William Hugh Young

Letter from William Hugh Young to his friend Reierson

William Hugh Young (1838-1901) attended the University of Virginia, In September 1861, he recruited a company for the 9th Texas Infantry Regiment. In May 1862 he was promoted Colonel of the regiment, at the head of which he served with distinction many engagements. On 15 August 1864 he was promoted Brigadier General, leading a brigade of Texans and North Carolinians in the Army of Tennessee.

Shelbyville, Tennessee, March 17th, 1863.

My dear friend Reierson,
I was most affably surprised by the early arrival of your most welcome epistle, I supposed mine would have to make a complete campaign among the mountains of Va. before it would reach you and consequently as is usual in such cases it could be months before I should receive a reply. I must gratefully acknowledge the interest and kind feeling which prompted you to reply so soon. And as you began with congratulations allow me to follow your example and gratulate you upon your solemn felicity in having received that highest of all promotions to be the dear husband of a beautiful, good and true woman. Were I in your shoes Reierson I should think I had attained the Maximum Bonus (?) of this life for I regard the period when a man "takes unto himself a wife" as that from which dates his supreme happiness or misery.

As you say I was "suspicious of the direction of the mind", and during the event almost certain I studied the probabilities of the happiness or unhappiness of the union and in all candor, I say that I thought you were admirably suited to each other and when I wish you both a long life and unalloyed happiness with only enough "Responsibilities" to ....your felicity..... While in the matrimonial line, I may mention that probably sure J. P. Bryan has been guilty of the same crime as yourself. He wrote me he would marry about the middle of February, nothing preventing.And thus I see I am to be left to meet alone the arid and unpleasant paths of Bachelordom. But as I had no engagement previous to the war and still "wander in maiden meditation fancy-free" I think I shall so remain until the war be over for until then I have no security of life or limb and I would do wrong to make some beauteous better half the... of the uncertainties of my fate.
Your military career Reierson was short, spirited and racy and I am sorry that your experience has left so much of bitterness with its intrusion. I am convinced this would have been different had you gone out with the fine spirits and bouyant troops of your own state, whom no officer has been (?) reduced to that condition of much submission (?) nor have they ever attempted it. There is a marked difference in the conduct of Texan officers towards their inferiors and those from any other state.From Brigadier down to humblest private when off duty they are good fellows will...and the... familiarity and sociability exists among all classes and grades. I have probably been as much of a disciplinarian as any officer from Texas, but I have only enforced that degree of discipline which was necessary to the comfort, health and efficiency of my command, while I have discarded all that military etiquette which seems to be intended to indicate distinction between officer and private.

I agree with you however that we are in perilious times as well for private as public interests. And that while some are bountifully watering the tree of liberty with heart's blood others are seeking to uproot and overturn it. I have seen and appreciated to the fullest extent the pride and sweet arrogance, the dire injustice of those who have been hoisted into positions they never did anything to merit, by bootlicking political and military influences.
I have seen the upstart who had never smelt gunpowder or heard the whistle of the enemy's minie balls get up over the....who besides being his superior in every point of view had distinguished himself on every battlefield. I thank my stars I have never been beholden to any superior for anything of position and I never will. Thus far any promotion has been the work of sovereign Texans and I am not ambitious for any higher unless it is awarded frankly to merit, which is not likely. I have the honor to command a regiment which has no superior in this army and being widely known from having been in several brigades from different states, the praise of it + myself after the battle of Murfreesboro was in everybody's mouth from Bragg down. I don't suppose such a thought has occurred to one of them granders (?) as promoting an officer in the Regiment. As an example, I will give you an extract from an article written by the Adjutant General of the brigade to which my Regiment then belonged....and the balance of the brigade being Tennesseeans.

After describing at more length than I have time or space to copy a charge made by the Regiment he remarks of it: "This may well be regarded as the greatest achievement of any single regiment in the fight." And for this, the regiment was publicly eulogized on the field of battle by the Major General commanding the Division. Yet not an officer has been promoted by them for gallant conduct. I mention this to show you how little merit is accorded (?) in our army promotions.
I have not seen any of your friends since I wrote last. You would probably not notice so great a change in Bob H. as you expect. Texan officers generally pay little attention to uniform I have never seen Bob with any stripe or bar about him. Your brother is I suppose at present under command of Van Dorn - now at Columbia about fifty miles from this place. I had made inquiries for them before I got your letter but had heard nothing of either of them. I shall be certain to go and see him whenever it is convenient. His regiment was with the army in Mississippi from the evacuation of Corinth up to a very recent period when Van Dorn came with his corps to Tennessee. We have had a succession of many lovely days and I am looking for the resumption of active hostilities and hundreds of floating rumors sure to presage their approach. One rumour has Rosecrants' army fighting among themselves and falling back from Murfreesboro but I do not credit it. You are right in supposing we are in fine trim to meet the spring. Never were we better. I hope to hear from you for...Reierson and in full I wish to be remembered kindly by Mrs. F. and desire my compliments and kindest wishes forwarded to Mrs. R.

With best wishes for your continued happiness and welfare, I am,
Your true friend,
Wm. H. Young

Reierson:
I enclose a first of April document which I would be glad if you would dispose of so that it may reach the person for whom it is intended. Drop it at the P.O. if