will not be long before he is exchanged nd will be again with us. You must try and bear it with as much fortitude as y ou can summons to your support—and trusting to Our Heavenly Father to take care of him while he is in hte hands of the Enemy

Tell Sister Sallie that Brother Tom was absent when I received her last letter to him & I broke it open & read it and have not seen him untill too day to have any chance to talk with him and I gave him her letter to read and he says that he has just closed one to her and as to moving home she must do as she thinks best as he is here and she away there she must act as she thinks best for the future—

January the 13th. We have just moved our camp. We are now camped with the Wagon train between Murfresboro & Shelbyvill some 21 1/2 miles from Shelbyvill I expect that our regiment will come to the wagons and do as we did at Nolensvill one half of the Regiment do duty at a time The Enemy are still at & just this side of Murfresboro have thrown up & made breastworks to protect themselves from our cavalry—We have just heard of the recapture of Galveston & We feel proud of Texas & the Texas troops Our Regiment & the brigade of Texas Under Genl Ector did the hardest fighting that was done at Murfreesboro & we took as many prisoners as the rest of the Entire army. All Honor to Texas.

And Now My Dear Sister you must continue to ask our Heavenly Father to continue his blessing and protection over us that he may save us from the hands of the Enemy & return us safely at home

Give my love to All enquiring friends and accept a large share for yourself. Crockett says tell them all howdy for him and to Liza 64 that he does not intend for the Yanks to get him as he wants to get back to see her he thinks of her every day and dreams of her at night

My love to all—Say to Aunt Scott that Cap is a good Boy—

Bob

Footnotes:
58. Phil Mullen was from Burleson County.
59. Wayne Hamilton was from Travis County.
60. K. K. Rector, J. P. Billingsley and Dave Nunn were all from Bastrop County.
61. Paul Jim Watkins was from Hayes County. He was wounded at Greensborough, Georgia in 1864.
62. Sam Fredberger was from Bastrop County.
63. Joe Ford was from Bastrop County.
64. Liza was a slave owned by the Hills.

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

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