You are currently browsing the daily archive for August 10th, 2007.
Near Atlanta, on Aug. 10, 1864, Grimes wrote an excellent account of life in the Atlanta Campaign.
“We are still fighting a little every day, have not possession of Atlanta the place we started out to take but it must soon fall. We are so close to the city that we can se the whole thin. It is a large place looks to be about as large as Indianapolis… ladies occasionally come out from the city for protection. They say our cannons are tearing everything to pieces killing women and children but we cant help that. They must leave the place if they want the Artillery firing stopped. We have great reason to be thankfull for our success generally this summer, yet our success in this department has been run by some very hard fighting. We have been under fire from musketry and Artillery since the 5th day of May. Whilst writing this letter balls frequently whistle over my tent by so they don’t hit me it is all right…”
Letter from Henry Lachman to his brother Eli Lachman of the 179th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A.
Fagleysville
Aug 10th 1862
Excerpt
Dear Brother
We often thought perhaps dear Eli is taken prisoner, perhaps died, or killed by the rebels, but God has kept you safe all the time, and do you thank him for all his kindness to you, for life preserved, for mercies given. In your letter you had about your travel, I am glad you have landed safe every time, you also had in you letter about battles and retreats therof I am very glad that even at the hardest retreat you have had a narrow escape and I hope that God will always be with you, that when ever on the battlefield, you may again return safe and I hope we see each other again in this wourld and if not I earnestly beseech the Lord that we may all meet you in heaven. If I had time I would write a long letter to you but I have not time I must therefore say write son.
Good bye dear Brother
From your beloeved Brother Henry J. Lachman.”
The 179th Pennsylvania Infantry was a nine-month regiment that served mostly to protect resources in its native state, most notably a stint guarding prisoners captured during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Eli Lachman mustered into service on 4 November 1862 and mustered out on 27 July 1863 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Source: Nate Sanders, July 2007
