Aug. 4. Near Atlanta.

 

My Dear Sister:

                        In the afternoon we were ordered to make a demonstration in our front in order to divert attention from a movement to be made elsewhere. Our artillery opened and cannonaded awhile, and reinforcements were sent to our skirmish line, which advanced with little opposition. They took an advance position and commenced throwing up works. While thus engaged the rebels came upon them in considerable force. Our Division held their ground, until compelled to fall back by being flanked, as those on our left had fallen back in consequence of their cartridges giving out. We only fell back to our original line however. Our Regiment did not go out.

 

5^th August.

            Our Regiment goes on picket. / The rebel fire is not very brisk or troublesome, on my post. Picket is a tiresome duty however. To be compelled to remain 24 hours in one little cramped up place, with but little sleep is very wearisome. We call our little barricades and holes dug in the ground to protect us, "gopher holes". The gopher is an animal I believe that burrows in the ground; hence the name. I am not positive about this however, and wish you would consult the dictionary and inform.

 

6^th August.

            This morning some alarm was caused by a sudden volley of musketry on the picket line. It proved however to be only a little demonstration on the part of the rebels who made no serious attempt to advance. In the afternoon we had a man wounded in our Company by a stray ball which came over into our camp. Some- / times the skirmishers on both sides double charge their guns on l and then fire high at a venture. The balls will thus sometimes go ¾ of a mile or 1 mile.

 

7^th August.

            In the morning we move forward some 300 or 400 yards, and take possession of a new line of works. Our lines are thus shortened so that we can extend them farther on the flank, if necessary. We spend the day quietly in our works, strengthening and fixing them up somewhat. In the evening we have another man slightly wounded by a stray ball.

 

8^th August.

            All quiet this morning thus far save considerable skirmish firing.

 

            Mother's letter of the 28^th was received a day or two since; also the map and ink bottle. Why didn't you fill the bottle with ink? The cork was so poor and in so tight that it broke all to pieces in coming out. Please send me a little more / ink soon. I had nothing to keep what I had in that in which you sent me and so I put most of it into another man's bottle. He has been wounded since and gone to the Hospital. Send me a small piece of rubber, and I can make a cork out of it.

 

            I send you one or two little relics picked up at one place and another.

                                               

Your Brother,

George.

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