Atlanta
Sept 18 /64
Dear Charlotte
I seat myself this morning to answer your letter of the 3 which I received the 15 and the one you wrote the 5 and mailed the 10 which I just received. I was verry glad to hear from you and that you were well. I am well. We are in camp and we have got good shanties built. We have got a verry nice camp. I like it here. I wish we could stay here till our times was out. The women and children has most all gone. I have got a sheet of the Chatanooga Gazeth with Shermans orders in. I will send it to you. Then you can see how it was. They hated to leave their homes and nice churches. Some of them went crying. They had to leave most all their furniture. It was verry hard but eney way to put down the rebellion. I think it was a good order. Our goverment would had to supported them and for us to guard a line of communication over four hundred miles long to feed the cidicens would be poor policy. You want to know if I have got eney clothes yet. I can get all the clothes I want now. The socks you sent me are good yet. One pair is worne some and the other I have never had on my feet. You neadent send me eney. I can get clothes cheaper than you can and rations to. I know you are out of everything. We expect the paymaster here every day to pay us. You say you dont know what to do this winter. I have thought of that a great deal. You think you can hire Bartons house. I dont know what to say. The greatest troubel is to get wood but I believe you could do as well there as eney where but you must hire till I come home where ever it is so you wont have to mow but once. It will be verry hard for you to get along. Every thing is so high and my wages so small but you must do the best you can. I hope one year from to day I will be home with you and take that great weight off your shoulders. You had better try and sell your cow. You say she is a poor one. Try to get a place as soone as you can and move before it is cold for you cant stay there when it is cold. I wish I had some of your tomatoes. I got one good mess here and severl messes of sweet potatoes. They are verry nice but I like tomatoes best. I hope you will have a chance to raise some next sumer. I must close. The mail goes out at noon and it is about that now. Kiss the children often for me. I want to see you the worst way. Good buy dear Charlotte.
Chas Engle