A letter to A. C. Van Raalte from his son, Ben, reporting on the battle for Atlanta.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1245/thumbnail.jp

Jalving, Clarence

Kennedy, Nella

Van Raalte, Ben

English

Digital Commons@Hope College

Hope College Hope College Digital Commons Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869 Van Raalte Papers 7-26-1864 A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben Ben Van Raalte Clarence Jalving Nella Kennedy Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s The original documents are held in the National Archives of the Netherlands. This digitized material is intended for personal research/study only. The original documents may not be reproduced for commercial use in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the National Archives of the Netherlands. Recommended Citation Van Raalte, Ben; Jalving, Clarence; and Kennedy, Nella, "A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben" (1864). Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869. 246. https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/246 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Van Raalte Papers at Hope College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869 by an authorized administrator of Hope College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@hope.edu. Camp 25th Mich. Near Atlanta,  Ga.,  July 26, 1864 A letter tb A. C. Van Raalte from his son, Ben, reporting on the battle for Atlanta. Original in the Archives of the Netherlands Museum. Translated by Clarence Jalving. r he,/ ~d r-co ly We /4_ reflijed» Camp 25th Mich., near Atlanta, Georgia July 25, 1864 Loving Father, We are situated now directly in front of the city, which the Rebs have strongly fortified. Yesterday we advanced about a mile, but the fighting was very heavy. The Rebs made terrific charges and the firing was intense. They made three charges and in one of them Gen. McPherson was killed which is a heavy loss. The Rebs drove us back and took our cannon and many prisoners. Soon after that we were reinforced by other [soldiers] of our Corps, and others besides, and we made a charge, recapturing all the cannon and the prisoners [2]  which they had taken from us, besides taking two thousand of them prisoners. The dead and wounded all fell into our hands. I do not think General Hood gained anything yesterday with his charges. They apparently also made a charge against [General] Hooker with heavy losses evidently. There was activity all along the line yesterday. I thought that they wanted to try us as well, but nothing came of that. We could see them forming but they didn't dare to risk it. This morning a deserter came to us, who told us that they had received orders three times to charge, but the first time the officers could not agree. When they did come to an agreement the privates didn't dare or didn't want to charge. Cannonading was heavy yesterday. We shelled the city and the fortifications, but they shelled us heavily also. We had to build our breastworks under [3]  heavy fire, with shell fragments flying about our ears. We have to play woodchuck in the ground these days. I am learning to be a good digger here. Yesterday morning Rinke De Vries was wounded lightly by a shell fragment. It didn't draw blood but became very swollen. But in a day or two he should be back on duty again. We have made our fortifications extra strong since the Rebs have very heavy artillery. I am expecting very heavy shelling to come since we lie directly in front of a Reb fort. We fire so many shells on them that it is a joy to behold.' Maybe they will get tired of it and then they may also throw over some of those "camp kettles." That is what the boys call those big shells. It is rumored that we took five-thousand prisoners to Marietta this morning. [4]  [We also heard] that General Hardee2 was wounded and taken to the hospital of the 161h  Corps. That is good news, but it could well not be true. There is so much talk here. Now I must finish, hoping that we may be spared and that Atlanta may soon be in our possession. Greet everyone from me. Your loving I  ...dat  het liefhebberij is... could also be translated that it has become a sport. 2 General William Joseph Hardee (1815-1873) B. Van Raalte P.S. We get very few letters, I don't know why. Lieut. Kramer sends his regards. Yesterday we captured seven stands of colours.3 The Johnnies must be vanquished. Our boys are in good spirits. My headquarters at present is in the rifle pits, in case the Rebs start shelling. [Translation: Clarence Jalving; revision: Nella Kennedy, April 2008] 3 Confederate Army Colours: streamer is divided with grey over blue. Camp 25th Mich. Near Atlanta Ga:  July 25 1̀1/64 Liefhebbende Vader, Wij liggen nu flak voor de stad, de Rebs zijn sterk gefortifted. gisteren zij wij zo wat een mijl voor uit gegaan, er is gisteren zwaar gevochten. de Rebs: maakten ontzetende charges. het was een heevig geschiet. Zij maakten drie charges in een van de charges is Gen. McPherson  gesnueveld, het welk een zwaar verlies is. de Rebs: dreeven de onzen terug en naamen onze kannonnen, en veel prisoners, daar op werden de onzen gouw gereinforced door een deel van onze Corps: en nog anderen, en maakten een charge hernaamen de grond, en aide kenonnen en gevangenen [2]  die zij van ons genoomen hadden, en wij naamen nog twe duizend gevangenen de dooden en gewonden zijn allen in onze handen gevallen. Ik denk dat Gen: Hood gisteren niet veel heeft gemaakt met zijn chargen. op Hooker moeten zij ook een charge gemaakt [hebben] en daar moeten zij zwaar verlooren hebben, het was er gisteren overal te doen. ik dacht dat zij ons ook nog wilden prombeeren, maar er is niet van gekoomen wij konden ze zien vormen, maar zij dorsten het niet waagen. Van morgen is er een diserter in gekoomen die zij dat zij drie keer orders lcreegen om te chargen maar in het eerst konden de offecieren het niet eens worden, en toen die het eens werden toen dorsten de privates niet of wilden niet. er  is gisteren een zwaar gekannonneer geweest wij shelden de stad en hun forten maar zij shelden ons ook zwaar wij moesten onze werken maaken onder [3]  eZen zwaar vuur. de sukken vloogen ons om de ooren. Wij moeten teegenwoordig  woodchuck  speelen in de grond. ik zal het graaven hier nog leeren. Gisteren morgen is Rinke de Vries ligt gewond geworden, met een stuk shell, het trok geen bloed, maar zwol nog al op met een dag of wat dan zal hij wel weer duity doen. wij hebben onze werken nu heel sterk gemaakt want de Rebs: hebben hier ontzetende zwaare stukken. Ik verwacht hier nog heevig geshell, want wij liggen hier flak voor een Reb: fort en wij vuren [?] haar zoo veel bommen dat het liefhebberij is, en misschien zullen zij het wel moe worden en dan gaan zij ons ook nog goijen met van die campketels, zo noemen de jongens die groote shells, ze zeggen dat wij van morgen vijf duizend prisoners naar Marietta gestuurd hebben [4]  en dat Gen: Hardie gewond en is het hospitaal is van het zestiende Corps: dat is goed niews, maar het kon nog wel niet waar zijn, want er word zo weel gepraat. nu moet ik eindigen hoopende dat wij bewaard moogen blijven en Atlanta gouw in bezint moogen hebben. Groet allen van mij, Uw Lief: B. Van Raalte Wij krijgen zo wijnig brieven hoe of het komt weet ik niet uw moeten de groetenis van Luit, Kramer. Wij hebben gisteren zeven stands of collers gecaptured. De Johnnies moeten er onder our boys are in good spirrit Mijn Headquaters is teegen woordig in de rifel pits, als de Rebs: gaan shellen.  [Transcription: Nella Kennedy, April 2008] 1129 Camp 25th Mich. Near Atlanta Ga.  July 26, 1864 Dear Father: 4 1411 We are" Adirectly 'n front f the city and the Rebs have a.r.Q--ry strong fortifications'. Yesterday we d about a mile but the fightip was very heavy - the Rebs made terrific charges and the amount of firing was afening. They made three charges and in one of them Gen McPherson was killed which is a heavy loss. The Rebs drove us back and took_s_anae-erf oux annon and many prisoners. Soon after that we were reinforced by another ax,:p. of our Cor s,and others) and we made a charge, recapturing all the cannon and the prisoners,which they had taken from us besides taking two thousand of them prisoner. The dead and wounded all rell into our hands. lido not think Gen Hood gained anything ye,st97day with his charges. ,4,  ipit4144 41 /Pdtirit4-,1  They so maae a charge againstrGen-Hooker an su pre .Arr*.r..y hewv lositseelecbt  et- G/1'7  W There was activity all along the liae yesterdayb-a-÷rel I g Atriey tau ry us Qzy. 1t .We could see them forming s they didn't dare to risk it. This morning a deserter came tiQus an"d told us that they had received orders three times to chargei btt e officers could not agree. When they did come to an agreement frs the privates didn't dare to or didn't want to charge. Cannonading was heavy yesterday - we shelled the city and the fortifications,but they shelled us heavily also. We had to build our breastworks un ir3ijoio?(2vy fire, shell ragnjelltsflyia4.4 .  iit about our ears. We have to play woodchuc kflow-a-days. I will e arr e-xpert shQmel-h-a-nd-1-e-r-here. Yesterday morning Rinke De Vries was wounded lightly by a shell fragment. It didn't draw blood but became very swollen,9ut in a day or two he should be back on duty again. We have made our fortifications e.)i.,-3ra_otset_rong as the Rebs have very heavy artil fiery. I am expecting very heavy shellmws we lit 4, re., directly in front of a Reb fort.,b-trtWe dttn-w so m9y4a12.ells on them that it wi-1-1-4e,' a joy to behold. Maybe they will get tired of lit:rt.-i t-My may also throw over some„Icamp-kettles'. That's what the boys call those big she ls. The story is that we took five thousand prisoners to Marietta this mornin . Also that 4- Ger). Harddwals wounded and taken to the 16th Corps hospital. That is good news but 1 evict Vitt -ts7rg true. There is so much talk floating around. Now I must finish, hoping that we may be spared and that Atlanta may soon be in our possession. 13e-54-regards-to all:— -C-0444( 12.0 Your loving B. Van Raalte P.S. We get very few letters - why, I don't know. Lieut,..Kvramer sends his c•eioui , - regards. Yesterday we captured seven stands of e-crtte-r:5-(?). The Johnnies must be vanquished. Our boys are in good spirits. My headquarters is at present in the rifle pits, in case the Rebs start shelling. t;titilkid 10' vrif 0)((((mA (4 afd,e.Q. (i( (r_ (5,2)z/ _s‘keiwp,,f, cb tot Hollatid Historical Trust Collection • - of the 'Joint Archives of Holland hez,27,- a•o, -edv 0-9-Laces."). o-e4.2) • 49* OCR- Ant C41-- ~-v .;  Ger-  0/Jc— 2r-te--711)7 a y.~92) #Kc_, 17-11"-•) 461,7CF— Ofi-j: ao- ~--ana C"- -,290^LL-z/ , c9“ 6971-cZt7-o., diz,c1c, °tar ,(2,jrn„A,JIA-ack,- c;  45L~,2,ctri„r2n.- , 0,eoe; c77-0~L270 ~-C-) ;" t7t42-, • 6 L) • •  atal2r. elzei-Gz.aes---- -Ott-) re-o>,„oti; adocc., d2G, 12,-CL•r- enid 17-e-nfltuZiw L'VO's i^y,  f-2tx27.- I.  Let:"-Omt aGe, reaec.“- Get>.- k fern/ ~(5 1 dAr_46 eL4A2, • OA" 0PS/ten? ,2g. 0v-it gdier, 4/-ggade e e4 srecL-c-7, ' , 7lUe»,4 A•t. /2'.77` % eCtiC e22CL•r' Cdp 14V~ (72Wer do 1 -tc 4dct -ea. 42-1. ricar-,-,<—_  G.12-cjJ o'itv • ,-77. a-a> d47---Ce•22s4( 1-t anan:" iredCzm, d,Leir,12 - 04-2 Ge•Ci-2  01,2) "/C4C-0-4r- C't.4 72,1 • "0-61'14, -, ./~2.4C•4t2 ~72.4 .* crn,c(cAi , t.wo; ta_ec, /2_,,a,,J earn, ecez, Al-os , e' _st, cLta)PteS-- ,22tre- /2)-etz.o6z.-- oo 1129 Camp 25th Wlich. Near Atlanta Ga.  July 26, 1864 Dear Father: We are directly in front of the city and the Rebs have very strong fortifications. Yesterday we went ahead about a mile but the fighting was very heavy - the Rebs made terrific charges and the amount of firing was deafening. They made three charges and in one of them Gen McPherson was killed which is a heavy loss. The Rebs drove us back and took some of our cannon and many prisoners. Soon after that we were reinforced by another group of our Corps and others and we made a charge, recapturing all the cannon and the prisoners which they had taken from us besides taking two thousand of them prisoner. The dead and wounded all rell into our hands. I do not think Gen Hood gained anything yesterday with his charges. They also made a charge against Gen Hooker and suffered very heavy losses. There was activity all along the line yesterday and I guess they wanted to try us ou We could see them forming but I guess they didn't dare to risk it. This morning a deserter came to us and told us that they had received orders three times to charge b'c.t ihe officers could not agree. When they did come to an agreement the privates didn't dare to or didn't want to charge. Cannonading was he avy yesterday - we shelled the city and the fortifications but they shelled us heavily also. We had to build our breastworks under heavy fire, shell fragments flying about our ears. We have to play woodchuck now-a-days. I will become an expert shovel handler here. Yesterday morning Rinke De Vries was wounded lightly by a shell fragment. It didn't draw blood but became very swollen but in a day or two he should be back on duty again. We have made our fortifications extra strong as the Rebs have very heavy artillery. I am expecting very heavy shelling as we lie directly- in front of a Rel) fort but we can also dump so many shells on them that it will be a joy to behold. 11/1 -ybe they will get tired of it but they may also throw over some 'camp-kettles'. That's what the boys call those big shells. The story is that we took five thousand prisoners to Marietta this morning. Also that Gen Hardie was wounded and taken to the 16th Corps hospital. That is good news bui maybe it isn't true. There is so much talk floating around. Now I must finish, hoping that we may be spared and that Atlanta may soon be in our possession. Best regards to all. Your loving B. Van Raalte P.S. We get very few letters - why, I don't know. Lieut. Kramer sends his regards. Yesterday we captured seven stands of Collers (?). The Johnnies must be vanquished. Our boys are in good spirits. My headquarters is at present in the rifle pits, in case the Rebs start shelling. 

A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben

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A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben

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