The Civil War Letters of J. W. Rabb

Nashville, Tenn., Jan 4th/62

My Dear Mother,

I am again at Nashville at the house of Mr. Plummer's. I got here day before yesterday. I met with a warm reception from my friend Mr. Plummer & his Lady. When I left here and went up to camp the weather turned very wet & cold, and I took a severe cold with Rumatism in my back, and in a few days I was taken with the chills & fever which made my lims ake so I could hardly stand it. The Dr. gave me some medison, and Croft wated on me so good that I got better in a day or two, and the Dr. sent me down here. I am very week, and a little cold sets me rite back. Though I am now at my old mest and will get about again soon. I have a furlow to stay down here two weeks. Our Regiment is doing nothing now. We have moved camp from green river to this side of Bowlin Green where the horse & men are going to rest for some three weeks. There is some Tenn. cavelry gone up on Green river to watch the Yankeys while we rest. There is no fiting going on up there now. The Yankeys are quiet up there now and will be till we go up there and punch in there nest and make them mad again. I got two letters from Lissy while I was up on Green river, and I got two from Virge that had $15 in. The Winter up here so far has not been any coalder than it usually is in Texas, but I have got in such bad health that seems like I can't stand it at all. When I left Texas I wayed 150 lbs, and now I way 137". I have no news to rite you. We do not fear the Yankees in the least. That fight the boys had up on green river when I was down here before, Croft was in it. He killed one of old Abe solgers and took one prisnor. Smith White was at the fight but he did not pitch in to it. He did not shoot off his gun. When I told Croft what Lissy sayed that how she wished him and Virge was there for her to torment, he sayes he wished to the lord that he was there to see them all. Dont so you wish? Croft couldn't treat me any better if I was his own brother. He does ever thing for me he can.

Your son,
John W. Rabb

Direct your letters to Bowlin Green, Company "F." Texas Rangers  

Rabb, J. W., "We are Stern and Resolved: The Civil War Letters of John Wesley Rabb", ed. by Thomas W. Cutrer, The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 1987, pp. 185-226.

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