150 Voices for 150 Years: An Autobiography of Us Ten days passed between George Hurlbuts last letter to his friend Angeline and the letter we are sharing today. As always, his letter reveals the realities of life in camp and at war. In front of Kennesaw Mountain, near Marietta, Ga. June 23, 1864 Ever Dear Angie, I am come again after more than a weeks absence, with a short and poor letter. I am in fair health, but ever so weary from exposure and the labors of being constantly on duty. I have a great deal to tell you and little time to do it in. Since my last letter the Battery has done but little marching, the enemy disputing the advance of General Sherman’s Army. I had thought that before this time a general engagement would have taken place. The time has not come yet it is a very probable thing. A battle may take place at any hour. I trust the people at home are as confident of our success as we are. Angie, you must overlook my long silence. I have constantly at the front until last night. During that time the rain fell every day and almost every night, rendering it unpleasant as well as tedious. For five days and nights our garments were wet. I am feeling good when I take into consideration the exposure I have endured. We are now at the foot of Kennesaw Mountain. The enemy occupies the Mountain and hourly hurls cannon shot at us. At times it is very unsafe for a person to leave the earth-works. One man from the Battery was wounded two days ago. The ball that struck him passed close to my head. One evening last week I was sent out with two guns of the Battery to shell the rebel sharpshooters from an old house and barn in which they had taken shelter, and were firing from the windows and crevices, on our skirmish lines. We threw about fifty shells through and around the building, driving them off. When we advanced we found eight dead and fifteen wounded. I must leave you now as I am called. If we are not sent to this front tonight I will write more in the morning. George. George mentions that the enemy occupies the Mountain and hourly hurls cannon shot at us. If you are at the top of the Mountain today, you can see the original Confederate artillery positions that George spoke of. The Confederates held Kennesaw Mountain and the guns are positioned today as they were in 1864, facing towards their enemy at the foot of the Mountain. #150VoicesOfUs #HashtagHistory
Posted on: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000
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