Sunday, October 16, 1864 - Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Ga Oct 16^th 1864

Beloved Wife

I have just received your letter of Sept 24, was glad to hear from you that you were all well; for health is one of the greatest blessings that we can enjoy in this world. If our health fails us we are poor miserable creatures enough. And it is through the mercy of God that our health as well as our lives have been spaired untill this time, And I feel to thank and praise him for his kindness to me and you in giveing us health and spairing our lives thus far and, also to our three surviveing children He has seen fit in his alwise providence to take one from our little circle and the one perhaps that our thoughts mostley centered upon, It seams hard sometimes when I get thinking of little Freddie to think that if I should live to return home that I never again shall have the pleasure of lookeing upon that lovely form and of pressing him to my boosom and of hearing that sweate voice pronounce the name of Pa Pa again, I often immagine that I can see him runing down the road past Mr Wheelers to meat one coming from Moodus but alass those times are passed never again to return. But I feel that I can say God,s will be done the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away and blessed be the name of the Lord. And now it only remains for us all to live so that when that last great day shall come we shall all meate him around that bright and dazling throne at Gods right hand where joys will be forever more: I am well and hope this will find you and the children all the same. I am still here in Atlanta and we are haveing a plenty to do just now the most of the troops here are on duty every day we are fortyfying around the city with very strong workes. And when they are done a small force can hold the city against vastly superior numbers. You wished to know why I do not write oftener I believe that I answer every letter that I receive from you. I should have writen before now though if it would have done any good but it would not for there has not been a chance to send if I had writen for the Rebs have been playing with the Rail Road track they tore it up so that the cars could not run through for two weeks or more and we did not get any mail for that lenght of time or send any so dont blame me. If you blame any one lay it on to the Johneys; I guess you did not send Georgies letter as you said you was going to for I received one from her to day dated the 3^rd of Oct and she wrote that she had a letter from you but said that she had ben looking for one from me had been disapointed, You say that before you shall run in debt you will stop buying I would not advise you to starve fore the sake of keeping out of debt I expect to get some pay some day if nothing happens then I will endevor to send you some I have now alost ten months pay due me. I would advis not to take any out of the bank if you posibly can get along without it. I guess this will answer for this time so good afternoon My love to you as many times as you are amind to receive it. From your affectionate Husband A.C. Smith

PS It is now Thursday the 20^th I am well will put this in the mail to day it may go and it may not