The Civil War Letters of J. W. Rabb

Near Trenton, Geo., July 7th/63

Mr. V. S. Rabb

Dear Bro.,

I res a letter from you about two weeks ago dated 27th of May. You was at Sreavesport. I was glad to hear that you had been home, but sorry that you had to return so soon. You talk like you thought that if you was here you could get us both leave to go home. Well, I do not think that you could come. It is so far from here to Texas and then there. Texas has to much for this Reg. to do to let aney of them go home. They say that the Texas Rangers are the best cav in this service. You will see from the papers that our army has fell back from Shelbville. Our army is now about Knoxville & Chatinooga. We had several skirmising fights as we fell back. The last fight that our reg had was on the 4th of July. Our reg. was on picket on top of Cumberland Mountain when three Reg. of mounted infantry came up our way. We had a rite sharp little fight. A part of our Reg. charged them, not knowing how many Yankys they ware. We had to fall back at last to our Brigade, and then we made the Yankeys leave. We lost one man killed and a good many wounded, & we lost several horses. Co. "F" had one man wounded & one horse killed and several wounded. It looked strange to me how I came out unhurt. We killed one Yankey Col. & eight privates & wounded a good many. It has rained on us ever day for the last two weeks. I have not been dry during the time. I am in good health. We have good news from Va. Gen. Lee is in Mayerland & he is doing as he likes. I do not know whare you are. I will send this some whare in La.

[J. W. Rabb]

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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