In the Entrenchments Near Atlanta
July the 24 /64
Dear Charlotte
I will try and write a fiew lines to inform you that I am well and where I am. We have advanced since I wrote you last. We are now but two miles from Atlanta. We have built good breastworks and if we get out side of them we are fire at. It is dangerous to go out to cook. We are in front of the rebs fort and but one mile from them. Good sheling distance and they keep throughing solid shot and shell about all the time. They cant hurt us much if we stay in our entrenchments. The rebs charged on us knight before last. We drove them back. There was a hard fight on our left the same time. The report is that General McPhereson was killed day before yesterday. That is a great loss. He was a smart general. We can see part of the citty. I dont think the johnies can hold Atlanta much longer. They will have to fall back as they have done. I havent sent a letter since the eleventh. I have got one ready to send. I think I will have a chance to day. Orderly Williams is dead. He was a good orderly. We miss him verry much. The rebels lost a great meney in that fight the 2Oth. It was quite a hard battle. Col Cobman of the one hundred and eleventh PA was killed the twentieth. As brave a man as ever drew a sword. He commanded our brigade when Col Ireland was wounded. Our corps faught Polks old corps and Hardees the twentieth. They tried to break our lines but they found the star to break through. It was quite a coole knight last knight and it is not very warm to day. I will tell you how we built our breastworks. We drove some good stakes and piled rails up against them and then dug down on the front side about three feet and five or six feet wide threw the ground all over the rails and banked up on the back side. They are ten or twelve feet thick and the front side is as high as our heads. We have to sleep in the dich and stay in the most of the time or get hurt. It is a damp place to sleep. I slept cold last knight. I look for a letter the next mail. Hope I will get one. I shal send two the first chance I have. You will look for a letter some time. I hope these letters will go through quick as posable. No more so good buy. My love to you.
Chas Engle