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Hd. Qurs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vols.
In the Field Near Marietta, Ga., June 22nd 1864
My Dear Wife

Yours of 11th, mailed 13th inst., came to hand yesterday.¹ I am most happy to learn of your good health, may God ever preserve it. Since I last wrote, we have moved several miles to the right. The enemy evacuated their fortifications on Saturday night [the 18th], & on Sunday morning we commenced to move.² It rained very hard, and the Streams became swollen so rapidly that it was difficult to pass them. We got into position amidst the rain about 4 P.M. and advanced our line. There was some little Skirmishing, but we moved up and fortified during the night. We had two seriously & two slightly wounded.³ It continued to rain through the night. On Monday evening [the 20th] we advanced the right of our Brig. & fortified, which occupied most of the night & a portion of the day yesterday.⁴ We have no news reliable from any portions of the army, but everything seems to move right though slowly. We are still gaining ground.

I have not seen or heard from Bros. John or Sammy for two weeks though they are not far from us.⁵ There has been considerable hard fighting around the lines, but none of it has fallen to our lot. My health has been excellent for which I feel that I have great reason to be thankful. The Lord who has been always so bountiful in blessings is still with us. May he keep our hearts from sin & fill us with Love Divine.

I am much obliged for the extracts from the papers. Our mails are not regular, but yet much more so than we could expect. The boys are all well. I am much obliged for the prospect you offer for Strawberries, & hope I may have the privilege to enjoy them with you. We get no fruit.

I presume [Lt.] Smith is enjoying himself. I should like very much to have attended the S.S. celebration at Peoria, yet I trust through the kind Providence of Our Father to attend many in time to come. Allen Fellows is still back at the Hospital with Dr. Johnson. Harry McDowell is wondering why Mr. Ladd’s family do not write. Chris [Yetter] & Nate [Hill] are well. The weather is much more pleasant this morning than it has been for several days. I am in hope of its clearing up for a few days, at least.

The Rebs have been throwing shells in the direction of our fortifications this morning, but all of them fall short. They will get the range, & we may find this a warm place before noon.⁶

I got my face poisoned night before last among the brush [poison ivy or oak], and my left eye is considerably swollen. It has commenced drying up & will soon be well.

We cannot see the close of this Campaign yet, but we will trust in God and fight on. He will rule all things well. Give my love to all the family. I have heard nothing from Carlisle yet; I cannot imagine why.

The Regt. on our right have just recd. orders to pack up ready to move.⁷ I presume we will move also in a few moments. Let us still trust in God, “He will keep us in perfect peace.” May our hearts be always ready for any change that may await us. God who has always cared for us will still be with us.

Good bye
Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

1. Mary Culver’s letter of June 11 is missing from the Culver Collection. [↩]
2. Hardee’s Mud Creek line was subjected to heavy pressure on June 17-18. While Hooker threatened the front, Schofield gained the ridge between Mud and Noses Creeks, and Hardee was compelled to pull back his left. On Hardee’s right, where his Mud Creek line joined the breastworks held by Loring’s corps (formerly Polk’s), there was a salient angle enfiladed by artillery. General Johnston therefore abandoned his Mud Creek-Brush Mountain defenses and retired into the Kennesaw Mountain line. Big and Little Kennesaw Mountains were occupied by Loring’s corps, Hood’s held the high ground east of the Western & Atlantic Railroad, and Hardee’s corps was on the left, its right connecting with Loring’s on the Stilesboro road and its left entrenched on the high ground commanding a branch of Noses Creek. Cox, Atlanta, pp. 101-104. [↩]
3. Butterfield’s division followed the Lost Mountain road as it advanced on the 19th. Ward’s brigade deployed south of the road, as it pressed ahead skirmishing with the Rebel rear guard. In the day’s fighting, Colonel Case’s horse, the one given him by the regiment, was wounded. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXXVIII, pt. II, pp. 367, 385-386, 439; Grunert, Histon’ of the 129th Illinois, p. 76. [↩]
4. Butterfield’s division, along with other units of Hooker’s corps, on the evening of the 20th shifted to the right, occupying positions on Kolb’s Farm near the Powder Springs road. Cox, Atlanta, pp. 106-109. [↩]
5. Howard’s corps, to which Company M was attached, was the next corps to the left of Hooker’s. [↩]
6. General Johnston on the night of June 21 shifted Hood’s corps from his right to the left. Hood’s people marched through Marietta and out the Powder Springs road. Forming is divisions near Zion Church, one mile northeast of Kolb’s Farm, Hood on the afternoon of the 22d advanced to attack Hooker’s and Schofield’s commands. The Powder Springs road separated Hooker’s right (Williams’ division) from Schofield’s left. Cox, Atlanta, pp. 108-109. [↩]
7. Butterfield’s division was on Hooker’s left some distance from the Powder Springs road. To repulse Hood’s assault, Hooker called on Butterfield for reinforcements. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXXVIII, pt. II, pp. 387, 440. [↩]