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Hd. Qurs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vols.
In the Field Near Marietta, Ga.
June 28th 1864
My Dear Wife

I am a little disappointed in not having heard from you by yesterday’s mail. Some were recd. from Pontiac of as late a date as the 21st. I presume, however, mine has been sent by Sergt. Jim Morrow, and he has not yet arrived.

The weather is excessively warm, but we are all in good health for which all thanks to a kind Providence. There has been some hard fighting in which only one Division of our Corps was engaged, also one Div. of the 4th and one Div. of the 14th Corps.¹ The last two Divisions were repulsed, but the 2nd Div. [Geary’s] of our Corps held its ground with a very small loss. The loss in the Divisions of the 4th & 14th Corps was somewhat heavier.² The ground over which they charged was very much against us. There has been very heavy cannonading for the greater part of two days which must have punished the Enemy severely.

We leave here to-night or in the morning for some new point.³ Where our destination will be, we do not know definitely, but we can form a very good idea. I hope therefore that we may get mail this evening, as we will in all probability have no opportunity for several days to get mail.

The 13th and 19th Corps have arrived and are in position.⁴ Every one is in high hopes. Our trust is all in God; truth and justice must prevail. The news from the Potomac Army is good, & we look for a glorious victory there in a few weeks.⁵ Let us still trust in God. He will bring us off more than conquerors through Christ our Lord.

I have not heard from Bro. John or Sammy since about the 10th inst. I am told the 4th and 14th Corps go with us, & I hope it is true. Chris [Yetter] is writing to Thos. Hill, & Nate [Hill] is intending to write when I get done. We have built very strong fortifications here & would be very well satisfied if the enemy would undertake to break through our lines here, but that is very improbable.

Subscribe for the Chicago Tribune for me & have it sent along as soon as possible. The Semi-weekly will answer. I have not recd. any copies of the “Sentinel” for some time, please inquire about it. Lt. Smith subscribed for the New York semi-weekly Tribune which I now receive regularly. I hope he is mending rapidly. Alf Huetson was here this afternoon; he is well. Harry McDowell is also well, and all your acquaintances as far as I know. There is a prospect of dry weather now, & we anticipate very warm weather.

I should like very much to spend the 4th in Pontiac. I hope you may have a happy time. Give my love to Mother and Maggie. Kiss the children for me. Remember me kindly to all our friends. “Continue instant in prayer,” and exercise unbounded Faith in Christ. “All things work to-gether for Good to those who trust in God.” May the riches of his Grace rest upon your heart and his blessings be abundantly bestowed upon you. Write often.

Your Affectionate Husband
J. F. Culver

1. Frustrated in his efforts to flank Johnston’s Army of Tennessee out of its Kennesaw Mountain line, General Sherman at 8 A.M. on June 27 made a frontal assault. McPherson’s army on the left advanced against the breastworks on Little Kennesaw and Pigeon Hill defended by Loring’s corps; Newton’s division of Howard’s corps and Davis’ of Palmer’s corps assailed the rifle-pits held by Hardee’s corps on Cheatham Hill; Geary’s division of Hooker’s corps advanced on Palmer’s right; and units of Schofield’s army crossed Olley Creek and rolled up the Confederate cavalry screening Hood’s left. McPherson’s, Howard’s and Palmer’s bluecoats, although they drove in the Confederate pickets, were unable to cross the breastworks and were driven back with heavy losses. Cox, Atlanta, pp. 116-127. [↩]
2. Geary’s division, advancing in support of Palmer’s corps on its left, routed the Rebels from a line of rifle pits. To hold these gains, breastworks were erected and artillery advanced. O.R., Ser. I, vol. XXXVIII, pt. II, p. 134. [↩]
3. On the 26th the 1st Brigade, including the 129th Illinois, had relieved Coburn’s brigade in the advance rifle pits, north of the Powder Springs road. There was no truth to the eport that the XX Corps was going to “leave here to-night or in the morning for some new point.” Ibid., pp. 326, 387, 440. [↩]
4. The story that Sherman’s “army group” had been reinforced by the XIII and XIX Corps was a wild rumor. The XIII Corps, currently assigned to the Department of the Gulf, was serving in Louisiana, and the XIX Corps was being transferred from New Orleans to Washington, D.C., by ship. [↩]
5. The Armies of the Potomac and the James had been checkmated in front of Petersburg. In the fourth week of June, the Army of the Potomac suffered a reverse in the battle of the Jerusalem Plank road. [↩]