Manuscript Database
Creator/Title
Cattell, William H., 1844-1932. Letter, 22 June 1864. ALS, 4 pp.
Call No.
Mss. C C
Content
In a letter to his parents dated 22 June 1864 from near Marietta, Ga., Pvt. William Cattell of the 74th Ind. Inf. reports he is "yet alive and well." He writes, "we have been in front all the time for the last twenty days" but "escaped wonderful" adding, "we lost in all 12." He names hometown comrades who have been killed or wounded and describes life under constant fire in the front lines. He reports that the Confederates have been steadily driven back since the Atlanta campaign began; he heard the enemy destroying their rail cars with explosives in nearby Marietta. He complains about the constant rain but reports the men have "every thing to eat" including "sugar, coffee, hard tack...sow belly...pork and some old beef once in a while."