Culan, Georgia
May 18, 1864
Friend Albert,
I received your welcome letter several days ago with the stamps enclosed. I have had no time to answer it until now and at this time we are on the march close after the enemy. For several days our Division has been in the advance fighting and skirmishing. Today the order has been changed and some of the others take the advance and we the rear. That is the reason we are stopped now for a couple of hours only. We have had some hard fighting to do. Our regiment has been engaged three times. Our loss in all has been about 75 killed and wounded. Jimmie Barton was badly wounded yesterday morning on the skirmish lines. We was in the advance and men on the enemy who were parted behind a fence. We had an open field to cross and they fired into us. Jim was struck in the head a little above the temple. He was carried to the hospital and the ball was extracted with several pieces of his skull. It is very doubtful if he is alive yet. The doctor said his wound was mortal. Yesterday evening the rebs made a --- and our Brigade fought them over three hours. In our company have one killed and two wounded. James Davis was the one that was killed (he used to live at John Paine’s) shot through the heart. On the 14th and 15th we had a regular battle. We was engaged over five hours on the 14th and about one hour on the 15th under a very heavy fire of musketry and grape. Our 2nd Lieutenant had one foot taken off by a piece of shell. John Porter was struck on the head by a limb of a tree and lay senseless for several hours. We expected he would not live but the last word I heard he was getting along very well and would recover. The same day we has one man killed and two wounded of Company C which makes in all two killed and seven wounded of our company. I had some close calls but didn’t get a scratch. We are following the enemy up closely and tomorrow reach Kingston where we expect to have another battle as the deserters say it is the intention to make another stand there. It is where the Railroad branches off to Rome and after they leave there Rome is gone. I am getting tired of this kind of business for nearly three weeks now it has been march and fight all the time. This is a hard campaign and one that is pushing the Rebs to their fartherist point as fast as it can be done. We are all nearly wore out form fatigue and want of sleep yet in good spirits and willing to push forward and get the matter wound up as soon as possible. The news from the East has been pretty sprinkled and has caused considerable excitement and enthusiasm. Good news from other quarters are good to make a fellow fight well. It does me good to hear the hundred day men turning out as well. I wish I could see a roster of the Warren County Companies. I want to know who all are going. They will certainly help a great deal but the time is rather short and they ought to be out now. I would like to write you a long letter Bert but I haven’t time and probably wouldn’t have much time for a week or two. If we push on to Atlanta it will take that longer. All of the boys that are with the Company are well. Bill Mitchell got knocked down last night by a limb cut off by artillery but wasn’t hurt much. Mercer has not been ---. Captain and Turnbull are all right and will write just as soon as we have another break. Give my kindest regards to all.
As ever your friend.
Jim Wilson (Sgt.)
Source: Posted on Ebay, June 20, 2011
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