Dated Chattanooga, TN, May 5^th, 1864. From Lt. Hawthorne to his father, written as Sherman’s army jumps off the 1864 Atlanta Campaign 2pp., in ink, on unlined paper measuring 7.75 x 10”. letter exhibits fold marks, and light soiling along fold-lines. Ink is somewhat faded, but entirely legible. Else VG. 

Text excerpts: “. . . . We are again on the move, we left Woodville Ala Sunday morning early 1^st day of May (we started on our Grand Gulf Jackson & Vicksburg Campaign on the 2^nd of May last year) I was detailed to take charge of those not able to march thru & camp & garrison Equipage. . . . Troops are coming in from every way . . . . On Monday Kilpatrick with the Cav. & Mounted Infty had a brush with the Rebs & drove them out of Ringgold & as far as Tunnel Hill but at night he had to fall back to R [Ringgold] & the Rebs followed . . . . All is haste & excitement & Genl Sherman is driving up matters for a blow where ever he can hit the Rebs & if Grant is only successful in taking Richmond & clearing that part of VA of the Rebel army we will soon drive them to the wall & make ____  that their case is desperate . . . . I send this only to let you know that except being lame of rheumatism, & lame ankle, I am well . . . . I would like to be at home & rest this summer, fix up things & then I could go into it again for 2 or three years more if need be to save our country & perpetuate the privileges & blessings handed down to us by our forefathers God bless them & help us.  Soon you may expect to hear stirring news from our Army & I hope from the Eastern Army too.  Old Grant will do his best I’ll warrant . . . . there is a God in American that neither slumbers nor sleeps and winketh not at Rebel insults to humanity & will not let them pass unpunished.  God do unto them & even 4 fold has they have done to our brothers of the Union Army.  Millikens Bend last summer Fort Pillow at several times & places in NC & a few days ago out here below Ringgold when they shot down 5 in cold blood after they had surrendered ___ our White Cav &c &c . . . . Sis, I send you a rough hewn vine dug yesterday on Lookout Mt, right where our Regt was posted & fought on the night of the 4^th of Nov . . . . You can have it polished off to suit you . . . make them into a shape of a shield or heart shapes or in any shape they like.  Your Brother, John. 

Excellent Atlanta Campaign/9^th Iowa collectible. Accompanied by transcription.  Lt. Hawthorne invites further research.