Marietta, Georgia.

July 11^th 1864

           

My Dear Parients,

                                                Your letter of the 2^nd June with the three fifties I recieved yestersday and as I have a little liesure this morning I will answer. I was very glad to get the money the letter was a long time on the road but it came safely at last as I hope the others will

 

            We came to this place from Acworth on the cars three days since and are now quartered in the Marietta College a large brick building, large enough to hold the whole Reg^t though tis somewhat crowded. We are to do guard and fatigue duty in the city for the present. We are detached from the Brig. and Div. for this buisness Marietta is not a very large place / situated on the R.R. 118 miles from Chattanooga, built mostly of brick. Contains the county courthouse and the college where we are now quartered. This building is situated just outside of the city on a high hill, commands a splendid view of the city and surounding country tis built facing eastward and from a front view the country is nearly level and covered partly with woods; on the right the country presents about the same appearance as in front, on the left is a low valley and further across rises the Kennesaw Mountain seeming to pierce the very clouds, the scene of many a hard fought battle. beyond that and father west is Lost Mountain. here too many a brave boy fell and lies buried—in fact Kennesaw and Lost Mountain are one / vast burying ground. We are very nicely situated now. I wish we might stay here untill our term of service expires. There is considerable talk of giving our Regt a chance to reenlist. What do you think of it. I would rather go in the Navy or Cavalry service where I should not have to carry a knapsack and musket rifle I think the Navy would be the best. there one would get enough to eat and have a good dry place to sleep. But I do not know as I could get into the Navy. I want to serve Uncle Samuel some way untill Jeff Davis and his old Confederacy are "played out" (as the boys say). There is not much news from the front. our forces are within about 8 miles of Atlanta and the men are now having a chance to rest. I want you should send me some more velvet / for stripes on my pants. We all want to "slick up" and look as neat as possible while in town. Since I commenced writing I have been detailed as guard at Head Quarters so I want to look as neat as possible now. Send about 3 yards I [paper fold] is ample. Send soon as conveniant and I will send you my picture when we get paid off as there is an artist in town I wrote for some black thread in my last you can send it in a newspaper the latest letter I recieved from you was June 24 but I recd June 2^nd yesterday. We are having terribly warm weather now but the boys stand it very well. My diarrhea is almost cured—no thanks to our Dr's however. When we were at Acworth I lived almost entirely on blackberries left off drinking coffee and I think that helped me a great deal. so you need not feel worried about us.

 

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But Good Bye now I cannot write more at present. Your aff son Hen

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