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Camp 45th Ala Rgt
Near Dalton Ga
March 5th/64
Dear Fannie, I have just
received your letter sent by
Gibbs, but have not yet
got the other articles sent by
him. I have however sent
for them and I guess I will
get them this evening. I am
now camped about two miles
East of Dalton, in the woods
We came here day before
yesterday. I have a good
tent and we built a chimny
yesterday, and am now -
sitting by a good fire. My
health is very good. and I
feel that I could yet do
a good deal if this horrid
war was over and I could
live at home. It is a sad
thing to know that [crossed out, illegible] so
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much of the best part of my
life has to be spent away from home
and kindred, amid hardships
and trouble with no chance to
give you any aid in training
our little children, or in -
providing for your comfort and
whims[?]. I yet hope that the time
will come when we can sit
under our own vine and fig tree
in peace and plenty, and it
will be all the more pleasant
after the miseries of these trials
The army is now getting plenty
of corn bread, and about half
enough of meat yet not withstanding
the scant ration, they all appear
lively and are very healthy
I am afraid that the time
will come when you at home
will get less meat that we
do here for I cannot
see where the next is to come
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from. We have only to
do the best we can and
trust providence.
Can you hurry Henry up and
get your patch planted, and enough
ahead to let me have him a few
weeks, after a while. I do not
want him to come now, but
there will be some men home
on furlough in two or three weeks
and I would like for him to
come back with them and
bring me some tricks from
home. – do not send him
however until I write to
you again [crossed out, illegible] about it
I have just received a letter
from Jon. He writes that he
is well. I am beginning
to think that Em must be -
offended with me for joking
her about her Logen Lovin[?]
I hope not however, for I
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never attempt to tease any one
I do not like, and if I could
not for her good will I would
not joke her. So pitch[?]
out Em and write to me, for
I know why you have not
I have not heard from Nick
in several days. I guess I
will hear from him though
this evening as I have
sent over to his regt
May God bless you
all and our little children
Give my love to Ma &
Sister
Yours in truth
G.W. Cherry