Atlanta Ga.

                                                                                                            October 26^th 1864.

 

My Dear Fannie

                                    I was in great luck this morning. our communication which has been so long severed by the Johnnies has been again restored or so much so that our mail came through last night and I received five letters three of which were from my dear Fannie, one from Sister Teen- and one business letter so if you can imagine how the best natured fellow in the world looks, you can imagine how I look and feel. here comes another letter and what is better it is from you making in all four letter that I have received from you this mail. am I not a luckey dog. I think it very unkind in the Johnnies to cut our communication and interupt our mails and rations after we have worked so hard and fought so / many battles to get Atlanta, but they have troubled us but a very little. we have been on short rations to be shure but we do not complain as long as we can get one hard tack per day we will hold Atlanta against the whole confederacy, but I suppose our trials are now nearley over for Sherman has drove the enemy off the road and it has been repaired so rations and forage will come pouring in here in abundance soon. the poor mules and horses have suffered the most. I have lost six mules out of twenty two from starvation it was hard to see the poor fellows die in that manner but I could not help it. Genl Socum in command here finally sent out a forage train with a heavy escort they had good success and returned with over five hundred wagon loads of corn. the next trip I took two wagons and went out. we had a splended time. we went out about fifteen miles and loaded about eight hundred wagons with corn and sweet potatoes, pigs, chickens, &c. we had a little fight with the enemy but were to strong for him. we returned to Atlanta the fourth day / with a loaded train. I have been out once since then and returned day before yesterday we had the best of luck and filled eight hundred wagons with corn, so that now I have four large loads of corn for my mules and horses, and they enjoy it I tell you. The country where we have foraged is completely striped of every thing, so that it will be hardly possible for the inhabitants to live through this winter. they will have to move farther south or starve. it seemes hard to use women and children so, but it can not be helped. the south has brought on there troubles for themselves, and we are bound to live here in the entire country as long as there is any thing to sustain our army. we have foraged from the enemy within the last two weeks over Thirty thousand bushels of corn.

 

            We have received glorious news from the Potomac army Sheridan is an old war horse I hope that victory may follow victory with him until he whipes Earley and his army out of existence. I believe our cause never looked so bright and prosperous as at / the present time. when the election of Lincoln is known for a certainty and with a fresh army of several hundred thousand troops I think the south will get sick of their job and be willing to quit

 

            Fannie I dont know whether I shall be able to come home this fall or not. the Col has not yet returned neither have any of the officers though we are expecting them every day. the Lieut Col. told me that when the other officers returned that I should go home if I wanted to but it is getting so late in the season, if we have a winters campaign that I may not be able to get away, though rest assured that I shall come if I can, for I want to see you very much indeed. we have only about ten months longer to serve and then I shall come home to stay and to claim the long promised hand of my dear Fannie. ten months will soon pass off but it seemes a long time to wait when there is so much happiness in store at it’s expiration. but Fannie dear my sheet is nearly filled and I must close please give my love to all and accept a big lot for yourself from your

                                                                                                Frank

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