Atlanta Georgia         

Sept 15^th 1864

 

Friend Mattison

            I will now try and pen you a few lines. There is no news of any importance in camp, and I suppose you have read all about the Capture of Atlanta, so I will not say anything about it, but I will try and give you a sketch of the late campaign from its beginning May 2^nd 1864

 

On the morning of the 2^nd of May we broke camp at Rossville Ga and took up our line of march towards Ringgold distance 12 miles which place we reached about 3 P.M. here we went into camp and remained all day of the 3^rd when we moved out about 2 miles from Ringgold in the direction of / Tunnel Hill then held by the enemy, and formed in an open field and stacked arms and remained there untill the 7^th when we marched to Tunnel Hill the enemy offering but slight opposition About 2 miles south of Tunnel Hill is what is called Buzzards Roost or Rocky Face a naturly strong position, and made still stronger by earth works which the enemy had thrown up all along the ridge. It was at this place that we had the first skirmish with the enemy since the Regiment veteranized in which the 34^th lost 11 men killed wounded and missing.

 

On the 14^th of May the Battle of Resaca was fought in which we our Regt lost 31 killed and wounded. It was here that Capt Jno A Parrott fell.

 

The 17^th of the same month the skirmish at Rome Ga took place / in which we lost 5 men wounded. We lost 7 men "one of whome which was killed" while advancing our lines at Big Shanty Station.

 

The 27^th of June the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain took place in which we lost 40 men killed and wounded. The 20^th of July we had a skirmish at Peach Tree Creek in which we lost 4 men wounded. From this time untill the fall of Atlanta the Regiment was under fire almost all the time. We had several men wounded and killed, by stray bullets

 

The next battle was at Jonesboro Ga in which our Regt lost 19 men killed and wounded. this battle was fought on the 1^st Inst. the enemy were driven out of their works. Our Brigade took 4 pieces of artillery and quite a number of prisoners. this was the / battle of the campaign.

 

Our Regiment has lost since the 2^nd of May about 150 men killed and wounded

 

We have now about 130 men for duty in the Regiment and when we left Rossville we had over 500 muskets.

 

The health of the Regiment is good and the men are all in good spirits.

 

L Shorett and J. W. Keefer sends their best respects and says they hope the draft will take place and that some of the conscripts will be sent to fill up Co "B".

 

I will now close hoping to hear from you soon

                                                                       

I remain Yours &c

Ransom Foss

 

[upside down]

 

Foss

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