Partial letter from my G grandfather, Lieut. A. K. Raff, to his cousin Frank (Frances) Raff Ebi in Davenport. After the war A. K. Raff came to Davenport and started a farm implement business with his brothers-in-law, Monroe Ebi and C. C. Cock. Camp 19th O.V.V.I.* Near Atlanta Ga. July 25th/64 Dear Cousin Frank, I wrote to Henry the 28th of last month, and to Auntie the 4th of this month, and have not yet heard from either of them. So I concluded to write to you, believeing you will be a little more prompt in replying than they are, though I don't ? blame either of them? for delaying so long. Henry I know is very busy at present:-works day and night-with the exception of Sundays, and they are the only days in which he has time to do his corresponding! And after a week's hard labor he don't feel in a writeing mood. As for Auntie, I believe she would sooner do a weeks washing than write a letter-even to me. It seems very strange that I have to wait a month for answers to my letters, when the boys receive replys to theirs, in two weeks. Letters from Ohio come through in five and six days: now why should they not come from Iowa in eight. I can't account for it in no other way than that their must be considerable delay at home in answering them. Late though they are! they are always rec! eived with feelings of genuine pleasure. I have endured the hardships and dangers of the campaign thus far, remarkabley well, and hope I will be spaired to see the termination of the war and the restoration of the Union. Then I'll sheathe my blood stained sabre which has been the death of many a gray-back, shake off my military airs and clothes, which I have been sporting for nearly three years! and again become a deadweight to relatives and friends, and a neuisnace to the whole community. In after years while dangling my boy on my knee, I'll point with pride to the old sword and jackknife which shall grace the walls of the log cabin, and tell him the number of enemieses I sleweded with those very weapons. How his old dad fought and bled for his Country on many a gory battlefield. How he marched for days and weeks through heat and cold, through mud, rain, and storm, till the blisters on his heels grew to the enormous size of apple-dumplings! and lots more stuff I'll tell him! too. And wont he feel proud of his father? Wont he think his dad was a peacock in his younger days? C-e-r-t-a-I-n-l-y-h-e-w-i-l-l. Well, the siege of Atlanta has commenced: the shot, shell and minnie balls fly! whiz! shreak! and sing! over and around us on all sides cutting off trees! twigs! And branches! and frequently maiming some poor fellow who happens to be in the way as they come tearing along. Our lines extend around the city on the north-east-side for a distance of eight or ten miles. At some points, are within a mile of it, and in plain view of their works, which I am told are very strong and filled with Johnnies. Yesterday we strengthened ours by several hours hard work. If they should ever charge us some of them will go to the rear with sore heads. We are up every morning at half past three and stand in line of battle till day light. They will never catch us napping. Last night they shelled our camp from a battery right out in front of us not more than five hundred yards. And could see the flash of every gun just as plain as though we had been by it. When as they come sailing though near a lo! ng stream of burning powder falls to the rear looking for all the world like a shooting star and making one of the most beautiful sights I ever witnessed. I watched them for more than an hour, and then went to bed, was lulled to sleep by the bursting of the shells and was woke up this morning by them. Yesterday two of my boys were wounded while cooking (That is all there is of this letter.) *OVVI-Ohio Volunteer Veteran Infantry-regiments made up of re-enlistees, frequently those disabled from earlier service. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES