Hill, Fletcher: A Letter from the War Front

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This file was contributed for use in the OHGenWeb Ross County by: Charles "Jack" Weidinger

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Copied as best possible from the original copy. This letter was written by my great-great-uncle, John Fletcher Hill, to his brother, Samuel, my great-great-grandfather. I have both my late father's handwritten transcript as well as the very tender and fading original letter.

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Kingston, Geo.
May 21st, 1864

Brother Sam:

As it has been many a month since I wrote to you I imagine you will be glad to hear from me, especially in these perilous times. My reason for not writing was that as the army is moving, all letters are prohibited to pass through Nashville north until after the 28th day of this month, and as the blockade will be open this day week I venture upon this letter. Since I wrote to you last we have advanced 50 miles farther South into Georgia and fought one hard battle, skirmishing ever day. This is the 14 day of our Campaign since leaving Ringgold, and the booming of artillery has sounded in our ears ever day. We left Ringgold on Saturday the 7th and moved out past Tunnel Hill and skirmished with the enemy at Rockaface Gap the 8, 9, 10, and 11th. On the 12th our Corps, the 14th, swung around to the right and passed through Snake Gap and rested on the extreme right of Gen Hooker's Corp the 20th.

The 13th inst. Was put in skirmishing in a deep forest and in the morning of the 14th Saturday opened the fight of storming Fort Resaca. It is impossible for me to give you all the details of the fight but it was terrific. Column after column of our men were mowed down by the guns of the fort. My brigade was the first line to charge the fort on the west side. We moved up cautiously through a thick piece of wood to the top of a hill then down it into a bottom within a quarter of a mile of the guns of the fort when they opened up on us with grape and ------ and as it was an open field they cut us right and left. In 5 minutes our Brigade lost 400 men. But we was soon saved our artillery was soon posted on the hill right behind us and opened up on them and drew the fire from off us in fact we had got so close to the fort that they could not depress their guns on us. We layed flat to the earth from 9 in the morning untill 10 at night and all the cannonading from the fort and our guns went directly over hour heads. It was not a very pleasant place you may imagine for we had to keep as mute as mice and watch the breastworks of the Fort for Sharpshooters who was all the time picking at us. But ever time they would show their heads we would retaliate. In the afternoon a Saturday we got up some steal (sic) Parrot guns and opened up on them with 24 guns and we made that Fort shake under our solid shot and shell. She caught fire 3 times, in the afternoon we had all their guns silenced. We did not sleep much that night. Early next morning our Brigade was drawn off as we had suffered so much the day before. Sunday we lay under cover all day. The fighting was terrible and Sunday night the Rebels got out and fell across the River Catcosa and left nearly all their dead and wounded in our hands besides several hundred Prisoners. The Rebels under Gen Johnson then began a hasty retreat and our men began the persuit (sic). Our Corps left Resaca Tuesday morning and took the centre and day before yesterday we overhauled them again at this place. Here they formed a line of Battle and showed fight again. We pushed on to them and for 3 hours the fight was right warm when the Rebels gave way again and commenced their retreat. We are now lying idle here. It is probably untill our flanks can swing around more. It is said we will not probably move the centre untill Monday the 23 I. The Rebels are said to be in full retreat ahead of us. We are now 58 miles from Atlanta and to reset more I think will take us to that city and I am sure it will fall. For there is nothing in the Southern Confederacy that can stop the Great Army under Gen Sherman. We are said to number 175,000 and is composed of the 4th, 11th, 15, 16, 17, 20th and 23 Army Corps composing the Department of the Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi. I learn from high authority that our loss at Resaca is 5,000. What of the Rebels I know not. I will write when I get an opportunity.

I am so tired now I do not feel like writing, and I am so dirty as all of our clothes is left behind. I am anxious to hear from home. My health has been all the time and is now excellent and with our success and Grant's and all our armies makes me hopeful of soon winding up this Rebellion. The weather has been fine and the roads in excellent order, but the sun is pretty hot. This is now the flower of the Rebellion, but we are making paths into it. Excuse me for the present. I remain, your brother,

Fletcher

The following quick notes were penned at the top of the first page of his letter, written on lined linen paper, folded so as to present four back-to-back pages:

The 90th D is now camped in half a mile of us. They are in the 4th Corps. Walter Betts is over to see us now. Direct your letter to Co. "K" 89 OVI, 1 Brigade, 3 Division 14th Army Corps, Atlanta, Ga., for I am certain we will be there in 2 weeks.