In front of Atlanta Aug 22^nd 1864

 

Dear Parents                                      

Your letter mailed the 10^th I have just recd and right glad was I to hear from home also to hear from L and Francis through your letter we are about in the same position that we have been only we have advanced so close to the Jonies that it is not safe for a man to show himself above the breast works we have a great deal of picket firing while I was on picket the other day the enemy picket kept up a continual firing on us but we did not reply the first Division of our Corps have got 20 that they trade with them Atlanta is fortified verry strong a line of forts encompass the city so that if we should capture one they could fall back to another and shell us out of any of them scarcely a day passes but what one side or the other attempts a charge on some part of the line but I presume you know more about the affairs down here than we do for our knowledge part is to obey orders in the regiment and no farther we have tough times half rations no tobaco or money and I am out of writing paper and envelopes the state checks of ten dollars are due us and if you would write to Col Pritch at New Haven for / a blank check so that I can get it it will help me a good deal you will have to send it to me to get it filled by the Officers there is $126 coming to with the state check and government pay since we have come within the suburbs of the city three of the 20^th have been killed and twelve wounded I was rather hasty in stating that Robert was dead but his comrads in his Company told me and Seargent Henry Goodrich saw him at Chattanooga he said he thought he could not live we miss Captain Post of our Company greatly there is but one Captain with the regmt my health is about the same the campaign has been a long one and a tough one our regiment with new recruits and all has had over twelve hundred men now turns out two hundred muskets our brigade of six Regiments numbers only 1000 men we started on the campaign with 25 000 men in the 20^th Corps the morning report of the 20^th Corps says we have only 10,000 men at present We have lost heavier in battle than any other Corps Cant you send me a paper with a few sheets of writing paper and envelopes hoping to hear soon I will close with love to all your

                                                                                   

Affectionate Son

Geo S Palmer

 

every five minutes dispatches                                                

are sent into the city in the

shape of a shell and when the

Johnies open we have lively times

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