Camp 20^th Conn. Vols.

Atlanta, Ga.

Oct. 10^th 1864.

           

My Dear Parients,

                                    I sent you a letter a few days since in answer to yours of the 22^d Sept. (I think the date was) but as I have a good chance to send I thought I would write a few lines. About all the Reb Army is in our rear and Gen Sherman after them but the mails come very irregular when they are sent though a strong guard is sent with them. We that is our Corps remain to guard the city. We are putting up a new line of fortifications which when finished will make the place impregnable against any force the Rebs can bring against it. So with picket and fatigue duty we are / kept pretty buisy but if the mails only come and a moderate supply of rations we will not complain of course we would all like to have the paymaster call and settle his bills especially the married men who have wives and families at home who need the money. We are now getting pretty good rations all but the salt meat we get no meat but fresh. The weather is warm and pleasant with now and then a cold morning enclosed I send some flowers which I picked out in the open field or garden, close by where some rich Johnny lived but who was foolish enough to go south and leave every thing; you will see by them that we have not had any very hard frosts yet. I shall send this letter by Corpl. Charley E. Boies, who has got a furlough / of twenty days and starts for Ohio tomorrow morning. Charley has false front teeth and they are out of repair so he cant punish the hard-tack. he goes home to get them repaired. he will take my letter as far as he goes or to where the Rebs cant stop its going home His furlough would have not been aproved at Headquarters only for the Surgeons certificate of disability which was attached to it. His furlough only takes him to Ohio but he says he may go to Conn. There is not much fighting news to write for we do not get any papers only what comes by mail and they are two or three weeks old before we get them. In your next I want you should tell me all the farm news how many bushels of corn, potatoes, wheat, rye and turnips / and how many acres of tobacco how many yoke of cattle, how many cows and horses, and a host of other things. Is there a plenty of apples? How much cider will father make this year? Do you have any sewing societys now. Nell wrote me something about Miss Pitkin who is she anyhow! he said her parients bought the place Mr. Bissell owned are they as good people as Mr. Bissells folks were. There has been many changes in that street since I left. But Please God I will be at home next year at this time. But I havent time to write more now

 

Write as often as you can and I will try and answer soon as recieved

                                                                                   

Your affectionate son

Henry.

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