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Regiment: 1st Michigan Light Artillery
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Hd Qrs Battery F 1st Mich Lt Art’y
Near Atlanta Ga Aug 15th/64
My Dear Hattie-
Have just looked
at my watch and find that it still
wants a few minutes to 5 o’clock
You of course are still asleep and
doubtless will be for four hours to come
unless Aunt Betsey should send
you for the washerwoman are occur
never that did happen once I recollect
and the only time that I ever re-
member of your being up
early enouph
to see the sun rise.
I have however [ ? ] and
begun a lecture on early rising in-
stead of telling ou of my health safe
ty and all the war news. And yet
how can I converse with you when
you are locked in the embrace of Morphew
perhaps however you may awake
by the time this reaches you and I will continue.
Well darling my health is very
good at present; much better than
for weeks past. But my eyes are
getting worse again. I am favoring
them as much as my business will
admit of; writing but little by candle
light and no more than is actually
necessary at anytime. Could I
get some one that was capable of
performing the administration duties
of the battery should with the exception
of my correspondence with my own
dear girl cease writing entirely.
But in all the battery
not a man nor an officer can be
found that can perform the duties
correctly. Therefore what am I
to do? I can see but one alternat-
tive and that is to keep doing until
my eyesight either improve or become
so much impaired as to unfit-we
for farther military duty and then
resign or get a sick leave.
I hope however with care and
proper diet that it may improve
I had almost forgotten
that when I last wrote you we were
under marching orders with the
intention of trying to make a raid
on the Rail Road. Got my battery
in readiness and had moved forward
one mile at daylight when an
order came countermanding the former
one and we gladly countermarched
to our original position where we have
been fortunate enough to remain since
and aside from a little fighting each
day enjoying that rest so much
needed by the soldiers of this army
Already the effect has
been beneficial as the decrease of sick
in the battery will attest. Several
times each day we have short
Artillery duels with the two rebel
batteries in our front. First enough
to make it interesting and exciting.
Last evening as I went
from the battery to the ambulance
a short distance in rear in I was
thinking how differently you and
I had paped the Sabbath day and
how different the scenes that we
had
[ ? ] during the course of the
day. With you all had been peace
ful and quiet. You had
[ ? ]
through with the same
[ ? ] of
duty and
[ ? ] the same scenes
that each Sabbath day brings about.
Here two large and
hostile armies lay watching each
other at from 800 to 1500 yards distance.
The sharp crack of musketry
could be heard along the picket line
at all hours of the day. Whilst
the war of Artillery at times seemed
to shake the whole earth.
Here and there
[ ? ] of soldiers
were intent upon drawing their rations
of hard tack,
[ ? ] +c. Then a squad
was killing
[ ? ] cattle. Yonder of the
creek some were bathing and others
busily engaged in washing clothing.
In various places along the line
some were strengthening their fortiss’
[ ? ] so that they would effectually
stop all Artillery missiles. At those
scattering campfires the cooks are
preparing the daily meals for their
different
[ ? ]. Sitting here and
then in the shade hundreds of them
may be sun busily employed in
writing to loved ones at home.
Here come the stretcher bearers carrying
the dead and wounded. Other homes
have been made desolate parents have
lost a son a wifes, a husband, sisters
a brother a sweetheart a lover. God
help hem to bear so great a loss with
Christian fortitude.
[ ? ] that some
yonder a Chaplain is preaching to an
audience of attentive listeners. Whilst
within the sound of his voice a group
of reckless unprincipled fellows are
playing at cards and cuning equally loudly
at their good or ill luck. And thus
I might go on enumerating thing
after thing that comes
[ ? ] the obser-
vation of a person during our day
where no battle is progressing.
What think you of the sabbaths in
the army.
Doubtless [ ? ] this Lieut
Holbrook has called on you
[ ? ]
said he should. Some of my
officers tell me that he said if
he could
[ ? ] if he should not
return to the battery as he was
tired of the service.
I have just recd a letter from
Col. Hale. He is at Knoxville and
I presume having a good time.
I always like to get letters from
him he is so strong a friend of
mine and writer such good
letters. I began early this morning
but so many things have hindered
me that it is now late in the
evening and I have not finished.
It is very dark and raining. All
are asleep except the guards and I
really feel lonely. I would give
much were I with you this evening
I know it would be a perfect antidote
to all loneliness. But darling it
will not do for me to write but
little by candlelight and I
must soon bring their letter to a close.
We are still with extreme right
and although the papers say that
we have got the
[ ? ] Rail Road
it is not so. Our
[ ? ] the nearest
on to it is 1 ½ miles distant with
a ridge
[ ? ] thus hiding it
from our view. That we will
get it. I doubt not even if Hood
has recd heavy reinforcements.
Which he doubtless has or he
could not be able to extend his
lives so far (a distance of at least
eight miles). I wish this
[ ? ]
[ ? ] was over so that I might get
a
[ ? ] and have my eyes
operated upon. Have not
written much interesting news
in fact there is but little to write
just at present.
Good night darling and may
He guide and protect you in
all time to came.
Byron
[On Envelope:]
Miss Hattie Crippen
Coldwater
Michigan
