William Nicholson to his Aunt - April 15, 1863

Dear Aunt:

My last letter home was written near Unionville or Saylersville, Tenn. about the first of this month. In my last I spoke of our being ordered to Lebanon. We went there but our stay was very short. When our Cavalry command arrived near L. a detachment of 500 men from Harrison's Brigade under Col. Ferrill were ordered to make a dash on the Nashville and Murfreesboro railroad. We arrived at a point on the road about 10 miles from Nashville and had just finished tearing up a portion of the track when a train bound for Nashville came in sight. It soon ran off the track and was immediately fired upon by part of our men who were secreted for that purpose. The part of our regiment that was along did not participate in the skirmish as they were held in reserve. Some few however ran down and brought away some of the booty which consisted of prisoners and the mail. Two ladies were on the cars. About 40 Yankees were killed and wounded, about 60 taken prisoners including 12 officers from the rank of Col. down to Lieut. Col. Buell a relation of Gen. Buell and several aides to Gen. Rosencrans were among the distinguished ones captured. Genl. Rosecran's pistol was captured - it was on the way to Nashville to be repaired. A considerable amount of Greenback (Yankee money) was captured. Some of the boys got as much as several thousand (green back) dollars. Gen. Wharton demanded all the money intending to use it in buying horses for the Brigade. About the same time as our raid on the railroad another party of our Cavalry attacked the cars the other side of Nashville on the opposite side of the Cumberland river. They succeeded in destroying the train with artillery. I was very much disappointed in not remaining in Lebanon as I failed to see those young ladies whom I got acquainted with last summer. I opened some 40 Yankees letters but did not get anything very valuable. We had considerable amusement reading the letters which were dated up to the 10th April, the day of the attack. I read the Louisville Journal of the 8th and I have seen Harper's Weekly of the 11th. It contained numerous engravings of the marriage of the Pri[n]ce of Wales etc. I had the pleasure today of receiving several letters from home, one was dated in Feb. I also received one shortly after we passed through Shelbyville on our way here. It was dated March 7th. Mr. Nolen received his first letter from home today. He was very glad to get it. You are having fine times in Bastrop with concert tableaux etc. I should like to attend some of them.I have a letter sent Dr. D. Dickinson. I have just inquired of Col. Smith of Morgan's command (he lives in Lexington) if he knew anything of the Dr. of Col. E. M. Morgan's regiment. He tells me that Col. Morgan was taken prisoner in Ky. and sent to Camp Chase. Col. M. did not succeed in raising his regiment - only part of it which was turned over to another command. I will send the letter to Ky. if the Dr. is not there some of his friends or relatives will be apt to get it. Tell Pa, George Zimbleman met with an accident yesterday he fell from the second story of a house and hurt himself seriously but not dangerously. I have not heard from Dick Burger lately. There are none of the company sick that I remember now. I do not know how long we will stay in this place. I hope we will attack another train. Morgan's (JHM) men say we have taken their legitimate business from them. No more at present.

Your affectionate Nephew,
Wm. Nicholson.

Source currently unknown, copy obtained from Paul Scott, p. 78-80.