Wednesday, June 22^nd '64.

            About 10½ o'clock the rebel batteries opened upon us. The Johnnies cheer loudly. We seek the protection of our rifle pits. Our batteries do not reply immediately, as we are busy changing them into new positions. Most of the shell pass to the right and left of us. A few go over our heads, but they are too high. One we name the Canary Bird on account of its peculiar whiz. One of our batteries open and engages their attention. We are becoming accustomed to the firing, and stand out and watch their batteries firing and our iron shells bursting over them. Cannonading kept up steadily for two hours, and at intervals all day. No shots come nearer than the tree tops, and only one or two that close. Heavy cannonading on the right in the afternoon. It is strange how soon one becomes accustomed to this din. We sit around unconcernedly. Some lie down and sleep. Some are reading, others writing. The evening is uncommonly quiet, and continues so till 12.

 

Thursday 23^d                     

            About 1 A.M. Johnnies open with their battery. Only a few shots fired; none toward us. At 2 o'clock there begins a very heavy skirmish firing. Either we or the Johnnies are advancing. We are all waked. Proves to be our advance. Skirmishers well up the mountain now. A Johnny comes over to exchange papers. Concludes to remain over. Says there is one Corps upon the mountain. About 9 A.M. Osterhaus opens the ball with his / 20 pound Parrots. Rebs. reply. As usual we stand looking on. Suddenly a rebel shell comes toward us and bursts near, whereupon we take to our rifle pits. Soon another follows, bursts just just overhead, and scatters the pieces around us. Seven shots are fired toward us. Two strike the ground a few yards to our left, but fortunately fail to burst. A piece strikes Gen Fullers tent, and one Gen. Dodge's saddle. Finally one of our guns puts a shot into the rebel gun that silences it. Occasional firing during the day. One of Co. A wounded on the skirmish line. About 5 P.M. a fierce artillery duel begins, between the rebel batteries and our own. The woods and vallies echo and re-echo the sound and the air trembles with each discharge. The firing lasts about one half hour, and the shots average about 20 per minute. About 6 a sudden crash of musketry causes us to spring to our guns and rifle pits. If they charge we will give them a warm reception. Proves to be an advance of skirmishers. Heavy artillery and musketry on the right.

 

Friday, 24^th.               

            Morning opens very quietly. We have Have fired several shots from our batteries but can get no reply thus far 10½ A.M. Possibly the rebs. have evacuated as our line is swung far around on right and left of them, and they may have evacuated to escape being surrounded. One of our batteries firing over us scatters a few pieces of shell amongst us, caused by defective ammunition. One small piece went through a rubber blanket, under which John Pfeiffer was laying, and struck the ground, bounded and hit his leg. Inflicted no wound.

 

            My Dear Sister: There is a chance to send mail now and I must close. Tell mother to send me a few envelopes. My health is good.

 

Write soon.                            

 

Your aff. Brother.                               George. /

 

Friday 24^th June.        

            Occasional shots from our batteries during the whole day. No reply from the Johnnies. What does it mean? Are they evacuating? There is a considerable infantry force remaining upon the hill, for we can see them. Perhaps they are planting their batteries in a new position. A quiet night.

 

Saturday 25^th                     

            About 10½ A.M., we find that the rebel batteries are not removed from the hill. They open fiercely. Ours reply vigorously and the rebels cease firing. Contest renewed three or four times during the day. Several of our shots strike the rebel fort fairly. One of them causes an explosion. Probably blew up a caisson. Rebs. fire no more afterwards.

 

Sabbath 26^th June.                  

            Our Company on picket. Rebel pickets are distant but 250 or 300 yards. Firing is constantly going on. My post is behind a big log. We excavate a hole with our bayonets, which together with the log gives us excellent protection. Many bullets come near us, but none hit our log. Occasionally we catch sight of a Johnny. For the first time I fire my gun towards a rebel. During the day fire 25 rounds. There is a keen excitement in this firing back and forth which inspirits a man but which is very enervating if long kept up. It was a great relief to get out of range of bullets again. In some places the posts were exposed to much danger, and I am sorry to say that all our Company did not come off unscathed. A Corporal, R. P. McFarland, formerly a / shoemaker in Marietta, left his post and went a few yards to the rear, behind a rock. He was seen there afterwards by his comrades but when we were relieved, after dark, he was missing. It is reported that he has just been found dead, shot in the bushes. Another one of our Co. was wounded in the neck and arm.

 

            What a strange Sabbath. There are the same beautiful woods, the same carroling of birds as at home in Ohio, but oh, how far from peaceful is this crack, crack of the death dealing rifles. God grant that the time may soon come when the "Nation shall learn war no more", and peace bless with her bright beams our distracted country.

                                                           

I must stop; the mail closes soon

Your aff. Brother, Son,

George.

           

Dear Mother: Don't worry on my account. God is blessing me even here and I know that "He will do all things well".           

 

Remember that

 "His power extendeth wherever His children are."

and that He is able to preserve me. My trust is in the God of battles.           

George /

 

Kenesaw Mountain

to Atlanta

            Have I asked mother to send me any envelopes? If not, I do so now.

 

Monday 27^th June.

Dear Sister:

            It is determined to push forward our line as far as possible to-day and gain the crest of the mountain if possible. A regiment in our Brigade, the 64^th Illinois is sent out early in the morning to our picket line. Johnny opens with his battery and we reply so furiously and from so many different directions that he soon quits. We are ordered to be in readiness to climb the hill if our skirmishers gain the crest. Perhaps there will be bloody work to-day. I feel uncommonly calm at the prospect. I know that if we charge we will be exposed to great danger, but I calmly commit myself to God's hands. How sweet it is thus to trust Him.—Our skirmishers advance about 300 yards, when it is found impossible for part of the line to advance further. The 64^th lines considerably in the advance. About 40 are killed and wounded. The rebs. are driven from their / first line, however,—To-day the burial of our fallen comrade, McFarland took place. It seems that he was shot in the head and probably killed instantly. We could not remove his body until after dark, as the spot where he fell is very much exposed to the fire of rebel sharpshooters. Two of the 64^th Illinois were killed there to-day. McFarland was a good soldier. He leaves a wife and family. May God remember them in mercy when they hear the sad tidings of his death.

 

            The news from the right of our army is encouraging. Schofield has gained a decided advantage. Cannonading is heard far around to the right and left of the mountain. I hope Sherman may succeed in surrounding them on this mountain.

 

Tuesday 28^th.             

            An unusually quiet day. The usual bang, bang of the skirmishers, and occasionally a shot from our batteries. The rebs. do not reply. Evidently they have / moved their batteries. In fact we can hear them shooting off the point of the hill in a different direction, showing that our army is swinging far around. Our gunners now have everything their own way, and fire whenever they have opportunity. If they see two or three men together they fire at them. We have one splendid battery, the 14^th Ohio. They can put a shot almost where they please, with astonishing accurancy. The other day they burst a shell right in the post hole of a rebel fort.—A man was wounded in the Company adjoining us by the premature bursting of a shell from our own battery. There is a great defect somewhere in much of our artillery ammunition. Much of it either fails to burst at all, or bursts prematurely.

 

Wednesday, 29^th                               

            The morning passes quietly save the usual bang-bang of the skirmishers and an / occasional shot from our batteries. Gen. Sherman and Staff pass our Regiment this morning. The rebel sharpshooters ply them with bullets as they are passing an opening in the woods, causing them to accelerate their pace. No one hurt. About 6 P.M. Johnny opens from his battery, considerably to our surprise, as we thought from their long silence that they had withdrawn their artillery. Our batteries reply from several directions, bursting shells right at the fort and raising great clouds of dust. Very soon the place is rendered too warm for comfort, and Johnny keeps silence. Our Regiment detailed for picket to-night. As I lie in the woods upon my gun, and gaze up through the dark foliage into the calm starey heaven above, whilst the sharp crack of the rifle and the occasional whistle of a ball resounds in my ears, it seems some strange dream. And yet what stern realities constantly greet me.

 

Thursday 30^th.            

About 3 o'clock in the morning we are wakened by the rattle of musketry upon our right, distant from us perhaps three miles. The flash of cannon can be seen over the hill, and then the report, sounding like the heavy beating of a bass drum, the tenor to which is the musketry. We set to work before daylight and threw up an earthwork to protect us against stray bullets and sharpshooters. Our Company is on the reserve. We are compelled to keep behind our works, as the moment one ventures forth a bullet is sent after them. If we have occasion to leave the works however we can soon run to a place where we will be under cover. Some of the men are extremely careless, and expose themselves unnecessarily. One in our Company yesterday had a button cut off his pants by a piece of ball whilst unnecessarily showing himself. Only one man is wounded in our Regiment to-day, although the Regiment who were on yesterday had seven wounded. This decreased mortality is due to our better protection.

 

                                    Mother's letter of 24^th was received yesterday.

 

I was glad to hear from home.

                       

Write often,

Your Brother                                                              

George.

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