Camp in the field near

                                                                                                Atlanta. Aug 17^th 1864

 

My Dear Fannie

                        I have had nothing to do to-day but to dodge shot and shell and as the firing has somewhat abated so that I can stay in my hole in the ground without fear of a shells exploding on it, I will improve my time by dropping you a line. you would be amused to see what kind of tents or rather holes we live in. ours is situated on a little side hill. we have a hole dug down into the ground about three feet deep and five by seven large. on two sides fronting the enemy we have logs and stone and dirt thrown up to protect us from the balls which sometimes come flying about very carelessly / in front of our whole camp we have a heavy line of breast works to protect ourselves in case we are attacked. our camp is not much over one thousand yards from the enemies line. they have two or three strong forts in front of us and this morning they opened on us with shell and I assure you they made it very warm for us. some five or six sixty four pound shell struck within five or six rods of our tent and exploded I suppose it was fun for the Johnnies but I could not see the point. our Artillery soon silenced theirs and since noon there has been no shots fired except musketry on the skirmish line. there is a report in camp that our Division is going to move but where too is a matter of speculation. the probabilities / are that we are going to the right of our line which is about six miles from here. there is hard fighting to be done almost any where they can put us for there is a plenty of Johnnies here. we are looking very anxiously for the appearance of fresh troops under the new levey if we only had a reinforcement of fifty thousand men we could take the City very easy. I suppose we can take it as it is but it will require more time and harder work. Fannie I should like to spend two or three weeks up north about now. I believe I could enjoy it very much but I should not want to shirk any duty here. after Atlanta is taken I am going to come home if they will let me but I suppose it will be very / doubtful. I have not heard from Glen- since we left Decatur he was left back sick. I presume he will get leave to go home as he has a Surgeons certificate of disability. a little over one year longer and you will see this child home and home for good too. I dont think a commission as Major General would induce me to stay after my three years are up unless Fannie could be with me. in that case I dont know as it would make much difference where I was as far as I am concerned. I should be as happy in one place as another if Fannie was happy too. but my dear Fannie I must now close as my sheet is nearly full so good by. please give my love to all and accept much to your own self and lots of kisses from your

 

                                    Affectionate

                                                            Frank

 

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P. S. One of my company was just wounded in camp he was shot through the leg, will probably recover

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