should live to ever get setled again.  But here I am beginning to speculate on the future again - I'm afraid you'll see that I'm a little homesick - I don't wish to exhibit any symptoms of any thing of the kind but I must confess that sometimes when I look over the past of our lives & what our prospects were - I do long to get home again & I don't believe I will go into the Veteran service.  I think that I must rest three years & then if the war is not ended I may try it again.  We have news from the Potomac army up to the 27th of May & from Gen Sherman to about the same date - Sherman will take Atlanta & drive Johnson's army somewhere else - & he will have an army able to follow him - Right here I want to make a remark - not that I consider you so ignorant as the masses on this subject but you even with your keen perception & with all you read you cannot realize how uterly prostrated the physical energies of an army are after a great battle.  Men go into battle like Jiants but after they have marched & fought for 2 - 3 days & lain on their arms & slept a few hours & roused by the roar of canon & the shrill whistle of minie balls & then for hours in the fiercest contest.  I ama strong man but I have lay down to rest when our Regt was relieved for an hour when a boy could have disarmed you will often hear the remark after an army has won a great victory. "why don't they follow up the advantage".  Not realizing the fact that by the utmost exertion the victory has been won - I trust that you will understand me.  I would have my wife understand all about things as they are
