DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Frank Malcom letters, 1864

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1864-08-18 Page 02

So for several days with the exception of Some firing in The Skirmish line and an occasional Shot from the batteries  our larger guns have been Shelling The City but I do not Think They have Succeeded in doing much damage yet.  It is now reported in camp that They are going to Throw hot Shot into the City to night.  I have Just returned from one of our Large Forts whare (with a field glass I could see the City.  could see men & women in the Streets & Rebel Flags flouting over all of the public Buildings.  Atlanta is said to be a beautiful city and at the breaking out of the war had about fifteen thousand Inhabitants. 
The Rebel Army here is under com'd of Genl Hood.  it is reported that he was reinforced a fiew days Since by Longstreet & 20000 Cavalry.  how true the report is I cannot say, but I do know that Their Cavalry have cut our communication between This & Chattanooga and That we are now on 3/4 rations.  but I presume it will not last long as The road will Soon be repaired and the Rebs driven out of The Country.  I do not think we can advance much farther until the army is rested and recruited up  it is astonishing the differance

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So for several days with the exception of Some firing in The Skirmish line and an occasional Shot from the batteries our larger guns have been Shelling The City but I do not Think They have Succeeded in doing much damage yet. It is now reported in camp that They are going to Throw hot Shot into the City to night. I have Just returned from one of our Large Forts whare (with a field glass I could see the City. could see men & women in the Streets & Rebel Flags flouting over all of the public Buildings. Atlanta is said to be a beautiful city and at the breaking out of the war had about fifteen thousand Inhabitants. The Rebel Army here is under com'd of Genl Hood. it is reported that he was reinforced a fiew days Since by Longstreet & 20000 Cavalry. how true the report is I cannot say, but I do know that Their Cavalry have cut our communication between This & Chattanooga and That we are now on 3/4 rations. but I presume it will not last long as The road will Soon be repaired and the Rebs driven out of The Country. I do not think we can advance much farther until the army is rested and recruited up it is astonishing the differance