Well Brother & Sister I guess you are tired of the war news & my head some times gets so full I can talk or think of nothing else. I recd a letter from home yesterday all was was well & dear says she takes a cry every day about me I write her word to save her sighs & tears for a worse time—but I am in hopes they may soon turn into joy that would suit much better. Well I see you give me a sort of a scowling for not writing but sister it was not for the want of love I have for you both—times you know have been kept in confusion ever scince I wrote you last. I had your jars fixed up both times to send you but could never get them off I have them on hand yet & if I ever can find any of the Hancock Committee will send them. You say you will send another box. Sister I hate to ask such but at the same time nothing would afford me more pleasure my wife sent one some time back but I guess it is lost. When you send one send it in Care of Col. Abram Watt Montgomery R. Committee (He is a cousin of my wife & says anything that may be sent to me /

 

And darkness on every hand & O see it depicted in every countenance both young & old. Well here we are at this time gone into regular camps waiting for a move from the enemy. It would not surprise me if Sherman was not at this time sending troops to Richmond or to Mobile while we are under this 10 days truce & the first thing we hear of they will burst up at some point & get ahead of Hood as they did here at Atlanta for it is now given up. that Sherman completely out generaled Hood here. Well we know this much that Sherman moved his troops from the front of Atlanta some 6 or 7 days before Hood ever made a move & our troops all under the impression that Sherman was going back. But we soon found where he was after he got everything ready. We found Mr Hood had to get up & travel to save his scattered Army. You may say to all, this skedaddle beat missionary retreat under Bragg all to death for I had the displeasure of being in both & I am tired now of staying in a running Army / running Army. It is something very strange that our whole Army trains were not captured. I made no other calculation but what mine would be for it was 11 at night before I could get off from Atlanta. They were burning the ordnance trains about the time I left & the next morning their Cavalry at light were fighting not more than a mile behind us. then you ought to have seen our trains double quick up—our trains never stoped until we arrived in Jackson Butts Co. I had begun to think perhaps we should go near enough for me to have given you a call.We only remained at Jackson one day & we were ordered back to this place & where we shall go next no one can tell. Some thinks we shall go to Virginia & some think we shall go to the Blue Mountain. When ever an other move is made tho the Enemy told our Citizens that we are bringing out not to stop at Macon as they would be there in one month & did not wish to be bothered with them any more. So I say no telling where we shall go from this point. I am in hopes we shall go to Ohio. there is where I want to see this army start /

 

This whole Country through here is destroyed. where both armies have been there is not a fence rail left. The Enemy treated the families very badly above this tore up the women & children clothing & their beding. taken all their stock & provisions. Some few families were looking out for them & they have some provisions hid off & some that had theirs hid off & their Negroes knowing where it was told. So if you ever have the occasion to hide any never let the Negroes know where it is or any thing about it for they will be sure & tell on you. The Negroes are perfectly free in this Country. A great many planters have left & I still find a large number here & say they are going to remain but they will be compelled to leave for we are ruining this Country. Eating up everything & the troops are killing up all the hogs in the whole section. My G_d our Army destroys just about as much as the Yankee army. Stealing every thing they can come across & our men are fed very scanty at this time on poor beef & that light weight I have just returned from a trip to day from Flint River beyond our Picket line in hunt of forage found nothing the Country eat out & where both armies had been it is sad to look at /

 

NB. I would have been very glad to have come up with your Brother & Mr. Berman as they were great friends of mine. Where school boys together it would have been quite a treat indeed. I made inquiries for Hancock men.

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