Collins3
Atlanta Ga 
Dear Friends	August the 28th /64 
		I avail myself of 
droping you afew lines to let you 
know that i am alive and well 
at this time and hope this may 
find you likewise  i have written 
several letters but i do not know 
that they have ever come to hand 
or not as i have not recived 
any from home Since i left and 
not heard from home only from 
Bro. Jim who sent me and that 
he got from sister Elizabeth and 
one that Margaret written to 
Henry dated in June  i am verry 
anxious to hear from home and 
thinking that you would have 
abetter chance to send me a 
letter perhaps then my wife 
would  i would ask you to 
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receipt of this and let me know 
how all are  i also wrote to Dr 
Staton  i directed it to cochrun 
in the care of F.M Jones  i have 
received no answer from any 
I left home in April  Mclendons 
company proced to demopolis ala  
thense Genereal Polk detailed myself 
with 22 others to Hoskins Battery 
we then proceed to Rome ga 
whare we fell in with General 
Johnson army retreating from 
Dalton and have finally made a 
stand at Atlanta  we have been 
here 37 days  I can not tell you 
when we shall leave  we have 
had a verry hard campaign and 
have lost a great many men out 
the squad of 23 men detailed  we 
have lost but one killed 
and the balance sick and 
woundid gone to the hospital 
I should like to see you 
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room here to wright  I have seen 
Press Lane Josh Williams and 
other friends since I have ben 
here  tell old man Finch i saw his 
nephew Frank Finch  he is in Yates 
Battery from Panola county  you have 
perhaps heard of the casualties of capt 
mxwells Company before this time 
the capt himself is in the hospital 
wounded slightly about the head  I saw 
Bro James today was a weak agoe  I have 
not heard from him since  they have 
had some fighting on the left whare 
he is since i saw him  Suffice it to say 
that i have seen and heard enough of 
war  i have not been out of hearing 
of cannon for [280?] days day and 
night and I can not tell how long 
it will be till i am clear out 
of hearing perhaps not untill this 
war is ever 
Mr Burton  if my family should 
nead your assistance you will 
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[line cut off] assistance 
and you shall loose nothing by 
it if I should be so lucky as to 
get home again and you will 
please notice my little boys Benton 
and Harvey if they are not going to 
school try and get them to work 
some  Benton aught to do tolerable  
plowing  I do not want them raised 
idle  if thare is any school I want 
them to goe to school  make my case 
your own  i hope I will be able to 
see you at farthers by christmas 
but i can not tell when  may be 
not untill the war is over but do the 
best you can  i think it would be good 
Idear to sow a good deal of wheat this 
fall  i must close for want of paper 
this sheet cost me 50 cts and the enve- 
lope 25 cts making 75 cts this letter and and 
noe postage paid  give my respects to Caleb 
I learn from Josh Williams that caleb 
has lost one of his childrin since i left 
no more but remains your friend H.H.C—
 


