William Nicholson to Miss Mollie Nicholson, March 29, 1862

Miss Mollie Nicholson,
Bastrop, Bastrop Co., Texas.

Corinth, Miss., Mar. 29, 1862.

Dear Sister—

My last letter home was written in Decatur. I have rec'd no letter since I left there. Mr. C. Harris came here day before yesterday. He lost all those things Aunt sent me, except the hat which fits me exactly. He is not certain whether he had a letter for me or not. He brought several letters for the boys. Of later date than any heretofore rec'd.

Before I left Decatur I went about a mile from camp to get some bread baked (as our wagons and cooking utensils had not caught up. We had to make up dough on an oil cloth and twist it around sticks to cook it.) When the lady had cooked my bread she said she would have to charge me a very high price, but it would be on a credit. Of course I wished to know what it was. She told me she wanted me to bring her a "Yankee Colonel" to swap for her husband who is a prisoner in the North. The lady is the wife of Col. Gregg from Texas, who was taken at Donelson. She is staying with her father. After leaving Decatur we came through Tuscumbia and Courtland, Ala., then through Iuka, Miss. Sid Olive came to see us. He is in the 12th Tenn. Reg. He was at the Battle of Belmont. Our Reg. has rec'd quite a number of recruits from Texas, and we expect more shortly.

You are no doubt looking with considerable anxiety towards this place. Whether a fight will come off here or not I am unable to say but one thing I do know, the number of men at B. G. was hardly nothing to what it is here. There are one hundred and twenty regiments around this place. Gen. Beauregard is now in the place of A. Sidney Johnston, so it is reported. Capt. Morgan took part of his squadron (40 men) to Gallatin about the 17th this month, and destroyed a Yankee train (cars) and took some prisoners. He is doing more service to the Confederate States than any other man I believe. I think I would rather belong to his squadron than to the Texas Rangers—Since Terry's death—Dave Terry arrived here the other day from home. S. I. Bryan, who went to school to Col. Allen, is among the recruits already here. We are looking for quite a number from Bastrop. * * *

Give my love to all.

From your Brother,

W. Nicholson.

Jones, Margaret Belle, ed. Bastrop; a compilation of material relating to the history of the town of Bastrop, with letters written by Terry Rangers. Bastrop: NP. 1936.

 

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