2 miles Southeast Atlanta,

24^th July.            

        

Dear Mother:

                        The day passes quietly without anything especially noteworthy. It is the most quiet Sabbath we have had for some time. In the evening we go on picket. Picket duty here and picket duty as we were accustomed to do it at Memphis and other places are very different things. Here one is constantly near the enemy, and some sort of a barricade is necessary as a protection against balls, which are constantly flying around. It is rarely however that we are near enough to see each other. Great watchfulness is necessary to prevent the enemy crawling upon you unawares, and very little sleep does one get on picket here.—An unfortunate occurrence took place on picket in the evening. One post of our men fired into another by mistake, and two men were wounded; one of them in our Company. /

 

25^th July.        

            Remained on picket until evening. About 12 o'clock word came that the rebels were preparing for an attack and we were ordered to be on the alert. We knew that if we were attacked that we had a long distance to retreat before reaching our works, and that extreme caution would be necessary to avoid being exposed to our own fire. Consequently you can imagine our suspense during the long weary hours of that eventful afternoon. Never did I greet a relief picket more gladly than this evening, after being twenty four hours on close watch.

 

            Jerusha's letter of the 15^th came to hand to-day. The Examiner and envelopes were also received.

 

26^th July.        

            The day was one of comparative quiet. At night we receive word that we are to evacuate our present works during the night, and we are ordered to be ready to move at 1 o'clock. There are all kinds of rumors as to our destination. Probably however we are to move / toward the right.

 

27^th July.        

            About 12 o'clock start out, moving with as much secrecy as possible. March along the lines about 7 miles, and about 6 o'clock stop two or three hours for breakfast. Then start forward again and after moving a few miles about 1 o'clock stop awhile for dinner. Pass over some of the battle field of the 20^th. Trees are thickly scarred with bullets. We learn by the way that Gen. Howard of the 4^th Corps commands our army in place of the lamented McPherson. This is gratifying news to us. Howard is a temporate, careful man and withal a good General. We feared Logan would be placed in command. Although he is a brave, dashing General yet we think him too impetuous to command a large army. Forward again is the word after dinner, and about four o'clock we come to the right of the 14^th Corps, which is the extreme right of the army. We are now North West of Atlanta, exactly opposite / our old position. Possibly we are more west than Northwest. It has been raining, a heavy shower. Immediately we form in line, and it is said that we are to advance immediately. We leave our knapsacks, send out skirmishers and advance in line of battle. Soon we come upon the rebel skirmishers, and drive them before us about three fourths of a mile. They are then reinforced, and as we have gained a ridge we do not advance farther, but lay in our position, as it is now dark. The incessant rattle of the skirmishers rings in our ears. Our haversacks and blankets are about one mile in our rear, and men enough to bring them up cannot be spared. So we lay down after our long, weary march, supperless and upon the damp ground with no blanket to cover us. Finally two or three men are sent for the haversacks, and about 11 o'clock they return. One of our mess was one of those sent and in the interval of his absence he made some coffee. Never did I drink a cup of coffee with more relish. The night was warm, so that we did not suffer much with cold. Indeed had not our clothes been wet and the ground damp we might have slept comfortably. I was on guard for about three hours. Having slept very little the previous night, and marched so far, you may imagine that I felt a little of th the worse for wear.

 

28^th July.        

            Early in the morning the rebels fall back about a mile. We advance to a new position and begin throwing up works. It is reported that the rebs. are massing a force in our front, and we work with a will. About 1 o'clock, when our works are in a pretty good state of completion, the sound of rapid musketry upon our right greets our ear. Now they come thought we and every man jumped to his gun. But we soon found that the firing was in front of the 17^th Corps, which joined us on the right. /

 

The musketry soon became a perfect roar, and then we knew the rebels were charging our boys. In a few moments the firing slackened, and word comes to us that we have repulsed them with great slaughter. Meanwhile we strengthen our works and cut down brush, momentarily expecting them to charge us. Soon the rebs. charge again, now upon the 15^th Corps, still farther to the right, and again are they repulsed with slaughter, although our men have their works not half completed, and in some places not even begun. Evidently they are trying the game of the 22^nd, trying to turn our flank, but although they have come upon us before we are thoroughly prepared they have not surprised us. Our lines run so that the fighting seems now almost in our rear. We await anxiously the result of the battle each time. About 3 o'clock the rebs. make another desperate effort to break our lines, and now they have brought up artillery, whereas we have very few guns in position. The fighting for about one hour is most desperate. Reinforcements are hurried up from our side, and we maintain our ground. The slaughter of rebels was terrible. Their dead and wounded lay piled one above another. The musketry now ceases, but the rebels still play some artillery. They burst a number of shell in the rear of us, and finally their shot come right along our works. Then we took up our position rather curiously. We jumped our works and crouched down upon the outside. Several shell burst just over our heads, and struck the trees and ground around us. Finally they stop firing, and immediately we comence constructing what is called flankers; that is a rifle pit at right an acute angle with the main line, as a protection against a side fire. The result of the day's fighting is very favorable to our cause. The rebel charges, coming up in five lines of battle, have each been repulsed with immense slaughter, although a portion of the / fight was on the open field. We have taken a large number of prisoners, and the rebels have left their dead and a many of their wounded on the field. Again has God been with our arms. To Him belongs the glory of our victory. Have the rebels gone mad? If they have not I cannot account for these desperate fruitless charges of the past few days, in which they have lost many thousand men. The men were told yesterday that we were on the retreat, because we left our works on the left and came to the right, contracting the left somewhat. They were told that they were to cut us off by these charges from the Chattahoochee. By such lies do the rebel officers spur their soldiers on.

 

Morning 29^th July.     

            Up to 11 o'clock, the date of this writing, everything has been quiet. Men are busy in burying the rebel dead on the battle field. Those who have been on the field say that the ground is strewn thick with rebel dead. Our loss was comparatively light. I hope to send this letter to-day. My health is pretty good. William is also well.

                                                           

Your Son,                                           

SOURCES