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In front of Atlanta Ga July 17th 1864
Dear Fannie
I have not received a letter from you in
several days. I looked for one yesterday but we got
no mail. I am still where I was when I last
wrote to you. My shelter is the old coverlet. The wagons
are kept in the rear, and our rations are cooked
by detail in the rear and sent forward to us
[crossed out: just] and every thing appears to be conducted as cautiously
as when we were on the march or in line of battle
There is irregular cannonading heard along the river
for several miles both up and down every day
and when it is still we can hear bullets[?]
firing just in front. It is a general impression
that active opposition will soon commence again
I wrote a letter to Fayette day before yesterday
and directed it to Opelika as he wrote me he would
be there in a few days. He thinks that he
will visit our [illegible] before he goes home. If he
comes you can send me a few nick-nacks and the
Haversack. A pair of pants would not be amiss
I get now a good many vegetables by buying them.
I made [illegible]day and had an awfull
hard job, trying to get the grease and dust[?] out of
my jacket and pants. I succeeded pretty well with
the jacket but my soap give out too soon for the pants
to get full justice. They however do pretty well
Tomorrow if we are still, I shall try to [patch?] up
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July 18th - Uncle Lockhart came and stopped
me from writing yesterday. I will try and
finish to day and send by Dr Fuller or
Unkle Lockhart - I have about finished
paying my rents in my Jacket and Breeches
and have now got on clean clothes with all
necessary cracks stopped.
Rumour says this morning that Genl Johnston
has either resigned or been relieved of the
command of the Army of Tennessee, and
has been assigned to duty in Virginia
I don’t know whether it is true or not. – I
hope not - for our army is satisfied
with its commander. Much more so than
they would be under any other man.
I got a letter from Dr Brownfield explaining
why he did not get to see me when here.
How are you getting along in the money line?
I cannot send you any yet. I have drawn one
months pay but it took it nearly all to pay up
my debts here contracted for something to eat
The Govt owes me nearly 5 months pay now
and I wish I could collect it and get you
to lay it out in provisions wheat and corn
&c - How is your sugar millet patch? Will you
make any syrup? Are you making many Irish potatoes
beets, onion &c. The vegetables furnished by the
relief society are so badly distributed they do
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the soldiers in camp very little if any good
If you furnish any for them I would be glad
you would. Send them directly to me in care of
the Relief Society just as you did the last time
Then either myself or my company can get at
least one mess out of them. I had several
glorious meals out of the box you sent me
I don’t know whether Patillo Calvert got any of the
onions or not I started some of them to him
but have not seen him since
I expect Em has almost given out the promised
letter or at least my delay on writing it has
made her expect something much better
than I shall be able to get up. The truth
is I can't conclude what kind of subject matter
would suit her best. I am aware that her
imagination's palate has been feasted by -
fancy sentiments and Dainty ideas, seasoned with
wit flavored with love and served up in
dishes of magniloquence by an artist
much more expert than I. - and hope that my
delay will whet up her appetite enough that she
may not look with loathing upon the plain
dish of substantials that I may be able to poorly
prepare. Em you have quit sending the letters [crossed out: encl]
enclosed with Fannie's. Why is it? Is it because
Steve is at home and you have'nt time? Say?
Tell Nick that his blanket has "ascended
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the spout" – All the ambulance drivers say
they know nothing about it?
Will you have any peaches or apples. An old
fashioned peach "pot" pie with cream sauce would
go "amazingly." – Blackberries are gone and "narry dumpling[?]
for me this year – "serious loss" but I live in hope
and if I ever do get the chance I will try and
make up losses
Give my love to Ma Sister Nick Em and
our children. May God still protect us
We have just got orders to be ready to move
I don’t know where we are going. I suppose
we will be on the march in 15[?] [illegible]
God bless you
Truly yours
GW Cherry
Cherry Family Civil War Letters
