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Before Atlanta, Sunday, August 14, 1864 Dear George - We received copy of your furlough some days ago and conclude that by this time you are home. I enclose a letter herewith and have before mailed two others to the care of Isiah Young at Nashville - We are still - as we have been for two weeks or over - sitting down around Atlanta, firing shells into the town and waiting for Hood to surrender gracefully, or leave - I give him until to-morrow night, when he must be off. I see no end to the campaign however until we drive them into the Gulf of Mexico - Boughton runs the 3rd Brigade and has Lamb, 101st Ill. and Lieut. Lockwood 31st Mo, on his staff. Lander, Lee and Reynolds also - I hope that your leg does well, for the wounded generally suffer much in this weather. Gilbert Young whose wound I supposed was not serious, died in Kingston. I saw Carrington yesterday at Gen, Newtons and expect him over to see me today. The other two staff officers, Jackson and Bliss are home - one wounded - the other mustered out. We have had no payments yet, and but for an occasional supply from some officer come on from the hospital, we should all of us long since have sunk into the lowest depths of hopeless insolvency. We consider it certain here that Mobile has been captured by Admiral Farragut - is not he admirable! Deserters and prisoners give such reports and it has been so published in the Atlanta papers which comment severely on the conduct of the troops at that place. The Confederacy never looked to me so near it's end. I trust that you may be enabled to escape from Sullivan County without being mobbed but don't suppose it is very safe to appear there in U.S. uniforms. I would like to say something nice to my cousin in view of her approaching nuptials, but dare hardly undertake it at this long range. I think I might venture to kiss her, if I came near enough. Give them all my love and believe me.
Your friend, Col. H Watkins
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