Milton Barnes To Rhoda Barnes

[Barrycdog]

MILTON BARNES to RHODA BARNES
4 Miles south of Kingston, Georgia
May 21st '64
[o"f]
At length, after three weeks
'\
constant marching, counter marching,
fighting, skirmishing, watching and anxiety of mind after capturing Tunnell
[sic] Hill, Dalton, Resaca (fighting a battle at the Cutter place,) and then
moving right on and capturing Rome and Kingston, we have gone into camp to
rest a few days. So I will now avail myself of the first opportunity to
write more fully to my own dear one It has been a great source of annoyance to me that I could not send you a letter regularly as of yore, well
knowing that you would be full of anxiety. You must not think that we of
the 97th have been engaged with the enemy all the time. in an army so large
as ours the Divisions, Brigades and regiments only fight by reliefs, while
the rest all stand ready if needed in supporting distance. I have just been
reading a long letter in the Cin. Commercial giving an account of our investment of Dalton which is very full and accurate, a much more satisfactory
account than anyone officer could give, since each one has his place in the
line and can know but little of what is going on at other points expecially
when our line was some 10 miles in length. I hope you will get that paper
regularly while this campaign continues, as it is the most complete and
reliable in its details. Well[,) I have seen what I considered strong
military positions, but I have never yet seen anything to compare with that
occupied by the rebels at Dalton. Nature made it almost impregnable while
every assailable point was carefully protected by substantial fortifications.
But old Sherman found an inlet and took advantage of it and followed up his
advantage so rapidly that Mr. rebs [sic) had to abandon their chosen position[,)

Letter to Rhoda Barnes from her husband Milton Barnes, stationed near Kingston, Georgia. Milton explains his lack of writing recently by describing the constant marching and skirmishes he has been involved in. Battles at Tunnel Hill, Daltan, Resaca, and Kingston, Georgia have kept Milton on the move. He praises a description of the Battle at Resaca he read in the Cincinnatti Commercial newspaper.
http://digilib.gmu.edu/dspace/handle/1920/6237
escription: Public domain. There are no known use restrictions.
Type: Text
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1920/6237
Appears in Collections:Sesquicentennial Civil War Documents Project

George Mason Universities.

 

[Barrycdog]

Milton Barnes to Rhoda Barnes
4 Miles south of Kingston, Georgia
May 21st '64
falling back out of their works to fight us on even terms. Previous
to our occupation of Dalton we took a position on the crest of Rocky
faced mountain, [Rocky Face Ridge] and on the 9th [,] together with [Co\Ci't \]
Harker's Brigade[,] attempted to charge them off it, but found it
very much to our personal comfort to get back as fast as possible, and
threw up breast works, where it was so steep a man could hardly stand.
Here we remained two days and nights. On the morning of the 13th we
learned of the evacuation and our corps moved around the works and
marched into town, but did not halt long. [We] moved right on until
we again formed a junction with the rest of the army near Resaca. Here
we came upon the enemy in force. the evening and forepart of the following
day [May 14] was spent in getting into position and feeling the enemy's
lines. I never went through such woods in my life. I had charge of the
skirmish line a part of the time. in shifting round through the brush
wood I lost my overcoat cape, but was glad enough to get off that well.
On the morning of the 14th we found the enemy's lines and drove them back
a mile into their breast works thrown up the night before and held them
there while [General] Hooker swung round on the left and turned their flank,
we now had them as we thought, in a very tight place nearly surrounded.
on the 15th which was sunday I hoped there would be no fighting, but we had
taken their first line of works and were so close that firing was kept up
almost without cessation all day from both sides. we continued to pour such
a stream of fire into them that the next day[,] when we passed through, large
trees 40 feet high were litterally [sic] shaved to pieces with bullets, the

 

[Barrycdog]

Milton Barnes to Rhoda Barnes
4 Miles south of Kingston, Georgia 3
May 21st '64
ground for some distance back of their works was full of little pits
where each man had dug in the ground to hide himself from our fire,
not daring to lift his head. The [Oostenaula] river was on the south
side of them but they had one point for crossing so strongly fortified
as to be impossible for us to take it - But for this, we would have
gobbled [up] their whole army - They retreated sunday night. [May 15]
Monday morning [May 16] we pressed right forward after them[,] stopping
an hour or two in Resaca. here I got the first view of Genl. Sherman.
he is very different from what I expected. "he hath lean and hungry look[.]"
But such are "dangerous" you [know?]. at least the rebels think so. Thomas
is the finest looking General we have. We all like Genl. Howard very much.
[General] Newton also behaved very well. Here ouy intrepid Col[onel] [Lane]
left us for "home, ["] "sweet home[.]" he started the morning the fight
commenCed but [General] Wagner shamed him out of it. I sent a note by him
to you. did you get it? From Resaca our corps took the advance, about 8
miles above Kingston the enemy made considerable resistance at a place called
Adairville [sic] after another Brigade had exhausted their ammunition and we
went to the front to relieve them just before sundown. this was about the
hottest place I have been in. we kept up the firing until after dark and
then remained on the ground until morning. I have been very careful, I dont
expose myself unnecessarily - only when duty absolutely requires it. While
I have a duty to perform to my country I never for a moment forget that
there are very dear ones at home whom have claims upon my life, fully as
strong[,] who in the midst of battle ever seem to be whispering in my ear

 

[Barrycdog]

Milton Barnes to Rhoda Barnes
4 Miles south of Kingston, Georgia 4 --
May 21st '64
"spare yourself for my sake": At Kingston the enemy made but feeble
resistance and we swept down through its deserted streets like a
hurricane. This is the point where the rail road from Rome connects
with the main road to Atlanta and prisoners reported the enemy intended
to make another stand here. finding them gone we turned in for a little
rest before proceeding on to Atlanta. We have now gotten pretty well out
of the mountain fortresses of Northern Georgia in the open southern country
which contrasts favorably with that through which we have passed. I am glad
of it for I am very tired of the interminable mountains. Though it is getting
quite warm, we are not suffering in that regard yet.
Your letters have reached me pretty promptly thus far. yesterday I received
the copy of the Atlantic you sent me. I am quite much pleased with it,
expecially the poem on the veterans. It is indeed a source of joy and pride
to me to know that while I am here fighting the enemies of our common country
I have a dear wife who enters so fully into the spirit of the cause as well
as the reality of the personal sacrifices as to endorse that Mother's
sentiment towards her son, changing it only to the holy relations which you
and I sustain to each other my I indeed am very proud of such a
spirit and such a and earnestly hope that the past's predictions
will soon be realized, that this war [may] soon be over and we can nestle
together in our little home castle as in the days of yore! thus indeed will
we be happy. 0 how I would love to be with you this morning, this lovely May
morning[,] while we nature is wearing her most winning smiles. I know our

 

[Barrycdog]

Milton Barnes to Rhoda Barnes
4 Miles south of Kingston, Georgia 5
May 21st '64
little home which looked so comfortless and cold through the bleak winter

must now be more lovely. we could now sally out with our "little swan"

without the danger of taking cold and being laid up for weeks as a consequence.

I am pleased to know that she knows all her letters. she will be a bright

little star in our home firmament wont she darling? Have you heard anything

more from Will Cook? or from any of our boys, Clark, Frank, or Jimmy [Barnes]?

I would like very much indeed to hear. I suppose Clark & Frank are with [General]

Siegle's Isic] command - poor Jimmy, I dont know where his got to. You wanted

to know if I got back with all my things safely. I did - I saw quite a

curiosity on Rocky face mountain the other day. The sweet scented shrub

growing wild in great abundance, also what is called the fringQ .... flower,

a white flower very fine, but I dont get to devote much attention to such things'.

We have passed some beautiful farms and shaded groves. A much better country

than about. Chattanooga[.]

[Inverted at top of page 1:]

I read your "extra" [the] day before yesterday. a little extra thrown in

occasionally is very acceptable indeed provided it dont stave off your regular

issue. Then, I will close now and if we dont move for a day or two will write

again before leaving here The other boys are all well. Myers [sp?] was very

uneasy about Frank but got a letter saying he was better. he dotes on him

very
[On left margin of page 1:]

I am looking for another tonight - My love good bye froM your ever loving

and trusting Milton -