Letter from R. F. Bunting

San Antonio Herald
April 25, 1863
p. 2, c. 4

Rangers' Camp, Fairfield, Tenn.,
Mar. 12.

. . . We hear sad and painful tales from our friends within his lines. Everything is paralyzed, robbery, plunder and destruction seem the watchword. For five miles around Murfreesboro the fencing is totally destroyed. The provision of all kinds is seized, and the people are compelled to submit to the humiliation of drawing rations for their support. Then there seems no hope for the future whilst he occupies our territory, for the farmers are prohibited from planting any kind of grain; while implements of husbandry are all taken and destroyed, by military order. The stock is all pressed for the use of the army. They say the sheep shall all be killed and this will diminish the supply of clothing; and no crop being in the ground for the support of the old, the women and children, this will compel the male population who are absent in the Southern army, to return home and provide for their wants. Thus it has come to be a warfare upon the women and children, and the helpless. All alike are called upon to suffer, rich and poor, friend and foe. What all the region thus occupied by the enemy must do next year for supplies is a problem that time must solve. If it is our policy still to fall back, and ever to yield our territory acre by acre and mile by mile, when are we to stop? How are our people to be sustained? It does seem that the time has come for a change in our programme. We should begin now with the opening spring to cease the defensive and vigorously act upon the aggressive. FORWARD should now be the watchword for our army. . .

Article transcribed by Vicki Betts.