In the field a few miles North

of the Chattahoochee river and west

of the R.R. July 4^th 1864

 

            Dearest Ina,

                                    The former associations of this day makes it doubly interesting to me. How different we ar situated on this pleasant day to what we were just 9 years ago and the many happy days since that day. You may be on your way to Rock island, while I am far from home, and undergoing the stern realities of war. One year ago I was at Mill Springs Ky. Will I oh can it be that I will be as far North of Mill Springs as I am south on the next 4^th if it will be so it will be a great consolation to me yet it might bring me a nomber of miles from home, but then perhaps I would be free. How often I am rejoiced to hear from home and learn that my dear family is well, and a fond recollection runs across my mind when I think that our domestic relations have been a happy and smothe one. Yet is there not a chance for us to improve our minds and duties in relation to each other God created man capable of improvements. I can readily see where I have failed often in doing my duty as a husband to you and you have born all with kindness. I wrote you yesterday Our forces were passing until after dark. last evening we were orderd to be ready to march at 5 this morning still we ar here We look for nothing very misterious or miraculous today as Johnson is falling back and Sherman in persuit. do not know wheather Johnson will make a stand this side of the river or not. Has there been much rain how does corn look. Has the bees made much surplus honey. Ar the swarms large or small. Walter Milton and I am ar in the tent well 

 

            Tuesday morning July 5^th

We were called out half past 2 Oclock in order to be ready to march at daylight but did not start until 10 Oclock while we were laying in camp waiting for orders I drew 1 day rations pork, 3 days rations of crackers sugar coffee and 1 days of beans and rice, and a little salt. At last, time came to march, we started and found it very hot, only went about 2½ miles south and a little east while coming to this place Mr Clark told me that our little Niece Ina is dead. What a loss to her parents. how they will feel the stroke, and it will doubly severe to Celia by Merritts being away Yet parrents must expect to meet with such trials I presume to die is little Inas gain she has escaped all the frowns that ar insident to the human family. It is very difficult to determine the distances from one place to another in this Country, as most of the citizens have left. one woman sed yesterday that it is 6 miles to the river there were heavy cannonading a nomber of miles south and east of here last evening we suppose it was on the river. Some say that Johnson has crossed the river and some say that he has made a stand just on the north side. A large nomber of prisonors were taken while Johnson was falling back from the Kennesaw Mountains to the river a distance of 10 or 12 miles. our forces that is most of the army ar passing down to the right (the right is to our right hand as we ar facing to the south it may be a mile and it may be 20 miles it depends upon sircumstances) perhaps to cross the river at Johnsons left flank the report is that our forces were crossing all day today. I saw about 100 prisonors. all prisonors that we talk with state that Johnsons army is very much discouraged at all events they do not fight as they did at first. It is a common accurrance for small squads to compromise to come to our lines and sucumb. poor Johny needs a few consolling words, and who will / is the proppor persons to give it I think our Artilery and musketry changes the oppinion of many. Here we ar by the side of the road in the timber. it is a pleasant evening.

 

6^th At one hours sun I slept well last night feel better than I did last evening thought I would not attend meeting I eat a good harty breakfast most of our company look poor and fateauged. Captain Dow is with the company but looks poor and frale. James Mchesney has not returned to the company yet. Lieut Browning is with us. Night before last sometime in the night I was awoke by the report of a gun presently I herd a bustle and and William Potter sed William Eyer is shot in the foot. on examining the wound it was found that the ball of his own gun had passed through the joint of his great toe where it joines on the foot. do not know wheather his toe will be amputated or not but think it will. Captain Wright if you reccollect was wounded at Resacca in his right arm which was amputated in the shoulder joint he has since died. He was Captain Co F. Nearly all the morning I have herd cannonading in the direction of Atlanta it must be a nomber of miles as it is still and I can but just hear it. it may be on the river. I will close by asking a few questions. Has Lyman Benson sold his farm. Is it very dry. How does our corn look this summer. Did Uncle sow our small grain on our place. As it is difficult to get proppor medicins here I wish you to send me in your next letter 10 of Frosts or some other stomac cleansing pills. It is not very dry, nor extremely hot

 

July 7^th

            We ar orderd to to be ready to march at 6 Oclock it is nearly sunrise. I have but a few minuts to write. Will send some blank. The 23 A.C. ar now on the R.R. within a few miles of the River we ar all reasonably well. I am real well. Hope you ar ever yours

                                                                                                                        William /

 

Walter sed breakfast is not ready and I will write a little more. Ask Adda if she can tell you for me how many letters there is in the alphabet. Does she like her teacher and learn fast. Does she appear more kind to Willey now than she did when her and Charley were togeather. Do you see any more comfort now than usualy on the account of being alone. Hope my little family is well must close

                                                                        I am your true William

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