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Camp near Maretta Ga. Fri. June 10th 1864 Dear Parents; You can see we are still camped in the same place where I wrote you last Tuesday. I have got the three Evening Posts you sent. The last one was mailes on the 3rd but I havn't seen nary a letter yet. We are under marching orders. We have been expecting to leave here since morning. Its 3 pm now and no signs of starting yet. I guess about tomorrow morning they will fetch us. The 4th, 14th, and 23rd Corps have been passing since morning. I think the Johneys are trying to hinder us from going down to Atlanta, for we heard considerable cannonadoing for about two hours and about 10 miles ahead. They say that general Blair of the 17th corps has come up with 20,000 men. If that is so I suppose we can go it on the flank. There was a rumor in camp yesterday that a Rebel Regiment of Tenn. Calvery came into our lines and surrendered. I didn't see any of them so I don't know if it is true or not. Most likely it is not. We are having plenty of thunder showers around here. It has been pouring down by odd spells all day. Writing paper and envelops are getting rather scarce in this part of the country. I don't want to cheat Uncle Sam a great deal but if you could put a sheet of paper and envelope in each paper you send me it would came in quite handy. And if you should happen to send a letter you could put in an extra sheet or two. They have repaired the railroad so that the cars can come to within 10 miles from here. Now our hard tack and mails can come through regular. On this march they have givin us a lot of hard tack, which is the staff of life in this part of the country. If General Sherman only gives us enough hard tack and cartridges I think we will have Atlanta in a week. I suppose after that we can buy everythihg we want including letter paper, for they say that the Johneys have got most everything there. They say that if they lose Atlanta they lose all. Sunday Evening 12th I havn't had a chance to mail this letter. We havn't moved yet. We have been under marching orders for the past 4 days but no signs of starting yet. Every other Corps but the 20th is at the front. I think we are acting as a reserve, and when they need old Hookers help they will call on him. Then we will be off on the double quick. I don't hear much fighting going on. I don't think Sherman is trying to push them very hard. I am going to send you a paper with this letter, The Chattanooga Gazeette. It has rained every day for the past 4 days. The roads are getting awful muddy. It is a good thing for us that the cars can come up near us. They run to Acworth 4 miles from here. Afternoon..... Have just received your letter and was mighty glad to hear from you. I have just got a chance to send off this letter. Please write often. Oliver |
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