Transcription
July 31, 1864
Dear Brother Fred ,
Yesterday morning we had the pleasure of receiving 2 sol’s letters, one from August to father & yours to me dated July 11 1864. As you wish to know how Aug. is & c. I will copy such portions of his letter as are requisite to give you an idea of his situation. “Comp. 105th July 21st … on the 17th we left, crossed the river (Chatahoochie) marched on the 18th but not far, laid still on the 19th. On the 20th that was yesterday, we had a very important time, viz. We met the rebs face to face without breastworks, for the first time except as skirmishes. We left our camp yesterday morning at about 8, marched till noon when we formed our lines. Our Brig. was in 2 lines or Reg’t in the 2nd line we laid behind a small hill our skirmishes were on the top of the hill, at about 4 pm the rebs advanced to the top of the hill, we also, they came to the top before we did, but they could not stand our fire, they fell back & we drove them from the hill, and built breastworks…The rebs left many dead & wounded on the hill. We also took quite a number of prisoners. “Henry Reinking was wounded in the leg below the knee. the men said it did not touch the bone. I could not leave our line else I would have seen him. I believe he will get over it pretty well for he takes such things very cooly. Another Sergt of our Comp. was wounded in the hand severely. he will perhaps have to lose some of his fingers, those 2 were all that were wounded in our Comp., our Reg’t took 1 Banner belonging to the 12th Louisiana Vols.,… I am confident of success. Atlanta soon must fall”
You see from this their situation. August says in another letter he did not receive answers to his letters to you, so you see that both of you write but that the letters are not rec. We direct our letters to him as follows. Lieut. AH Fischer
Co I 105th Reg. Ill. Vol.
3rd Div. 20th Army Corps.
Via Dallas, Georgia
Grant has not made much progress the last month or so. He is in front of Petersburg at last accts. “Cursed be the hand that our union would sever” I agree with you in sympathizing with the braves that reenlisted, & a feeling of indignation comes over me when I think of their serving 6 long years while “Americans” such as Brett’s fatten themselves & fish with their “matrimonial” qualities, they are a shame to Addison.
I hold no intercourse with them, & when after not having been in our house for years they came some months ago on a visit (for certain purposes) I, for my part let them feel by my actions that they were no welcome guests, they have never since crossed our threshold by daytime, although I don’t know what may happen by night, for there is a certain attraction in our house in the shape of a would be lady 16 years of age viz. Henrietta Dittmann, whose guardian father unfortunately is, I say unfortunately for he will not be able to do much against the headstrong & frivolous character of this 16 year old woman.
You must not blame me Fred for telling father of your wish to attend the Normal School, for I knew he would give his consent & he might read my letter anyway, for we are always anxious to hear from you, & consequently we read letters when we get them, often not looking at the address. Well, father had no objection in the least, & although he does not attach so much importance to an education as you or I do. (He likes it as far as he can use it.) he still likes to let us have our own way in that respect. I believe I will have to discard all thought of going to school, for father gave me a course in the Com. College & expects me to use it, all my future education will be self study, & I wish that I may get more time for that than I have till now. I get about time enough to read the news, read & answer letters & then spend the rest my time in working & sleeping from 10 pm to 4 ½ am, workmen are scarce & work ________. But this working has a tendency to make me strong & healthy, you know I never was very strong but I now feel that I can soon carry musket, etc. I measure some 5 feet 4 inches.
You need not however fear that I shall enlist until your returning if not something extraordinary happens. I wish you could come home next month (August) & feel hard about your having to stay till October. I pity you on account of Mosquitoes (darn them they trouble me now). I know what a pestilence they are. Answer soon, best respect to Brad . J. & others.
Your Brother,
Herman
