Confederate Letters

Courtesy of Jean Herrin Clinkscales

submitted by Gloria B. Mayfield, Rusk Co. Coordinator

Camp in the field

near Atlanta Ga

August 9th 1864

Dear Father & Mother as I have an opportunity of writing you a few lines I will do so Mr Benjamin Birdwell is a going to Start home day after to Morrow and I will write by him well I have no good news to write to you we have had a hard time

for a bout Sixty Sevn days we have been in line of Battle and a Scrummish Fighting with the yanks every day and night during this time

we left the Miss Department about the Sixteenth of April to Reinforce Gen Johnstons Army and we have been Seeing hard times every since that time the Yanks have been driving us back every Since we got to the Army untill we fell back here to Atlanta we have been here in the Breast works about two weeks but I do not no how long it be before they will flank us and force us to fall back from here if we fall back from this place I do not no where we will make the next stand at

we have been very lucky Since we have been in this Campaign our Brigade has not been ary Genrl engagement Since we have been on this Campaign although we have lost a great many men killed and wounded out of our Company Winslow Corley and WH Daniels was killed and Thos Hodges wounded in the head Monroe Fite was wounded in the elbow his arm will be always stiff Eli Banks was wounded in the Ancle and JJ Langley was slightly wounded in the hip I have been fortunate enough not to get touched with a ball so far I have been Sick a good portion of the time Since we have been on this Campiagn I was sick at the Hospittal at Greensboro Ga about twenty five days and I come back and stayed in camps about two weeks and I tukened the fever and went to the Division hospittal and I got back in camp yesterday evening I am in tolerable good health at this time I have got clear of the fever but I am weak yet I would be glad to see this Campaign end but there is no telling when it will end if we could be Successful here and at Verginnia in driving them back I think there would be Some prospects of the War ending but they are pressing us on every point at this time with the Bum Shells and Minnie Balls are constantly flying over us but the Boys are a getting Worty ust to them but once

and a while one gets hit

well I have writen all of the news that I no I wish I could get to come home and see you all but I see no prospect of getting to come home soon this leaves me well and I hope it will find you enjoying the same blessing I have Received three letters

from you and Catherine Since I have written home you must excuse my bad writen and Spelling until Death

Henry Watson