T. A. Hill to J. W. F. Hill - May 19, 1862

J W F Hill

Dear Cousin

You cant form no Idear of the relief your letter gave me. It is the first time I have heard from any of you since the fight of Shighlo [Shiloh] All is still quiet at this place Rumor states that we will leave here in a fiew days fer the interior of Ky led by Major General E Kirb Smith with twenty thousand (20,000) troops how true I dont know. Would not be surprized if it was so. A light Battery of eight guns arrived here yesterday & an immense amount of comissary stores are being collected here and the roads betwen here and the "R.R." fixed for the transportation of Artillery and Wagon trains. I received a letter from Georgia a few days since all were well and the prospect for a heavy crop was never more flattering. John tell Cap to take care of his Money and not spend it foolishly. That I have plenty as long as it lasts and when it gives out I will manage to get more by some means. John to give you some Idear of how things sell here I will give you the price of a few articles chickens from $1.00 to $1.50. Turkey $2.00 Eggs 50 cts. Dryed fruit $3.00 per bushel Butter 75 cts & So you see that it costs something for me to live here The last letter I got from home was before Uncle Nish started consequently nothing later than you have heard. John write to me frequently I will pay all postage. I believe you are the only one of my kin belonging to the rangers that will condecend so much as to write to me. Tell all of my friends howdy

Your Cousin
T. A. Hill

P S Direct to Cumberland Gap

Goldman, Pauline S., ed., Letters from three Members of Terry's Texas Rangers, 1861-1865, Unpublished MA Thesis, University of Texas, 1930.