Sunday, February 9, 2020

December 18th, 1864, Near Savannah, GA



Near Savannah, Ga.
Dec. 18, 1864

My dear Parents,

My prophecy in my last, that my next letter would be dated from some point further south has proved true. Our Div. is in camp about five miles west of Savannah. The army has been about the city nearly a week. We received our first mail last evening.

We had been wandering through the State of Georgia one long month without communication with the North – you can imagine how refreshing the news that our communication was again open and that we would again receive our mail regularly.

When we arrived near the city we could distinctly hear the fleet pounding away at Reb forts at the mouth of the Savannah River and we knew then that we were all right. The fleet succeeded in ascending the river to Ft. McAllister. Here they halted until the land force came up; after some little time & severe fighting the fort was captured with entire garrison and 16 pieces heavy artillery. This gave us command of the S. River up to the mouth of the Ogeechee – also the Ogeechee River. Everything is prospering finely and in a short time Savannah will be ours.

We have communication with the fleet, Foster operating in South Carolina and Grant. I have seen the soil of S.C., but as yet trod the sand of the hotbed of traitors. Our movements through Ga. have been completely successful and all that could be desired. Plenty to eat, little fighting and fine weather.
Boys from our vicinity so far as I know doing well. Frank all right – my health first rate. Weather fine, quite warm – shade comfortable. Mail soon leaves.

Much love to all
                 Very affectionately, son
                            David Putnam   

P.S.  Have you recd my money yet? Send letters as heretofore except substitute Savannah for Atlanta.
                                 D.P.

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