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In the ditches 2 1/2 miles west of Marietta Ga
June 25th 1864
Dear Fannie
I am in hopes I will have quiet enough
to write you a long letter. I wrote you a short
note day before yesterday, telling you how we
were doing, and affairs are now about as
they were then. My health still continues tolerably
good and I get plenty of corn bread and bacon
to eat, with occasionally a little sugar and coffee
I wrote you that Nick was wounded in the
hand. I did not see him after he was struck
In fact did not know it until he had
left the skirmish line and am not able
to say how severe his wound was. The -
surgeon says that he will lose one or more
fingers he thinks. I guess he is at home before
now and you can tell me all about it in
your next letter
Our skirmish line was attacked day before
yesterday and the Mississippi regiment
just on our left gave way and are now
skirmishing from their works, which exposes
us to an enfilading fire from the enemies
skirmishers. Nick will understand how
matters stand when I tell him that our
skirmishers are behind the barricades, near
where he was wounded, and the Mississippians
are at their breast works
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Just before the attack day before yesterday
the Yankees, (believing that we were retreating)
turned loose about all the artillery they
had on us or over us and such a noise
of cannon and whizzing of shell I never
heard. it all passed over us and went (as
the Yankees thought) on our retreating columns
and as we had no retreating columns it
proved harmless except scaring the Doctors
quartermasters and ordinance officers
The fight here looks like a regular siege
both armies in line close together, sharp-
shooting each the other, a species of warfare
I especially abhor. It is all wicked enough
but for men [crossed out: to be] coolly and with no excitement
to sit and watch for a head to be poked over
works in order to shoot it has too much
the appearance of murder. May God have
mercy on us. We (the enemy and us) have
been turned loose to work our own destruction
and we are doing it and will do it untill
God in His mercy takes our affairs in
His hands May that time soon come. It
will come when we are convinced that we are
incompetent to manage them and place our whole
trust in Him.
If Dennis has got home, I wish you would
find out if his wound is improving or not
and let me know. The surgeon here thought
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that he would die at first but afterward said
that he might recover. He was a good soldier
and the people should not let him want for
anything. William Culvert is now in Madison
Ga, a nurse in a hospital. His manner
of getting there is not approved here and
has rendered him universally unpopular
I am ordered by the Colonel to make -
application to Army Hd qrs for his return to
his command, which I shall do at my
earliest convenience. Patillo is on duty
in the Division Quartermaster Department, a
very good place, and one that I think he fills
satisfactorily. I have heard that William
Lockhart had been sent to the 37th Ala Regt in
this army – is it so? I never hear from Jimmy or
Gibbs now-adays. Doc Granberry is well and doing
as well as he can under the circumstances. You
can tell his father if you see him
What has become of Colquitt – Hurst – Gentry
and all the old [bank proffs?] around there?
Has Gentry delivered that corn yet? be sure
and answer in your next letter
I must still apologize to Em for not yet writing
the promised letter. I intend to write it and more than
one, but during this siege I must make one letter
answer for you all. I however do not expect for
you all to treat me in the same way for your
conveniences are much better than mine. I especially
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ask that you both write to me three or at least
two times every week. Give my love to Ma
Sister and our little children. Let us all put our
trust in God. He can bring order out of this
chaos, and restore us to our peaceful homes. May
He protect us all. tell Nick to write to me
occasionally. Do not neglect to send me a sheet
of paper and envelope occasionally. I cannot get
them here. I do hope that we will soon
get some rest or at least get into a regular
camp. When we do, I shall write for Fannie
to come to see me God willing.
Yours Truly G.W. Cherry
Cherry Family Civil War Letters
