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3RD MISS INFTY. NEAR ATLANTA GA Aug 31st 186^
Dear Sallie
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At Home	While, in quite - bivvac in the shade of a grove
of beautiful tall oaks this morning I take pleasure in writing to you though I cannot promise to be interesting.
As the 29th last I was in command of the skirmishers of our Brigade and recieved.a dispatch from the General commanding that the enemy had. left Genl. Stevensons front and also an order to make a demonstration and feel the strength of th enemy on our front. In obedience ther of I made the necessary preparations along my line and issued preliminary orders to the Regimental Officers of the skirmish line. All things being ready I gave the order to fire and charge. My men fired one volly and leaped over the works with a yell, and such "skedadling" among the Blue Coats I never saw before. They ran from their videlt works in all directions. In the midst of all the excitement I could hear some of the boys break out in a hearty laugh and cry out look at that Yank crawling over the works there and look at that one there all of which I enjoyed as much as they did. We took possession of their third line of works and occupied them. I was relieved that night and next morning they had dissap-peared entirely from our front. Their movements or intentions we a mystery to all save Genl. Hood probably for two or three days many different opinions prevailed. Some thought they were retreating, others that they were massing on the left and subsequent events proved the latter, if not altogether true at least partially so, in consequence of which we have been moved from our old position towards our-left, we are awaiting the results of an attack which Lt. Genl Hardee was ordered to make at daylight this morning and as I write the report of his artilery in distinctly heard. If he needs assistance we will be ordered into the fight and as he will have to contend against such great odds. I would be surprised ere the sun sets that we should be enveloped in the smoke of a raging battle. It is my opinion and that of many others, that Sherman is making his last and most desperate attempt to capture the much covetted prize Atlanta and if he fails which he will certainly do, he will give it up as a bad iob and return from whence he came. The last signs from Virginia are very good and I hope our great Genl Lee will be able to report many