Rec^d July 5^th

Chattanooga Tenn

June 24^th 1864

 

Dear Marshall

                        I left the front near Lost Mountain on the 12^th inst for the purpose of coming here with the men of the Reg^t whose time had expired and having them mustered out of service. they left here on the 21^st inst for Ohio the veterans of the Rg^t are still at the front in command of the Major. the Colonel was killed on the 25 May and the L^t Col is going home on account of disability from old wounds. The Rg^t has been in three four engagements this campaign in all of which it has lost over 100 in killed and wounded. My company has lost 21 since May 15^th the last accounts from the front say our lines are still advancing and our flanks now resting on the Chattahoochee River nine miles from Atlanta. The campaign here thus far is a great success, our front is now 118 miles from Chattanooga. this is a very long line of communication to keep open. the rebels are doing a great amount of damage to the road. I am afraid that Sherman will have to / reduce his strength at the front to guard the rear until he can run stores to some advanced point and establish a depot like this

 

            I am detained from going to the front today on account of a bridge being burned and track torn up near Ringgold 23 miles from here. A number of engines have lately been blown from the tracks by torpedos placed under the ties.

 

            This post is a busy place. it is being strengthened in a through manner by lines of trenches and forts. large details of laborers are to work every day from the troops stationed here. the negro being the best to stand fatigue in a hot sun they 2 Reg^ts of them here have their share of the duty. The R.R. is in good condition from Nashville here. trains arrive regularly and those loaded with stores pass on to the front. A hospital and passenger train comes and departs daily. New depots, repair shops, storehouses are continually going up. A good place to get an idea of the greatness of the undertaking which a government has on its hands, is to see the working of the vast machinery which supports an army like this. It surprised me to see stone quarries of Shermans being worked and stone masons at work putting / up forts and foundations for depots just as if the intention of the U.S. was to go into the building and R.R. business as well as war. A city is being built where at once stand clothing, dry goods, & variety stores, breweries, bakeries, beer gardens, & minstrels are among the latest additions, and I might mention hotels & restaurants. All of these, and here we are 156 miles from Nashville and the road a military one. When the war is over there will be a better city left behind here than stood before, every brick and board of which might properly be marked U.S.

 

            The hospitals are very extensive, acres being covered with white tents. here is a sort of relay for wounded every train from the front bringing its supply for the white tents, and every train for North taking those who are badly hurt and can stand travel. the sick and slightly wounded, if they recover within 30 days are sent to convalescent camp and from there to their Reg^ts There is a large number of convalescents on top of Lookout to give them the fresh air and an appetite for their "vittals"

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