William Nicholson to his Aunt, April 27, 1862

W. Nicholson, Private in Co. D,

Texas Rangers.

Miss Mollie Nicholson,

Bastrop, Bastrop Co.,

Texas.

Rienzi, Mississippi,
April 27, 1862

Dear Sister—

I believe I will write you a letter today but whether it will reach home or not I cannot say. The Yankees may get it and read it and if they do I hope they will have the satisfaction of knowing that the paper was taken from their camps at Shiloh, from which they were whipped on the 6, 7, and 8 of this month. The news here is that the Yanks have taken Ft. Jackson below N. O. and will take N. O. if so we will be cut off from TExas, as the boys say, and we won't get any more letters. We receive very few letters now. My last were dated Mar. 25—some few have recd letters of the 10th April.

Our Reg. came to this place from Corinth two or three days ago in order to recruit our horses, forage is very scarce about Corinth and this place too. Our waggons went out after corn yesterday and came back today without any. I don't think our horses will improve much at that rate. We recd orders day before yesterday to cook rations for five days and be ready to move at any time. The infantry here recd the same orders. They however went on the cars to Corinth (distant from here 12 or 15 miles)—cause of the order. Breckinridge who is in command of our advance had a slight skirmish with the advance of the enemy. I do not konw the result of the skirmish. I think it indicates an advance of the enemy, but they can't do much until the earth dries. It is perfectly saturated with water. We dig holes close to our tents and find an abundance of water within 2 to 5 ft. of the surface. * * *

The Yanks came very near capturing one of the Rangers the other day. Dr. Bowling I believe was his name, he was sick somewhere near Decatur. The Yanks heard of him and started to the house, met a negro and asked if there was a soldier at his house. The negro told them there was not, but could show them a house where there were two or three soldiers. After giving the Yanks direction, he hurried back to his house and told Dr. B. the circumstance. The Dr. made arrangements for leaving as soon as possible and is now with the Reg. The Yanks were badly fooled that time as there were no soldiers at all at the house where they went.

The health of the Camp is still very good. Walter Caldwell was sick a few days but is now well.

From your Bro.

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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