June 16th, 1864, Five miles west of Marietta, GA

In the field Ga.
June 16, 1864

My dear Parents
   
Mails are not very regular & time for writing is very irregular, hence I write only when there is a probability of sending to the office. Yours of June 1st has safely arrived – first during a long time.
 
Our army moves slowly but I think surely, we are yet five miles west from Marietta and near Lost Mountain which the enemy hold & seem to intend holding to the last but they will & must leave or go north to be guarded by the 100 day veterans. I understand these Vets however are deserting, how is it?
   
How did Sife Harper prove himself unfit for service? Is he very sick?
   
The army is fighting every day: for the last forty days and nights there has been musket and cannon firing. I don’t know but I would feel almost lost if this kind of music should cease.

The cars now run up to Big Shanty Station immediately in our rear. The surface of the country is uneven & mostly covered by a heavy growth of jack oak pine and chestnut, so that Sherman is forced to advance cautiously to guard against ambush. Within the last eight days we have had much rain – three days and nights almost continual – roads have been in horrible condition – almost impossible for artillery to move from place to place – weather has cleared up & roads are rapidly improving.
   
The army is yet furnished with full rations. This is the first time the Army of the Cumberland has ever drawn full rations during a campaign; this reflects great credit on our commander – the boys all feel in great spirits and are loud in their praise of Sherman for his abundance of hard tack. Sherman is a Genl. on the alert day and night, ever ready with a kind look or a word of encouragement for the men, always up along the line, is not afraid of a shell, does not have his headquarters five to ten miles in the rear as a certain other Genl. has done. He is about five ten, swarthy complexion, rather downcast expression & not heavy build.
   
Hurrah for Pres. Lincoln & Vice Pres. Johnson for the next four years. Their nomination gives great satisfaction in the army. I have not heard of a single person who will not support them, bully for the Baltimore convention. It has done itself immortal honor. Where is McClellan, Fremont and the rest of them and where will they be next fall? Grant, Sherman, Lincoln & Johnson!!

We have experienced some warm weather, but the nights are cool + pleasant.

The Rebs have just commenced getting their train out of the valley between our lines + the Mountain. They have to pass over a point of the Mountain in full view from this stand point and our artillery men are trying what virtue there is in shell to hasten the pace of Reb mules + test the valor of mule drivers-this movement looks as though the enemy meditates a change of front. Our skirmish line is advancing.

Frank is just here, he says tell his family he is well + hopes these few lines will find them enjoying the same blessings that others from our vicinity of 92nd will.

Affectionately
D. Putnam