Camp in the field near

                                                                                                Atlanta Ga. Aug 14^th 1864

 

Well Fannie dear I am still alive and well through the mercy of God. I have now been at the front a little over one week, and during the time I have endured much hardship and been exposed to much danger. this is the sabbath and I have been compairing the day in the army to one at home and I believe that there is some difference. here the thunder of Artillery and the incessant rattling of musketry reminds one forcibly that war is the ruling passion of the day. I was out all the forenoon at work on a fort in plain sight and under the fire of the enemy. we had to use the utmost caution to avoid / being shot. the enemy had good range of us and the balls came whistling around us very close. one of my boys had a ball pass through his hat while on his head the Johnnies have some very fine guns and they shoot a long ways we have had one man killed and two severely wounded in our camp to-day by balls from the enemies sharpshooters. I was sent out on the skirmish line two or three days ago with my company. after I had been there a short time I received orders to advance my line and drive the Johnnies out of their rifle pits. so we made a rush and away went the Johnnies they fired a few shots at us and then run. I only had one man wounded in the charge the Rebs had one man killed / that we know of and probably more but we could not find out their loss. after we drove them out of their Rifle pits we held them and established a new line. Genl Sprague came up after a while and said we had obtained a very fine position & had done well.

 

            I have found quite a number of my old friends here in the Wis. Regts. we are all in good spirits and confident of final success. the Johnnies may hold out for a while longer but they have got to give up before long unless some great dissaster befall us. we are waiting anxiously for the draft to come off. we must have men in order to close this war up speedily. but Fannie dear it is prepairing to rain & I must close this, as my house / leaks badly. please give my love to all and and accept much to yourself, from your own

 

                                                                        Affectionate

                                                                                                Frank

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