Letter from Warren Hall to Anna Hall
Written in
pencil on one piece of paper folded to make four pages, each 7 ⅞ x
9 ¾ inches
The Battle
of Resaca has a page in Wikipedia, but I didn’t find mention (in a quick search)
of any skirmishes at Rome.
Head Qtrs 2nd Division A.C. Near Rome, Ga
May 18, 1864 / Wednesday
My own dear Annie Hall,
I
wrote you night of 15th from near Resaca [Georgia, about 43 miles SSE
from Chattanooga] and after writing most of my letter—which was a sleepy thing
with no sense & the pages all mixed up – I received your love letter of 4th.
Two hours after that when we had all gone to sleep – wearied with care &
fighting & riding & want of sleep – we were all waked up by hearing
firing on the front & jumping into our clothes & mounting in hot haste
we dashed down to our lines to brace them up & prepare for the conflict. I
believed that the enemy being closely pressed and unable to hold his position
had determined to make a night assault carry one centre by a desperate charge
& then crash down against one flank from the point of attack south & if
possible (& I feared it was) break up our camps & [on?] the 15th
& escape with what he could. But it was after all only one of those night
fights which frequently precede an evacuation & on the next morning our
skirmishers found only skirmishers on their front. Two days of musketing and
artillery even though the engagement was only by our light front lines &
batteries had riddled their works and their whole position through and through.
On 16th [Union] Gen [Jefferson Columbus] Davis received early,
orders to move with his division alone upon the right of the whole army &
in advance against Rome [Georgia]. We arrived within two miles of Rome last
night driving the skirmishers in & getting into position for Battle soon
enough to receive and repulse an attack from the Rebel defenders of the
Historic City of “Seven (fortified) Hills” and then as night approached
we went into position near their works, & waited for daylight to examine
our position, and advancing this morning we found them across the Coosa [River]
with a battery & Infantry, but Rome deserted & the enemy in retreat.
[A small hand-drawn map of the division’s approach
shows the confluence of the Coosa, the Oostanaula and the Etowah Rivers at Rome.]
The rebels no doubt retreat along the Etowah River
East toward Kingston to reënforce [Confederate Gen] Jo[seph E.] Johnston &
as we are away off on the right of our army we are going to try to rebuild the
bridge over the Oostanaula and join our forces that side. We are in a land
usually beautiful & rich – still beautiful but rich only in beauty, fields,
hills, valleys, meadows, groves, rivers, villas, walks, roses, hedges, a
fragrance everywhere – but deserted by its owners, who run as if they
did not know that friends or foes they will suffer less loss now & in
future by staying at home. There are some Union people who are glad to see us,
but Streight & his command were captured near here and treated by the
Romans with indignity except by the few Union people and the citizens are said
to be afraid of our avenging fury. Poor people! I wish they all knew beforehand
how glad we’d be to forgive them -- & would accept kindly the Government
which – willing or unwilling – every citizen must finally live under and
acknowledge.
We
are isolated here & have no news-dispatches from our main army or [Union
General U. S.] Grant. I feel anxious about the affairs of both. So much
toward our final [?] peace would be accomplished by our continued success in
both departments until Richmond & Atlanta are both taken.
With
the army of the Potomac with Richmond as a base to open communication with us,
I think we could form concentrations and combinations which I believe are all
we need to make us the victors in a decisive battle which I hope may be over
this summer.
God
grant we may have no reverses which would only postpone our final victory &
make more expensive sacrifices of blood. Dear Love I do believe in God,
and you will thank him as I do in my heart for his continual blessing upon our aims
and especially to us in my repeated rescue from danger. We had a sharp
fight last night and lost a hundred men in a few minutes. I was near the front.
We understand that the Rebels had French’s Div. of Infantry, & two
Divisions of Cavalry with which they intended to fight us this morning, but we
held our ground in their face, & feeling our imminent danger – with no hope
of help if attacked by overwhelming force & during the night they were
ordered to retreat & burn the bridges. I think of you ever waking moment,
& live for you, & am happy in your
assurance of constant love & remembrance & prayers for me, God bless
you & keep you in the hollow of his hand dear sweet wife! & save me to
return to love and happiness with you. I thought of you dear Annie &
remembered our day of days on the 13th, but we
were advancing upon Resaca in order of battle on that day, & I could not
devote my acts to you, only my silent love & prayers. So write
dearest often & send the little souvenir I asked for on 30th
also -- & the photographs -- & know & feel that every
moment I love you, darling darling,
Warren
