No. 74.                                                                                                                        

Camped near Atlanta

August 24^th /64

 

Dear Mollie,              

I received your letter of the 14 yesterday. it was mailed the 10. it was only 7 days coming through. it is no 69. I also received two letters from you on the 20, making three in three days. that is doing very well. one of them was writen the 5 & the other the 8. I sent you a letter the 19 & have received 3 in return. I will write oftener or you will get the start of me. you spoke about Emily & Betsy going east next month I would like to have you go with them. if we are not paid before that time you cannot go with them, money is very scarce here now or I would try & borow some for you but it is not to be had. 

 

you spoke about Alfreds health being poor. I am sory to hear it for he has trouble anough without being sick. you spoke about Charly I should think he could do better than to be a painting these times. thare are plenty of chances to make money these times & I would improve it if I was loose footed but a soldier dont have much chance.

 

I think Thomas Bennetts are doing well, they are raising lots of soldiers & that is what we want. you spoke about a girl in town having a boy a fiew weeks old & not noing who it belongs to. I would like to know who that girl is, she must be hard up to go with one like Armstrong. I hope she has her blood cooled by this time. I think the girls of Iowa & Ills are hard up they must be afraid that the boys / in the army will all be killed or they would wait until the soldiers come home. I consider one good soldier worth a half dozen of those slinks who are at home. I dont consider them eny thing els or they would not take the advantage of an inosent girl. I am glad Lillie was so thoughtful as to ask about your pictures. I have them yet. I have always caried them in my pocket. I would not take eny money for them, they are very natural. yours night be better but it does very well. I am glad to hear that you are so fleshy & have a good appetite & eat more than you use to. I always told you that you did not eat anough for a farmers wife & wanted you to eat more. now if you do I am glad of it & I think I can raise anough to keep you. I think you are capable of taking care of your self 

 

I have tried that pen you sent me & dont like it. I have one that I bought at youngs point, nearly two years ago & it is a good pen yet. I paid two dollars for it. I have no news to write, thare is not much being done. I have just been helping to cary off a Lieut of Co H, he was wounded in the sholder. our brigade has orders to get ready for a fight. I dont no what it will amount to so I will not write eny more at preasent.

 

well Mary finish my letter now we made a deminstration on the lines this eavening & we found that the rebs had not left. thare was no one hurt in the atempt. you can keep that drum head until I write for it. no more this time I am well & hope this will find you all the same from yours as ever,  To Mollie C Shibly

From O Shibly

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