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Line of Battle Near Atli^,a, GA, July 27, 1864	-?
Dear Brother,
1 hasten to inform you that Pierre and myself are safe. As you no doubt have heard, ere this reaches you, of the severe engagement on the 20th. ult.
Our division left the entrenchments and moved forward and charged the enemy in his works from which we drove him in great confusion. Featherstones brigade suffered more than any other owening to the open fields through which they had to-charge and under the most galling fire imaginable and infilading fire from both flanks. And a direct fire in front of artilery and small arms. Our loss in field officers was.very great. Col Drake of the 33rd mis. was killed the only Field Officer of that Regiment present. Col Mellon of the 3rd MS. was seriously wounded in the head. Lt. Col, Dyer had his hat shot to pieces besides being struck twice with spent balls. Maj . Oatis of the 22nd Mis. the only field officer present was wounded in the thigh. Lt. Col Drane of the 31st the only field officer present was shot in four places. All sever wounds. The Lt. Col of the 40th mis was wounded in the arm which was amputated. He was the only field officer of that regiment on the field. Our brigade lost one man less the half of the whole number engaged. That is but one man more than half came out safe.
Our regiment lost (B6) eighty six out of one liumlrml and uUty four Cap t. Ramsey was killed. Lieutenants Miller of Gainsvllle and Grisseth of Co. D were also killed. Several other lieutenants were wounded none of whom you knew. My comapny and the Dahlgreen guards and Biloxi rifles were not in the charge. I had been sent on picket duty on the day previous that is on the 19th and was not relieved in time for the charge. I joined the regiment about half an hour afterwards on the battlefield and was left in front of the enemy with my same skirmishers until 11 o'clock that night. The balance of our troops having returned to the entrenchments at dark. I was exposed to a very heavy fire from the enemy the whole time but I am happy to say lost no man killed nor wounded. The Gainsville rifles were also with me on skirmish the day before the charge but the officers of all the companies under my command including Pierre took guns and went out in the charge. They had remained in camp when I was sent out with the skirmishers. I have just returned from duty on the skirmish line. I had command of all the skirmishers of our brigade since night before last. I captured one yank and lost one man killed in the 33 MS Reqt. Danl Curran was in command two days previous to me and was mortally wounded. The doctor says there is no hopes for him. Communicate this sad news to mother. Pierre is the only officer in his company and he is sick again. I have been after (him) to return to the hospital but he will not listen to me. 1 am enjoying good health though I must say I am astonished
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