I suppose you have heard of Hoods [i.e., General John Bell Hood] raid if so you know how much he has done towards cutting Shermans communications We have him now in Ala close to Sommerville Ga we are not far from the line There is no news of any importence only a lot of the 68 boys are going to start home to night or tomorrow they are in good spirits I wish I was in their place The whole army is here now but the 20 A.C that is in Atlanta there is 5 corps of us here all in sight of one other

They are sending all of the sick and crippled I do not know which way we will start again but I think tomorrow morning will see us on our way I do not think the rebs will stand unless they are made to there is quite a force of them according to all accounts We are close to where Col Stuart was taken I expect Maj Taylor of our Regt will start home on a leave of absence also he was taken the same time I was and got to the Regt at Decatur and has not been home yet I understand that Maj Gen Scofield [i.e., General John M. Schofield] has come up with the 4th Div of our corps which has been in Kentucky

all of the time I hope they will send us to the rear but I do not expect to go there I do not think this raid will last long and when this is finished up we will lay still for a while to day makes 18 days we have followed them Well I will close good by write soon

H E Randall