R.B.L. to Mother

U. S. Military Telegraph.

 

June 7 1864

By Telegraph from Cleveland 1864

 

To Dear Mother:

          I recd fathers last letter some few days ago the first I have heard from home in a long time. Have had letters from Frank Jilsun & Ed Sholes. Frank is learning to telegraph he tells me. Glad to hear it. I am still at the old place you see. Henry came here by rail when his corps was marching out from Huntsville & staid two or three days. I suppose you hear as much of the movements the army as I do so I can give you no news of any importance I am sure, though you / will be glad to learn as I did today by telegraph that Henry's detail has arrived from Washington all safe. We will try & get in an office together. I should like to get into one where we would be kept busy both for his improvement & my own. He has improved very much since I saw him at Bridgeport & took quite a long message by sound here without breaking, making very nice copy. If he had two months practice in a large office he would beat me all hollow. I myself have improved so much that I very seldom if ever break even one report.

 

            I am sorry to hear father is not going into the army as I hoped to see him down here this summer. I'm afraid I can't get away by the 4^th of July but Georgie & Ross may calculate on our having a "high old time" when I do come home & / I wished very much to see auntie & all the rest on the 4^th but I shall probably be in Atlanta or somewhere the other side of there perhaps in Mobile who knows. I have sent to Cincinnati for a uniform as there I can get it better & probably cheaper than elsewhere. It has not come yet but will be a gay "rig" when it does come. "Those" silver cord will take the shine off from anything I've seen yet. You have heard long ago no doubt of Col LaGranges capture at Varnell's Station on Cleveland & Dalton road. He was leading a charge / against a battery & acted with his usual courage. His men all say it is a wonder he was never taken before. I saw him the day before his capture. As you will see by the Chattanooga paper I send you he was taken to Atlanta & from there how much farther I do not know.

 

            Genl Stoneman my Bulls Gap acquaintance came through here shortly after—the 4^th Corps—He had the finest body of Cavalry I ever saw. Yesterday there was a shooting affair in town: One of the "Chivalree" shot at another who refused to pay him $13 for fixing his wifes teeth. The first "shivalree" was somewhat under the influence of liquor. The ball took effect in the leg of a justice of the peace but only caused a slight wound. The shooter was arrest & put in the guard house to be tried by court martial. No news at all here I expect to be ordered front daily & then will write again Love to all—Rob

SOURCES