Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-16
INTERESTING LETTER.
Written by Member of Co. G, 18th
Regiment, i'll July, 1864.

4 member of Company g., 18th Wis
consln Regiment, who resides in Grand
Rapids, has regained possession of a
letter he wrote to his brother on july
70, 1864, while in ditch near Atlanta.
which was written upon letter paper
that he had taken from the body of .
dead rebel, and the paper was perfor-
ated by fbe bullet that had killed the
rebel. The letter is interesting and
reads as follows:
In the ditch miles southeast of Allan
ia. Georgia, July %, 1864.
Dear Brother: There being lull in
the din of battle thought l would i'm
prove 1t to let you know that yet live.
The fight was commenced on the 2lst
by our line charging the rebs, the 18th
and 10th Wisconsin carrying the reb
works and driving them with heavy
loss. The loss of the regiment in that
charge was l55 total; that of Co. G. was
one killed (name Ben Newton), one
wounded (name Geo. Lang severely in
right shoulder, one missing (name Ben
Buck supposed 10 be taken prisoner.
In that charge l received slight
wound in the first two fingers of the
right hand, but l did not "quit my
knitting" On the 22nd the rebs at
tackled us in our works and were
severely repulsed. Companies 6. and
B. of the 18th repelled four successive
charges of the rebs, killing almost all
that came up. The rebs turned our left
flank as far as our left wing of the 18th
Gen. Legget of our division said the
10Th and 18th Wis were the only regi-
ments but that were more or less de-
moralized of the 18th corps, he gave us
great praise for our gallant conduct
The loss of Co. G. was as follows: killed,
Fred Baker; wounded, T. B. Nc
Laughry' A. A. johnson, Ennis Grignon;
missing, William Wild. We have been
busy all day picking up their wound ed.
Our Brig. Gen. Force was severely
wounded in trying to rally the Iowa
Brigade which ran like sheep. Major
General Mcpherson was killed. Well,
Judge, this paper is rather badly demor-
allied. 1t was taken today from dead
rebel. The bullet passed through the
latter end of it as you see. [ captured
two prisoners, one each day of the fight.
The Rebs are IN sight, and so is Atlanta.
In the charge of the 21st I lost one of
my shoes consequently We had to have
a fight yesterday SO 1 could make
myself whole. | now have on a fine
pair of boots which / drawed from a
dead Rebel Captain. Well, Judge, this
is one of the greatest fights of the war.
Oh! 1t was horrible to pass over the
battlefield this morning and see the
ghastly forms Of dead Rebels, the most
of them fell just at the foot Of our
works within reach of our bayonets.
There has been flag Of truce out and
we carried over thousands of dead
bodies to their lines. Our loss was
comparatively small to that of the Rebs.
Oh, but it makes my heart ache to think
LOW Iney lell Uelofe our IRE 80 VIII
quit. My health is good, but [ am
somewhat fatigued from excitement and
exposure.
Show this to father and mother. |
have no stamp so if | can't borrow
I shall have to frank this. Give my
love to all enquiring friends and tell
them | am we'll
This paper and envelope was in the
pocket Of Reb yesterday at this time.
No more at this time,
Write soon. From -----