William C. Olds letter to Frank A. Olds August 8, 1864-08-08

              Before Atlanta Aug 8th
Dear Father
Although I had Rec'd [received] no answer from my
last letter to you but knowing that you have heard of the terrible
fighting that is going on and that you were uneasy about me
I thought I would write a few lines we are still in front of At-
lanta [Atlanta] but have not had any hard fighting yet that is our
Corps with the exception of the [?] Brig [brigade] of [?] who charged
"the ""Johnnies"" day before yesterday and were Repulsed after"
losing about 1/3 of the Brig the first and our Brigade (2d) were
sent out to drive in the Enemy's flank but the com'der [commander] of the
1st thought he could do it himself and went for them he succeeded
in getting within thirty-paces of their works when he gave the command
to halt and lie down which they did under a terrific fire of the enemy
the color Sergt [sergeant] of the 8th Tennessee planted his colors on the enemy's
works but was instantly shot down and fell into the enemy's works
and they got the colors the boys had to crawl of [off] on their [not readable]
knees that is those that did get off our Killed and wounded lay in front
of the Rebs trenches two days they neither took care of them nor allowed our boys
to come after them until yesterday when the [they] evacuated their works
I saw the Killed of our side and I Hope I may never see such another sight
they were fly blown and were stripped of nearly all their clothes they took

[Written at the top of the page]:
we have not Rec'd [received] any pay yet but I think
the 2d Div will as they have made out their Rolls
I dont [don't] know whether our Div will get any or not.