July 6^th 1864

                        Dear Sister—This morning my wound is well enough that I want to take command of my Company but [faded, paper fold]

 

the 4^th of July [faded] the morning of the 5^th we [faded]. We came up with them here. We are now in sight of Atlanta though it is nine miles and a half yet. But I think if we have no fight with [faded, paper fold] course if [faded]. We have drove the whole Rebel army over a hundred miles and I guess we can drive it five miles further. The weather is very hot but / we do not stop for that though we suffer greatly from the heat, a great many get sunstruck. The Big Neck boys are all well. A great number of rebels are deserting and coming over to us every day. They say they are tired of the war and wish to go home. It is very discouraging to them to be driven and whiped as they have been this summer

 

In my last letter I said that I would send you my photo to send to Alice but I believe that I did not send it so I will send one this time and I want you to send it to her soon. I will also send you one of a Scotch / Lady living in Cincinnati Ohio. Her father was a Corporal in Scotland and that is his uniform coat she has on. The two strypes on the right arm shows his rank. The short pleated dress is worn much in her native country. She sent it to me and I send it to you for your album. I think it is a splendid picture. I am not acquainted with her but her beaux belongs to the 34^th Ills and I am acquainted with him. She sent him one and he showed it to me one day and I complimented it so highly that he told her and the next time she wrote she sent him one other to give to me. / So that is the way I got it. He sais that she the nicest kind of a girl.

 

I got a letter from Henry and one from James, they are both well. If you should hear from James let me know the date of James letter was May 20 and was at Virginia City Idaho Terr. Write as soon as you can

 

Last winter I sent my first commission to James to keep for me and I do not know whether he got it or not. It was given to Alfred White to give to James. Tell me in your next where it is. I have 3 and I want them preserved. I am the only one in the 78 who has received 3 commissions

           

Write soon     

Your Brother

W B Atkins

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