Rec^d August 1st

 

Camp of 5^th Ohio

Near Chattahoochee River Ga

July 17^th 1864

 

My Dear Friend

                        Having a few minutes to spare from my work I write to inform you of our rapid and near approach to Atlanta Our camp is 12 miles from the city and from the top of one of the hills near by the spires of Atlanta can be seen.

 

            The greater part of our army is across. we are near the RR crossing and to the right of it. Hooker is going over to day with his corps by two fords on our right / very slight resistance is offered to him owing I suppose to our flanks being well over and in position No serious engagement has taken place since the 27 June. on that day we lost our Major Henry J Symmes a gallant officer, the best in the division. he was severely wounded in a charge and has since died. this leaves us without a field officer. Bob Kirkup Cap^t of my compy is now in com'd

 

            The rebs left Kennesaw M^t on the 3^rd July. I suppose they had a presentiment that something might happen on the 4^th as was the case at Vicksburg and Gettysburg not long ago, and so as they say "they lit out" / I have never seen such works as they had at Kennesaw and from there to the river. It must be very discouraging to an army to be compelled to leave such works after such an amount of labor as has been expended on them Joe Johnson had a number of "places he wanted to get Sherman into" but Sherman would persist in "not going into them"

 

            Our Reg^t is very much reduced in numbers (80 effective men present) a detachment of the 7^th Ohio which was not mustered out with their Reg^t has joined us temporarily and together we have been detached to guard the Division Supply train.

 

This is what the boys call a "soft thing" and they are / having a good rest which they are entitled to as they have performed more important service during the campaign than any other Rg^t in the corps or I might say in the army

 

            I have been through the town of Marietta. it is the prettiest town I have seen in the South. Splendid location near Kennesaw M^t it has an air of comfort and stability generally wanting in towns in this C.S.A. I am told that some of the ladies of the place went up on the top of "Kennesaw" and amused themselves and the "Chivalrie" artillerists by firing the big guns at the "Yanks" below. the said Yanks as in duty bound returned the compliment very warmly when the Ladies retired in disgust toward Marietta and from all accounts the retreat was a very disorderly one.           

 

Yours  J.C.

 

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I think I will go in a few days to Chattanooga and perhaps to Nashville on business connected with the reg^t so you need not be surprised if you do not hear from me for a time

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