Savannah, Ga., Dec. 27, 1864.

 

My Dear Sister:

                        This morning I will improve a few leisure moments by writing to you. It is my intention to give you a connected account of our march. In the first place I will give you a few preliminaries.

 

            Saturday. Nov. 12^th we broke camp 4 miles south of Marietta, and marched to Kennesaw Mountain 6 miles. We passed the place where we lay when Kennesaw's tops bristled with rebel bayonets and cannon. It was interesting to call up the scenes and incidents of those eventful days. It was nearly evening when we arrived, and the sun's last beams, reflected from the mountain's summit, formed a scene of peaceful beauty, very different from the cannon's roar and musket's crack of former days. In the evening we tore up railroad, working until about 12 o'clock at night. The long lines of fire, the / dusky forms of the men moving to and fro, the hilarious cheers, the rattling of the rails, and the burning of beacon fires on Kennesaw conspired to make a scene of romantic, wild beauty. Let me describe to you the modus operandi of our work. Scattering along on one side of the track, the regiment lays hold of the rails and ties, and with many a merry "heave-ho!" raise the rails and ties and completely turn over the road nearly as fast as one can walk. Then we pile up the ties and rails, make a fire, and wait for the rails to heat; which being done we then twist them out of shape, bending them often double, rendering them completely useless. Never was witnessed before a scene like this one. A General with an army of 70,000 men voluntarily tears up his only line of communication for nearly 100 miles, and isolates himself from his friends in the heart of an enemy's country. Many were the jocose remarks as we thus destroyed / our own cracker line. Little did Hood imagine when destroying a portion of the road a few days before that we ourselves would engage in the same labor soon.

 

            Sabbath morning at 4 A.M. the bugle again called us up to renew our work. After about one hour's labor we returned to our camp and breakfasted. We were soon ordered back again however, because we had left a few hundred yards undone. The army was now in motion Atlantaward, and bitterly did we denounce the petty tyranny that ordered us back 6 miles, after we had worked nearly the whole night. At Marietta we fortunately met Gen. Sherman, or "Old Billy" as we familiarly called him. He immediately stopped us and started us toward Atlanta, and as he rather ranked our Division General, Gen. Mower, we followed his directions. It was now about 10 o'clock, the rest of our Division was already far towards Atlanta, and we had already marched about / 9 miles. We must plunge on as rapidly as possible. About 8 o'clock in the evening we camped, after a weary day's march of 28 miles. Unaccustomed to marching as I was it came with severe effect upon me, and it was with sorely aching feet and legs that I lay down to rest that night.

 

            Sunrise, on the 14^th saw us on the road again, or rather saw us hunting the road. For we wandered away from it, as we were now near Atlanta, and myriads of roads made by our army during the seige abounded. After wandering around awhile we finally struck the right one however, and six miles march brought us to Atlanta where our corps was in camp. My feet and legs ached so sorely that it was with extreme difficulty that I reached camp even with so short a march. A poor prospect, that, with a long march just before me! I hoped however that a little rest would help me. All day long the thick black smoke rolled up over Atlanta as the work of destruction went on. All the vast depots and public buildings were utterly demolished. The boys were buying extra stores of meat, coffee, and crackers for from the commissary, and everything was hubbub and preparation.

 

            Tuesday Morning Nov. 15^th the grand move was inaugurated. Early in the morning the march commenced. The orders, which you have probably seen, from Gen. Sherman, in reference to the march, were read us. Our corps took a road leading southeasterly from the city. Our Brigade was train guard, and as the train was behindhand we did not get started until about 3 o'clock P.M. After marching about 7 miles we came to a bad swamp where the / train was greatly delayed. We stopped and took supper and then campe started forward, moving about ¼ of a mile when we again came upon the train. Thus it was during the whole night. Little snatches of sleep were all the rest that that night afforded. Morning's dawn found us only 11 miles from Atlanta. A poor beginning this.

 

            On the 16^th. morning had merged into noon ere we had advanced far on the road. There was some apprehension of an attack upon the train and we were scattered along side of it to act as guard. From noon until about 8 P.M. we went forward steadily. Having had but little rest the night before, you may well conceive that we were very weary, and gladly did we hail the news that the wagons were corraling a short distance ahead. But alas! we learned that it was only a stop for supper and camp was said to be yet 3 or 4 miles off. Worn and weary as we were, this was very unwelcome news, and some vowed that they would go no farther that night, and laid down to rest. I seriously debated such a mode of procedure myself; but being somewhat refreshed by supper concluded to move on for a while longer at least. The moon had just risen and rendered walking more agreeable. Besides, burning fences, cotton gins and houses along the whole line of march lit up the heavens. It was almost a continual line of fire. Truly we were marching, sword in one hand and torch in the other. Midnight came. Still no signs of camping. Stretched by some roadside fire many a worn weary form was seen. We were now passing through a magnificent broad country, where the eye could stretch far away in the distance over level, fertile fields, dimly seen in the bright moonlight. But still on we moved. Finally I resolved that I would go no farther without rest, and throwing myself down by the roadside about 2 o'clock I was soon in a troubled sleep. Here for the present I will leave myself. 

 

            We are now camped about 3 miles from Savannah, and expect to move into the town in a day or two. What glorious news of Union triumphs comes from every quarter. Never have I felt more hopeful of speedily crushing the rebellion than now. Thanks be to God, the Author of our victories.

 

            Tell me Coudln't you furnish me with an article known I believe as a "housewife". Now don't laugh. I don't mean by that request that you should select some sweet feminine as a partner for life for your brother. Oh no! I think myself fully competent for that task, when the proper time shall come. I only want an article to hold needles, pins, thread, buttons, etc. Tell mother that I need stamps, envelopes and paper, and also a penholder and pens. Hasn't mother received that $175 I sent home. I have received your letter of the 24^th ult., but you do not mention it. It is in the County Treasury for her. Has mother my stockings on hand for me. If so please send them. The weather is very mild here and I have no need of any overcoat. If you can procure a map of South Carolina alone I should like it. I have a war map of the South, but I like the maps of a single state better. They are in so much larger scale. South Carolina will be our next campaigning ground I suppose.

 

            I am well and in excellent spirits.

                                                                       

My love to all. Write soon to

Your aff. Brother,                  

SOURCES