Robert Edward Hill to Mary Scott Hill - March 5, 1863

[March 5, 1863]

[My Dear Sister]

March the 5th My Dear Sister since I began this letter we have moved camps twice and I have been compelled to begin again We are now some 50 miles from where we were when I began this We are now guarding the right wing of Our Army where we have been before this on the left why the change I do not know unless it is that at Peryvill Ky Our Regt was on the left and then was where the hardest fighting took place At. Murfreesboro we were on the left. and then the hardest fighting and the most complete victory was and now that we are looking for Rosencrans to advance to Tullohoma they put us on the right wing to make the fight with the right wing of our army but I can not tell you when the fight will come off if we have another fight here at all the Yanks are now engaged in Digging and fortifying Murfresboro and Franklin & other points and whether they will advance on us yet remains to be seen though I am under the impression that they will One thing is very certain to my mind they have either now got to advance on us and drive us before them or else they must soon end this war they cannot afford to keep the men in the Field that they have and remain idle they must whip us to end this war as they want it ended or else they must and it as we want to end it They have passed a general Conscript set in the North at the hour of Midnight when they had it their own way and they say that it will give them 800,000 more men to crush out the rebellion But I do not believe that they will dare to attempt to enforce the conscript act. the North Western States say that they will not stand it nor will they furnish another man to cary on the war. two months will tell how things are going to be or at least this Springs Campaign will tell whether the war will end this year or whether it will continue as long as Able Lincoln keeps the Presidential chair

March The 5th 1863 Now My Dear Sister Scott I suppose that I have written to you enough of the movements of Our army now of Our boys. Our Regt is on Outpost duty that is they are on picket and are not in camp where they have a chance to write & I come from them this morning in order that I might write to you for them all Brother Tom is very well and is very well supplied with what is needed for his comfort Cousin Cap is as jolly as any one you ever saw fat as a little berkshire pig and ready for anythign may turn up. Frank Mcguire is in fine health and as good a soldier as ever answered at roll call Cousin Jim Mcguire is also in good health George Mcgehee is also in fine health and good spirits all ready to do duty and willing as they are now all on Picket duty Cousin Bob Hill quit Our Company tu join A Spy Comp. that was made up of one man from every Comp of the Brigade and commanded by F G. Gordon of Comp "A" who was promoted to Capt for Gallant conduct, and on last Sunday which was the first Cousin Bob, and one other man was detailed to get bread for the comp. and while they were out teh Yanks came on to them and captured them So that Cousin Bob Hill is also a prisoner He was in fine health I received a letter from Gus 66 to Bob which I broke open and read it was dated the 26th Jan—I regret to learn that Uncle Wileys 67 health is so bad.

I just now saw one of Our Regt who talked to the man at whose house Cousin Bob was Captured he was not hurt was eating his dinner when the Yankes came onto him I wish you would let Uncle Wiley know as soon as possible. I tried to keep Bob, from joining the Comp but he thought it was a good chance to distinguish himself and joined I hope that Bob will meet Brother John I have not heard from John since I last wrote I am very much afraid that Our prisoners are suffering very much it has been so very cold and the Yanks take every thing in the way of blankets from Our men as well as their money and for that reason I very much fear that Our men who are in the hands of the enemy are suffering

Now Sister You must write ot me and tell me all the news everything that is done and something about every one You have not said one word of Miss Mid 68 in any of your last letters what is the matter have you & her had any falling out if so I am very sorry I hoep you and her are still as friendly as ever.

Did you go to the Concert at Houston given to the Rangers I see it advertised in the papers I hope you did and enjoyed yourself very much

Give my love to all enquiring friends and especially to Uncle Tom & Aunt Scotty also to Cousin Nish & Polly and to Miss Ruth 69 Should you see her again I have written to her twice Tell Sister Sallie to write to me and give her my love Brother Tom last wrote to her a few days ago. He received her letter some time since that she last wrote and was very proud indeed Scott you must tell Cousin Alice to write to me I enver was as glad to get a letter in my life as when I received here Tell Aunt Scott that I have ben away from home nearly two years and would like to get a letter from her Sister Mat has never written to me either she has written to Brother John but not to me or Tom either though I am not complaining nor must they complain at me for I write whenever I get a chance I am now writing while it is snowing and very disagreeable indeed my hands are so very cold that I can scarecely hold on to my pen and form my letters Sister when you see any of Mrs Shipps Family give them my regards and say to them that Maj is in fine health and that he has not heard from Bob Shipp yet. Maj lets me read all the letters that he gets from his Mother and she writes a splendid letter.

Give my love to all enquiring friends and give Miss Mid when you see her a kiss for me and ask her if she can return it.

Tell all the negroes howdy

Your Brother
Bob

Footnotes:
66. Gus was Gus Hill, a son of Whiley Hill, and a brother of Bob Hill.
67. Uncle Wiley was Wiley Hill, who came to Texas with Middleton Hill. He lived in Hill's Prairie.
68. Miss Mid was Middie Hart, who has been mentioned before.
69. Miss Ruth was Miss Ruth Ebelin who lived in Bastrop, not far from 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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