Robert Edward Hill to Mary Scott Hill - August 24, 1863

Hd. Quarters Texas Rangers
Camp Near Rome "Ga"
Augst. 24th (1863)

My Dear Sister

A few days ago I wrote to Uncle Tom & Aunt Scott by Charlie Caldwell and Brother John wrote to you and now that I have another opportunity of writing and sending by hand I know that you are all very anxious about us and we let no opportunity pass without writing. that maybe you may get some of them.

When I wrote to Uncle Tom Cousin Cap had been quite sick but is now in camp again he looks somewhat worsted but is gaining strength as fast as could be expected. the other boys of us are all well Mrs. Shipps boys [Oliver H. Shipp and Robert Briscoe Shipp] are both sick nothing serious I have the Fevers stopped on Bob and Maj is out at house close to camp is doing well will be able to be in camp again in a few days Hugh Allen has been sick ever since he arrived here In fact was sick before he reached us he is up though now but looks very bad. He took a notion to turn back in Missippi and gave a portion of the mail that he had with him to some one to mail and all the letters to me were lost or done something with I never received any Uncle Toms & Cousin Nish letters came safe to hand and all were read with eagerness Hugh is very sory that my letters were lost and so am I But I will not complain. I know that you all at home think of me and write whenever you think you can get a letter through

I do sincerely hope that Cousin Tom Anderson reached home safe & sound and gave you all relief from the distressing uncertainty of how he fared while in Vicksburg. He looked for Cousin Tom to visit us untill I received a letter from Cousin Billy Seay 81 stating that Tom had crossed the Missippi and had gone home I would like very much to be there with him and enjoy Home for a while once more, But such are the fates of war that we must remain yet in the Field.

Sister We have been in this camp for over one month resting and recruiting Our Horses and during the whole time we have had a protracted Meeting going on The Chaplain of Our Regt. with other Ministers of different denominations have labored by day and by night and their labors have been blessed by the Lord in that a good number of them have professed their sins forgiven I think about 40 a large number of back sliders have been reclaimed 50 and now there are a large number who are enquiring the way of Salvation 100-- and seem to be in earnest and yet strange to say there has been no what I would call Revival Sermons Preached But a general seriousness seems to have taken hold upon the Regt. and men have gone forward from convictions of duty there has never at any time been any excitement. But the work has gradually increased widened and deepened untill the entire Regt is more or less under the influence of the spirit of God. You can scarcely now hear any oath when too months ago nothing else was heard very little carrd playing and although they are making Peach Brandy all round us and the boys have free access to it you do not see any drinking nor no Rowdism any where

I believe that Our Regt stands Head and shoulders above any other in this dept. for Gallantry on the Field For our Good behavior while in camp and for Intelligence among the men--I am Proud of the Texas Rangers and I am glad that the People at home are Proud of us and I hope & trust in god that the day may soon come when this war shall be over and we all meet once again around our Fireside and Family altor with no Hated yankee to molest nor distubr us

In my letter to Uncle Tom I expressed my fears that Cousin Bobbie had been captured again by the Enemy He left us in Tennessee and went on a scout into Ky and was sent by the Officer in command of the Party to Reconnoire the Forces around Franklin Ky and Gallatin Ten and up to the time that I wrote to Uncle I had not heard from him I have since learned that Cousin Bob is safe and is with a party of our Regt and a portion of the 11th Texas who are up in Tennessee watching the movements of the Enemy and bushwhacking them every chance they can get

And now my Dear Sister the hour of Trial is coming for the South. The time that is to try the Patriotism of every mann--The Enemy are gathering their Hosts for a final crushing act(?), and we must meet them. You must not become discouraged at nothing which may happen. All shall work out right in the end Charleston may be taken Richmond "Va" may be evacuated Mobile may fall into the hands of the Enemy and still we are not conquored I believe that hte Lord of Hosts is pouring out his spirit upon our Armies for his own Good Purpose and I bleieve that when the Might shock of Armies meet again that the shout of Deliverance will go up from the Hearts of the People in these Southern States "Let not your hearts be troubled" "Ye Believe" in "God" believe also in his special Providence and that all things shall work together for good to those who love and serve him in spirit & in Truth here holding the Middle Ground may [we] have your prayers for our success and for our safety. and for a speedy return of peace to our distracted and Desolated land. then can we return to our loved homes--and receive the love and congratulations of our Friends at home and rest in peace.

Our Boys are in fine health Brother Tom Brother John Cousin Cap George Mcgehee Jim & Bud Mcguire are all in fine health and are out on the front consequently cannot write home and this must suffice for us all They all send their love to you and to all enquiring friends.

I received a letter from Cousin Betty Seay who lives in Griffin Ga She says that she had just received a letter from Cousin Tom he was in fine health and anxious for the yanks to keep on making their attacks She says that Cousin Tom was in fine Spirits and seemed perfectly confident that they could whip any number of the Yanks that they could bring against them The People of Ga. are helping us in every way that they can Cousin Betty 82 says that every evening in Griffin prayers are offered up for Our safety and especially for Genrl Whartons command

There is great Revival of Religeon going on in the infantry hundreds yes thousands have professed Religeon and the work is still going on Our Chaplain says that they cannot supply the Army with Bibles and hymn books and Religious tracts such is the Great demand. for them Do you think such men who are thus favored of God can be conquored. I tell you the History will soon hear the thunderings of Genl Lees Cannon answering No This revival has not yet extended to any of the Cavalry that I have heard of But still I do not think that there is as much wickedness in our Regt as there used to be at night it resembles more a camp meeting than it used to seated around the rfires you can see Groups of men singing sometimes sacred songs but most usually such songs as Anna Laure Lorena Bold Soldier Boy and Home sweet home The beginning of the end is drawing nigh How strange it would seem if this army should become a great christian army and the battles that are now going on around Vicksburg should be the Great battle of Armeggeddon that shall lift this Young nation at once to the Proud standard of Gods chosen people and we enter upon our Glorious cours, you will recollect that last December I then said I believed that the battles that would decide the present contest would be fought between Vicksburg & Jackson Well the Yanks did not go as I thought they would but evidently they have concentrated their whole force there and although they have succeeded for a time now they have been checkmated and the Game is about to wind up I do not believe that Genrl Grant can extricate himself from his position without heavy loss

And now Sister the first time you see Mrs Camp 83 tell her that her Brother in Va is in very bad health I was told that the physicians thought that he would never be able to walk again That her half Brother has not joined the Yankee Army and that her father wrote to Genrl. Morgan for Permission to come home. Genl Morgan granted the permission and his son went after him with two horses and the Yanks kept the old man his son and his two horses such is the Generosity of the Yanks and the old man is still with them but is anxious to get away from them

And now Sister I believe that I have told you all the news that I could think of and some was conjecture of my own with reference to the movements of our forces. You must tell Cousin Nish that Capt. Ben Tolliver is Dead he Died with Penumonia near Wartrace (?) about 6 weeks ago. his brother paid $5000 for a substitute and has gone home Tell Cousin Alice that I answered her letter as soon as I received her and I hope she will get it Tell her she must learn to play a piece for me if I ever live to get back home Give my love to all enquiring friends To Uncle Tom and to Aunt Scott to Cousin Nish and to Cousin Polly Let Uncle Wiley know that he is not forgotten by us in camp That Cousin Bob is well started day before yesterday into Ky with the scouts Tell the negroes all Howdy and tell them that we often think of them in camps Mrs. J G John & George Eblen and all enquiring friends who may ask after us present to them our kindest and most affect. regard. And now to Our best of Mothers and all the family who are at home we send much love to you all and ask an entrust in your supplication for our wellfare and safe return home

Your Brother
Bob

P. S. Tell Uncle Tom that Cousin Betty Seay says in her letter that she heard that Cousin Miles McGehee 84 had taken the Oath of Allegiance to the Lincoln Government to save his property Cousin Betty is very severe in her Denunciations of him and says that she loved him like a brother But she was very bitter upon such as would [take] the Oath to save a few darkies, and then perhaps loose them She says that Uncle Billy 85 and Aunt Emily were well a few days ago And that Aunt Ann 86 was still in Aberden was well that Cousin Georgia and Cousin Sue Blanton 87 were gone to Aunt Emily That Hencry E Williamson and Cousin Sue were well and all the relations in Ga. I met with a yong man in the 2nd Cavalry the other day who was acquainted with all of the kinds folks down about cousin Meriwether Hill and Cousin Wiley Hill in Ga he said they were all well and in good spirits and that crops were never more promising The Good Lord has smiled upon us in a bountiful harvest everywhere I can hear from the crops of Wheat and rye very fine indeed here corn here is very backward some of it not half leg heigh and very little that is waist high. though they have had fine rains and beautiful growing weather the reason that they are so late here the people did not know what to do on the falling back of Genl Bragg from Murfresboro They had no idea that we would hold this country and they did not prepare their lands untill confidence was established that we would igve them another fight before giving up the finest grain country in Tennessee the farmers are beginning to cut their wheat and rye now and the fields look very pretty but very few Oats raised on acct of scarcety of seed but what I have seen look very fine Grass & Clover lots very fine indeed and in fact I think the Yanks will have to give up the idea of starving us out and what plan they will fall on next to deceve the North remains for some Yankee Genius in inventing his to Develop My paper is about give out & I will close

Your Brother
B

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