A letter to Mrs. A. C. Van Raalte from her son, Ben, who reported that  Yesterday we burned a large house, just like the Holland Academy. It was a beautiful fire and the boys enjoyed themselves.  He gives her many details about the battle for Atlanta. No wonder she is worried about her sons\u27 safety!  I received your package and letter and wish to thank you.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1248/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 7-28-1864 A Letter to Mrs. A. C. Van Raalte from Her 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 Mrs. A. C. Van Raalte from Her Son, Ben" (1864). Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869. 249. https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/249 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 28, 1864 A letter to Mrs. A. C. Van Raalte from her son, Ben, who reported that "Yesterday we burned a large house, just like the Holland Academy. It was a beautiful fire and the boys enjoyed themselves." He gives her many details about the battle for Atlanta. No wonder she is worried about her sons' safety! "I received your package and letter and wish to thank you." Original in the Archives of the Netherlands Museum. Translated by Clarence Jalving. #72-cm,-J c r7h í d're -7-r~ 5 - /ad ty ,/-7/9  Camp 25th Mich: near Atlanta Georgia, July 28, 1864 Loving Mother, Through the goodness of the Lord we are all in good health. We have been constantly busy building fortifications in the last few days. We changed our lines completely the night before last, and the three Corps which had been on the left flank were transferred to the right flank, presumably to cut off the railroad. The cavalry is also out on another expedition, but on the whole we are not aware of the various movements. The Rebels were very quiet this morning, so that some thought they had left the front, but that [2]  was not the case. I sometimes think they keep so still to lure us, and then, if we were to attack, to give us another Resacca. But we are too smart to fall into such a trap. Our troops advanced to the skirmish line and then it proved they were still there, and they began answering our cannons. Yesterday we saw them also march a column to our right flank. We could see them march plainly with the naked eye. Our troops threw some bombs in their midst. The Rebs have terribly strong fortifications here with rows of sharpened sticks in front of them. Occasionally we shoot some holes in them with our cannon, but then they quickly go out with their shovels to repair them. In charging [these fortifications] we could not drive a large force out of it, but I think [3]  that General Sherman will accomplish it by various flanking movements. I cannot understand why they don't level the town with artillery fire. Last evening we set a large house on fire, one just like the Holland Academy. It was a beautiful fire and the boys like to do that; they enjoy that kind of thing. Our works are now so strong that the Rebels are welcome to come. They were laid out in such a way that we can open up with cross fire immediately. We also have sharpened spikes in front of it with layers of brush so that it is almost impossible for a man to get through. We haven't used our heavy cannon as yet. The Rebels don't do much firing with their [4]  heavy artillery. I don't know why. I guess they must be gaining respect for the Yankees—respect for our cannon they already have. They are not stingy with their light artillery which they send to us fairly often, and which wound quite a few on a daily basis. They are shooting rather wild, and because of the abundance of shots they do hit many. But we ourselves do the same thing, and keep as busy as we can. I must end now. I received your letter and package, and want to express my thanks for them. Greet everyone from me, Your loving B. Van Raalte Rinke De Vries is recovering nicely. P.S. I was just getting ready to seal my letter but the Rebels wouldn't let me. They suddenly opened cannons in the fort in such a way that it was bedlam for a little while. But our artillery soon silenced them. While it lasted the shell fragments flew like hail around our ears. You do not need to send a shirt. I'll write when I need something. [in margin:] The Rebs caused little damage in the shelling. The tents were knocked down. Only one [casualty]: they shot off [a soldier's] leg. [Translation: Clarence hiving Revision: Nella Kennedy, November 2008] 1/30 Camp 25th Mich. Near Atlanta Ga.  July 28, 1864 Dear Mother: Through the Lord's mercy...we/ are still in good health. During the past days we 441  have been busy all of the time building fortifications. I-Dy before yesterday our . lines were changed completely. Three Corps which had been on the left flank were transferred to the right flank, presumably to cut off the railroad. The ,x 't)ctieict cavalry is also out on another expedition but on the whole we are not  Ji.;-,z of the various movements. The Rebels are very Quiet this morning, so --171 U-C-11-SCL— L z` that some thoug.ht,.they had eft the front but that wasn't the case. • I sometimes think they,-in-quiet to tt us and then, ifi‘we attacked,10"nother k.e.e.p J...c-riil . . vre- t, r twl.; '1** Resacca Qi—i-t. But ‘,ve are too smart to fall into such a trap. 4if-,e,  aavanced-aut-skirmish line and then it proved they were stil there and they began answering our aa.  11441+44. al.:a _Alt -re-. Yesterday, we saw›ItiLieli  . g a column titrie n our pirght flank was--ma-r-ch-ing. We jcL..ould see them p allily 1  *th the naked eye. 'threw some bombs in their POI‘s. The •Rebs have wt-Ty strong fortifications here with rows of sharpened sticks in front of them.. pecasionarlly we shoot some :z..dre, pa . holes in them with our cannon but then.  they '....gs.htLouxwith their shovels to 1 'iLt fr -1-44-x --ihem up. W-e-eottletnIt-a-e-complish-a-nythin-elery charging rthe se fortifications P '2 'Alt biro° ' ,,A e I think tha Gen. Sherman will -work' out-t-1104a2--ea-pture by various flanking it 4)21 '4 44) movements. I cannot understand why they don't level the town with artillery dA2411' 11-/ ,pkJ el/Ogiof s e_t-  fire. e-s e-reay we lD..u.r-RT-- £1 ..r. eloag: house, just like the Holland Academy. It was a beautiful fire and the togr'sp enroyedemselves. Our works are now so strong (..1.£ 41C, - A 1,4 e that the Rebels are welcome to come ansl_try-to---ta-ke-thern. They were laid out by_the_ en_g_ine-e-r-s----aud /k r ue 0 t igve can open up with cross fire. We also have sharpened spikeke ers p orush in _front„.of-the-m so that it is  i. .1,- itrau ki almost impossible for a man to pè-i . We haven't used our heavy cannon as yet. The Rebels don't do much firing with thei i,heavy artillery, why I do not know. I guess they gaining respect for the Yankees - respect f our ca ,on /7) the a re dy hay-The re ot, stiAgy with th.'r r ht arllery a ot poit 4-- row cause r -to a '' 14,4 • Ift4 0 -.4a kt 441̀4T 'htt4tel '' nd MIX/ e , sonlie a ou to Deco e woun e`o.4.  tAki- t4141  irv frktia- Your loving B. Van Raalte S ' P.S. Rinke De Vries is recovering nicely. I was just getting ready to seal my letter but theebeils jy,ojulln't let me. Thy suddenly openecl..11--the cannon ~ In the for rtl--VA'á bedlam for a little while. But our artillery soon silenced them. While it lasted the shell fragments were singing around our tv"'"'M ears.[The did very little damage - the tents were knocked down and one man lost a leg. I do not need a shirt as yet. Will write you if I need anything. ware shoetting-wild. However, we the same thincr as busi..s jge ca kJ_ L Now I must close. I received your package and let er and toY1.1. _B-e-st-regards to all. 1130 Camp 25th Mich. Near Atlanta Ga.  July ZS, 1864 Dear Mother: Through the Lord's mercy we are still in good health. During the past days we have been busy all of the time building fortifications. Day•before yesterday our lines were changed completely. Three Corps which had been on the left flank were transferred to the right flank, préseumably to cut off the railroad. The cavalry is also out on another expedition but on the whole we are not informed of the various movements. The Rebels are very quiet this morning, so much so that some thought they had left the front but that wasn't the case. I sometimes think they remain quiet to tempt us and then, if we attacked, to make another Resacca of it. But we are too smart to fall into such a trap. We advanced our skirmish line and then it proved they Were still there and they began answering our artillery fire. Yesterday we saw them forming a column when our right flank was marching. We could see them plainly with the naked eye. We threw some bombs in their ranks. The Rebs have very strong fortifications here with rows of sharpened sticks in front of them. Occasionally we shoot some holes in them with our cannon but then they are right out with their shovels to fix them up. We couldn't accomplish anything by charging these fortifications and I think that Gen. Sherman will work out their capture by various flanking movements. I cannot understand why they don't level the town with artillery fire. Yesterday we burned a large house, just like the Holland Academy. It was a beautiful fire and the boys enjoyed themselves. Our works are now so strong that the Rebels are welcome to come and try to take them. They were laid out by the engineers and are so constructed that we can open up with cross fire. We also have sharpened spikes and layers of brush in front of them so that it is - almost impossible for a man to penetrate. We haven't used our heavy cannon as yet. The Rebels don't do much firing with their heavy artillery, why I do not know. I guess they are gaining respect for the Yankees - respect for our cannon they already have. They are not stingy with their light artillery .and, because •of the large numbers of our men, some are bound to become wounded ?..Ye.n if they are shooting wild. However, we do the same thing as busily as we can. Now I must close. I received your package and letter and wish to thank you. Best regards to all. Your loving B. Van Raalte P.S. Rinke De Vries is recovering nicely. I was just getting ready to seal my letter but the Rebels wouldn't let me. They suddenly opened up with the cannon in the fort so that all was bedlam for a little while. But our artillery soon silenced them. While it lasted the shell fragments were singing around our ears. The Rebs did very little damage - the tents were knocked down and one man lost a leg. I do not need a shirt as yet. Will write you if I need anything. Camp 25 Mich: Near Atlanta Georgia. July 28111/64 Liefhebbend Moeder. Door Heeren goedheid zijn wij nog allen in goede gezondhied wij hebben de laaste daagen altijd nog aan het werk geweest met fortifecaties te maaken. wij hebben onze line eergisteren nacht geheel veranderd en drie Corps. die aan onze linker vluegel laagen zijn naar de regtervluegel getrokken denkelijk om daar de railroad af te sniden de Cavelrie is ook weer uit op een niewe expedisie maar wij worden anders weinig van de moavements gewaar. de Rebbels waaren van morgen heel stil zo dat sommige dachten dat zij onze front hadden verlaaten maar dat [2]  was niet maar ik denk dat zij haar eigen soms zo stil houden om ons maar aan te lokken als wij is goed op lcwaamen om ons nog is wat Resacca te geeven maar daar word goed voor uit gekeeken. de onzeri avanceerde de schermutsel lijn maar zij waaren er nog wel en daarop beantwoorden zij onze kenonnen ook gisteren zaagen wij ze een kelom naar de regter vluegel van ons marscheeren wij konden ze goed met het bloote oog zien marscheeren de onzen goiden nog bommen in hun geleederen de Rebs: hebben hier ontzetende sterke werken. en een rij scherpepinnen er voor staan nu en dan schieten wij er wel is een gad in met de kenonnen maar dan zijn zij er gouw bij met de schop op het te maaken met chargen konden wij er geen groote vorce uit drijven, maar ik denk [3]  Gen. Sherman zal het wel doen met een of ander flank moavement Ik kan niet niet begrijpen waarom ze de stad niet plat schieten gisteren avond hebben wij nog een groot huis aan de brand gestooken net zo als de Hollansche Ackademie het was een moij vuur en dat doen de soldaaten graag daar hebben zij schik van, onze werken zijn nu zo sterk dat de Rebbels zijn nu welkom zij maggen nu koomen. de werken zijn sterk en loopen zo dat wij er daadelijk een krusselings vuur op hebben, en dan hebben wij er scherpepinnen voor staan en laagen met takken zo dat er een mensch haast niet door kan. onze zwaare kenonnen hebben wij nog niet geopend. de Rebbels schieten teegen woordig niet veel met haar [4]  zwaare kenonnen hoe of dat komt begrijp ik niet. Ik denk ze krijgen zeeker respect voor de yankies respect voor onze kenonnen hebben zij reeds al. de klijne koogels zijn zij niet heel zuinig die stuuren zij er nu en dan nog al is wat over en wonden er daagelijk nog al veel, zij schieten nog al wil [wild?] in om maar door de veel hied raaken zij er nog al maar wij doen het zelvde. zo druk als wij maar kunnen, nu moet ik eindigen uw brief en paktje heb ik ontfangen en zeg uw er dank voor. Groet allen van mij Uw Lief: B. Van Raalte Rnke De Vries beeterd goed Ps: Ik zal nu mijn brief sluiten daarnet wanneer de Rebbels het mij niet laaten doen. zij begonnen de kenonnen van de forten in eens te oopenen dat het kraakte, maar de onzen hebben ze weer tot stil stand gebracht, het ging er van [langs] de stukken haagelden om de de ooren. een hemd hoeft uw nog niet te stuuren ik zal wel schrijven wat ik noodig heb. [in margin:]  de Rebs. hebben maar wijnig nadeel gedaan met het shellen de tenten vloogen om, een maar schooten zij het been af.  [transcription: Nella Kennedy August 2008] Camp 251h Mich: Near Atlanta Georgia. July 28th/64 Liefhebbend Moeder. Door Heeren goedheid zijn wij nog allen in goede gezondhied wij hebben de laaste daagen altijd nog aan het werk geweest met fortifecaties te maaken. wij hebben onze line eergisteren nacht geheel veranderd en drie Corps. die aan onze linker vluegel laagen zijn naar de regtervluegel getrokken denkelijk om daar de railroad af te sniden de Cavelrie is ook weer uit op een niewe expedisie maar wij worden anders weinig van de moavements gewaar. de Rebbels waaren van morgen heel stil zo dat sommige dachten dat zij onze front hadden verlaaten maar dat [2]  was niet maar ik denk dat zij haar eigen soms zo stil houden om ons maar aan te lokken als wij is goed op kwaamen om ons nog is wat Resacca te geeven maar daar word goed voor uit gekeeken. de onzen avanceerde de schermutsel lijn maar zij waaren er nog wel en daarop beantwoorden zij onze kenonnen ook gisteren zaagen wij ze een kelom naar de regter vluegel van ons marscheeren wij konden ze goed met het bloote oog zien marscheeren de onzen goiden nog bommen in hun geleederen de Rebs: hebben hier ontzetende sterke werken. en een rij scherpepinnen er voor staan nu en dan schieten wij er wel is een gad in met de kenonnen maar dan zijn zij er gouw bij met de schop op het te maaken met chargen konden wij er geen groote vorce uit drijven, maar ik denk [3]  Gen. Sherman zal het wel doen met een of ander flank moavement Ik kan niet niet begrijpen waarom ze de stad niet plat schieten gisteren avond hebben wij nog een groot huis aan de brand gestooken net zo als de Hollansche Ackademie het was een moij vuur en dat doen de soldaaten graag daar hebben zij schik van, onze werken zijn nu zo sterk dat de Rebbels zijn nu welkom zij maggen nu koomen. de werken zijn sterk en loopen zo dat wij er daadelijk een krusselings vuur op hebben, en dan hebben wij er scherpepinnen voor staan en laagen met takken zo dat er een mensch haast niet door kan. onze zwaare kenonnen hebben wij nog niet geopend. de Rebbels schieten teegen woordig niet veel met haar [4]  zwaare kenonnen hoe of dat komt begrijp ik niet. Ik denk ze krijgen zeeker respect voor de yankies respect voor onze kenonnen hebben zij reeds al. de klijne koogels zijn zij niet heel zuinig die stuuren zij er nu en dan nog al is wat over en wonden er daagelijk nog al veel, zij schieten nog al wil [wel?] in om maar door de veel hied raaken zij er nog al maar wij doen het zelvde. zo druk als wij maar kunnen. nu moet ik eindigen uw brief en paktje heb ik ontfangen en zeg uw er dank voor. Groet allen van mij Uw Lief: B. Van Raalte Rnke De Vries beeterd goed Ps: Ik zal nu mijn brief sluiten daarnet wanneer de Rebbels het mij niet laaten doen. zij begonnen de kenonnen van de forten in eens te oopenen dat het kraakte, maar de onzen hebben ze weer tot stil stand gebracht, het ging er van [langs] de stukken haagelden om de de ooren. een hemd hoeft uw nog niet te stuuren ik zal wel schrijven wat ik noodig heb. [in margin:]  de Rebs. hebben maar wijnig nadeel gedaan met het shellen de tenten vloogen om, een maar schooten zij het been af.  [transcription: Nona Kennedy August 2008] Holland Historical Trust .Collection of the ro Joint Archives of Hoflan) L~V_2c2.1.D '45? eja5X.) ..S6-12.1,"-tta ,2 ."1-attl',64 • °L5t.dir 4r-#1C  ; afte  %et, ./9n4de) real— e'2-2-Let,"17 tr r eara s tt LA-, a-- 1/2"-, ita—fofrt-e-d; /21+ iray  k zen,ci,c &ien„ /erz .---72-a-"--•-" <>Cc, ge2r0t-71--",4--e-o,a+  C4t--) 22-# ted-s- • 1"/ -j  127a> 9.2AArt "4„ 17— ,getett, gert-ei ne, ar ui, Iteoh ez./, ' • • gic:v VI> 22A. 2 asz2 da, 4," frat ed2. t ee-6 2<r, ijeG/A:Le a,z, /0.4/ (7,--) m-p-L, dote",  &12 (22-y , Y-tALIe. 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A Letter to Mrs. A. C. Van Raalte from Her Son, Ben

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A Letter to Mrs. A. C. Van Raalte from Her Son, Ben

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