Within 4 miles of Atlanta

                                                           July 19^th 1864.

 

Dear Mother

                        I received your welcome letter yesterday morning. You will see by the heading of my letter that we are across the Chattahooche river. We crossed it sunday evening. We will be there soon. As we were moving along on Sunday we passed the 35^th boys. They are going home about the 1^st of next month. There time is out on the 20^th of next month. They all look/well. I wrote to Grandpa some time ago. I answered his last letter. I have not seen Geo Bone yet and doubt very much if I ever do. The boys here are all well. Sidney Smith one of the recruits died last month. He was a son of Edw^d Smith. I guess he had a disease of the brain. He was a good soldier. I can’t tell whether we will stop when we get to Atlanta or not. We may stop for awhile to rest but I don’t think we will stop long. We will have to keep pushing the rebels to keep them from reenforcing Lee. I don’t think this campaign will end any sooner with us than with Grant. We may get to/rest through a part of the hot weather. I hope we will at any rate. I must close as the mail will go out in a little while. Is Pa getting any better. Are all the folks well. I wrote to Laura the other day. I am doing very well. Write soon to

 

                                                                                    Your aff Son

                                                                                                Willie

 

                                                                        Co. R. 79^th Reg^t O.V. I.

                                                                                    Atlanta

“To Follow the Reg^t”                                                             Ga

SOURCES