Letter from Ellison Capers to his wife Lottie, September 30, October 1 and 2, 1864

Letter from Ellison Capers to his wife Lottie, September 30, October 1 and 2, 1864

Capers does not write anything to Lottie on September 30th due to rain but in his letter on the 1st of October, he tells her where they are camped and how many miles they have marched. He also tells her what he ate for dinner and that he is the most comfortable he has ever been on a march. In his letter on the 2nd, he tells Lottie that the Brigadiers at Division Headquarters were wondering why they had crossed the Chattahoochee and Hood's response is to draw Sherman out of Atlanta. He closes by saying that the mail and rations will be irregular since they are far from supplies.

A1961.1, Box 3, Folder 37

The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina

Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.

Ellison Capers Collection

application/pdf

English

Text

https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/508

[Page 1]
Bivouac on Powder Spring Road
Friday Evening 30th Sept.’64

My precious wife

Saturday Oct 1st 1964

My angel -- I began to write to you last night, but a heavy rain came up & prevented me. We are now in Bivouac, in line, on the Campbellton & Villa Rica Road. We crossed the Chattahoochee on the afternoon of the 29th & camped just on the west bank. Our Corps crossed at Phillips Ferry. Yesterday we marched ten miles north, going up the river. Today we have made 7 or 8 miles in a north by west direction. We have just fairly got into Bivouac now at 4 P.M. Ben has given me my dinner, which I have just eaten, corn bread & ham, with honey & corn bread for desert. As temporary Brigade Commander, I live in a tent, have a six mule wagon to carry my bed, tents, etc. & am more comfortable than I have ever been on a march. I have just

[Page 2]
got, darling, a summons to go to Division Hd. Qurs. & will conclude this note when I get back. I write to send it by one of my men, going on leave.

Sunday Oct. 2nd 64

The Brigadiers assembled at Div. Hd. Qurs. to have communicated to them the object of our crossing the Chattahoochee. Hood informs his army that his object is to operate on Sherman’s communications, with the view of forcing him to come out & attack us. If he declines this & marches on Augusta or Macon, we will move in his rear. I write you this darling just after day light and before I dress. As we are some distance from our supplies & the R.R. our mails & our rations will be irregular. Hood calls on his army to endure this & expresses the confident belief that Sherman’s retreat from Atlanta will be a

[Rest of letter is missing]