In the Trenches before Savannah GA
Dec 18 /64
Dear Charlotte
I am verry thankfull for this privilage again and I will improve the time. I am happy to inform you that I am yet numberd among the living and well. Nov 15 we broke camp at Atlanta and marched south or reather south east. We marched towards Milladgeville the capitol of Georgia. Our corps took the place verry easy. We lay there one day and tore up railroad and distroid all publick buildings. We then marched south to the Central road. We tore up meney miles of that. The rebs attaced us while we were at work. We soone set them flying through the woods. We then went to Millen where they cept our prisoners and tore up a lot of the Augusta Road. They had a large stockade where they cept our poor prisoners. I think James Webster was there and from there we marched here about four miles from Savannah. We had a pretty hard march but the wether was beautiful. I had heard a great deal about the Georgia swamps and Georgia pines. We past through them. Some of the awfulest swamps and a good meney of them. The country is as level as a floore from Millageville here. Where there is no swamps it is sand. Verry hard traveling. It seamed like waking(?) through hail and snow. It was quite a long march. It is about 300 miles by rail. We must marched 350 or near four hundred miles. We marched some knights nearly all knight but we lived well all the way. We found plenty of sweet potatoes and hogs chickens molasses meal and peanuts. We got here a weak ago to day. Our regt and the 102 NY were sent out to skirmish. We advanced through a peace of woods and found the rebs behind a line of works about 300 yards from their forts and main line of works. We were soone orderd to charge which we did in splendid stile acrost the open field. The rebs made a quick time to their second line of works and here we lay yet. We are the left wing Army of Georgia and there is but one regt on our left. We have good works and it is dangerous for us to raise our heads above the works. They have got lots of artilery in our front and they use it to. They use the best guns and amunition they have ever used on us yet. We were orderd to charge there main line of work and forts the first knight we was here. We got all ready but the orders were countermanded and it was well for us for they would killed or wounded half of us. Henery Kells and James Willber were captured when we were taring at the Central road and Henery Schouten and John Reynolds were wounded on the skirmish line so we have lost but four out of our Co on the whole raid so far. Sile West was wounded by a peice of shell. He was washing his clothes aback a fiew roods from the works. He was hit below the knee pretty severe. I washed there the day before. The shot and shell flew thick and pretty clost but I came out safe. I must take another sheet.
Monday morning the 19
Dear Charlotte I will try and write a little more this morning. I am well and hope you are all enjoying good health. We have communications again. We got a mail Sadurday. I received four of your wellcome letters. I was glad to hear from you once more. The latest date was Nov 17. I received one to Atlanta after I wrote last. You havent got the money yet. You must go to the Binghamton Bank and coll for it. They may not notify you. You will have to take someone with you. You must be verry much in nead of some money. The mail goes out to day. It is 16 miles to where the boats land so we wont get the mail more than once a weak. We havent got eney hardtack yet but we expect them to day or tomorrow. The right wing has plenty to eat now. We have rice and beef half lb per day. We will have plenty in a fiew days. They can run from New York Citty here in 48 hours and the rebs cant interfere with our communications eather. We are some over 20 miles from the sea coast. The rebs are sheling us now the worst way. They have just wounded a man. There is some killed or wounded every day. Dear Charlotte how glad I will be when I get out of this scrape. If I come out with a whole head I shal be glad. Time pases away fast. Nine months more and the 137th will be free but there will be hardly enough left to tell the tale. The rebs fight hard as ever but they cant posibly hold out much longer. I think we will take Savannah this winter and then Augusta or Charleston will be the next place and I dont know but we will have to go and take Richmond yet. Grant dont seam to do much. I dont suppose he can. He has a hard nut to deal with. The copperheads must feele reather sore but the South are dayly encouraged by them but I think they will play out soone. It will soone be Chrismas and New Year. How I would like to be home. I want to see you all so I can hardly stand it. You say you have moved. What have you got to eat. I am afraid not much. Tell how you get along. I guess Matie has forgoten me. I sent my likeness. Let me know if you get it. I would like yours verry much. I want to see Father and Mother verry much. They must begin to look old. It seams a great while since I see you all last but I shal alwais remember the time. I dont know when I can write again but I will send a letter every chance I have. I think you will get this next Sadurday. Direct same as before except Nashville put on Near Savannah GA. I must close. Write often and all the news. I dont know weather you can read this or not. I have no chance to write but I guess you can studey it out. My love to you and all. Good buy dear Charlotte.
Charles Engle