Edward H. Ross to his wife - November 23, 1861

Dear wife

it is with pleasure that I drop you a fiew lins to let you know that I am
well and harty hoping that when you get these lines that they may find you
and the children all well
I have know niews to write to you this morning
it has been 2 weeks since I wrote to you and then I did not give you the
porticulars in referance to the health of our compty and regement
we are nearly all sick
out of a thousand men in the regement there is between 3 and 4 hundred
affected men
in our own comtny out of 90 men there is about 30 in camps
they are at Nashvil [Nashville] and in bowling at the hospital
we have not lost any out of our Compty except it is Ben Johnson
he has been in Nashvill [Nashville] 2 weeks
he and Bob McCan
we got a letter from Ravels who went there to wate on them 3 dayes ago
he stated that the boyes were all doing well but Ben and he said
without a change soon he mustdie that he had lost all hopes of him
this you keep from his friends untill they hear from him
our sick is all cared for very well
the ladyes at Nashvill [Nashville] attend the hospittal and nurse the sick shoulders
grattuetously
they are making oup Chairatable Cocietys in Bowling Green for the same
purpose
the Texas Rangers are fore one time tramped
Colonel Terrey [Terry] and all the regement that could go left yesterday
morning
there business and destination is unknown to us
some say to lookout winter quarters some say to he was ordered to go to
attact the yankes at a ceran place where they was 7000 strong
there was several regements of infintry went on a head of him
the balance of the boyes left hear are on duty every day and night
they curse apply and wish the damed state and regement was in hell
I donot beleave that there is over 10 men in our compeny but what wishes
he was back in Texas but as for my self if I was a young man I would not
be any where els
our compeny has not got to go on a scout yet
our Capt is still unable to do duty
the scouts that went out a week ago killed 2 yankes tuck 10 head of horses
and some arms
the yankes hear of them coming and broak and they chased them so close
that they left there horses and guns and tuck to the thickets
today is Sonday and while I am writing I feel very lownly
out of 12 men in our mess there is but 4 left
Daniel Graham Freeman Bill Richards and myself
Freeman is gon to town
Richards detailed to wait on the sick and just leves me and Dan at home
and Dan is a sleep and you may gurss I am lonsome
today is the coldest day I ever saw in Kentucky
it is clody and cole enuff to fres lisards
Dear Ann I must exknowledge that I have the blews this morning as we boyes
call it when we get low spireted
I dramped last night that I was at home with you and the children and the
injoyment that it was to me in my amagination is unexspressible but when I
awoke up it was a sad dissiapointment
as for my self since I have got well I have now caus realy for disadisfaction
but the one thing and the being seperated from all that feel near and der to
me and who is the object of all cear and thought on this earth bu I yet
have a faint hope that I will see you a gane and I excpet if I should
ever get back to my beloved family and home that it wil be the happest
day that I shall ever see on this earth
there ant a hour in the day that pases over my head but what I am thinking
of you and the children
I am baring in mind the tryals and afflictions that you will shortly
have to pass threw and am thimposising with you
let me say to you bar it with all the patience of a good soldier and
remember that ever bitter has it sweet and sweet its bitter
I have now doubt but you will feel and do feel that you are by your self
but I have confidence in home I intrusted you with that they will render
you all the assistance that could be in my power to do if I was there and
you shall have my prayes and thy impothyes all the whill
if I had not left you in the hands of the best natcheral man in the world
I would sufered with uneasiness but leaveing you in the hands of friend
Ned and Father I am resing easey that they will atend to you case and see
that you will not like for attention
I am geting all most out of harte about getting a letter from you
I havent received a word from you since I left nor from anybody
i have writen 4 letters to you 2 to Ned 1 to Father 2 to McQuary 1 to
Houston and havent got a word
I want you to write to me onst in 2 weeks all the while and tell Ned to
write the same and all who want to hear from me that they must write and
I will anser

Yours forever

E H Ross

Edward Hampton Ross Letters. Wharton County Historical Museum.