in line of battle

Cobb county ga July 4 1864
Frankey Dear wife I take my
pen to drope you a few lines which will
Show to you that I am well hoping theas will
find you in good health Franly we are in
line of battle in one and a quater of a
mild of a core of yankey we are looking
for them this eavning Johnson has fell
back 6 miles yesturday I think the
yankeys will have Atlanta in a few days
unless the Scale turns quick I havent
time to write much this time
I have ricved one letter from you the one
that uncle Dave wrote some in I want
to see you the worst I ever did I my
life I want you to write as often as you
can I think wee will be in a fight
be fore to morrow morning unless wee
fal back we will be all be back a cross
the river by the 6 of this month I thin
k the boys is all hear that come from
desstrick an is all well as common
we are a throwing up breast works ever
minet but we ar a most dun here
now an then I dont no whether
wee wil stay heer or fall back
an
[Page 2]
deare wife I want yo to take good
ecare of mi harvest an do the bst with yore
crop yo can I want you to write to me an
rite how yo are a getting a long with all the
yore crops and all the rest of yore
work tomas I want yo to bee a good boy
tel I come home work and do the best you
can tel I come home and frankey if I
dont come home I want yo to do what yo
sed you wold do
this is July 7 we have ben in one
or too tite plases but no man
hurt of our boys we left Sand town
and crost the river and went to stop
a rading party about fifteen thousan
Strong we threw up brest workes the
the 3 of July and on the 4 the enemy atacted
us they throwed bums at us right away
and the rifle bals whistle over our head
our regament dident fire on them we helt the
diches that nite untell nexte morning we fell back
clost the river and fell in more diches and that
we crost the river on this side we are clost to the river
wee dont now wher we will gow to from hear
some thinks down the river I cant say
[added at top of page 2]
James Watkins to his dear an affectionate wife
[page 3]
Johnsans army has fel back clost to the river
som has cam over the river I think the yankes
will have Atlanta Frankey if you pleas send
Preses leter to this wife I rote to you that
Cheses was wounded but I hearde beter
Frankey I got the leter that you sent by James
I hant got but two leters from you yet
sow I want you to rite wonste aweek if
you hant got paper and stamp you can bye hit
sow I will close I remains youres untell
Death good bye James Watkins To Frankey Watkins