1862 February 21 Franklin Tennessee

Franklin Tennessee Feb 21st 1862
My Dear Wife
I am still thank god alive and with the
exception of fatigue as well as I ever was, little did I think
the last time I wrote you hat we should have been forced
to retreat this far from Green River, our Regiment was
in the advance next to the River General Hindman with
about 1500 men 6 miles in our Rear, and the first thing
we knew General Johnson had evacuated Bowling green
carried off all the cannon and left us up there to get
away the best we could, we commenced our retreat but
it was very slow for we had to protect the infantry
& travel in the rear we got to Bowling green 1 night
the next day we were employed in burning provisions that
could be got off, we burnt over 2000 Barrels of pork and 10,000
bushels of grain to keep it from falling into the hands
of the Enemy we also burnt 2 large Mills and both the
Rail Road Bridges the turnpike Bridge the Depot that
took nearly all day the Infantry had gone on the next
morning just as we were getting ready to leave here
they come about 50,0000 of them they couldnt get to us they
were on one side of the river and we on the other and
without giving the Citizens notice to leave the place
they commenced shelling the Town we staid there
3 hours the Bomms falling all over the town I saw 1
Lady killed by a shell we took a great many of the women
and children on our Wagons and brought them out of the
place, we made our way then to Nashville but before we
got there we heard of the dreadful battle at Donalson
so soon as we got to Nashville without a minutes rest
we were ordered to go towards Donalson to protect
the poor fellows that got away from there we found a
great many we went within 10 miles of the place it
is not such a victory to them as they thought our men killed
many of them than were surrendered in the fort the great
est loss to us is the guns and General Buckner for

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a braver man than he does not live I saw a citizen to
day who saw Buckner since he has been a prisoner an
he said that he did not know that Pillow had surrendered
the fort if he had he would have cut his way out or
have died in the attempt.  Floyd did cut out with
the most of his men, it was certain the hardest fought
Battle of the war our poor fellows had to lay there in
the ditches for 3 days and nights without anything to eat
or cover and they fought there the whole time an eye
witness told me to day that the Enemy must have
lost 5000 killed and many wounded. We lost 350
killed, I know this to be so for a physician who help
to attend to the wounded told me so he belonged to the
Regiment but he had on Citizens Clothes and they let him
get away. Yesterday we met a negroe man who had
his master taken prisoner making his way home they
took him too told him he was free that they would hire
him to cook for them he pretended to be satisfied he found
out the names of a good many of the Yankee Officers, and
he pretended go out to buy some of his provisions they let him
go out side of their lines and he made his Escape hundreds
of the men made their Escape after they were surrendered
Billy Carrington is a prisoner he has a Brother in
Austin, well we were are discouraged but not disheartened
the darkest time of night is just before day I am
willing to die or be free and that I think is the de
termination of every man in our Regiment, we are
in a poor fix we have got [?] Terry to command us
The hardest thing for us to do is to give up Nashvville
after they were so kind to us the other morning when
we left the Ladies Cheered us and beged us not to give
up the town, Ma you must direct your letters
to Murphhreysborough Tenn, I wish to god I could
see you now I dreamed last night about you my love to
all my friends all the Webberville Boys are well
Good Bye Your Husband  Wm H Roberts

MSS 10207