Camp at East Point Ga.

                                                                                                            September 9^th 1864.

 

My Dear Fannie

                                    I improve this my first opportunity of dropping you a few lines. I am still in the land of the living and enjoying good health, though since I wrote you last I have passed through a great deal. dangers and privations followed us in our movements but thank God we were successful and Atlanta is ours. You have doubtless read ere this how on the 25^th of last month our Army fell back in front of Atlanta and abandoned the works which had cost us so much labor and blood to build. the Johnnies were watching our movements and when we fell back they were confident that we had given up the seige and were retreating towards Chatanooga as fast as we could go. they were so confident in this that nearly two hundred Ladies came up to Atlanta from Macon to celebrate their supposed success in a grand / festival and ball. but what was their supprise two days after when the thunder of Shermans Artillery was heard twenty five miles in the rear of the devoted City. when we fell back from the front of Atlanta we took a round about course marching nights and days until we came near Jonesburg which is on the Macon road twenty five miles from Atlanta. we went into camp about eleven oclock on the night of the 29^th of Aug. the Johnnies by this time had found out our whereabouts and massed a heavy body of troops in our front during the night. the next morning about eleven oclock the battle of Jonesburg commenced our Brigade was held in reserve and did not get into the fight. the Rebs charged our lines time after time but were as often repulsed and with great slaughter our boys were as firm as rock. the battle raged all day and and was renewed the next day fiercer than ever. the thunder of canon shook the very earth and the shouts of charging colums. the incessant rattle of musketry made a sight grand yet terrible to / behold. the enemy were so hard pressed that they retreated under the cover of night (after the second days fight) leaving their killed and wounded in our hands. so the next morning we marched into Jonesburg and took possession of the town & Rail Road. the Rebs loss must have been very heavy probably Ten Thousand ours was comparitively light though we lost a good many men. we are now about six miles from Atlanta with a promise of a resting spell. how long it will last I cant tell. we all feel highly elated with our success and are anxious to see this thing closed up. I am very busy now days I am acting Quarter Master and my business is behind hand so my dear Fannie you must excuse a short and poorly written letter this time. I wish I could see you I could talk more in an hour than I could write in a week but I must close now so good by. accept much love and a dozen kisses from your

                                                            Affectionate

                                                                                    Frank

 

P. S. My best regards to all your people

            please direct to 32 Wis 4^th Div. 16 A.C

                                                            Atlanta

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