150 Voices for 150 Years: An Autobiography of Us Todays entry returns us to the correspondence between George Hurlbut of the 14th Battery, Ohio Light Artillery and Angie, his friend back home. Near Kingston, Ga. May 22, 1864 My Own Angie, I wrote you but three days since, yet the Sabbath shall not pass without the usual letter to one I hold so near and dear. Oh, Dear One, how I long to see this bloody struggle close, yet we must not falter when the hour of peril comes. The next twenty days are fraught with much of the interest to the nation. It is either the second birth of liberty and peace, or its death. Upon this army depends much, and alike the army under General Grant in the vicinity of Richmond. With us, trains are loaded, and the long lines of army wagons drawn up in different directions, filled with food for both men and horses. The weather is very hot and sultry, and the roads dusty, but we have rested some from our late excessive and fatiguing duties. We feel ready for the emergency. But I must not tarry, a deal remains to be done before we start. Look where I may, my eye rests on loyal men dressed in glorious blue. Examine the map and look away below Chattanooga to the south, below Kingston and Rome. Somewhere there in the wilderness I anticipate a battle for the possession of Atlanta will be fought. There is much I should like to say, but my time is not my own. Duty calls and I must fulfill the obligations of my position. We expect to leave at three in the morning. When you receive this the Battery will be well down in the heart of Georgia, likely away from mail communications for a time. In bidding you farewell, my heart enters into the subject to the fullest. It is but the scratch of a pen, yet how dear the privilege. Heaven bless thee, Loved One, and may they happiness be complete, My love to all. I must leave with all love and a farewell. Ever thy own, George. This letter clearly illustrates the sentiments perhaps shared by many Americans, a profound understanding that the Civil War was a turning point in the countrys history. George knows the value of the city of Atlanta and history has shown that he was right. We will return for more of George and Angies conversations during our #150VoicesOfUs and #HashtagHistory project.
Posted on: Thu, 22 May 2014 10:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015