Dated “East Point [GA], Sep the 23 /64.” Addressed to ”Dear Uncle and Aunt”. Yellow cover address: Mr Isac Dike /Belvideere / Allegany Co, Ny.” 2pp in ink on unlined paper, 7.5 x 9.5” Exhibits fold-marks and slight soiling Else VG, and entirely legible.

Text:

“I was hiley pleased to get a leter from you once it came to me a day or to a go and I will answer it to day so you can hear from me once more I am at the rigment again the  Boys are al well and in good spirits and it does them good to hear of a victory we have got new of Sheridans fiting and whipping the rebs in the Shanando valey and they are exchanging prisners some and that makes the boys feel good for to get our boys out of ther misry that ar surfing with hunger and clothing thare was lots come up yesterday and more expected to day I hope they will al Com I suppose that you had heard that cris bates? Was one of the luck y ones to have a trip south but I hope he wil be lucky enofh to get Exchanged his time is out but I think he wil enlist once again this is the second time that he has ben a prisoner [page 2]

But I hope that I never shal be one I had leave be killed on the start as to be murderd by inches I hop to hear son that genril grant has had good luck at Richmond we can come fradhy over the jones in this part and if grant can there we wil soon wind the thing up but Cant tel how long before it wil close   the most of the armey hear is for Lincoln but thare is some macclelland me hear I don’t think that old hood will make another stand in georga but he may I think will go to north Carolina and thare is whare the fiting wil don up and that wil be about next rping but it may run another year (but xxxout) but it cant last mtuch long longer for ther Contry is getting rather poore you people in the north don’t know eny thing about the warr or what the Contry soth has to sufer on the account of the the war I can’t think of eny thing news to write this time give my espects to all my odl friend there and tel them to write to me for I like to get leters from my friends We are seven milds south east of  Atlanta Georga this to uncle and aunt Dike from your nephew   Wm R. Hyde"

Invites further research. While there existed two Wm. R. Hydes in the 2^nd Illinois Cavalry and 32^nd Wisconsin Infantry, this was undoubtedly a New York soldier serving with Sherman’s Army in Georgia, just after the capture of Atlanta and prior to the March to the Sea. In protective sleeve, accompanied by documentation. [JP] [PH:L]

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