Etowah River Ga May 20th l864

My Dear Pet.

Your long looked for letter came to Hand last night. I am half vexed at your not writing oftener, I started out this summer determined to write you every chance that occurred, but if you do not write, I shall await answers to mine, before writing you. We have had a very hard campaign so far, not much fighting, but a great deal of hard work, we have succeeded in driving the Rebel’s (sic) to the Altoona Mts. 15 miles beyond Kingston. We are on our right flank, resting on the Etowah river, five miles from Kingston Ga towards Atlanta. The Rebels have a large force, supposed to be about 75,000 strong, they are now said to be fortifying the line of the Etowah River at the base of the Mountains. Our Army has halted here for a day to replenish their provisions and Ammunition, when I suppose we will “at them again.” You write me that Clark has not yet fixed the wall nor steps, and that there is stone on the lot I bought of John Stewart. If you can have it done any sooner and cheaper by taking those Stone’ (sic), you had better do so. I am very sorry to hear of the continued ill health of your Mother, and “Mag.” Hope they will soon be well. My health continues tolerable. John Slawson starts for home to-morrow and I send by him a pair of full blooded Bloodhound Puppies such as are used to hunt Negroes with. The yellow one I wish to keep, the other one a black & tan color, I wish to present to Mr. Forsyth, they are most excellent Watch dogs. John also takes one for himself. Has Dick Thompson done anything towards finishing the addition to Harney’s house, and how is he getting along with the fence for us. How does the yard look since it is filled up, where did they take the dirt from to fill it with. I am trying to have our new house completed by next Spring, so as to finish the grades, and plant trees around it. Horace is well and wishes to be remembered, now do write, I am half ashamed to urge you to do that, which anyone would suppose would be a pleasure,

I am as ever your true Husband

J.T. Wilder

My love to all, and tell Mary, that if she learns to read I will buy her the prettiest present I can find.