Edward H. Ross to Eli Graham - November 3, 1861

Dear Friend

I can sa to you that I am well one time more for which I am very
thanfull to the great give of all good and the persearver of all lives
I hope when you get these lines that they may find you and family in
the like enjoyment
I have writen a letter to Ann that you will see giving all the niews
if it be niews at all but it is Sonday and a leasure time with me and
I thought to give you a fiew yourns
we havent had no fight yet
the excitement is dieng away and I think if we get a fight we will
have to attact ourselves
our arma is mostly hear at Bowling Green yet
it seems that the Baren river is the line between the 2 armayes
our couts goes to the river and therescouts comes to the river on
the other side
I guess 2 weeks ago we thought that they would be on us every day but
I have given them out coming at all but still I cant tell the intention
of the movement of our arma
I cant tell anything about
I think that they arat least that has been the talk that they aimes
to winter in Lousville [Louisville]
the place that [unreadable] has now in percesion
there is hear in camp about 75 men 350 men gon out on a scout and the
balance of a thousand are in the hospital in diferent places
some in Nasvill [Nashville] some here and some at prvit places
Cap King is still unable to attend to his comping
I have not got to go out on a scout yet
noe man of our compiny and now I cant tell when when we will go
being nearly all sick
out of 90 men there is only 30 in camp officers and all
there desese is meseasle and flu
I am speaking of our own compiny and regement
unkle jef has give me a very good horse one closebodice coat one over
shirt one pear of pants one pear of boots one pear of socks and one
blakeet and now orms yet
I lafe and tell the boyes that have nun that they intend to make cooks
of us boyes that have now arms
[unreadable] I have got to bee the best cook that you ever saw
to my practice
I have washed one time and I made my shirte so white that the boys
all laught at me and said that it would not do for a soulder to wear
as white shirte as that so you may guess that I made a good job of it
I have gon threw many visisitudes of life since I saw you Ned and I long to
see the time that I will get back to to Tex
I would give any thing now that I have to just bee one time more placed
back on my own soil in my bleved coutery and a mong my friends
I do not want you to understand me to say that I am or that I have been
deceved or that I have lost any of my patriitism
I have found a caomp life up to this time more greeable than I expected
we have plenty to eate and fine tents and are all well cared for but it is
leaving my wife and children but I recon that I stand it as well as any
that you ever saw
I believe that I have had the blues the least of any of my compiny
it has been snowing today
we have but little settled wether in this contery abonses of rain
if you see Momphord tell him that Dick is in Nasvill at the hospital sick
with the measle but doing very well the last account
McCan Benn Johnson Ravels is also there
Ravels went to visit
on the balance Benn Johnson is very bad
Ned I want you to write to me all the rest of the boyes are getting letters
from home and I have not gota word from home yet nor from any of my frinds
I want you and Ann to cend me at least 2 letters a month
it would afourd me the most consolation in the world to hear from home or
from any of my friends
you m(a)y have writen and the letters may have been missplaced
I will write to you and Ann every 2 weeks
you will direct your letters thus when you write to me
E H Ross Capt Kings Compt Terrys Regement Texas Rangers and its place
of destination for instant Bowling Green Kentucky
porhaps when you get this letter Ann may bee at Fathers
I want you to see her letter to
I inclose boath in the same envelope to save expense and maby between the
2 letters you may find something that will interest you
give my love to miss Graham and all the children and to all who may inquire
of me
acep a double potion to your self and excuse my bad writing and spelling
your sincere friend until death shall seperate

E H Ross

Edward Hampton Ross Letters. Wharton County Historical Museum.