Dated “Camp 2^nd Mass Regt. Vol. Infy/ in the woods four miles from Marietta, Georgia, June 25, 1864. 4 pp., in ink, on line paper measuring 8 x 5”; upper 3 x 5” section of page one neatly clipped off prior to the writing, with no interruption in the letter narrative. Text lightly yellowed in spots, while remaining clear and entirely legible.

This letter, written in the midst of the 1864 Atlanta Campaign, contains exceptional battle content. The action that Foster describes takes place in and around Marietta in early June 1864, prior to the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Text:

“Dear E……As I have a chance today to write a few lines. I will improve my opportunity a[nd] know that I am well, and every thing is progressing favourbly. The Johnnies have tried hard to break our lines at this place but it’s no go and the poor devils are slaughtered like sheep at every charge they make while we loose but few men, having good breast works, and the choice of position which is everything. They thought they had us foul the day before yesterday before our breast-works were finished and charged en mass, yelling like so many devils driving our line of skirmishers before them at a 240 pace, Johnston telling them that there was nothing but cavalry before them and that they would have an easy job of it--: but we were prepared for them and waited until they got well up tinot the angle, formed by our line battle and a division of the 23^rd Corps, when we opened on them with musketry and artillery raking them with grape and canister buts and solid shot, which slaughtered like cattle, and our boys aggravating them all the while, singing out to them asking them how they liked Jo Hooker’s style, and where that shell struck? When we could see it burst right amongst them killing and wounding a dozen at a time. They are nearly penned up and will fight desperately to get out—but its no go. As we are gradually swinging around them, and that too with the loss of many men.

Prisoners say the men are discouraged and well they may be as they have been drove nearly a hundred miles without gaining the least advantage, oblidged to build works one day to be drove from them the next and thus is has been ever since they left Dalton the strongest and best position they ever had or can have. Our Generals are right round half the time on the skirmish lines, some days our batteries are on the outer line of skirmishers. And we’ll see Hooker, Thomas and Sherman. And lots of lesser stars flash along the lines and the we’ll hear of them they are out with the skirmishers, or planting a battery, which soon causes Johnnie in his own phrase to “gett up gett”. They are putting in the big licks on our left now while I write and I should not wonder if we should have a slap at them towards night in this quarter but they will meet with a warm reception.

I got nother letter from you the other day with two bundles of papers. Tell the rest of the folks that I shall write to t hem as soons this campaign ends and probably not before, as we build breast works about every night and we are somewhat tired out. As this has been the longest campaign we ever had two days short of two months. But give my love to all, and don’t fret about me, for things are working lovely and the prospect is high. I shall write again soon. Now good by dearest, and write every week direct to 20^th Corps recollect and I shall be sure to get them. Yours truly/ Foster.”

William Foster Morgan was a native of Lynn, Mass., and a 33 year old mariner by vocation, who mustered as a private into Co. “C”, 2^nd Mass. Infy., 7/28/1862. He was wounded at Gettysburg, 7/3/1863, re-enlisted on 12/31/1863 and mustered out on 7/14/1865. The 2^nd Massachusetts Infantry was organized and muster in at Camp Andrew, 5/25/1861. The unit was engaged against Stonewall Jackson’s forces in the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign, and Pope’s Virginia campaign, followed by serve at Antietam, Chancellorsville and Antietam, and Gettysburg. In the spring of 1863 the regiment’s 20 Corps was transferred to Sherman’s western army, and remained with it through the Atlanta Campaign, and Sherman’s March to Atlanta and through the Carolinas. Mustered out in Boston in Boston, 7/11/1865, the unit lost men 190 men killed and wounded, and 98 by disease for a total of 288.

Superb letter from a 2nd Mass. Soldier, written amid hard fighting on the march to Atlanta. Accompanied by documentation.

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