Camp 2 miles from Atlanta, Ga.
June 30th 1864
My Dear Wife,
It is with continued pleasure that I again seat my self to write to one who is so dear to me, your very kind & loving letter of the 17th came to hand 27th and I assure you that is was rec’d with pleasure & delight. I was so glad to hear that you & babies & friends generally was well & that you was getting along so well that I have felt quite easy about affairs at home. I am very glad that the carpet bag and contents got home safe & so quick. I think Alex Baldwin a very clever man. I am glad that Patsy & Tim is so proud of their shoes. I could have sent two pairs like Tims, but I thought such as Tims would be to heavy for Pasty. You did not say whether they fit or not. I guessed at Tims size & thought Patsys size from what you wrote me was about my size, but suppose they fit pretty well or you would have said something about it. I thought Tim would be very proud of the axe as it is one of the best I ever cut with, I reckon it went safe. I sent my old drawers & a tick which I reckon you can find a use for, so you see that I am quite stingy for the most of soldiers throwing out all their old clothing, but I sent them as presents to my wife & I imagine that she is glad to get such presents from her old boy. I did not send the key as I had but one & it one I made it fit my other carpet bag & I knew that you had one at home that fit the one that I sent. I don’t know that I wrote you about the key or not. As for news I have but little of much importance since my last, there has been some heavy fighting at the fort in the last few days. The Yanks have charged our lines at several places & at different times & have been slaughtered powerful killed by hundreds & fell in heaps & repulsed with little loss to us compared to theirs. We have taken a good many prisoners report came last night that Morgan is in the rear with 10 thousand men & had captured 25 thousand Yanks. I hope its so, but I fear it not. If true Mr. Sherman & his hord will have to fight a desperate battle to come to Atlanta for provisions or beat a hasty retreat for the rear. Our boys have been fighting some as Ham Penland wrote me a few days ago that Jeff Martin of my Co was wounded in the knee. I do hope this thing will be decided soon. The weather has been very hot for several days though this morning its rainy a little, which will cool the air. I hope we will not have such a wet spell as we have had. I hear the cannon booming this morning as usual. I am very sorry that Lt. Anderson is still sick & suffering from chills. I fear that the remedy that he is receiving is not beneficial to him, though I know that such treatment is good for chills & stiffness that frequently affect man, warm poultices to the abdomen & female arms around the breast & neck & sweet kisses to the lips is certainly a good remedy & pleasant treatment. I know that it would help my rheumatism & relieve some of the stiffness that I am so subject too. If it only could be given me by my own sweet little girl. I do hope it won’t be long before you can treat me to such remedies, enough of this as it almost makes me frantic to think of home & such pleasures as is in store for me.
I am sorry that Sallie Baley has become so lazy and trifling. I did tell her that I wanted her to stay & take care of you & the babys, but I did not expect her to act as she is doing. Say to her that she has not done as I expected her to do & for her to hunt her another home at once, that you have no further use for her. I do wish you had some of the Marthey Ingraham or Sallie Moore fire, so that you would not let yourself be imposed on by such people. If Sallie is not able to work for her support, she ought to be put on the county & you ought to call your Pa’s attention to the fact & he would have it done. I think you have fed & waited on her long enough for nothing & now the hard season is passed & blackberrys, beans, greens &potatoes have come. She must look a new pasture & go to it at once, delay not a day but start her at once. I hope you are having beans, potatoes, peas, blackberrys & plenty and is having eggs, butter & plenty & living finely. I wish I was with you to get a kiss. (The last page is missing)
July 1st 1864
My Dear Wife,
As I did not send my letter to the office yesterday but will this morning Capt. Bristol who left the front a few days ago sick & is staying here with us says he heard one of Crawfords men reading a letter from home that said Bill Addingtons wife had gone deranged, is it so? I have but little news to write this morning. The Yanks charged Cheatams Division yesterday morning & was repulsed with heavy loss it must be hearsay for the division loss 1,40 killed & wounded 7 them behind breast works & in ditches. The formation of Regts, brigds & divisions are as follows, 10 Co make a Regt, from 4 to 7 regt make a Brigd, from 4 to 7 Bridg make a division, 3 to 5 Divisions a troop. The cannons roared all day yesterday & until after I went to sleep last night but not very heavy no cannonading this morning all appears quite. Yesterday was a damp cloudy day some rain this morning is beautiful sun pleasant. The Yanks will have to move up if they carry out their intentions & boasts that they would have Atlanta by the 4 July. A good many here got to Atlanta but was surrounded by confed with bayonets after them & I should not be surprised if more come that way before the 4th passes.
Write me a long letter commence several day before you mail it & give me all the particulars of your farming operation & other peoples operations all & everything you think of or can hear of. I assure you it would be of great interest to me. I am almost frantic to get home but there is no chance until after this fight is over then I shall try with all the scheming that I can bring to bear. I dream of home nearly every night & you know that I am not much of a hand to dream. I will close again as I am out of soap or suds so kiss my babies often for me & my love to all believe me ever a devoted loving husband. I remain your own Alfa
Atlanta, Ga July 14th 1864
My Dear Wife,
You very welcome letter of the 1st came to hand 12th inst, which I assure you was recd with pleasure & joy. I was so glad to hear from you & my blessed little babes our friends & relations generally was well & doing the best you can for your selves. I am very sorry that my letters are so long getting to you, for I write you once a week ever since I have been here. I shall envelope this to the p m in Athens & ask him to mail it to you & probably you may get it by Saturday weeks mail. I have nothing much to write you since my last only our wagon train has moved in to this place & our army has fell back this side of the Chatahoochee River 9 miles from here no fighting, but skirmishing & cannonading not so heavy as has been. I think the Yankees are trying to flank us as it is just reported that hey have made Newnan last night some 40 miles below here towards Montgomery. I hardly think there will be a big fight there as all the stores & supplies has been & is being sent off from here & the citizens are all leaving here, town looks lonesome. I think 2 thirds of the houses are now unoccupied, be a great time to buy furniture if a body could get it home. I went out yesterday to our division hospital & cooking train saw several of my boys. They are generally well & those that have been sent off sick are returning well. Poor Billy Low (Nathans son) died in Montgomery 26th last month. Jas. Moore (Johials son) also died there. I wrote you in my last of the death of Wm. Henson of my Co, who died from a wound recd the same day that Lt. West was killed. Capt. Crawford staid all night with me night before last. He is well & his wound is nearly well, he has been back form the hospital for several days at the fort. I am looking for my orders every day as Lt. Pose of our Regt who was court martialed the week before I was recd his orders yesterday & was ordered to the front, there is no telling when it may come. I am sorry that my little sweet babe is so much trouble to you. I reckon I shall have to come & take charge of her for you which I hope want be long before I can do so. I am glad Sallie Baley is doing better & if you are dissatisfied with her have her to leave at once. I don’t want you to be imposed on by any one, more especially when its no profit to you for them to stay. I had much rather you to hire someone to do your work. You had better keep all your valuables concealed the best you can, your knives, forks for fear of a tory raid as they take everything they can carry off with them. We are living pretty well now & if we had money could live very well, but everything is very high, irish potaotes 12 dollars per bushel, green beans at half, per quart molasses 20 dollars, pork 1.50 to 2, beef 1.00 to 1.50 & washing shirt 50 cts, drawers & socks some petticoats 1.00 each, tobacco from $1.50 to 4 per plug. So you see a soldiers wages aint no where. I think you darling will keep up with the times some way. Gen. Bragg got here yesterday & don’t know what he & Gen. Johnson may conclude to do. I hope there is some good scheme to rout the yankees. I was very sorry to hear that Bill McCall was killed, he was a cleaver & brave fellow such is the result & horrors of war, God grant peace.
As for me resigning I shall certainly try as soon as time will admit or course I cannot now while fighting is going on. I know my boys wont consent to it, but its due them that I do for I cannot be of that service to them that a Capt. should be to his Co for I have no influence with the Commanders of the Regt & like my boys as well & am beliked by them as well as any officer in the Regt. but I think under the circumstances & in honor to my self that I ought to resign. I had rather be a private in some good Cavalry Co with good officers than to be imposed on the way that I have been by Coleman & Co, so have no fears on that but hope for opportunity. I believe I have written all I think of now so I’ll close write me how long it takes this to reach you so I may know whither to continue to sent to the P M at Athens. I stop, kiss my sweet babes often for me & my love to all our relations & friends & believe me ever your own devoted loving husband Alfa
Camp 25 miles S. West of Atlanta, Ga
Saturday July 23rd 1864
My Dear Wife
Your very welcome & interesting letter of the 8th came to hand a few days ago. It gave me great satisfaction to hear that you & my babes was well & the friends generally. I am very much oblige to you for answering my many questions it gave me much satisfaction. I have delayed writing you at my usual time which is Thursday or Friday, for this fact, heavy skirmishing commenced south of the Chatahoochee River & east of Atlanta, the 19th in which Sergt. W.T. Tippit of my Co was killed shot through the head & Jovan J. Jones wounded just above the right knee flesh wound & Rhodes (Toms brother), I don’t know his name is a recruit) through the right arm, flesh wound, no others was hurt in my Co or Crawfords Co. The next days account the fight was very heavy on our center & right our regt not engaged. Still heavy in center & right heavy skirmishing on our left in which Jackson Moore was shot through right shoulder bone broke. Others in our regt was shot but we was ordered away & I could not learn anything further though the battle was raging when we left the city, several shell fell in town before we left. We could hear the small arms very plain in town & yesterday we could hear the cannons very plain here, it was terrific. I think the heaviest I ever heard. We cannot hear it so plain today but the fight is still raging. The result so far as I can learn is favorable to us, it is said that Hardee cut their line yesterday & got in their rear captured 2000 prisoners & drove them 3 or 4 miles & Wheeler is in their rear. This morning the fight is still raging we captured 1500 prisoners & 2 of Shermans aides. His ambulance & part of his supplies & our army was still driving them. I have no doubt but this is the most desperate battle of the war. I understand several of our Gen. have fallen among whom are Maj. Gen. Walker. I need to hear from our regt. I know it has been engaged & I have heard that 15 of the 29th regt has been taken prisoners & our regt joined it. The result of the battle will have a powerful effect either for or against the south. If we are victorious which I do hope & pray we may be, though the odds are against us, for they have nearly 2 men to our one. I think the war near at an end, but on the contrary if the Yanks are victorious I cannot see any end or stopping point everything that officers & men can do will be done here & if Sherman is routed his army is done.
I suppose you have learned that the Yankees have cut the rail roads nearly all around us. They tore up the Augusta Road or about 20 miles, commencing at Decatur & going south. They have tore up the West Point & Montgomery R Road for 20 or 30 miles also cut the road running from Apolacha to Macon leaving us but the Atlanta & Macon Road, which is 4 or 5 miles east of our camp, so we get no news from Atlanta only as some fellow passes. I think we will hear something this evening as some of the boys are going to the depot as there is a wagon going to the Depot, I’ll stop & go myself & if I hear anything I’ll write it form there. I’ ll direct this to Beng & he can send it to you by so doing it will go quicker as it will be distributed in Ga instead of Raleigh, NC in Jonesboro. I have heard nothing more than what I have written, only the fight is still raging. I’ll write again in a few days then probably I can give more of the particulars so I’ll close write often & direct as before Ectors Brig Frenches Division, kiss my babes often for me & believe me ever your…….Alfa
July 23rd 1864
Dear Brother,
As I have just written Mollie & con not give the casualties & particulars of the present great battle that is now going on near Atlanta. I thought I would direct to you and you can send it to her as she probably will get it quicker than directed to her to NC as it would be sent to Raleigh for distribution. I have nothing more to write you than I have written her, but I’ll write you soon. I have heard nothing form my trial yet, but will soon I guess, hope not until after the fight is over as I don’t like Shermans music much. I heard it for 2 days and its full blast combined with Hoods tune make a man frantic and spotted. Ill close, write soon my respects to Dan tell him that his office is entirely deserted the glass (?) left the windows. Atlanta is a deserted looking place & I guess will be a skeleton soon. Respects to judge & family, my next will be more interesting perhaps.
Alfa
Lafayette Co., Ga 25 miles S. West of Atlanta July 27th 1864
My Dear Wife,
Yours of 19th inst came to hand this morning, which was gladly rec’d I assure you. I was glad to hear that you & my babes was tolerable well. I hope Minnie is better. I reckon she is eating to much fruit is the cause of her bowels being in a bad fix. I reckon you are doctor enough to cure her. I expect from your letter that Ann is dead as you only wrote that Ann died on your birthday the (?) & said Leon gave you the dog skin as you come from the house. I have nothing new to write Sergt. Bristol who I stay with come from the front this morning & brought my letter & said Lt. Anderson & the boys all them are laying in the ditches not fighting but shelling is going on all the time & it is thought the big fight will come off soon. He saw many of our Cavalry going to our left last night & thinks they are aiming for Shermans rear, though I fear it will be a long siege like Richmond & Petersburg. He says that we captured between 4 & 5 thousand prisoners & 25 pieces of artillery the other day in the fight I wrote you about, which I described to Beng. I am very anxious for it to close & all get quite again & my release to come so that I can tender my resignation. I feel that I can cure some of your bad dreams & let you realize some of your good pleasant dreams. If I only was there with you which I know would be very pleasant & agreeable to me & expectable to you, what say you everyday makes me more determined to tender my resignation as soon as an opportunity offers & I think it will be expectable with Coleman. I know the boys will oppose it but I think now I have a sufficient excuse & they cannot think hard of me for so doing. I am very sorry that my letters are so long reaching you for I assure you that I write every week. I enveloped one to the P M at Athens & my last I directed to Beng so I don’t know how to direct for the quickest way as I have not heard from you either yet.
I have just learned that the baggage we have here is ordered to be took to Griffin & stored there & the wagons to haul corn & supplies to Atlanta so I don’ know whether I will stay in Griffin or go up to Atlanta & stay with the cooking train or hospital. One thing certain I shall not go into the ditches until after I am released which may or may not be soon. I am getting tired of this place we get no news we are camped in the woods 5 or 6 miles from Jonesboro which is on the Rail Road. This is a very poor thinly settled country & not much chance to get vegetables though we get a few potatoes & collards but no beans, roastinears are beginning to come in we probably will fair better as we draw nothing but meal & bread & every thing is so high & us out of money so you see we are not living like lords at present. Cider is a dollar a quart or 3 per gallon. I think if I was with you today you would supply me for less money that that would. You wished to know my prospects for resigning if I mistake not congress passed a law allowing officers to resign if he chose, though he is liable to conscription. My prospects to keep from being conscripted are these Col. Bryan who use to be Capt. of one of the Cos of our Regt who resigned at Lenoir Station Ten. & then was elected Lt. Col. in Gov. Browns state troops resigned the other day & while we was camped in Atlanta come out to see me, he has the appointment of buying cattle in Western NC, North Ga, E. Ten & for the army on his own book and has offered me a position as soon as I resign. If you recollect that he & I was great friends & I think he is anxious that I shall be with him we are to be partners, should this fail I reckon I should have to join Thomas, Henry or Young either would keep me near home as Thomas & Henry bounds are Western NC & Youngs commands are the upper part of Ga. I shall tender my resignation & ask leave of absence for 30 days & before that time expires I will hear from it & can make my own arrangements & I am sorry to hear that Dee is drinking if he now makes a dog of himself again he ought to be shot. Who bought Nolens town property? You had better get Baldwin to make you a pair of shoes out of Buicks skin as dog skin makes nice shoes. I’ll close kiss my sweet babes often for me, love to all I remain ever your own….Alfa
J. H. Penland is elected 3rd Lieut. in Co B, I am still pleased with the Cos choice he is a cleaver & worthy boy one of my favorites, I will write again in a few days.
Griffin, Ga July 29th 1864
My Dear Wife
After writing & before I mailed my letter we was ordered to this place yesterday & are camped in a nice grove close to town, but I learned that the baggage is all to be stored & all go to the fort also the Qr. ms sergts, if so I shall go too but will not go in the ditches unless I am released. I shall go to stay with the cooking dept & the report is here that there was a heavy fight on our left yesterday & we drove the Yanks & took their breast work. I don’t know the result as no train has come from Atlanta yet. I guess there is something up as it is now 12 o’clock & the train is due at 9 this morning & the people here are looking for a raid on this place everyday. I don’t know whether there is any danger or not, though I should not be surprised if a raid is made on this road some where as this is the only road leading to our army & it would cause the evacuation of Atlanta, if it was cut I fear.
I have nothing else strange to write you at this time as I have written all I could think of in the foregoing epistle, so you must excuse the brevity of this note & you must write often & regular & direct it as before give me all the news from the boys in Va. & our home people & your own domestic affairs & how your corn, potatoes, beans & meadow looks. I’ll stop as the wagon has come to haul our baggage to town to be stored, give my love to all our relation & friends kiss my sweet little babes often for me & believe me ever you own devoted loving …..Alfa
PS Since writing the above I learn the Yanks have captured some of our train (wagons) & cut the R Road at Jonesboro 20 miles above here, great excitement the train came and went back for 1200 men, people leaving this town fast.
Atlanta, Ga Aug 19th 1864
My Dear Wife,
Yours of 25th came to hand the 11th found me well & in the ditches with the boys. I was on a visit to see them & I found them generally well but a good deal of grumbling & dissatisfaction rations short & so much duty to do that they are worn out. The Yanks breast works are in plain view & a constant shelling which keep the boys close to their breast works, the pickets fight all the time its one continual roar of small arms in plain view of both breast works. Our regt has escaped remarkable well lately none killed since I wrote you last, 4 have been wounded, Collins (Eli’s son) & Nichols (Darls son) of Co J., Collins middle finger left hand amputated. Nicholes right side of face, piece of shell some others who you are not acquainted with. I started out yesterday evening to see the boys & the shelling was so heavy that I came back. I think there was 40 or 50 struck within 100 yds of me & I thought some came near hitting me and learning that the regt was going out on picket last night I came back to the cooking train where I stay badly scared. As for war news I have but little Wheeler is certainly gone to the rear of Sherman & report says torn up 20 miles of R Road. If so Sherman will have to fight or retreat if he charges our works. He is whipped he must do something soon for his supplies he cannot get from the country. Both armys is well fortified here, the Yankees shell Atlanta both day & night they burn a house nearly every day or night & occasionally kill somebody they have killed several women & children still that don’t them leave town. I am sorry for them I think they ought to take their children & get out of horrors way & the reach of shells.
Well I have an apology to make you this is the first letter I have written you since I left Griffin over 2 weeks ago. The cause of my not writing you last week was the Yanks had cut the R Roads & stopped communication for a few days & then I thought I would wait until I visited the regt & the day I rec’d your letter I wrote out my resignation which was excepted by the Col. I asked for leave of absence which was not granted so I waited until I could hear from the later paper hoping that I could get to go home but Coleman disapproved it & so did all the officers. I suppose it will be 30 days before I hear from my resignation which has to go to Richmond. I tendered it unconditionally & immediately I said nothing to my boys about it as they told me that they heard I was going to resign &if I did they swore they would go too. I told Lt. Anderson about it & he hated it very bad but said he could not blame me. The boys all know it now I fear as soon as they get their pay which learn will be in a few days many will go home. Woodbury Owens left for home a few night ago, 12 or 14 of the Jackson Co has gone home. If this siege last much longer I fear half of our army will leave but I have hope that Sherman will have to retreat some and we may yet drive them back. Capt. Dyche & Whitker have tender their resignation & asked for leave of absence, their resignation was excepted but they have not heard whether leave is granted or not. Capt. Hughes & others say they are going to resign. John Reid is trying for a furlough but has not heard from it yet. I got a letter from Joe a few days ago dated July 18th he was well then & near Petersburg. I also got one from Samey dated July 27th he was in Richmond in the Qr Masters Dept & said he heard that Joe was about to loose one of his eyes, did not tell the cause but said he was going to see him in a few days. I will write them today. I have not recd your letter giving me the particulars of Anns death infact this is the only one I have recd lately except the one Anderson brought me & I suppose from what you said is that Ann was dead, you said Ann died on your birthday. Will Woodfin also told me of her death. I will go out to the regt in a day or two & I may strike some place to get off some. The yanks are shelling very heavy this evening it’s a continual roar a general engagement could not be much heavier. I hope to be with my two wives some to rec’d the good things & presents they have in store for me. The clothing I don’t need at present so bad but the sleeping with my wife I am very needy I hope the time close when I can get booth, clothing & the sweet kisses & pleasant bed mate, Kiss my sweet babes often for me my love to all I ever remain your devoted husband, write often….Alfa