Letter to Martha Charles

May 18th 1861 Calhoun G.a. Dear Wife: I recd yours by Joel a few days ago but have not had time to answer it until this morning I was glad to hear from home and hear all was well I am well myself and all my mess I am [?] Joel came to camp when he did it would all been rite if he had remained home I got the ham and bis cuit you sent and was glad to get them and I am very much obliged to you for this we have been on the march we have not been in a fight yet our Division has been sent down here to prevent a flank movement but there is two other on thnce other Divisions down this way some at resacca [Ga.] and some above there has been some very heavy charges made on our breast works at Dalton but we repulsed

[written sideways in the margins] them enemy tyme

I would like to give you all the news and all the particu lars of our moves we have marched very hard ever since Tuesday morning at 1 oclock we left Dalton on five miles above at 1 oclock Tuesday mor ning and marched 15 miles by 10 oclock the same mor ning and we have been marching backwards and forwards ever since we came to this place last evening I do not know how long we will remain here we lay in the breast works mon day all day and until 1 oclo ck that night some of our regt was out on pickett but did not skirmish any but one co out of [?] got one man killed and > wounded in 2 hours skirmishing I must close for the present may God bless and protect us is the prayer of your devoted husband J O Charles we left our winter quarters Sunday evening

[written upside down along the top margins of the page] Direct your letters to Dalton as usual [? ?] Wife read this as we did not have time to write

[Envelope] Mrs J. O. Charles Grove Station S.C. Politeness of J.B. Garrison

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