Edward H. Ross to his wife - January 9, 1862

Sinking Creek Station
15 miles south of Bowling on the Nasvill pike
Jan 9 1862

Dear wife

we are stationed hear for 20 dayes 8 dayes of the time expired
our elections tuck place yesterday and of this inst Lubbock was elected Colonel
now doubt you have heard of the loss of our Colonel
I have writen to you and friend Ned since we had the fight
the health of our comp is only tolerable
we have some 12 men now in camp sick out of about 60 that are hear
the balance of the Compt are at Nashvill [Nashville] and in the coutery that have been
sick and have not returned
we expect to be ordered out a gane in a shorter time
times is still exciting but not so mutch so as they was when I wrote to you
before
I guess that you are becoming wearie with the nuss about a fight at Bowling
green but we have been held on suspence fore over 2 months not nowing what
day it will come off or at least begin
the 2 armies the mane bodies are a 40 miles a part but we have troops from
Bowling green to Bells taveren within 12 miles of them and untill a few
dayes ago we were in 9 miles of them sow you can tell nearly as mutch about
things as I can
when ever they begin to advance to wards Bowling green then the fight begins
and not till then
there may bee skirmishing about in many places but there will be no gineral
ingagement untill they begin it
we have news hear that the northan Congress is split up within themselves and
that there will bee now foward movement untill it is settled
the trouth of it I cant vouch for but I am sadisfied that the Mason and Shidell
case has brought a check on them or at least has brought them to there studyes
we have had several dayes of wet wether and it is very sloppy and and wet
your letter informed me that Franklin Lafayet and Little was in this devision
of the arma
I had inquired for them but had not found them untill last Monday night
I heard from them and went to town and found them all three and John Laughlin
Grand Huns and heard from many more of my old acquantances
I stayed all night with Franklin Lafayeet and Little
it was a sorce of great sadisfaction to me to meeet the boyes in this forion [foreign]
land and to have a sotial convosation with them
they are going to cind you there likeness as soon as they can
they was all well and in fine spirets and was as glad to see me as I could
possiable have been to see them
they have been in diferent places in Kentucky and had just got to Bowling
green about the time we come down from green river
they had got a letter from ther Paw stating that I was in the arme here and we
all had a stare on our hats in red letters Texas Ranger and we can be tole
as fore as we can be seen
so the boys went to town and hald [hailed?] every on that they saw with a stare till they
heard whear I was and cent me word to com and see them
John Laughlin is in a cavelry compty and had not been with the other boys at
all
I found John in the hospital in town not mutch sic but not able for duty
I talked with him but a fiew minets expecting to see him a gane and did not
He stated that the old mans famibly was all well last herd from
give my love to all write to me soon
I am more than anx to hear from you
know I am in fine health I way 156 lbs
daveys money it is same of the kind money that we have in this contery
I have received 2 letters from you only one from Graham
1 from butch and James
I remain you affectionat housban untill death

E H Ross

Edward Hampton Ross Letters. Wharton County Historical Museum.