Head Qrs Army Tenn

Aug. 5^th 64

 

Dear Mother

                        I am here at last and you can rightly infer that I have not [paper fold] I believe I had told you before that my battery was captured It has not yet been reorganized but will be in a week or two until that time I subscribe myself a G.L. I am staying at Gen. Howard's Head Quarters as a kind of supernumerary staff officer—within sound but fortunately not within reach of rebel missiles. I am yet but very poorly posted in the situation of the contending armies and consequently can give you but little information concerning the state of affairs. The 23^d Corps is on the right and will to day be pushed around to the rail road—I was over to the Head Qrs. of that Corps yesterday but it was in / motion and I could not get to see Taff nor any of the 24^th—while I was over there I happened to mention the regiment to one of the staff officers and he spoke of it in the most commendable terms as being one of the most gallant and best regiments in the command.

 

I have met quite a number of acquaintances since my arrival—three of my own class mates among them. Ernst who is assistant engineer on Gen Howards staff Ludlow chief engineer of the twentieth Corps & Damrell on the same duty with the twenty third Corps. I met with the senior officer of my battery today & was very much pleased with him. He & I are the only officers now connected with it Lieuts Murray & Breckinridge being captives. Murray is a graduate & I knew him very well Breckinridge is a brother of the one at West Point & it is said a very nice gentleman, so appearances indicate that / I will have very pleasant companions

 

I have been living in the same tent as Ernst but he was sent to fortify Marietta & will not be back for a week or more—I have but little news to give you concerning the movements of the Army. It is gradually closing on Atlanta but it may be a week or more before it is taken. The army is considerably dwindled down on account of the large detachments thrown to the rear to guard the line of communications which is very long. There has been no very hard fighting since I have been here but skirmishing is going on all the while and while I am writing I can scarcely hear myself think for the sound of musketry. Atlanta is in full view from parts of our lines but in viewing it some quite formidable fortifications loom up in the field of vision. It is reported that we captured two spies within our lines to day so I suppose their desire of glory / & their ambition will find their goal shortly at the end of the rope. I suppose you will have heard before this reaches you the misfortune of Gen. Stoneman in getting captured—but I am writing under such disadvantages that I will have to close

 

My address for the present is

            Battery "F" 2^nd U.S. Art.

                        Head Qrs of dept. & Army of Tenn

                                    Near Atlanta

 

with the hope of hearing from you soon

I remain as ever

Your affect son

Rezin

SOURCES