Atlanta Ga Friday eavning May the 20th 1864
Mr W L Phillips
Dear Brother I seat myself this eavning to answer
your verry kind and Welcomd letter of the 13th
which I received to day and was truly glad
to hear from you one time more and
verry glad to hear that you had got so
that you could go about some I would be
the gladest in the World to see you but
I dont know when it wil be but I hope
not long I was verry glad that you
got home before you were taken sick
these lines leaves me well and I
hope they may reach and find you well
and doing well we have hard times
out out here in Ga and some verry
Stiring news it looks like the yankys
is about to come to this place any how
they have bin fighting several days
they commenced at Dalton Ga 100 miles
from this place and this eavning report
say that they are at cassvill on the
Railroad some 40 miles from this place
the Gov of this state has caled out the
militia and civil officers of the state to
help defend this place thare has bin a
heep of wounded brought to this place
thare has bin but few prisoners brougt
yet the enemys fource seems to be a
heep stronger than ours I woul not be
supprised for all the govement store
to me moved at any time we are
not doing much in the shop for
the Fact that we have not much leather
on hand I must stop fo the present
and finish in the morning Sam
[page 2]
Saturday eavning May the 21st 1864
I seat my self this eavning to finish
my letter I have not herd much news from
the front to day thare has bin some whare
in the naborhood of three thousand sick
and wounded brought to this place
it is the general opinion of the people
that the yanks will come to this place
we all have orders to meet at the shop
in the morning at 8 oclock we dont know
what for the order is from maj Cunningham
I think it is for the purpose of packing up
and moving the shop the order was for
all to be on hand all those that was excused
from drill as well as the members of the company
when they go to send of the shop tools
wach Sam and see if he dont git abord
with them I never intend to go into
another fight in any other company
but my own if I can help it and I
think I can the talk with the hands is
that the shop is going to Macon Ga
and some says to augusta Ga it may
not be moved from this place but I
think it will if thare is not a change at
the front soon Brother I would be glad to be
at my Fathers house sitting and [??] to
some and tel of some of your ups and downs for
I know you have seen and felt hard times I know
that I have and I know that you have had
harder times than I have I must soon stop
you must write to me again soon I will
write to some of you again soon I can give
you more news in a few days a few days will
tel what will be done here I remain your afectionate
brother S S Phillips