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A very light mail was recd. at noon to-day but none for me

Joseph Culver Letter, August 31, 1864, Page 1

Head Qurs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vols.
Chattahoochie River, Georgia
August 31st 1864
My Dear Wife

A very light mail was recd. at noon to-day but none for me. We are being mustered for pay to-day, and rumor says we will receive 8 months pay in a few days. There is a paymaster here, and it is probable that he is making arrangements to pay.

We have as yet learned nothing from the Army though various rumors are afloat.1 A reconnaisance was sent out yesterday from our Division in the direction of Atlanta but found no enemy within a mile and did not advance further.2 If it is Sherman’s intention to draw the enemy out of the city, it would be a bad policy to make any demonstration.

About 40 ladies who claimed they were only riding around the lines were seen yesterday riding about on mules. One or two more bold than the rest ventured so close [to] our lines that they were arrested as spies, which they undoubtedly are. One of the ladies captured is from Vicksburg and was known by reputation to Genl. Slocum.3 She has left the latter place since the General, himself, but he was on a visit home for several days. She was very indignant that a Yankee should interfere with a ladie’s ride, but, when informed that her name was upon the list of those who had taken the oath at Vicksburg & that she was found near our lines, she was much more civil.

Yetter had a severe chill at noon & has now a very high fever. I hope it is not serious. Nate [Hill] & all the boys are well. My health is excellent. May our Father in Heaven bless you. I look for the “good news” every day.4

Your affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

P.S. I have but two more stamps but will try and borrow.

  1. On August 31 Union columns as they thrust toward Jonesboro and the Macon & Western Railroad encountered two Confederate corps. The battle that was to seal the fate of Atlanta commenced. Cox, Atlanta, pp. 199-200.
  2. Sherman, not knowing what General Hood’s reaction to his latest movements would be, had ordered the commander of the XX Corps to make a reconnaissance toward Atlanta on the 30th. This force found the Rebels strongly entrenched on Proctor’s Creek and returned. O.R., Ser. I, Vol. XXXVIII, pt. II, p. 330; pt. V, p. 203.
  3. Maj. Gen. Henry L. Slocum had assumed command of the XX Corps, which had been led since General Hooker’s departure on July 28 by Brig. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams, the senior division commander. Slocum had commanded the District of Vicksburg until August 14. G.R., Ser. I, Vol. XXXVIII, pt. II, pp. 17, 21. General Hood had been deceived by Sherman’s movements. He deluded himself into believing that Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry raid on the Western & Atlantic Railroad had wrecked the Union supply line causing Sherman to retreat across the Chattahoochie. It was the 28th before Hood learned that he had blundered, and by then it was too late to keep the foe from securing a stranglehold on the Atlanta & West Point Railroad. Cox, Atlanta, pp. 197-98.
  4. This is a reference to the birth of the anxiously awaited baby.