The following letter was written by William C. Cook (1843-1936), the orphaned son of Asa C. Cook (1810-1850) and Mary Margaret Campbell (1814-1846) of Dalton, Wayne county, Ohio. William entered the service at age 18, enlisting for three years on 30 August 1862 in Co. C, 41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He made the jump from musician (drummer boy) to sergeant on 9 July 1864 and was appointed the 1st Sergeant of his company on 9 January 1865. He mustered out as a veteran on 27 November 1865. William married Eliza Ellen Fletcher (1847-1914) in 1868 and was a merchant in Dalton in the latter half of the 19th century.

Over the years I have transcribed a few other letters by soldiers in the 41st OVI; three of them by members of Co. C: These letters include:

Norman Chaffin, Co. C, 41st Ohio (1 Letter) 
Joseph Alexander McGonagle, Co. C, 41st Ohio (2 Letters)
Jacob Shanklin, Co. C, 41st Ohio (1 Letter)
John Henry Wakefield, Co. D, 41st Ohio (2 Letters)

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

In front of Atlanta, Georgia
August 21, 1864

Miss Linda Hughes, kind Friend.

Thinking a few lines from a soldier friend would prove acceptable to you, I take the liberty to address a few lines to you. As I have not written to you yet, although I believe I promised to write soon after I left Dalton [Ohio] for the army.

We are having a different time now that we had last winter. We are marching or fighting most all the time—more amusement than I like. I would rather go to Orrville to a concert and see the picture of a battlefield as some we see here. How should you like to take another wagon ride? I think I could enjoy one now very well. But the party that took that ride will never be all together again. I heard from Dalton a few days ago. Gust [Augusta] McDowl [McDowell] is more than down on us boys. She does not believe Ed was killed She says we do not know anything about it. Well perhaps we don’t, but I know she will never see him again as I never knew of a dead man coming to life yet.

Since we left Dalton, we have seen some hard times. We have been under fire almost every day since the 6th of May. Now we are in sight of the rebs and are skirmishing with them every few days. There has been some hard fighting along the line but none in our front. But we have our share. We are close to Atlanta but there is going to be some hard fighting before they let us go in.

Today is Sunday and is midling quiet but can’t tell how long it will last as they start up firing all at once sometimes. We can’t tell one minute what shall happen the next. Don’t care much either. If we have to fight, I want to do it and get home again—that is, if they don’t hurt me.

Linda, I hardly know where to direct my letters to as I do not know whether you are at your home or not, as it has been quite a while since I heard from you. Milt Fletcher says he wrote you some time ago and never received any answer. It is now getting late and I shall have to close for this time but if I am so lucky as to receive an answer, I will write more the next time. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain your friend, — W. C. Cook

P. S. Milt & Will sends respects. Direct to W. C. Cook, County. C, 41st O[hio] V[et.] V[ol.] I[nfantry], Marietta, Georgia