Camp 10th Mich. V.V.P. in the 
		field July 4th, 1864
8 oclock A.M.
 
	Dear Mother 
		         I received the 
paper and envelopes you sent me 
day before yesterday and I am very 
much obliged to you for them. The 
Rebels retreated from their position 
on Kenesaw Mountain on the 
night of the second we followed them 
all day yesterday and captured a 
large number of straglers, we are now 
about five miles from Marrietta
the Rebs are about a mile in our 
front I do not know whether they 
are going to make a stand here or 
not the genaral opinion is that 
they will retreat across the Chattahoochee 
River where they are strongly fortified. 
The second and third Brigades of 
our Division layed five days within 
fifteen paces of the Rebs works and 
comenced to dig a tunnell under 

them to blow them up but they 
got wind of it somehow and 
skedadled They left some splended 
breastworks We captured I should think 
as many as two thousand prisoners including 
deserters our Brigade picked up about 
a hundred. We are a building breastworks 
here to day I expect it will be a dull 
fourth of July to us two years ago to-
day we was in Big Springs, Mississippi 
and one year ago in Nashville. I dont 
think we will get as good a dinner 
as we did in Nashville last fourth 
we have got to come down to the 
Hard tack and Bacon but we can 
get along first rate if we only get 
enough of it since I wrote to you 
last we have had two men in the 
regiment wounded one in our 
Company and one in Co D the Co D 
man wont live the one in our 
Co had a slight flesh wound in the 
leg he is getting along first rate

the weather is so very hot that 
almost any wound will prove fatal 
Capt Cook of Co E is dead he died the
next day after he was wounded 
Thomas Holton is well also George Jay 
and all the rest of the boys. E. Yost 
who was wounded at Buzzards Roost 
arrived from Detroit to the Regt 
day before yesterday he has not had 
his veteran furlough yet on account 
of not having his discriptive roll 
with him at Detroit. I have not 
received a letter since we was in front 
of Kenesaw Mountain. I have not heard 
from Georgy yet I have not time to 
write any more at present as I have 
got to take my turn at the spade
in the breastworks so good bye
Give my love to Father and Geo 
and beleive me your affectionate 
    son 
	William Bostock 
W.B.