CIVIL WAR SOLDIER LETTER ATLANTA CAMPAIGN BATTLE OF JONESBORO GEORGIA 30TH OHIO

Civil War Soldier Letter by Addison Wells to his Uncle. We believe Addison is with the 30th Ohio. 8 pages describes in detail the battle of Jonesboro Late August early September 1864.

The transcription may not be perfect but it's close! And hoping that those few lines may find you employing the same blessing.

Uncle we have once more settled down and gone into Camp. We had a very long and tiresome campaign.

But we finally succeeded in taking Atlanta and giving the Rebel Army a good whipping to cheer them up. The last move that General Sherman made was on of the grandest moments that has been made since the war began and a very dangerous one, but it was the last resort. He had to do something to draw them out of their fortification. The 20th Corps drawed away from its works in front of the City and also the 4th Corps which was to the left of the 20th C.

The 4th all except one Division which went to the River. The 20th Corps also went to the river, the 4th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 23rd Corps moved by the right flank around on the Montgomery Railroad and Destroyed a large portion of it then the left of our line rested where the right had rested before then we moved to within one quarter of a mile of the Macon Road at Jonesboro Station.

We arrived there the evening of the thirtieth. We could have reached the town if it had not been so late. It was dark before we did stop. We rested that night and the next morning we commenced throwing breastworks. Our Regiment was all on the Skirmish line. Our corps was all that was on the front line at this place. The 16th corps was guarding one right Flank and the 17th the left about 10 o'clock we could see the rebels forming their lines and Massing Their Horses and between two and three the commenced active operations they came in heavy.. Force against our left and center from three to seven collums deep. Seven on the left and three in the center.

Without much loss on our side and while they was charging us General Thomas Commanding the 4th and 14th Succeed in taking the Railroad at Riffinseary? Station Seven miles to our left he destroyed the track, for 6 miles and spert? One corps and the Militia at Atlanta and 3 corps at Jonesboro.

On the thirty first this took place and on first of Sept. Came down the railroad and drove the Rebels in their works and then charged these works and took them with three thousand prisoners and a battery of twelve guns and it was so late then that they couldn't follow them any farther. They took advantage of the night and let out leaving some wagons and several pieces of Artillery. We followed them some six or seven miles and Destroyed 2000 bales of cotton and then came back to work with in 6 miles of the city of Atlanta.

Uncle Isac that ends the Campaign. One of our regiment came up yesterday from Huntsville says Old Wheeler with seven thousand cavalry has taken possession of the Railroad between Murphysboro and Nashville and has had it 10 days. Some of the 20th corps and a part of Kilpatricks Calvary has gone there to dislodge him or capture him. I hope they will capture him and his whole force.

Uncle Isac the boys are all well that is with the company we have just twenty men now present as for them that is off in the hospital sick or wounded I know nothing about them. Uncle Isac I have not seen Loewis? I intend to go and see him as soon as I can get a pay? The General won't sign passes now but I think he will as soon as we get cleaned up and everything first right.

I have seen him several times but I never had a good chance to talk with yet. You must excuse me for not writing sooner for it was an impossible to write to all. I had to write home as often as I could for it was my duty to do so. You will say so yourself. Uncle I want you to answer this if you please and if your don't do it any how and tell Aunt Olive if she doesn't feel like writing a letter to put in a few words in some of yours. Tell Ann and the rest of the girls to write.

I will write to them first as soon as I can. I don't like to write to many letters to any place at a time. I must go around to all. I wrote one to Ann a short time ago and I couldn't' send it away and I carried it in my pocket until it got all broke up and then I tore it up. But remain your Nephew, Addison Wells.

My love to all the Family Yours for ever Mr I Wells mor G? Condition: Please see our large scans for an accurate representation of the item. Some information: Sherman had successfully cut Hood's supply lines in the past by sending out detachments, but the Confederates quickly repaired the damage.

In late August, Sherman determined that if he could cut Hood's supply lines the Macon & Western and the Atlanta & West Point Railroads the Rebels would have to evacuate Atlanta. Sherman, therefore, decided to move six of his seven infantry corps against the supply lines. The army began pulling out of its positions on August 25 to hit the Macon & Western Railroad between Rough and Ready and Jonesborough. To counter the move, Hood sent Lt. Hardee with two corps to halt and possibly rout the Union troops, not realizing Sherman's army was there in force. On August 31, Hardee attacked two Union corps west of Jonesborough but was easily repulsed. Fearing an attack on Atlanta, Hood withdrew one corps from Hardee's force that night.

The next day, a Union corps broke through Hardee's troops which retreated to Lovejoy's Station, and on the night of September 1, Hood evacuated Atlanta. Sherman did cut Hood's supply line but failed to destroy Hardee's command. The item "CIVIL WAR SOLDIER LETTER ATLANTA CAMPAIGN BATTLE OF JONESBORO GEORGIA 30TH OHIO" is in sale since Saturday, July 18, 2015.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Correspondence, Mail". The seller is "earlyimage" and is located in Saint Petersburg, Florida. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Country/Region of Manufacture: United States