mand in trying to keep up with it. I find my leg is very weak, and in marching all day it pains me very mnch; but I cannot think of turning back, and miss going to Tennessee. The army is again in motion, after a rest of some days; and probably by the time this is in your hands, we will be near Nashville. Oh, I know that will make your heart leap for joy, as well as the soldiers. I never saw an army in better spirits-no grumbling, straggling, or anything of the kind. Our rations have been short, once, for twenty-four hours, on account of bad, muddy roads. Our clothes are good, and our teams in good order for the time of year, and we have all the advantage of Sherman now. He has not been able to give us any tronble since our army left Atlanta. Thomas Phorris and Vaughan are with the brigade, and join me in best wishes and love to you. This leaves me in good health. Mrs. Gustine and Amos wish to be remembered to you. I am, as ever, your friend, B. F. WILKS. [ Written for MRS. S. E. D. SMITH.] GRANDMA : May thou have health-and fortune, too- To comfort soldiers is thine heart's delight, So on memory's page thou wilt shine so bright Will cast a smile to hear thy name. JAMES LEVI PFLUGER, Co. A, 5th Reg't Tenn. Vols. MRS. SMITH: In Line of Battle, near Chattahoochie River, Dear Friend-With pleasure I write you a few lines to inform you that I am well, and, thanks to kind Providence, been permitted to pass through this campaign, so far, with only a slight bruise. This is sixty-one days since we left Dalton and formed our line of battle, and since that there has not been a day that we have been out of hearing of small arms, and only about two days that we were not exposed to fire. You have long since heard of our fight at Dalton, and the heavy loss we sustained there. My company has suffered severely. We have had four killed and twelve wounded; every officer lost-two killed and one wounded. We have eleven men for duty out of thirty-one who left Dalton; some of them are prisoners of war. I wrote to you about three weeks ago. I received the articles you sent me by Sergeant Smith, and I assure you they were very acceptable, and I am under many obligations to you for them. Your kindness will never be forgotten. I hope that at some future time I will be permitted to thank you for the kindness you have always shown me. All is quiet along the line, with the exception of the usual picket firing. We have a splended position, well fortified, and feel confident that we can hold it. The spirits of the army are fine, the discipline good, and all are ready for fight. I would like, if I had the material, to write you a full account of our operations since we left Dalton; probably it would interest you. Write soon, and give me all the news. Excuse all mistakes, and I will try to do better next time. Your friend, D. S. HERAN. MRS. SMITH: Greensboro, Ga., August 20, 1864. Dear Friend-Your letter, be assured, was a welcome visitor to me. Any demonstration of kind remembrance is cheering to the wounded, suffering soldier-particularly to one cut off from his home; consequently, yours was to me peculiarly so. In some respects my health is somewhat improved to what it was while you were here--i. e., I have not had a chill in a week, and I am clear of fever. I hope the gangrene is entirely killed, for it has progressed until the artery is exposed, and a very little more will endanger my leg. The doctor, however, says that all I lack now is an appetite, which it seems hard to regain. Miss Conner has not been here since you left. She promised to come and bring me something that I could eat. I have written her this morning, and hope that ere long she will fulfill her promise. I would like very much to be with you, and unless some unforeseen trouble, I hope to be able to travel in the course of three or four weeks, and intend coming to you. Ask Dr. Robertson to please have a tent erected for my special benefit. I am sorry, grandma, that I am not a christian, and I would be one if I knew how. Since my late afflictions, I have thought more seriously and felt more earnestly on the importance of the subject than I have since the days of my childhood and youth, and I feel no disposition to resist those impressions as heretofore. You will be very busy I know, but I should be glad if you could steal a few moments and write to me occasionally. Mr. Wells sends his respects to you. I shall always be happy to hear from you. Write whenever you can. Affectionately, your friend, B. P. NANCE. MRS. S. E. D. SMITH: Though youth and beauty are blighted, and though old age is creeping over thy honored brow, yet there is a strong attraction of filial affection for thy parental love and care impressed on my heart that time and change cannot efface. JOE F. HARPER, Company H, 9th Tennessee Regiment. MRS. S. E. D. SMITH: Near Atlanta, July 23, 1864. Highly Honored Friend-Your kind and highly interesting letter of the 13th ultimo was handed to me this morning by one of our boys who was wounded in the charge yesterday. I have been very busy dressing the wounded, and have not had time to answer it before now; and as it is almost dark, I cannot promise to write you a long letter this time. Our regiment was badly cut up, a great many of the boys were killed and wounded. Gus Flotron and Freddy Brinkman were seriously wounded, and I greatly fear that Gus will die. They were wounded in the charge made yesterday. I suppose that you have heard that I am now staying at the Division Hospital, where I can do a great deal more good than in charging Yankee breastworks. I could not stand the hardships of the campaign, and my health is completely prostrated. I expect to be ordered on duty in some of the hospitals shortly, and I should be only too happy to come to you, and remain with you until the termination of this unholy war. I foel that my proper sphere is not to inflict, but to relieve human suffering, and I long to be in a position where I can exercise my vocation to good purpose. It is getting too dark to write any more, and I will now close, by bidding you God speed. Your devoted friend, A. F. SAMUELS. One and a half Miles from Atlanta, Ga., July 24, 1864. I Dear Friend-I resume my pen this morning, if for no other reason than to avoid sending you a blank sheet. always dislike receiving a blank sheet, it looks to me unfriendly. Freddy Brinkman and Gus Flotron were both dying when I saw them last. This makes two more brave and noble spirits that our company have to mourn. We left Dalton with thirty-six; thirteen of those have been wounded, and eight killed-twenty-one in all. But I hope they have taken their flight to a better world, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." I am fearful that the sad scenes which I have passed through in this war will leave a cloud upon my spirits for the rest of my life; but I hope that it has been the means of bringing me into the ark of safety. It has taught me to place my trust in God alone, and to read and love His Holy Word. Who then can say that it has not been a real blessing to me? You have doubtless heard of poor Conner's death. I was with him when he breathed his last. We conversed earnestly for a long time, and I cannot help remarking one expression that fell from his lips a short time before he died. Taking hold of my hand, he uttered in a very peculiar and solemn tone, "Doc, this is the last campaign." God grant his words may prove true. The roar of cannon and rattle of musketry are dinning in my ears as I write, and from my very heart I utter a fervent prayer to God to spare the few friends that I have left. Alas, how few in number! I almost feel desolate. Your earnest friend, A. F. SAMUELS. |