Lot of eight lengthy war dated letters written by Edward J. James and his brother James E. James, to their sister Kittie. Both men served in the 96th Illinois Regiment, 2nd brigade, 1st Division. They both served as Commissary Sergeants. Following are several excerpts from the letters. December 1st, 1863, Lookout Mountain, Tenn (James), 4 pages: 'Tuesday was the day fixed for the attack on this place....About 7am Hookers men began to move to the base and then our brigade followed and too their post. The work soon began and was carried through with vigor. They drove the rebs from their camp and scattered them in confusion capturing a large proportion. By night our forces had possession of all of one side of the mountain. And it being dark they rested. The 96th camping right under one of the rebel batteries. Our brigade fought well and though being in the rear of Hookers men at morning they camped far ahead of them that night. I...could see our boys charge on and drive them out of their camp. The whole day our flag flouted over the peak bein planted there first by the 8th Ky of our brigade and were then followed by the 96th....Our forces are returning after following up the enemy to Ringold. This has indeed been a great victory on our side. And a more successful campaign no one could wish. I was in Chattanooga yesterday and saw Major General U.S. Grant. He looks natural and has got over being lame...' December 4th 1863, Nickojack Cove, Georgia: 'Our detachment were relived on the 2nd and we marched for this place on the third...Just before leaving Gen. Grant, Gen. Logan, Gen. Meigs (Quarter Master General) Major Kittoe, Gen. Rawling and Gen. Hunter and escort made their appearance...Their glasses were kept busy for a while...I have heard that the Ky on Guard were badly cut up in the late engagement their Capt. was very dangerously wounded the Col. and Sgt Col of the Regt. were both killed.' May 6th, 1864, Camp in the Field Catoose Springs, Georgia, 4 pages. '...been on the go more or less and yesterday the brigade went into camp (or rather bivowacked) in line of battle...all around here for miles the country is fairly covered with 'blue coats' I have never seen as many troops together before. The boys feel confident of victory this time and I trust such will be the case. If a battle is fought it will be a heavy one. For the rebs will either take a bold stand and give us a hard battle or skedaddle with out firing a gun and have us chase them up...' July 13th, 1864, Camp in the Field, Georgia, 4 pages: '...The regiment is once more enjoying a little quiet away from the noise and clatter of musketry and cannon they are camped on an airy hill a mile south of the Chattahoochi river and as the whole army is quiet it is thought they will get a rest of eight to ten days before going any further towards Atlanta though we are only fourteen miles from that city...Since I last wrote you from 'Big Shanty'...the rebs evacuated their position at Kenesaw Mountain and we started after them once more overtaking them four miles south of Marietta and here is where we passed the 4th early in the morning heave cannonading commenced and our boys instead of wasting powder in the shape of 'Fire Crackers' wasted it to Uncle Sams expense and no little anoyance of the Johny rebs...in the afternoon detachments from the brigades of our Division charged and took their main works and scaring them so bad that they up and got during the night giving us the privalege of chasing them to the river on the 5th and they once more made a stand but like their old ones only for a day or two and we have them all South of the Chattahoochi and at present our army is still and it seems that Sherman does not want Atlanta quie yet....' August 12th, 1864, Camp of the 96th Vol. Infantry in front of Atlanta: 'We are so close to Atlanta from our line of works we have a full view of the city only one mile distant and the view would indeed be a pretty one were it not for the angry looking and strong forts and line of works that we have to look at in doing so for we can think that many precious lives must be offered up ere they are occupied by other than traitors to the sacred ground they are formed of. While I write six heavy guns are busy throwing shot and shell into the city and forts...The skirmishers keep up a constant fire keeping us in a constant state of noise and confusion. The army has been laying still for the past few weeks as Sherman is acting entirely on the defensive so nothing has been done only the charging and changing positions...There is some little excitement about going home his fall to vote. I should like the chance to cast my first vote for 'Honest Abe.' News comes today that Mobile is in our possession and Grant holds Petersburg...It is thought that Sherman could have Atlanta in 24 hours if he chose and I don't doubt it but he is only occupying the enemys attention and waiting for a stronger hold and easier work...' September 13th, 1864, Camp of the 96th I.V.I. Atlanta, Georgia, 8 pages: '...While we camped here our regt was sent out to make a demonstration in front of the rebel works and had quite a heavy skirmish in which two were killed and eight wounded...You have undoubtedly heard before this of Shermans retrograde movement around the rear of Atlanta and it was for that we broke up camp...the six corps...broke camp just at dusk and marched around to 'Clam Hollow' nearly west of Atlanta arriving at 2am and rested for the morning and while we were resting the 14th and 23rd moved around us and at 10 o'clock am we resumed our march moving around the rest of the corps and in this was each corps marched around each other until the evening of the 28th when we were halted as the enemy was in force in front. A short skirmish ensued and the rebs left they making what they thought a flank movement and run into the 20 corps and got badly beaten and while they were doing this we moved westward about 12 miles from Atlanta and heading for the Montgomery and Mobile R.R....while we were so moving the rebels moved two corps from Atlanta to Jonesborough leaving one in Atlanta. Howard met them at Jonesborough and fight ensued in which the enemy made several heavy charges but with no success and were compelled to fall back. When the reinforcements they came up again and entrenched themselves. But during this our three corps moved up to the R. R. and commenced their work of destruction...About 3 o'clock pm the battle opened out and for a while raged with fury but with heavy loss to the enemy as whole brigades were taken prisoners and at one charge the 14 corps took 20 pieces of artillery from the enemy...Next day Sherman sent a circular around stating that Atlanta was ours and the campaign was over, in a day or two we left for Atlanta and with a slow march we arrived there on the 7th. Our march through and entrance into the city was a grand one.' In very good condition. COA John Reznikoff/University Archives and RRAuction COA.
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