In Camp in sight of

                                                                   Atlanta July 7^th /64.

 

Dear Parents

                        You will think at seeing the heading of this letter that we are pretty close to Atlanta. It is about ten miles from here. We can see the steeples there by climbing some high trees around here. Atlanta is nine miles from the river and we are within one mile of the river. So rebel deserters say. We have had some pretty hard marching in the past week. On the previous 4^th we were marching through the heat of a broiling hot sun. The rebels evacuated their works on last Saturday night and we have been fighting ever since as they fell back. They had some of the strongest works here that/they have built. The 14^th Corps boys say that they had the rebel works on Kenesaw Mountain undermined and intended blowing them up on the 4^th but the rebels lit out. Governor Brown (Governor of this state) says the rebels shall not destroy the railroad nor the city. The boys are all in good spirits over the falling back of the rebels. You can imagine how warm it is when I tell you that I am sitting in the shade and am perspiring pretty freely. I had some ripe huckleberries this morning.  They tasted first rate. I have eaten blackberries for about a week. When we get where there is any blackberries we get some and stew them. They taste right good We also stew green apples and eat them on our hard tack. Anything for variety. I generally stew my crackers and then pepper them and salted them right well. I then make/my coffee and get my meat ready and then go to work devouring it. I tell you I have a mighty good appetite now especially after we have marched. I can slay the hard tack and sawbelly which is the name the boys give to the pork. I had a letter from Lewis last saturday and one from Grandpa sunday all of which have been answered. I wrote to you some time ago but have not heard from you since you wrote to me from Ft. Ancient. Well I must close. Write soon. Love to all.

 

                                                Your aff son

                                                                        Willie

 

                                    Co. B. 79^th O.V.I.

                                                Chattanooga

                                                            Tenn.

            Follow the Regt

SOURCES