Direct your letters

Co. B. 79^th Reg^t O.V.I. 1^st Brigade 3^rd Div.

20^th A.C.          via Fortress Monroe

 

                                                                                 Four Miles south west of

                                                                                   Savannah Ga.

                                                                                    Dec 18^th 1864.

 

            Dear Parents

                                    I suppose that you will be a little surprised to hear from me in this part of the country over three hundred miles from where you last heard from me. Before we left the river (the Chattahoochie) we heard rumours that we would leave but we did not believe it. We left there on the 15^th of last month and on the 10^th of this month arrived here within four miles of the city and would have went into the city the same day but the rebels commenced shooting at us. They have works thrown up about three miles this side of the city./

 

There is a very large swamp between our skirmish line and the rebels. There are a great many swamps down here. We crossed a great many. We had all that we wanted to eat on the way down here. We would forage and get all the sweet potatoes, fresh pork, chickens, turkies and in fact everything and anything that we wanted in the way of eating. We had a fine time coming through. We would go foraging and sometimes meet a squad of rebels and if our squad was too small for them we would fall back. We captured some of the finest horses and mules that ever I saw. Rumor says that we have the rebels hemmed in so that they can not get out of Atlanta Savannah and that Genl Sherman has sent/a flag of truce to the rebels for them to surrender. Sherman did send a flag of truce to them yesterday but what it was for nobody knows. I lost my knapsack on the march with my tent blanket and all of my clothing except what I had on me. I have no need of an overcoat here except at night when I am on picket. I have one that will do me this winter. You can keep my other one for me. It is pretty weather here in this country. We take our coats off in the morning and then we are too hot. We got our first rate mail yesterday for over a month. I tell you we were glad to have get it. I received the socks and scarf Ma sent also letters from Ma, Pa, Laura/and Morrie. I guess this letter will have to do for all of you as I have no paper nor envelopes except this one which Laura sent me. I had my paper and envelopes in my portfolio and put in my knapsack and lost it all. I lost my gold pen also. I now have but one shirt but soon hope to draw another one. I am glad to hear that you are all well and to hear that Pa is improving so fast. I hope that he will soon be well. I am well. I will close. Write soon to

 

                                                            Your Aff Son

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

                                    1^st Brigade, 3^rd Division, 20^th A.C.

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