%c>^- NKS^S^ -jS?^ -/'. Kv .^ ,'^ ^^ ^ ^> ,^^ •L^ 1 H „ 't\ '^f'.s\ ,# . ^/- V ^ ff^ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/shermansmarchthr01cony SHERMAN'S MAECH THROUGH THE SOUTH. WITH Mt\u anJr lutihuts af t|e ^mpign^ ^ BY ■ .1/ CAFT. DAVID P. CONYNGHAM. ^>^-^-^ ,-:-:_g / NEW YORK . ZJ SHELDON AND COMPANY. 1865. 0^ ^ Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by DAVID P. CONYNGHAM, In the, Clerk'8 Oflace of the District Court of the Southern District of New York* STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY, ISo. 4 Spring Lane. / y ^ TO JAMES QOBBOJSr BENNETT, ESQ^ EDITOR NEW YORK HERALD, Dear Sir: My connection with the Herald, as a member of that large and energetic corps of War Correspondents which you established at the commencement of the Eebellion, has afforded me the opportunity of collecting the valuable historical materials which are laid before the public in the following pages. With feelings of pride and pleasure, I avail myself of your kind permission to dedicate this work to one who is justly esteemed the Nestor op Journalism in this Country. Kespectfully, Your ob't serv't, The Authob. New Yobk» S^t. 10, 1865, INTRODUCTION. The Campaign of General Sherman in the West and South, which is treated of in the following pages, will be accorded a place in history as the most important of the entire war. Wliile the brilliant achieve- ments of the armies of the Potomac and the James around Richmond contributed materially to the final success of the national cause, the military operations inaugurated at Chattanooga, and brought to a triumphant end in South Carolina, comprised a vital part of the grand plan for the suppression of the rebellion — a plan conceived in con- summate wisdom, and executed with a boldness and precision wholly unprecedented in military history. We know of no single instance of two great armies, a thousand miles apart, acting in such perfect con- cert, with a view to attain one end, and accomplishing the purpose so completely, as did the army of the Potomac and the army of the West. The abandonment of Richmond, the surrender of Lee's army, and the subsequent inevitable submission of General Johnston were the results of their combined operations. It might almost be said that while the left wing of the national army under Grant was threatening Petersbm-g and Richmond, the right wing, under Sherman, was sweeping round on the flanks of the rebellion, and enclosing it in a net from which escape was impossible. At the time when Sherman was known to be on his venturesome march to the sea, it was a matter of speculation in the public mind as to whether the capture of Richmond would fall to his lot, or that of the general who was besieging it. It was subsequently proved by the result, and admitted by the southern generals, that Sherman's bold move through Georgia and the Carolinas cut off all chance of the rebellion being maintained longer. It is not assigning undue impor- 1* (5) 6 INTRODUCTION. tance, then, to " Sherman's March through the South," to say that it was the most decisive campaign of the war. The author of the following pages, having acted in the capacity of army correspondent of the New York Herald with the army of the Potomac during the latter part of the campaign which ended at Mine Run, joined General Sherman's army at Chattanooga in March, 1864, and served all through his brilliant campaigns, as volunteer aid-de- camp and war correspondent. The instructions of the Herald to its army correspondents were brief, but comprehensive. They were simply these: To obtain the most accurate information by personal observation, and forward it with the utmost despatch, regardless of expense, labor, or danger. Guided by these concise instructions, — with his horse, his revolver, his field-glass, his note-book, blanket, and haversack, — the army correspondent of the New York Herald started forth to share the vicissitudes and hardships of the camp, the fatigues of the march, and the perils of the battle-field, to contribute his narrative to the history of the great war. It was thus that the materials for the present work were collected. The writer was an eye-witness of all the battles, and most of the inci- dents, described ; and he may claim for the work, at least, the merit of strict fidelity to truth. As it is no part of his design to give a partial view of anything that transpired during the eventful period over which the story runs, he has chronicled the facts as they occurred, without detraction, or exaggeration, believing this to be the duty of the historian. The condition of the southern people, and the workings of the now extinct institution of slavery, were but little understood in the north before the late war called so many of its citizen-soldiers to the south. As frequent opportunities of obtaining information upon these sub- jects necessarily came within the reach of the writer, several faithful, and, he trusts, not uninteresting, pictures of social relations in the Southern States will be found in this volume. David P. Conyngham. New Yobk, September 10, 1865. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. FAOa En Route to General Grant's Army of the West. — Scenes and Stories in Louis- ville, — Bomantic History of "Stud Reynolds." — Colonel Scully. — The Defences of Nashville 11 CHAPTER II. Sketch of Tennessee. — Lookout Mountain. — The Battle of Chickamauga. — The Camp Breakfast. — The dead Captain. — His blighted Love 20 CHAPTER III. Opening of the. Campaign of 1864. -- Disposition of the Armies. — Awful Con- dition of the People in Tennessee. — Battle of Rocky Face Ridge. ... 28 CHAPTER IV. Headquarters of the Generals. — SufTerings of the Wounded. — The Enemy's Position at Resaca . .,« . . .iO CHAPTER V. Sketches of our Generals. — Personnel of Sherman, Thomas, Schofield, Hooker, McPherson, Logan, and Geary 48 CHAPTER VI. Battle of Resaca. — What it cost to take two Guns. — Terrible Scenes on the Battle-field. — Our Losses. 66 CHAPTER VII. The Pursuit. — Our Army cross the River on Pontoons and Bridges. — Capture . of a Rebel Courier. — A good Trick of General Thomas Splendid Achieve- ment of General Sweeny. — Storming the Heights at Snake Creek. — Deeds of individual Valor. — Sherman and the Lone Widow. — A Coup d'OEil from Buena Vista. — Description of the Country. — Troubles of the Correspond- ents. — Personal Anecdotes of Sherman 60 (7) 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. A Carnival in the Camps. — Racing and Hunting Parties. — Stragglers and Ma- rauders. — Excesses of our Troops. — Murder of Rebel Officers. — Capricious- ness of the Southern Ladies.— Mrs. Major Dash and Mrs. Captain Smart.— Condition of the Poor Whites. — Incidents and Anecdotes. — Whites and Blacks 78 CHAPTER IX. Scenes in Camp.— Stories by the Fireside. — How an Illinois Man sold a Horse. — The Double-ender Gun.— Misery of the People.— The Hiding- place in the Thicket, and the dead Girl « .... 90 CHAPTER X. Assaults and Skirmishes near Dallas and Allatoona. — Wood's Division storm- ing the Hill. — Cleburne's Rebel Division drive them back. — Gallant Attack of General T. W. Sweeny. — Kenesaw Mountain. — General Frank P. Blair arrives. — Personal Risks of our Generals. — Sherman shelling a Skulker. — Attack on a Train, audits Consequences 99 CHAPTER XI. Kenesaw Mountain. — Sherman commands a Battery. — Death of Bishop Polk. — The March through the Mountain Passes. — Sherman's steam Scout.— A friendly Visit, and its Consequences Ill CHAPTER XII. A Chapter of Fighting. — Johnston addresses false Words to his Men. — A Disappointment to the Rebels. — Battle of Gulp's Farm. — Death of General Harker. — Hibernian Anecdote 120 CHAPTER XIII. Kenesaw. — Crossing the Chattahoochee. — Sherman outwits ani^outflanks Johnson. — First Sight of Atlanta. — Cruelty of the Slave Dealers. — The Story of the Negro Ostin v . . .141 CHAPTER XIV. Our Cavalry at Work. — Hood replaces Johnston. — Their Tactics compared. — The Battle of Peach-tree Creek.— Atlanta surrounded 154 CHAPTER XV. Battle of 4he 22d July. — Death of General McPherson. — His Life and Ser- vices. — Scenes among the Dead and Wounded. . . . . . . '" . .167 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVI. Unsuccessful Cavalrj- Kaids of McCook and Stoneman. — Change of Com- manders. — Howard's Appointment and Hooker's Resignation. — The Battle of Proctor's Creek „ 181 CHAPTER XVII. Shelling Atlanta. — A Scout's Experience of Hanging.— The Lady Major. . 192 CHAPTER XVIII. The Siege continued. — Sharpshooters fraternizing. — A Military Game of Chess between Sherman and Hood. — Sherman wins the Game, and Atlanta too. — Cavalry Raids of Kilpatrick and Wheeler. — The decisive Battle of Jonesboro'. — Atlanta occupied by our Troops , , , 198 CHAPTER XIX. Atlanta ours. — Sherman's Entrance. — Feeling of the Citizens. — Sketch of the City. — Buried alive in a Bomb Proof. — The Citizens sent north and south. — An inhuman Fiend. 213 CHAPTER XX. A new Campaign. — Battle of Allatoona. — Sherman signalling from Kenesa\r Mountain. — Who planned the Campaign and March through Georgia, Sher- man or Grant .' — The Conflagration of Atlanta 227 CHAPTER XXI. The March to the Sea commences. — How the Army supplied itself. — Sher- man among his Men. — Sack of Madison. — Negro Auxiliaries. — Farm-yard and Plantation Scenes 239 CHAPTER XXII. The Army iJ^illedgeville.— Flight of the Government and Legislature.— A mock Session in the Capitol.— Our Cavalry Movements. — The Jew and the General. — The Way Sherman's Army lived on the Country. ... 253 CHAPTER XXIII. Howell Cobb's fast Mare.— Joe, the Forager.— Contrabands. — Capture of Fort McAllister. 270 CHAPTER XXIV. Evacuation of Savannah. — Surrender to General Geary. — His just and con- ciliatory Government. — Description of the City ♦ . 289 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXV. The March into South Carolina.—Bummers.-- Shooting Bloodhounds.— The Pets of the Army. , . ., 300 CHAPTER XXVI. Description and Appearance of South Carolina. — Visit to Woodlands. . • 318 CHAPTER XXVII. Description of Columbia. — The City on Fire. — Dreadful Scenes in the Streets. — Who is responsible. — SuflFerings of the Planters' Families 329 CHAPTER XXVIII. Cheraw. — Crossing the Pedee. — Kilpatrick's Fight with Wade Hampton. — Fayetteville. — Communication with the Seaboard. ... . . . , 35D CHAPTER XXIX. The Battles of Averysboro* and Bentonville. — News of Lee's Surrender. — Interview between Sherman and Johnston. ~- Homeward Bound. ... 360 APPENDIX. I. Sketch OF TTHK Life OF Geitebal SHEKkiAN. 887 II. Organization of General Sherman's Staff and Army. . . 382 III. The Surrender and Parole of General Johnston's Army. . 38^ IV. General Sherman's Testimony before the Commitxee on the War 394 V. Speech of General Sherman at St. Louis. 427 GENERAL SHERMAN^S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. CHAPTER I, EN ROUTE TO GENERAL GRANT'S ARMY OF THE WEST. — SCENES AND STORIES IN LOUISVILLE. — ROMANTIC HISTORY OF " STUD REYNOLDS." — COLONEL SCULLY. — THE DEFENCES OF NASH- VILLE. In the spring of 1864 I started to join General Grant's army in the West, which then lay cantoned around Hunts ville, Chat- tanooga, and Knoxville. My connection with the army was that of a war correspondent — a position which I had previously filled with the grand army of the Potomac. Arriving at Louisville, the military system of passports began to stare me in the face ; but having a letter from General Burn- side to General Schofield, then in command at Knoxville, I was proof against the repeated and inexorable demand of " Your pass, sir." At Louisville I put up at the Gault House, and, of course, was shown the very spot where General Jeff C. Davis (not the rebel Jeff, but the Union general) shot General Nelson. This was a very prolific subject for the guests. As a dernier ressort I have always found it on the table. It appeared to be part and parcel of the dessert, and led to strong debates, some jus- tifying and some censuring the act. One thing was certain — that Nelson, though a thorough soldier and stanch Union man, was a blustering, insolent naval martinet. At Stone River he performed the most heroic acts of yalor and savage acts of cru- (11) 12 Sherman's march through the south. elty. His bravery is respected ; but he atoned for his insolence by his life. The hotel was pretty full of officers ; some, who were on duty in the city, gayly strutting about in all the pomp of power ; oth- ers, less demonstrative, were hastening to the front to join their commands, for the spring campaign was expected soon to open. Vast preparations in the way of hurrying supplies to the front were being made, and all officers were ordered to join their commands at once. General Grant had just been appointed lieutenant general and commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States, and General Sherman had been appointed his successor as com- mander of the division of the Mississippi. Officers lolled around, some smoking their cigars, some enjoying the fragrance of a meerschaum ; but with all the war was a prolific subject, and grave battles and guerilla adventures were discussed and related. " They counted Sherman crazy," said a little fiery captain with an ugly scar on his face, " because he could see farther than others. He said that it would take two hundred thousand men to crush out the war in the south-west ; but I ask you who was right?" continued the captain, taking his cigar from his mouth, and looking around him to see if any one questioned his asser- tion. " And didn^t he come up in time by a rapid march from the Mississippi to relieve Chattanooga, and make Longstreet clear out from Knoxville? " said another officer, approvingly. " I tell you what, gentlemen," said a gay, handsome-looking young colonel. " Only for Governor Johnson we would not have much to fight for here ; for when Buell thought to evacuate Nashville, Andy Johnson insisted on retaining it ; and after Buell had drawn off his troops, he still retained it with what available militia he could muster. I command his body-guard, the 10th Tennessee ; and I tell you, the rage and despair of the governor at the idea of evacuating Nashville was a caution to rebels. ' Colonel Scully,' he said, ' While we have one man left we must hold Nashville.* " CALAMITIES OP WAR. 13 " And old Andy did it, too," said a long Tennesseean captain, who wore a slouched hat, long boots with pants stuck inside them, and had altogether the negligent air of a man ready and willing to carry on war on his own account, as well as Uncle Sam's. I have remarked that the Kentuckian and Tennesseean troops and officers have been superior skirmishers and scouts, while they possess a strong repugnance to regular drill and discipline. This is partly owing to their training at the beginning of the war, and how much each man depended on self-reliance and pluck. When the gallows was the reward of loyalty in Ten- nessee, each man lived in fear of his neighbor, and slept with his bowie knife and revolver under his head. Brother's hand was raised against brother's, and the rebels, while in the ascend- ancy, used their power with merciless cruelty, while the Union men retaliated, exacting blood for blood. Thus was Tennessee converted into one vast battle ground, not only by contending armies, but also by private factions and individuals. Every county, town, and almost every hamlet has been the scene of some fierce struggle, bloody drama, or savage murder. Towns and villages were laid waste, homesteads desolated, nothing remaining but blackened ruins and red graves to tell their bloody history. Fire-eating politicians, and ranting preachers, whose mission was not from above, "fired the southern heart" of the poor white trash with a fanaticism that made them savagely thirst for the blood of. their nearest neighbor. Despite such terrors, despite death, there were found brave, uncompromising men, whose creed was the union of their country, and whose faith in the right never faltered, though hunted down by Vigilance Committees and bloodthirsty guerril- las. Though they saw their friends dangle from some tree,, their homes in ruins, their families poor wandering outcasts,^ or perhaps laid in some bloody grave, still they never yielded to seduction or force. " God and their Country," was their motto. Never has a nobler heroism been displayed, nor a truer national devotion, than by the faithful people of East Tennessee. 2 14 Sherman's march through the south. It was worthy the days of William Tell. History will speak of them with admiration ; romance and poetry will couple their names with the deeds of heroes, and unborn generations will crown their praise. "I tell you what, colonel," said the tall, gaunt captain, " Andy Johnson is a trump ! " and the captain struck the table with his clinched hand by way of emphasis. " I know him well, — I hail from near Greenville, and was raised just beside him, — his firmness and determination to all the small-souled, blue-blasted Secesh around. Only for him we could scarcely maintain the unequal contest, when the devils were hanging and butchering men, women, and children. But didn't we pay them, eh, colonel ? " and he addressed himself to a middle-aged man with sharp features and quick eye, who sat beside him. The colonel was dressed as if he had thrown on his clothes in a hurry, and had not had time to button them. As he wore no insignia of rank, we were rather incredulous whether he ad- dressed him so in joke or according to rank. As the colonel replied only with a nod of acquiescence, I asked, — " You don't mean to say, friend, that they killed women and children ? " *' Don't I, though," and he squirted a volume of tobacco juice across me. " Reckon, stranger, you were never up in Tennes- see, about our 'ere part." " Never," I replied. " Well, if business let you, go there, and jist ask the people there, and in the few gibbets you'll see the Secesh receipt for making rebels ; that's all. At Knoxville they hung poor old Harman and his boy, and dragged Haun from his young wife and babe. Scarcely a day passed but some one was strangled amidst the curses and jeers of as drunken a set of ruffians as ever graced hell. " In Jefferson County, Colonel Leadbetter, who was a southern Yankee, a Maine man, and as unprincipled a ruffian as ever butchered a helpless prisoner, hung Fry and Henry from the limb of a tree so close to the track that the passengers could STUD REYNOLDS^ 15 kick and strike them, which they did even while the breath was in them. " I had a taste of their mercy myself. I was in that dirty jail up in Knoxville, and was thrown into an iron cage, with vermin and filth for my companions, because I shot the leader of a cut- throat gang who attacked my house. I had too many friends to hang me ; so they sent me with another batch off for Tuscaloosa, with the intention of killing us on the way. Beyond Athens they stopped the train, and ordered us out into the woods to rest ; we knew what that rest meant, I tell you. As soon as we got out, I called out, ' Boys, they are going to shoot us ; let us fight, and not die like dogs.' I struck the man near me, seized his musket, shot down another, and in the confusion darted through the woods. " That little band fought like devils ; but they were all killed except myself and three others. We escaped, Heaven knows how. " I had my revenge. A few months since we captured a body of guerrillas near Cumberland Gap ; and among them I recog- nized my former captors. Well, I forgot to turn over that eleven men." " I reckon, cap, you gave them close quarters." " As close as you, col ; and that was too close for their friends to find them." " Mercy," I exclaimed, " you didn't murder them ! " " Well, I gave them in charge to the sergeant, who was one- of those that escaped with me. He says they escaped ; any way, they were never seen afterwards ; Stud Reynolds always forgets to bring in his prisoners." " Who is this Stud Reynolds?" I asked ; " short as I have been in this region I have heard much of his daring exploits." " I guess you look upon him as a regular raw head and bloody bones," said the captain, nodding at the little colonel. " I have heard much of his cruelty and desperation ; he must have suffered terribly to be such a bloodthirsty persecutor of the rebels." " Guess he has," said the captain, standing up and laying his 16 Sherman's march through the south. hand upon my shoulder, as he shot a squirt of juice over my head. " Look you here, stranger." I looked into his face. There was a savage earnestness in the compressed lips and glaring eyes that almost made me quail. " Look here ; " and he tightened his grasp like a vice. " Tell me, stranger, if you had a kind wife and fair daughter, wouldn't you love them?" " Certainly." " It's but human natur. Well ! Stud Reynolds had a wife, a good woman ; he had a daughter, as fair and gentle a girl as ever blessed a parent's care. Stud loved them ; that was nat'ral ; wasn't it ? Because Stud was a Union man, he had to sleep out in the woods, little dreaming that the foul fiends would injure his innocent ones. " One night a pack of those hell-hounds came to his house. The leader of that gang was a rejected suitor of Miss Reynolds. He asked the girl that night to elope with him, or he would hunt down her father like a coon, and bring dishonor and shame upon herself. Her reply was, * You are a bad man. I could never love you ; besides, I am the promised wife of another.' "' Brave, noble girl ! The devils tore her out of the house ; and because her mother clung to her to save her, a devil — a fiend of hell — shot her through the breast, and then hurried the insensible girl, with her mother's hot blood spattered over her, into the woods. " The father returned home to find his house burned down, the body of his wife in ashes, and his outraged daughter a maniac." While the captain was speaking, the colonel clapped his hands to his face, and wept. "That man" — and he pointed to the colonel — "is Stud Reynolds, and I was to be the husband of that girl. Do you wonder, then, what we do ? '* " O, it is fearful." "Yes, it is; but who began it? We have dogged and tracked every one of these fiends. We have made their lives a hell, and their death a torture. I have tied the arch devil himself to a tree, and lit slow fagots around him, while the BTUD REYNOLDS. 17 men made a target of his body, at long range, and a bonfire of his house. It was the death of a dog, and such he got." vSo that quaint little man beside me was the notorious Stud Reynolds — the Jibberryssee of Tennessee, whose name was a terror to guerrillas, — who stealthily stole on them in their houses and in their camps, and whose knife pierced their hearts as they slept around the watch-fire. " No doubt his provocation was great. A few weeks afterwards I met him in Knoxville. He was just after capturing the infamous guerrilla Captain Reynolds. I was paying a visit to Governor Johnson. I think it was at Horace Maynard's house. Colonel Reynolds, or, as he is more familiarly called. Stud, came in to report progress. " So, colonel," said the governor, "you have captured Rey- nolds?" " I reckon so, governor. He is caged." "Well, colonel, it is not true, after all, that you never take a prisoner, as is said of you." " Couldn't help it, governor ; " and Stud held down his head, as if ashamed of this act of clemency. " I'll tell you how it was. You see, I knew where they were, and that they had their horses tied near a shanty, where they were having a big time of it, with a barrel of rotgut, and a dance with the girls. I sur- rounded the horses, knowing that they would run for them. As soon as they got the alarm, they rushed for the horses, and bang we slapped into them, turning up their heels. Captain Reynolds, the cowardly skunk, hid behind a log, where some of my men took him prisoner ; and as they did not wish to shoot him, and a crowd had collected, I thought it was as well to cage him. I assure you it wasn't my fault, governor ; " and Stud looked as if such an unusual act of mercy was a reproach on him. " Well, well, colonel, it is well to get rid of these cutthroat guerrilla scoundrels ; but it is not right nor soldierly to shoot a prisoner, no matter how great the provocation." Stud looked a little abashed ; but I could plainly see that he did not coincide with the governor. 2* 18 Sherman's march through the south. '* And are such acts of barbarous cruelty and savage retal- iation committed here ? " I asked of Colonel Scullj, as we steamed next day for Nashville. *' Undoubtedly, sir. I have often heard of Stud Reynolds's story ; but scenes as bad are every day being enacted under my own eyes, and we are powerless to prevent them. The country is infested with guerrilla bands, who keep out of the reach of our troops, but then murder and pillage all before them. We sometimes make fearful retaliations, and I am afraiii the innocent too often suffer with the guilty. Lately, my major's father, a Dr. Moore, was savagely butchered in his house by these ruffians. The major took out a squad of men to scour the country for them. They shot several men against whom they had information. I am afraid guilty parties them- selves too often give information against loyal men, and some are too apt to act upon it." " Then you think innocent men are often shot down by their own party?" " I fear so." " It is a sad state of things when society is so disruptured." " We have no society here. At the inception of the rebellion, the Union and Secesh parties were nearly balanced in Eastern Tennessee. The Secesh party took the initiative, and shot down their Union neighbors in order to intimidate the rest. A reign of terror followed, in comparison to which the Bastile, and all the horrors of the French revolution, were mild. The Union party soon recovered themselves, and retaliated with a ven- geance, imbittered by former sufferings." " What do you think of slavery in Tennessee, colonel ? " " It is already dead, sir. Nothing can galvanize its corpse. It was a deadly disease. I- came down here with pretty strong slavery proclivities, until I saw its workings, its debasing nature even on the whites themselves. I now abhor it as a damnable institution. Only a few weeks since, a case occurred in the street where I lived that sickened me with slavery. A lady had a slave, a pretty mulatto woman, of about thirty years. This woman had a smart, intelligent child, of about COLONEL SCULLY. 19 ^ight years. The mistress had sold the boy to a trader from Alabama, though her own blood and the blood of a distin- guished senator flowed in that boy's v^ins. Chloe wept, and besought the mistress not to separate them, — <■ to keep both or sell both. It was no use. At night Chloe and the boy were missing, and, on searching an outhouse, were found dead, with both their throats cut. Such are the blessed effects of slavery." The colonel kindly invited me to his quarters in Nashville. This gave me an opportunity of inspecting all the forts and works around the city. The colonel's regiment, 10th Tennessee, was a splendid body of troops, and nearly one thousand strong. I have often seen them drilled and reviewed, and I am not surprised that Governor Johnson felt so proud of his fine-looking body-guard. The chief works about Nashville are Fort Gillem, called after General Gillem (it was designed and garrisoned by my friend Colonel Scully ; it has embrasures for seven field- pieces and six light guns) ; Fort Morton, called after Brigadier General Morton, who was killed at Petersburg, mounts thirty guns, commanding the Franklin and Hillsboro' pikes ; Fort Negly, after Major General Negly, who, at one time, com- manded the post of Nashville ; Fort Cassina, on College Hill ; Fort Houston, after Mr. Russell Houston, a thorough Union man. He owned the site, and some rebel, taunting him, •said, — "See what your friends are doing — tearing down your house to build a fort ! " " Let them. If the Confederacy succeed, I don't want the house ; if the Federals win, they will build me a better one." Another work was Fort Andrew Johnson, on Capitol Hill, so called in honor of the governor, now President Johnson. In addition to these, there were several redoubts, batteries, and minor forts, making Nashville a strongly fortified city. So Hood found it when he rashly butted up his troops against it. In a few days I left for Chattanooga. The road along was guarded by posts and strong stockades, and appeared flanked by broken locomotives, wagons, and cars, the joint work of guerrillas and frequent railroad accidents. 20 Sherman's maech through the south. CHAPTER II. SKETCH OF TENNESSEE. — LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. — THE BATTLE OP CHICKAMAUGA. — THE CAMP BREAKFAST. — THE DEAD CAP- ' TAIN. — HIS BLIGHTED LOVE. The State of Tennessee was first settled by a party of ad- venturers from North Carolina, who built a fort at Loudon, in 1757, to protect themselves from the Iiidians, difierent tribes of whom occupied the fertile region of country along the Tennes- see and Holston Rivers, extending back as far as the mountain borders of Carolina. Of these the Cherokees were the most powerful and numerous tribe. Our border states, such as Kentucky and Tennessee, were harassed by the Indian tribes, and the settlers embroiled in continual and bloody struggles with their savage neighbors. The first colony at Fort Loudon were soon expelled, or butchered by their merciless foes. Despite all this, the forest gave way to the axe of the sturdy pioneer, and hamlets and towns soon dotted the landscape. In 1796 Tennessee was admitted into the Union as a state. Several of her children figured in the war of independence, and she played a very honorable part in the war of 1812. The landscape and scenery of Tennessee are magnificently grand, and need but be known to entitle her to the privilege of being called *' The Switzerland of America." The Cumber- land Hills rise to an elevation of almost two thousand feet. Their appearance forms a striking feature in the beauty of the landscape, their shaggy sides bristling with forest trees, while the granite and marble peaks and cliffs glitter in the sunshine like sparkling diamonds. In the valleys below, the mighty Tennessee River winds ita PHYSICAL FEATURES OF TENNESSEE. 21 way through fertile plains, through rich plantations, through wild forests, and bold, towering rocks, from its source in Vir- ginia, cradled among the Alleghanies ; through the State of Tennessee, among the Cumberland Mountains ; through the cotton plantations of Alabama ; through the rich fields of Ken- tucky, until it rests in the bosom of the mighty Mississippi at Paducah. Tennessee has rich mineral products, such as coal, iron, cop- per, and even gold ; and at no very distant day she is destined to become one of the leading states of the Union. She cannot help it. With a salubrious climate, a soil of unbounded fertility, immense water power, great, though undeveloped, mineral re- sources, — such is her inevitable destiny From the summit of Lookout Mountain what a magnificent panoramic view is presented ! Beneath your feet lies the scat- tered and rather dirty little town of Chattanooga, a place almost unknown before, but rendered memorable now. As far as the eye can reach, flows the magnificent Tennessee, with its wooded banks, its bold, rocky cliffs. Stately and grandly it winds in serpentine bends, sparkling, as we now see it, beneath the rays of a bright sun. A rich valley, miles in length, open to your view, bounded by Mission Ridge, with its woody crest, recalling some proud recollections of victory, and Chickamauga, with its dark record of defeat and disaster. From this point I could trace the path and dark ravines through which Cross's regiment of East Tennesseeans crawled down the mountain to give way to a rebel gun Which was placed on the very crest of the towering rock, looking down with its brazen throat on the devoted town, camps, and in- trenchments of the Federal lines. The battle of Chickamauga, though one of the most desper- ate struggles of the western campaign, was one of the most disastrous. For three long days, against heavy odds, the Fed- eral troops fought with dogged desperation. At length, over- powered and defeated, they fell back to Chattanooga, where 22 Sherman's march through the south. they strongly intrenclied themselves. The defeat might have been disastrousj had not the cool courage and military genius of one man saved the army, perhaps the nation. That man was General Thomas. The same imperturbable leader cleared the road for Sherman^s sweeping raid ; for had Hood captured Nashville, Sherman's raid would avail nothing. Thomas very quietly laid his plans, and caught the impulsive Hood in his meshes. The battle of Chickamauga was fought between a creek of that name and Pea Vine Creek, and about eight miles west of Ringgold. The battle-field extended about ten miles. I have been informed by a spectator, who had been through most of our great battles, that on that terrible Sunday night, September 20, 1862, the field presented one of the most fearful, ghastly sights of all war's sad pictures. *' On the morning of the 18th," said my friend, who was an attache of the press, " I had a hurried breakfast with some officers of McCook's staff. We could distinctly hear the picket firing with a scattered artillery fire. It was evident that the battle had commenced. Aids were riding to and fro, and col- umns of troops were slowly and steadily advancing to the front. A young, bright-eyed, fair-haired captain, named Stenton, looked after them, sighed, and remarked, ' Do you know, but it makes me feel bad when I see all these brave fellows advancing in proud, serried lines, and then — what a mass of crushed and torn humanity they will be before night ! ' * Pshaw ! Stenton,* said a dashing young major, ' don't be scaring us with such gloomy pictures ; the dose is bad enough, man, without making us taste it beforehand.' " ' Stenton appears gloomy,* said another ; ' I guess his lady- love has jilted him. Cheer up, Stenton, old boy ! ' " * "Well, I confess,' replied Stenton, affecting a laugh, ' I feel somehow depressed. I suppose, gentlemen, I need not say to you, who know me so well, that it is not fear.* " ' Certainly not, old boy ! But here comes the general ; let us get ready to mount.' " On Sunday night," continued my friend, " I rode over a THE WOUNDED OFFICER. ' 23 part of the battle-field. The pale moonbeams glittered on the ghastly faces of the dead, with their glassy eyeballs turned towards the heavens, and their frames distorted into every con- ceivable posture. The ground was piled with dead, dying, and wounded — men and horses. Small arms were strewn around ; broken artillery carriages and caissons made up the desolating picture. I was passing near a creek when my horse shied at some bodies that blocked up the stream. I pressed him over, but he still snorted, and refused to advance. I heard a feeble voice call to me from among the mangled pile of dead and wounded. ' Mr. -, take me out of this,' groaned the voice. I removed two or three bodies from a young officer ; his dress and hair were so covered with dirt and puddle that at first I did not recognize him. , " I dragged him out, and laid him on the bank, and gave him a drink from a flask of brandy which I carried. "This revived him. He opened his eyes and looked at me. ♦ Mr. ,' says he, ' I am dying.' As soon as he spoke I recognized my young friend, Captain Stenton. " ' Stenton,' I exclaimed, ' my dear friend, I fear you are ; but what's to be done ? The troops are retreating ; we can't remain here.* ' I know that ; leave me here ; but take these and send them as directed ; ' and he pulled two letters and a locket from his breast. ' Send these letters ; one is for my dear mother, the other is for one I loved with a hopeful, boyish love ; but it was but a dream ! For their sakes I would like to live ; but then, my country called me, and I gladly resign my life for her sake.' " He pressed the blood-dyed locket to his lips, and remained silent for some time. I lifted his head ; he was breathing heavily, a bullet having passed right through his lungs. He opened his eyes and murmured, ' Won't you send them ? and bury me with this locket on my breast. How I loved her, and my dear mother ! Tell them so. I knew I'd fall to-day ; something told me so ; so I had these letters written before- tand.' Again he tried to raise Irimself, and said, ' I hear the oise of artillery and troops passing : who are they ? ' 24 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. " ' Oilrs retreating.* ^ ' " ' Too bad, too bad : and for this we died ! Go, my friend, and leave me.' " ' I do not like to leave you behind me : do you think you could bear being removed ? ' " ' I'd sooner, I'd sooner : then I'd be buried with this on my breast ; and he pressed the locket to his lips.' " Wagons, ambulances, caissons, and artillery were by this time hurrying by in mad confusion. I tried to stop the ambu- lances ; but they were all full, and the drivers too excited to stop. At length a caisson stuck in the heavy road. By bribes and entreaties I induced the driver to take poor S teuton on the box. I tenderly placed him on it, wraping my poncho around him, and made two of the men sit beside him to keep him steady. I then mounted and rode after them. " As we approached the main road the confusion was intense, — drivers swearing, ambulances and wagons striking against one another, officers and men hurrying to the rear. To heighten this confusion an occasional shell burst near us, and there was a general cry that the rebels were pursuing. It was one of those scenes common to the retreat of a discomjSted army. Beside the narrow road I noticed a dead horse, with his feet ground off by the wheels of the passing wagons. An officer's uniform between his feet drew my attention. I dis- mounted, and found the legs of a man beside the horse's, crushed and broken from the same cause. " I succeeded in pulling him out ; but he was dead. As I could find no wounds upon him, he must have been caught by his fallen horse, whose head was knocked off by a round shot, and smothered and crushed to death. I at once recognized him : it was the young major of the morning. After laying his body beside a tree, I mounted and rode after my friend. When I came up I found that the men had left the box, scared by the shells, and the driver was swearing and whipping his jaded horses for bare life. The captain was dead : his head hung over the box, and was crushed against the wheel. His light golden hair hung down, clotted with gore oozing fronr his dripping wounds and crushed head. CHATTANOOGA. 25 "He was dead. I could do nothing for him. I laid his body, with the locket over his heart, to rest beside many a brother officer who had fallen upon that bloody field. '' I sent the letters to that dear mother, who wept for her faired-haired young soldier boy, and to that loved young heart whose warm impulses and cherished hopes were so rudely blighted." This was the story my friend told me of Chattanooga, as we sat together on Lookout Mountain and viewed with our glasses the surrounding country, which appeared torn, and gutted, and ridged by contending armies. " Where we sit now," said my friend, " is near two thousand feet high; and yonder is Missionary Ridge, from where the rebels dated their despatches while besieging Chattanooga ; it is one thousand feet high. As you see, Chattanooga is in a deep basin, completely surrounded by hills and the Tennessee River. From this point, in a clear atmosphere, you can see the mountains of four states, though the Blue Ridge of North Carolina and the mountains of Alabama are near sixty miles away. The ascent from Chattanooga is by a winding road that twines round the hill to its highest point, one mile to the rear of Lookout Point. On the summit of the hill is a pleasant little village called Summertown, a favorite resort for invalids, who there seek shelter from the intense heat and malarious effects of the low grounds. " This pile of rocks, where we sit, and which looks some- thing like an old Cromlech or Druid's altar, so often found in England and Ireland, is Lookout Point. It is a glorious spot, as much from its locality as its memories. And when bronze statues will have lost the story that made them historic, and history itself will have become almost merged into fable, that mountain will stand forth as a monument of the heroism of the men that could climb such a hill in the face of plunging round shot and bullets, and the iron hosts that crowned them. " Men will say that there were giants in those days ; and so there were, if not in body, at least in invincible courage. If I had my *vill to affix a name to this mountain, I would rebap- 3 26 Sherman's march through the south. tize it. I would call this rough-jointed pile of rocks Hooker's Point ; and as for the valley beneath us, where General Geary rallied his troops for the final charge, I would call that Geary's Valley. Neither title would be inappropriate. " It was a glorious victory for Hooker. Fresh from, the army of the Potomac, he had a new field to operate in, new victories to gain and a late disaster to retrieve, and nobly did he succeed. We have heard of Hooker's battle in the clouds. It is true that a dense fog obscured the plains and valley, and that the ringing minie bullet and plunging shot of the rebel batteries came whistling and hurtling through dense fogs and obscure clouds that shut out the mountain top from our view. " I will tell you about Chattanooga. The rebels at once saw its advantage as a grand strategic point, and consequently one of their earliest military movements was to occupy and for- tify it. " For two years they stoutly held it as a pivot for their dep- redatory army which radiated to Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. At length they were forced to give it up to Rose- crans, with his army of the Cumberland, which entered Chatta- nooga on the 7th September, 1863. "Brags:, finding: himself outnumbered and outmanoeuvred, was forced to evacuate. The army of the Cumberland was reenforced by the 11th and 12th corps, under Major General Hooker, which, afterwards consolidated, formed the 20th corps. " Hooker's first appearance on the western battle-ground was by a night attack on Brown's Ferry, two miles from Chatta- nooga, in which he was remarkably successful. " He followed this up by driving the enemy from Raccoon Mountain and Lookout Valley, which gave us the initiative, and might be put down as a set-off against Chickamauga. We soon obtained possession of the railroad between Chattanooga and Bridgeport, secured our supplies, and only needed the pos- session of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge to give us a secure base to commence the campaign of 1864. " I have said that this point should be called after Hooker. I also state that Missionary Ridge should be called Sherman's "Sherman's ridge." 27 Ridge ; fot there, with his brave 15th corps, with which, wearied, exhausted, and prostrated, as it was, with a march of several hundred miles, he met the repeated assaults of the ene- my, and finally overcame them. I say it should be called ' Sherman's E-idge.* " The battle of Ringgold concluded the campaign of 1863." 28 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER III. OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1864.— DISPOSITION OF THE AR- MIES.— AWFUL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE IN TENNESSEE.— BATTLE OF EOCKY FACE KIDGE. From the vast preparations making on all sides, it was evident that the campaign of 1864 would be the most vigorous and des- perate of the war. General Easton, Sherman's quartermaster general, was stationed at Nashville, superintending the ship- ment of stores and supplies for the army. Sherman himself had taken up his quarters there, and seemed to infuse his rest- less energy into all his officials. Stores were rapidly pushed forward to Knoxville, Chatta- nooga, and other points. There were similar indications of a grand campaign in the army of the Potomac, and it was evi- dent on all sides that a fierce struggle was impending both in Virginia and Northern Georgia. The following were the relative positions of the contending armies at the opening of the campaign : The rebels held Tunnel Hill and Dalton, with cavalry confronting Cleveland, Ringgold, Huntsville, and Decatur, also the Virginia line of railroad be- yond Bull's Gap, while the Federal posts occupied Knoxville, Loudon, Athens, Cleveland, Ringgold, Bridgeport, and Hunts- ville. Sherman himself estimated the rebel army, comprising Hardee's, Hood's, and Polk's corps of infantry and artillery, at about fifty thousand, with Wheeler's cavalry at ten thou- sand, — total sixty thousand, — while he set down his own force as follows : — SHERMAN'S FORCES. 29 Army of the Cumberland^ Major Gen. Thomas com*g. Infantry 54,568 Artillery 2,377 Cavalry 3,828 Total 60,733 Guns 130 Army of the Tennessee^ Major Gen. McPherson com'g. Infantry . 22,437 Artillery . • 1,404 Cavalry . • .' . ^24 Total. 24,465 ••••••••••••••••• Guns 05 Army of the Ohio, Major Gen. Schofield com'g. Infantry H^lgg Artillery g^g ■•9.yalTy 1,(597 Total 13,559 Guns 28 Grand total 98.797 Total guns 254 , On the morning of May 6, these armies were grouped as follows : that of the Cumberland, near Ringgold ; that of the Tennessee, near Gordon's Mills, on the Chickamauga ; and that of the Ohio, near Red Clay, north of Dalton, on the Georgian line. Sherman had lately issued an order that the railroads should be used exclusively for military purposes, thus depriving thou- sands, who were living on government rations, of support. He believed the safety and support of his army paramount to all other considerations. He had a long campaign before him, a long and uncertain line of communications to guard from a vigi- lant enemy. " Let the citizens go south, or to the rear ; I can- not leave my army at the mercy of every raiding party ; the campaign must open with thirty days' surplus rations at Chatta- nooga." This was Sherman's logic. And good logic it was for the safety of his army, but fatal, in their terrible starving condition to the unfortunate sufferers of East Tennessee. 3* so Sherman's march through the south. A hegira of poor, forlorn refugees then commenced, followed by human suiferings that might appall the angels. The distress and starvation were terrible throughout Tennessee, and many who had stood the fiery ordeal of battle now succumbed to the pale spectre of starvation. The 1st of May was appointed for one grand simultaneous movement of the army under the following commanders : The army of the Tennessee, under Major General J. B. McPhersou, comprising the 15th and parts of the 16th and 17th corps, then stationed in and around Huntsville, Alabama : the army of the Cumberland, under Major General Thomas, comprising the 14:th and 20th corps, and stationed around Chattanooga, Tunnel Hill, and Dalton ; and the army of the Ohio, under Major General Schofield, comprising the 4th and 23d corps, stationed at Knoxville, Strawberry Plains, and Bull's Gap. General Kilpatrick had assumed command of the cavalry division of the army of the Cumberland, stationed at Ringgold, with General Stoneman in command of the cavalry corps in Kentucky. Georgia, like Tennessee, being the theatre of some of the most stirring events of the late rebellion, has attracted the attention of the world by the fierce nature of the conflict that has desolated her cities and homesteads, and converted her fertile fields into one vast cemetery. Now, when that strife is iver, and we are cultivating a better and more amicable acquaint- ance, it is well that the people of the North should know some- thing of her resources and capabilities. The State of Georgia lies between thirty and thirty-five 'de- grees north latitude, and eighty-one and eighty-four degrees west longitude, and covers an area of about sixty-three thou- sand square miles, or over forty millions of acres. Its soil and climate are varied, the latter changing from the cool breeze and salubrious air of its northern frontier, bordering \>n Tennessee and Carolina, to the torrid, fever-producing cli- mate that prevails along the swamps and bayous towards the southern coast, bordering on the Savannah and South Carolina. In like manner her soil varies, in quality, from the rich allu- WEALTH OF GEORGIA. 81 vial land and rice plantations along the Savannah and Alata- maha Rivers, to the red, rich, loamy lands, producing cotton, tobacco, and grain, of the middle portion, and the poorer, but more hilly, picturesque, and healthy regions bordering on Ten- nessee and North Carolina. It has some very fine navigable rivers, such as the Savan- nah, the Alatamaha, the Chattahoochee, and several others, which we shall have occasion to notice more fully. These rivers are, for the most part, of a clay-red color, owing to the nature of the soil, and the shores of the lower rivers are abun- dantly inhabited by alligators, snakes, and other reptiles. Georgia was one of the original " thirteen states of the Union," and was colonized by General Oglethorpe in 1773, and was thenceforth continually at war with the Spaniards or In- dians. Savannah was an important position during the revo- lutionary war, and was captured by the British in 1778. Only as late as 1838, the great Cherokee country came into the possession of the whites. On the whole, Georgia possesses unrivalled sources of wealth and power, and is destined for a glorious future of material wealth and political power. In the first week in May a simultaneous movement of the armies of the Potomac, under General Meade, and the armies of the West, under General Sherman, took place. While the former were engaged in the bloody conflicts of the Wilderness, the latter were repulsing Johnston and his army from Dalton, Rocky Face Ridge, and Resaca. On the 1st of May General Sherman removed his head- quarters to Chattanooga, and a general movement commenced for the purpose of concentrating around Ringgold. On the 3d, McPherson's army was quietly conveyed by rail from Hunts ville to Chattanooga. We now held the principal gaps of Taylor's Ridge, while Johnson's division of the 14th corps lay at the eastern mouth of Ringgold Gap, threatening Tunnel Hill. Howard had occupied Cleveland with the 4th corps, and wag now marching towards Tunnel Hill, followed by the 2iid corps. o2 Sherman's march through the south. On the night of the 7th these corps bivouacked in a valley about two miles from Tunnel Hill and four from Dalton. On the 4th General Sherman broke up his headquarters at Chattanooga, and moved to Ringgold, announcing that he in- tended making the campaign without a tent, and by a general order cutting down baggage and transportation to the lowest possible figure. The whole army was now in motion, the cam- paign was fairly inaugurated. Howard and Palmer were closing on Tunnel Hill, forcing back the enemy to Buzzard Roost. Hooker was moving through Hickajack and Gordon Gaps. McPherson was bringing up the rear with his lines extending from Gordon's Mills to Yillanow. The enemy made but slight resistance on Taylor's Ridge, through which the Tunnel passes. Our columns were moving through the valleys on their flank, threatening to cut them off from Dalton and Resaca. They fell back to the strong position along the Rocky Face Ridge. We now held Tunnel Hill, and had trains running right up to the troops with supplies. On the morning of the 8th the whole army lay in front of the Mountain, McPherson with the 15th corps, and Dodge's division, 16th corps, on the right; Hooker next. Palmer's 14th corps next, Howard on the left centre, and Schofield on the extreme left. General Elliot's cavalry was occupied covering our flanks and keeping open communication. Stoneman's cavalry had not yet come up, while Kilpatrick was feeling the enemy's outposts along Dog- wood Valley. Rocky Face Ridge, which the rebels defended with such dogged pertinacity, is a long, abrupt continuation of the Chat- toogata range of mountains, running in a south-westerly direc- tion from Dalton to Rome. It is about fifteen hundred feet high, and so precipitous in places that the rocks present a smooth, perpendicular front from twenty to fifty feet high, thus forming a natural and impregnable fortification. Its top and sides are sparsely covered vv^ith trees and brushwood. An immense gorge, called Buzzard Roost Gap, opens through the mountain. Through this run the common road, the Chat- BUZZARD ROOST GAP. S3 tanooga and Atlanta Kailroad, also Mill Creek Stream. The rebels dammed the gorge, forming a large reservoir of water some sixteen feet deep, with which they, boasted that they could drown our army beneath them. They strengthened this strong natural position by artificial works of the most formidable kind. All the heights around bristled with cannon, and were dotted with rifle-pits. Tq the right of this gorge is Buzzard Roost, being about eighteen hundred feet high, and almost inaccessible from its rugged nature. During the five days we lay in front of this mountain, flocks of buzzards hovered over it, scared by the roar and din of battle beneath, yet wheeling round and round like birds of ill omen. On the whole, the entire position is perhaps one of the strongest an army could occupy. As I have stated, Howard's and Schofield's columns had moved from Catoosa Springs, east of Taylor's Ridge, and on the evening of the 7th reached the foot of Rocky Face Ridge. Stanley's division pressed up the valley to Buzzard Roost Gap in order to connect with the 14th corps, with Schofield's corps extended towards the eastern point of the ridge. The enemy skirmished briskly with our advance during the afternoon of the 7th. We were endeavoring to take up our position to assault the enemy on the following day, if prac- ticable, or at least to draw their attention from McPherson's movement on their flank. On the night of the 7th, General Barker conceived the bold design of dragging a section of artil- lery to the crest ©f the hill on the enemy's flank, which he had gained by his assault in the evening. In this movement he was supported by McClean's brigade of General Judah's division, 23d corps. The horses were unhitched from the guns, ropes were tied to them, and hundreds of volunteers rushed to the willing task. Pioneers cleared the timber and brushwood, and levelled the rocks in their advance. So steep' was the ascent that the men had to grasp the projecting cliflTs and roots with one hand, while they hauled with the other. All this time our skirmishers and sharpshooters were keeping up a brisk fire on the enemy, in order to draw their attention from the movement. After much toil we succeeded in gaining the crest and getting 84 Sherman's march through the south. the guns into position, much to the surprise of the enemy next morning. I have seldom witnessed so splendid a panoramic view as that seon from the summit of Kocky Face Ridge. The men had cleared away the forest timber and brushwood, and had piled up barricades of the loose rocks. The rebel works commanding Buzzard Roost Gap, and the ridge of the hill, were but a few hundred yards from our pickets. Night had now set in, the din and roar of battle had ceased, except the occasional whirring of a minie bullet fired by the pickets, and the boom of a gun bid- ding the enemy " good night." A thick fog rose up from the valleys, obscuring the jnountains ; but through this sparkled the glare of innumerable camp fires from the valleys, looking like so many huge fireflies glowing beneath us, or the flickering lamps of a city seen from a distance. The metallic sound of the rifle, the whir and the crash of shot and shell, and the whiz- zing hum of the minie had ceased. The encouraging shouts and cheers of battle, the death groan of the dying and wounded, had sunk into repose and givfen place to the solemn stillness of night. We had broken the tender branches from the trees, and placed them over the sharp rocks for our beds, sure to select the safe side of some projecting cliiF or stately pine. As we lay down, I could hear the tramp of our sentries marching up and down, the men as they conversed in a hushed tone, some recounting the events of the day ; others in solemn groups joined in prayer, while from some obscure nook a regular devil-may-care fellow hurled a defiant song at the enemy. The latter quietly lay behind their works, apparently heedless of our proximity. The moon floated over our heads, its silvery light struggling to pierce that hazy mist. There, on our rough beds, on that mountain top, some fifteen hundred feet high, we slept as soundly as if pil- lowed on a couch of eider down. Our wearied frames forgot all in the sweet oblivion of sleep. The thick haze of the morning was clearing away, the senr tries still marching on their beats, and the men standing beside their guns, as I awoke. The sun was rising along the eastern horizon, with its fiery beams trying to pierce the thick fog. The / THE PRAYER MEETING. 35 fog gradually cleared away, revealing the densely wooded val- leys extending far away in the distance, the numerous hills, and mountains with their towering peaks and shaggy sides. The expiring camp fires and the tents of the enemy lay, as it were, at our feet. We could almost look into their intrenchments, and count their numbers as they deployed beneath us. "We had a bird's eye view of Dalton, Resaca, and several other towns and villages, while numerous streams sparkled with the morning beams like polished mirrors. This might be a very pleasing sight for us if we- were mere tourists ; but the grim can- nons, and the lines of troops with their glittering bayonets beside us, reminded us that our mission was not one of peace and refine- ment. To impress us more forcibly, the noise of the booming cannon and the whirring bullet soon rang upon our ears, herald- ing in another day of slaughter. It is strange how soldiers will joke even under the most try- ing circumstan<;es. As we were not allowed to light fires in order to conceal our position from the enemy, the men had noth- ing but hard tack for their supper, and some, more fortunate than others, had water in their canteens. A man of the 125th Ohio, an amateur preacher, had some of his comrades collected around him in solemn conclave ; and with hushed breath he was exhort- ing them to repentance, drawing their attention to their com- rades who had fallen that day, telling them that such might be their own fate to-morrow. " Arrah, in sure, what are ye whishpering about?" said an Irish soldier, coming up to the group. "Praying, Paddy, praying ; trying to get to heaven," replied one of them. " And will that take ye's there ? " " Certainly," said a wag ; " what better preparations can we make than praying and fasting ? " "Devil a doubt of it; sure ye*s fifteen hundred feet nearer heaven now than ye were in the morning, any way, and I think a good many of us will die pretty high up in the world to-mOr- row, please God," was Paddy's reply. A sharpshooter had taken down several of the enemy by the 86 Sherman's march through the south. following plan. He lay behind a barricade of rock, through which he had an opening for his gun. He dressed up a stick with an old coat and hat, and would occasionally raise this over the barricade, when the rebels were sure to pop at it, and then raise up their heads to see the result, thus offering targets to the sharpshooter, which he seldom missed. As I lay upon my branch couch, I was continually disturbed by the low, piteous moans of a wounded man. The moon was /shining bright, and the troops lay around us buried in sleep. I knew it was not safe to walk through the lines at night for fear ' of getting shot as a spy ; however, I could not resist that suf- fering appeal. I got up, picked my way through the prostrate lines until I came to the edge of a cliff. The moan seemed to proceed from a gorge beneath me. Grasping tree branches and roots, I jumped from rock to rock until I landed on a kind of platform. There I found a soldier lying on his face with a huge rock across his feet. The poor fellow was nearly speechless. I rolled off the stone, which had caused him much suffering. I then turned him on his back, placed his knapsack under his head, and gave him a drink from his canteen. This relieved him very much ; and I learned that in the assault of the evening he was shot through the breast, and lay down on this platform, when the rebels hurled down large rocks upon them, one of which fell on hirh. I stanched the wound in his breast, and on examination I found that his leg was badly fractured. I remained sometime with him, listening to the poor fellow's little stories about his mother and his home, and how he should like to see them again ; and should he die, would not I write to them, and tell mother that " I died a soldier and a Christian," said the brave lad, for he was a mere boy. Next day he died under the scalpel knife, and I wrote to his mother that her noble boy died " a soldier and a Christian." The previous evening, while riding near the field hospital of the 1 05th Ohio, a shell, thrown from the rebel guns on the hill, burst among the patients, killing some of them. It is hard enough to see strong men stricken down in battle, but there is something harrowing in seeing poor helpless wounded wretches killed, as it were, twice. ROCKY PACE RIDGE. 37 General Sherman had ordered that a heavy demonstration should be made all along the enemy's lines on the morning of the 8th of May. Schofield, on the extreme left, moved cau- tiously down the eastern side of the mountain, in order to draw the enemy's attention from Geary's attack on Mill Creek. The whole of Newton's division, of the 4th corps, had asc(3nded the ridge during the night to support Harker. About 10 o'clock, Schofield ordered the 23d corps to wheel round and move in line of battle along the valley which separates the ridge from a par- allel range. The corps moved in echelon ; General Judah's division extended in double line of battle, connecting with Har- ker's brigade on the ridge. General Cox's division moved along the slope and crest of a hill on the left, the front being protected by heavy lines of skirmishers. The rebels having fallen back, General Judah had made arrangements to assault. This move- ment was contingent upon the cooperation of Barker's troops on the top of the hill, but his advance was retarded by the des- perate nature of the resistance he encountered, which rendered him barely able to hold his own. The ridge rose cliff over cliff, as it receded towards the enemy's lines, so that Barker's advance was a continuation of desperate assaults. The roll of musketry from the hill top rang incessantly for over an hour, the enemy contesting every inch, every tree and rock, with deadly obstinacy. As he approached the gorge, a wall of rocks, bristling with guns and bayonets, vomiting forth a continuous volcano of lead and fire, checked him, compelling him to raise barricades to protect his lines. Connecting with Harker's right, but extending down Dog- wood Valley, west of the ridge. Generals Stanley and Woods, of the 4th corps, made repeated assaults upon the ridge, which were met by a fierce fire from behind every cliff and rock. Huge rocks were even rolled from the top of the ridge, which came down plunging from crag to crag, crashing and tear- ing among the trees, and sweeping through the advancing lines. Later in the day Croft's brigade, of Stanley's division, sup- ported by Mitchel's and Morgan's brigades, of Davis's division, 4 38 Sherman's march through the south. 14th corps, succeeded in driving the enemy from a strong po- sition in front of Buzzard Roost. \ Hooker's corps, while on the right of Palmer's 14th corps, was hotly engaged all the afternoon. Ross's brigade, sup- ported by Colonel Woods' brigade, of Butterfield's division, participated in the assault on Buzzard Roost. Meantime Geary's division had moved to the right, in order to attempt the passage of Mill Creek Gap, and thus flank Dal- ton, which was only about three miles distant. Colonel Ire- land's brigade had been detached to support Kilpatrick in covering McPherson's flanking column, leaving only Colonel Jones's and Candle's brigades to execute the order. Mill Creek Gap is accessible by a road winding from Hall's Mill through a depression in the mountain. It was a formi- dable position, strongly defended. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Candle's brigade in ad- vance, supported by Jones's, moved up the sides of the moun- tain, under cover of a fire from Knapp's Pennsylvania battery. The enemy stubbornly resisted all the time, but were steadily driven back to the crest of the hill. In this gallant charge of Geary's division, through a dense wood, up a steep ascent, scrambling through rocks and tangled underbrush, many a brave fellow fell. It was the dashing game and heroic achievement of Lookout Mountain again. Near the crest of the hill a palisade of abrupt cliffs checked their advance. Behind these lay lines of rebel troops. Against this our men made five consecutive assaults. Officers and men struggled up, one by one, and grappled with the enemy in a hand-to-hand conflict. Some succeeded in reaching the plateau. Some were hurled over, dragging the enemy in their death em- brace, and in their fall displacing rocks, which crushed and tore through the toiling, surging ranks. At length they gained a landing. Alas ! it availed them little ; for a volley of canister from a covered line of fortifica- tions on their flank soon cleared the rocky stage. Again was the charge repeated : again were their lines swept down. Ser- geant Hamilton, of a New Jersey regiment, and only ten men^ ROCKY FACE RIDGE. 39 defiantly held their position until another column filled up the place of those who had fallen. General Geary, not having troops enough to attack the batteries, and seeing the impossi- bility of keeping the ridge, exposed to such an artillery fire, drew off his troops at 8 o'clock in the evening. His loss was — officers, three killed, fifteen wounded; privates, fifty killed and two hundred and fifty wounded. Meantime McPherson and Kilpatrick's cavalry were swing- ing around on Dalton, threatening to cut the railroad between that point and Resaca. This ended the heavy fighting around Rocky Face Ridge. It was evident that the enemy's position was too strong to be taken by assault, and that Sherman must resort to some stra- tegic movement. The 10th and 11th of May were spent in slight skirmish- ing and demonstrations to draw the enemy's attention from McPherson's flank movement, and give us a chance of follow- ing him up with supports. 40 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER IV. HEADQUARTERS OF THE GENERALS. — SUFFERINGS OF THE WOUNDED. — THE ENEMY'S POSITION AT RESACA. During the five or six days we lay in front of Rocky Face Ridge, the different corps and division commanders had their headquarteis contiguous to their commands. Major General Howard, who commanded the 4th corps, had his unassuming quarters of fly tents in the rear of his command, and under fire of the enemy's long-range guns. Several shells fell quite near, creating some commotion in the camp, without disturbing How- ard in the least. Howard had ridden out in front of his lines, when he got struck by a spent ball. Meantime Sherman called at his quarters, and being told that they expected the general in every moment, he sat down, when whir-r goes a shell ; and another bursting quite near the quarters, some, of Sherman's staflT felt anxious about him, and suggested that it would be as well to go, as Howard was not likely to return soon. Sherman, in his nervous, fidgety way, was walking about, and spying General Howard, he exclaimed, " Here comes How- ard ! " As the latter rode up, Sherman said, " I say, Howard, do you know but you are the politest man in the army?" " Indeed, I wasn't aware of that, general." "Well, it's so. Here I am, in your absence; and though you were not here to receive me, I have got the warmest recep- tion I have experienced for a long time ! " " Why, general, you need not thank me for it, but General Jo^mston ; his compliments were so overpowering that one of them came near killing me ; " and he pointed to his pants torn by the bullet. Thomas's headquarters comprised a most gorgeous outlay of SOLDIERLY FORTITUDE. 41 tents of all kinds; wall tents, Sibley tents, fly tents, octagon tents, and all kinds of tents. Every officer had a tent ; almost every servant had a tent ; while the adjutant general's tent was a sort of open rebellion against all restrictory orders. A kind of caravan, full of pigeon holes, and covered over with an immense fly, was one of its most peculiar features. Sherman, on the contrary, had but one old wall tent, and some three or four flies, for his quarters. Whether it was that General Thomas felt sore at the con- trast, or General Sherman did not like the example set by General Thomas, he could never let slip an opportunity to pass a joke at Thomas's expense. He would frequently rein up his horse in front of Thomas's quarters, and ask, " Whose quarters are these?" " General Thomas's, general," would be the reply. " O, yes ; Thomastown — Thomas ville ; a very pretty place, indeed ; appears to be growing rapidly ! " and he would chuckle and ride off. One thing that has forcibly impressed me, in the many bat- tle-fields I have been through — how heroically men undergo the most excruciating torture, almost without a murmur. A soldier thinks it an act of cowardice to cry or moan ; and the suffering that wrings one or the other from his brave bosom must be fearful indeed. *' Won't you keep quiet? and don't be making a fool of your- self," I heard one wounded soldier say to another. *• O, dear me, I can't help it ; my arm is torn off," was the reply. " Your arm ! " said the other, with contempt, " why, my leg and arm are torn off, and I am making no fuss about them." It is in the hospital that a soldier's courage is tried. Men wdth the most fearful wounds will coolly ask, " Well, doctor, must you take it off? " alluding to some shattered limb. *' Well, I fear so, my fine fellow." " Don't mind, doctor ; go at it ; the sooner it is over, the bet- ter. It's going in a good cause." Piles of legs and arms would be strewn about the new sub- jects, many of whom would be earnestly discussing the merits 4* 42 Sherman's march through the south. of the battle, while waiting their turn to come under the sur- geon's hands. War hardens the hearts of men, and renders them insensible to the sufferings of others. This is partly owing to the uncertainty of life, and to the fact that each man holds his life, as it were, in the palm of his hand ; besides, a soldier thinks it weak to mourn a fallen com- rade, no matter how dear. A painful instance of this came under my observation. A sergeant, a truly brave fellow, who had a brother deeply attached to him, was shot dead near me. The brother stooped down over his fallen kinsman, and find- ing him dead, coolly emptied his cartridge-box into his own, remarking to me, " Poor James ! wasn't he a brave soldier, captain? " and then moved on with his comrades. The tract of country over which we now operated is extreme- ly fertile, as well as picturesque. There are some very rich valleys lying in the shelter of the Raccoon and Lookout Mountains. The cultivated portions yield profitable returns of cereals and grasses. The country evidently aboundsj^in mineral resources. Bitu- minous coal is found in large quantities, also iron ore. There are traces, too, of gold and copper. As the mineral resources of Georgia and Tennessee have never been developed, it is not well known to what extent they exist. This picturesque region was formerly the hunting- ground of the Cherokees, a remnant of which tribe still inhabits the country between the Holston River and the frontiers of Carolina. The march of the 4th corps lay near Catoosa Springs, where they bivouacked for a night before their advance on Rocky Face Ridge. • These fine mineral springs are said to possess great healing powers, and were much resorted to by invalids for health, and the wealthy for pleasure. They were situated in an opening in the forest. The lands about were tastefully laid out in plots and walks, and a very fine hotel and several cottages afforded a THE GREAT FLANKER." 4^ accommodation. Not far from this is a mound of loose stones, raised to the memory of a Cherokee chief, who, in the war of independence, saved the patriot army from a joint surprise of the English and Indians by deserting and swimming across the Chattahoochee River and apprising them of their danger. The country was thinly inhabited, only small sections of land along the roads being cleared. Flowers and shrubs of the most gorgeous kind appear indige- nous to Georgia. Even at this early season the forests were blooming with them, making the air redolent with their rich odor. Where the flowers and shrubs were cultivated around the houses, it was pleasant to see the bees and humming-birds darting from one to another. It was peace in the midst of war. General Sherman, finding the enemy's position too formidable to be taken by direct assault, now inaugurated his flanking tactics, which have earned him the sobriquet of " the great flanker." McPherson's movements would have rendered his victory decisive had his assaults in front succeeded, for he could have struck their broken ranks on the flank bv wedo-ino- m between them and Resaca. This having failed, Sherman's object now was to reenforce McPherson, at the same time leaving a sufficient force in the enemy's front to keep them in check and follow up their retreat. It was not practicable to make the flank movement on the left, as the mountain range extended back towards the Oostanaula River in broken ridges. The attempt would only bring the flanking party into other gorges like Buzzard Roost. About fifteen miles south of Buzzard Roost is a large gap or defile in the mountain, called Snake Creek Gap, and within about seven miles of Resaca. This was the objective point aimed at by McPherson, and was the only available passage for Sherman's army. McPherson met little opposition from the enemy on his line of march. He observed the strictest silence, every man being instructed not to tell even their commands. " To what corps do you belong? " I asked of some stragglers whom I met plodding along the road. 44 Sherman's march through the south. " Corps is it ? Sure we belong to Sherman's army. Do you know old jSghting Billy ? " " I asked you to what corps you belong." " Cap, dear, it is too wet to tell you ; don't you see the state we are in ? and we in such a hurry to get up before night. Let us move on, Hugh." On the 9th McPherson marched from Villanow through Snake Creek Gap, where they were opposed only by a small party, which were soon routed by the 9th Illinois mounted in- fantry, in which skirmish their commander. Lieutenant Colonel Philips, was severely wounded. General Dodge, commanding the 16th corps, led McPherson's advance, and by a rapid move- ment secured the Gap, while Logan, with his 15th corps, passed through. McPherson's army defiled through the Gap, marched through Sugar Valley, and occupied, without opposition, a range of hills overlooking Resaca and commanding the railroad bridge across the Oostanaula. These hills were occupied by Logan and Dodge at 8 o'clock in the morning. Sherman's instructions to Mc- Pherson were imperative to take Resaca and destroy the rail- road bridge. McPherson, finding several good roads leading north and south, thus endangering his left flank, while he could find no safe road to advance his army on, — besides, the enemy seemed to be strongly intrenched, and in force around Resaca, — got dis- couraged, and rapidly fell back at night, under a pitiless storm, to the southern mouth of Snake Creek Gap. This retrograde movement of McPherson's has been censured very much ; for had he intrenched himself in his new position, he could keep Johnston's army at bay until he would be reen- forced. Had he held this point, his force would have full com- mand of the town and railroad, thus compelling Johnston to make a detour to the left in order to cross the river — a thing which he could not well do, through impracticable roads and pressed by a superior army. A squad of the 9th Illinois remained after the troops as skir- mishers ; and so little was the opposition they met that they SUFFERING OF THE TROOPS. 45 succeeded in tearing up some of the rails and cutting the tele- graph wires, and then safely returned to camp next day. Sherman had now decided to debouch, with the bulk of his army, through Snake Creek Gap, leaving Howard to keep the enemy in check and follow up their retreat. The rest of the army was to follow up the army of the Tennessee on the night of the 10th ; but a fierce thunder and rain storm set in, thus retarding the movement. The 11th, too, was excessively wet, cold, and unpleasant. Some of our troops who had marched from Kinggold to sup- port McPherson suffered severely. Their blankets became so wet and heavy after the previous day and night's rain and mud they threw them away. They had no cover, neither would the green, saturated wood, light ; so they had to suffer all night with cold and hunger, having but the poor shelter of the dripping pines. " This is a comfortable bed," said a bright-eyed boy, who was stretched upon a pile of brush to keep him from the ground, while some of his comrades were vainly trying to light a fire beside him, their effort being rewarded with thick volumes of smoke. " An' haven't you a nice mattress anyhow?" " Yes ; but the roof leaks dreadfully." " Well, don't mind ; there is one comfort ; I guess a good many of us will have hospital accommodations to-morrow." " Boys, let us get up a song ; it will do us good," said another. " No, let us have prayers, and thank the Lord for all his favors, though we have had no supper," said a cynic. They compromised the matter by praying and singing to- gether. In this light-hearted way did this grand army bear hardships and hunger that might dishearten the most patriotic. The contest for Rocky Face Ridge had now subsided into a straggling fire, which we kept up to cover our flank movements It was not, properly speaking, a battle, though in the days of the revolution, or the war of 1812, it might be dignified with that title. 46 Sherman's march through the south. "We live in an age when thousands of men have been pitted against each other in the most deadly strife, when battle fol- lowed battle in rapid and painful succession, and when armies have been recuperated as fast as decimated. Personal as well as political animosities imbittered the combat. One party fought for the great principles of free government and national unity ; the others, many, no doubt, under the mistaken notion that they were fighting for their liberty, their homes, and their altars. Both sides fought gallantly ; one with frenzied desperation, the other with a firm purpose and resolute perseverance. Their ministers prayed loudly, and called on God to smite the opposing hosts and protect the right. In such a struggle, excited by religious and political fanatics and fire-eaters, no wonder that the result was one of the blood- iest wars that stain the pages of history. Before it, the wars of the Roses, of Charlemagne, and even of Napoleon himself, pale into insignificance. It is true, this was considered no battle, though our total loss would number near one thousand, and our lines extended nearly twenty miles. Hooker's corps, the 20th, was now close up to McPherson, and Palmer's corps, the l-ith, and Newton's di- vision of the 4th corps, Howard's, had followed, moving by the right flank ; Schofield came next with his 23d corps. On the night of the 12th and morning of the 13th General Johnston fell back from Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton with the main portion of his army, leaving a small force behind to check our advance. Resaca was now threatened by Sherman's main army, which was massed in Snake Creek Gap and Sugar Valley, closing in on Johnston's rear. His present position was no longer tenable ; so he concentrated all his force at Resaca, in order to meet Sherman's attack on his flank. On the evening of the 13th sharp skirmishing ensued along the lines, the enemy resisting our attempt to take up our posi- tion. General Osterhaus with his division pushed forward, and occupied a hill on the right of the road overlooking Resaca. We could plainly distinguish the enemy's lines and works. GENERAL KILPATRICK WOUNDED. 47 Their wagons and ambulances lay packed right in view, while their huge trains were laboring up and down to the bridge. Captain De Grass, of the 15th corps, soon got his guns into position, and opened on them, driving them under shelter. The skirmishers along our front were keeping up a rattling fire. General Kilpatrick had brilliantly skirmished all day in front of our advance, for the woods and hills were full of rebel sharp- shooters. A bullet whizzed from every tree and crag, bringing down his brave men. On he passed, driving them back from point to point, until at length the dashing Kilpatrick fell, badly wounded through the thigh. Colonel Murray then assumed the command of his men, and vigorously continued the pursuit. Herron's division, of Logan's corps, had a brisk engagement with the enemy, who disputed their advance into position. Kilpatrick was wounded near a cross road, where a board in- forms you that it is " three miles to Calhoun Ford." At this point Giles A. Smith, marching in double quick, moved to the right, while Morgan L. Smith deployed along the Calhoun road, on the right of the Resaca road. Herron connected with Osterhaus. This was the position of the 15th corps on the night of the 13th. The other corps had not yet taken up position. 48 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER V. EKETCHES OF OUR GENERALS. — PERSOXNEL OF SHERMAN", THOMAS, SCHOFIELD, HOOKER, McPHERSON, LOOAN, AND GEARY. Sherman, attended by one staff officer and an orderly, had ridden up the valley to the front. He was anxious and nervous, as was evident from the fierce manner he pulled at his unlit cigar, and twitched that strange, coarse face of his. His ride through the lines created no enthusiasm. His old 15th corps alone brightened up, and looked the better for hid presence. They fully knew — " Old Billy." Sherman was, at all times, too cold and undemonstrative for the men to love him. They had unbounded confidence in him, and believed whatever he did was right, and that is all. If sent on any expedition, no matter how hazardous or apparently useless, their only reply was, — " Well, boys, if Old Billy said so, it's all right." McPherson by his noble bearing and dashing appearance, Hooker by his fine martial presence and princely air, Logan by his dashing, kind manner, might create enthusiasm among troops, but Sherman or Thomas never. On the morning of this day, the following incident occurred. Sherman was anxiously engaged maturing his plans the previous night. Next day, wearied and sleepy, he sat on a log, beside a shady tree, to rest himself, and soon fell asleep. He had but a single orderly with him ; and few of the men, as they marched by, knew that he was Sherman. " Is that a general? " asked one of the men. " Yes," said the orderly. "A pretty way we are commanded when our generals are lying drunk beside the road ! " exclaimed the soldier, walking off in disgust. COLLOQUY OF THE GENERALS. 49 " Stop, my man," said Sherman, jumping up ; for Sherman sleeps with one eye and one ear, too, open, and heard him. " Stop, my man. I am not drunk. While you were sleeping last night, I was planning for you, sir ; and now I was taking a nap. General Sherman never gets drunk, sir." The soldier slunk away, and never minded a sleeping general again. Sherman had ridden up to the front, and a council of generals wa.^ held at that little cross where the road branches for Resaca and. Hilton. He alighted, walked up and down beside the group for some minutes, and then turning to them, exclaimed, — " Johnston has evacuated Rocky Face and Dalton, and is fast massing around Resaca." "So I understand," replied Logan ; " I have heard so from prisoners captured by Kilpatrick's cavalry, and have sent an aid to you with the account." " Ah, Kilpatrick, is he much wounded? " " Rather badly, general ; shot through the thigh." " Ah, sorry for it ; but, Logan, I have heard that news before you, and, of course, expected it. Johnston is too wily to let us get in behind him. "Well, it was the only w^ay of getting them out of that d — d place ; but they will make a desperate stand here ; it is a strong position. I know every inch of country here ; you know I was a military professor down here at Marietta. Well, we must get them out of this too. McPher- son, had you held this position when you first occupied it, they would find themselves in a nice trap." "General," replied McPherson, " I found my flanks exposed, and open to them by good roads, whilst I had not a single road by which reenforcements could come up, if attacked ; so I fell back to a stronger position." " O, psha ! It can't be helped now, though." As I cannot repeat every word said at that council, I will only state that they decided on a vigorous attack on all points. McPherson was to guard the Oostanaula, and open on Resaca ; if possible, throw a portion of his forces over it, and destroy the bridge. 5 60 Sherman's march through the south^ Schofield was to support Howard, who was now thundering after Johnston, while Hooker, supported by Palmer, was to make a vigorous assault on the range of hills west of Resaca. This was a strong post, and, in fact, the key-stone of the rebel position. While they are engaged in council, I will sketch them in '' detail. Major General William Tecumseh Sherman is near six feet high ; but his spare frame gives him the appearance of beiiig over this. His face is rather sharp and angular, and cov- ered with a short, grizzly beard, of a sandy color. His eyes are piercing, with something of a harsh, cruel expression about them. His manner of speaking is rapid and rather sarcastic. His hands are continually twisting about, and his features twitching, as if suffering from pain. As a soldier, he has been wonderfully successful ; he has had the wisdom to avail himself of the counsel of others, and to draw his own conclusions, and act energetically upon them. Though some of his movements savored of rashness, when calmly weighed, they showed the good judgment and military genius that conceived them. Hooker assaulted the enemy at Pumpkin Vine Creek by his orders, and though pretty well used up, succeeded in developing the enemy's position, and drawing their attention from McPher- son's attack on Dallas. Again, the assault on Kennesaw, in which the noble Harker fell, might appear rash and uncalculating ; but had it succeeded it would have split Johnston's army in two, and thus exposed it to wholesale destruction. I think he displayed more judgment in his march through Carolina, from the admirable manner in which he baffled and confounded the enemy, than in any other of his campaigns. In manner he is rather dictatorial, even to his generals. He gives his orders in a blunt, decisive fashion, without any courteous prefacing, and in such a way as to make it evident that they are to be obeyed. When once he forms an opinion, he acts upon it with an unbending, uncompromising resolve. CHARACTER OP GENERAL THOMAS. 61 He has little reserve in concealing his opinions of other officers ; and, if displeasing to him, he handles them in a bold, caustic manner, keeping them in torture as long as possible. When unbent, and enjoying the sociability of a convivial hour, he is rather agreeable ; can laugh heartily, and contest the palm for joking with Father Abe himself. I once heard an officer, who had just spent an hour with him, listening to his keen, comprehensive views of the war, and to some of his raciest tales and anecdotes, say, — " Well, after all, Sherman's bark is worse than his bite." On the whole, he is a cold, ascetic, nervous, irritable man, who commands admiration more for his brilliant qualifications as a general, than for any good or amiable traits he possesses as a man. Major General Thomas is quite the reverse of Sherman, both in manner and appearance. He is tall, stout, with brawny frame and shoulders. His head is slightly bent forward, as if drooping with thought and care. His hair and beard, which he wears cut pretty short, are rather dark, and slightly sprinkled with gray. He is about fifty years of age, and looks his age fully. He is very reserved ; speaks little. His cold, phlegmatic features never wear a smile, or, if he smiles, "he smiles in such a sort as if he mocked himself, and scorned the spirit that could be moved to smile at anything." As a general, Thomas is calm and cautious ; does everything by rule ; leaves nothing to chance. He makes his arrangements for a battle with caution and foresight, and is sure to have every column and division move with clock-work regularity, and strike at the proper time and place. Nothing disturbs or unnerves him. At Chickamauga, when our right and centre were crushed, and McCook's and Crittenden's forces were falling back in full retreat, shattered, broken, and routed, Thomas was as cool as if nothing was going wrong. He was resolved to hold the left at all odds. The enemy massed their troops against him, and repeatedly assaulted him ; 62 Sherman's march through the south. but he held that position all that long afternoon, despite the repeated assaults of Bragg, and the masses hurled against him, thus saving the army from what before seemed an irretrievable defeat. Again, at Nashville, he was calmly making his preparations to meet Hood, while Schofield was slowly falling back, all the time holding Hood in check with only two corps, thus giving Thomas time to mature his plans. And when Hood lay down before Nashville to besiege it, the President, Grant, and the country were surprised and becoming disheartened because Thomas was not attacking him. Thomas heard all this, knew all this, but he followed his own inclination. The cry was loud asrainst him. An order was issued to relieve him from -com- mand. All this did not move him until he had his arrange- ments made, and then he swept down upon Hood, crushing up his army, and totally destroying the rebel forces in the south- west. Major General Schofield, commanding the department of the Ohio, is a middle-sized, stout man, of very pleasing appearance and address. His hair is rather short — his beard long and flowing. He, too, is rather taciturn and retired, but possessed of a great deal of vigor and judgment. His services as an officer have been rather brilliant. In Sherman's campaign, he commanded the 23d corps. This corps had been recently made up of raw, undisciplined material from Tennessee and Kentucky. Schofield soon remodelled it, so that it rendered as efficient service as any other corps during Sherman's Atlanta campaign. The masterly manner in which Schofield, with only two corps, the 4th and 23d, checked Hood's advance, as he fell back to Nashville, stamps him as one of the great generals of the day. His defeat of Hood, at Franklin, was the first crushing blow to his army, which was so admi- rably followed up at Nashville. These were followed by his subsequent military services and able administration of afiairs in Carolina. Major General Joe Hooker, the beau ideal of a gentleman HOOKER, m'pHERSON, AND HOWARD. 58 and a soldier, is of a noble, portly appearance, with iine features, and a complexion soft and clear as a woman's. He is kind and courteous to all, without compromising his dignity. He was beloved by his officers, almost adored by his men, who, on account of his well-established bravery, called him " fighting Joe." His career of a soldier would have been a brilliant record of dashing exploits — of noble victories — had not Chancellorsville thrown its dark blot upon him. Well-informed persons attribute our disastrous failure there to Halleck's interference. Be this as it may, Hooker bears the odium. There is no doubt there was a jealous clique bent on ruining him, even at the cost of the welfare and honor of their country ; and they partly succeeded. Hooker's services in the west were of the most brilliant nature. His charge at Lookout Mountain, where the roar and din of battle was high above the fogs and clouds in the valley ; at Resaca, where he crushed in the centre of Johnston's army ; at Pea Vine Creek, where with his single corps he charged the bulk of the rebel army ; and before Atlanta, where he repulsed the mad assaults of two rebel corps, • — will stand forth' in history as some of the noblest exploits of the war. Major General McPherson, commanding the army of the Tennessee, was a noble-looking man, of fine, dignified appear- ance. He was a courteous, refined gentleman, an educated general, and brave oflicer. His hair and whiskers were dark apd flowing, his features well defined and expressive. He had fully the confidence of General Sherman, as a general, and took a distinguished part with him in all his great battles, until he fell on that fatal 22d of July, in front of Atlanta, in the thirty- sixth year of his age. Major General O. O. Howard, then commanding the 4th corps, afterwards the army of the Tennessee, is a man of slight frame, and apparently delicate constitution, of a grave, pleasing demeanor, and of most affable and courteous manner. He has served all through the war, lost his right arm at Fair Oaks, under McClellan, commanded the 11th corps at the battles of 5* 54 Sherman's march through the south. Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was then sent to the west, and when the 11th and 12th corps were consolidated into the 20th) he got command of the 4th corps. He is a man imbued with a deep spirit of religion, and a true sense of his great responsibility. His religious example and precept had a most salutary effect on his troops. He might be justly called the Havelock of the army. He was indefatigable in the discharge of his duties, and attentive to the wants and wishes of his men. As a soldier he has won a high reputation, both for his cool bearing in danger, and his judgment in the disposition of his troops. His military services with Sherman, all through Georgia and the Carolinas, have been remarkably brilliant and successful, and mainly contributed to the great results. General John A. Logan, or, as he was more familiarly called, " Black Jack," is of middle stature, compact, well-knit frame. His face is regular, but almost bronze, showing unmistakable evidence of his Franco-Celtic lineage. He has a glorious pair of dark eyes, that scintillate beneath his heavy brows, and dark hair. A heavy, curved mustache covers his well-formed mouth. Such is his appearance, and his fighting qualities are in accordance. Logan and his 15th corps have been through almost every battle-field of the west ; and wherever his banner floated, down went the enemy's. His military career is a full record of dashing heroism, from Shiloh's bloody field to Johnston's sur- render in North Carolina. Though Logan is a civilian general, despite the prejudices existing against such, his niilitary genius could not be over- looked ; so he rose to the command of the army of the Ten- nessee. There are men who are soldiers by inspiration. Logan is one. West Point may mould him^ and instruct him in the rudi- ments of war ; but it could not infuse into many the spirit and military genius of John A. Logan. He, and Brevet Major General John Geary, who commanded GENERAL GEARY. 55 the second division of Hooker's corps, were strong evidences of this. Geary, too, was a civilian general, and won fame and reputation upon field after field, — upon the bloody crest of Lookout Mountain, upon the rugged cliffs of Mill Creek, — though every action that many a trained West Point veteran should feel proud of. Of civilian soldiers, he and Logan stand amidst the foremost. 56 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER VI. BATTLE OF RES ACA. — WHAT IT COST TO TAKE TWO GUNS. — TER- KIBLE SCENES ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. — OUR LOSSES. Resaca is situated on a bend of the Oostanaiila River, which curves towards the east. It is a small place, of little importance except what it has historically acquired from the great struggle enacted there. It is on the north bank, and a station of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, and about eighteen miles south of Dalton. Across the peninsula formed by the bend of the river the rebels had thrown up a strong, continuous line of intrench- ments, strengthened by fortifications. Both their flanks rested on the river, thus forming a kind of semicircle, with the river for its arc. The Oostanaula River is formed by the junction of the Cone- sauga and CooseAvattee, which meet in Cass County, and form a junction with the Etowah at Rome. On the morning of the 14th the rebels held a strong position behind Camp Creek. At an early hour skirmishing opened on the right of our line, and soon extended along our front. Toward noon, Howard, who was pressing on the enemy's rear in their retreat from Dalton, succeeded in effecting a junction with Schofield. Our whole force was now in line. Howard occupied the extreme left, his flank resting on the railroad ; Schofield joined his right ; Hooker had wheeled from the right and fell in on Schofield's right ; Palmer, next, with Logan and Wood, with two divisions of the 16th corps, on the extreme right. Sherman had ordered a pontoon bridge to be thrown across the Oostanaula at Day's Ferry, in the direction of Calhoun. BATTLE OF RESACA. 57 Sweeny's division, of the 16th corps, was ordered to protect it» General Gerrard was ordered to advance his cavalry from Villanow across the Oostanaiila, and, if possible, break the railroad hei ween Calhoun and Kingston. General McPhersou. had crossed Camp Creek, and made a lodgment close on the enemy's flank. On the afternoon of the 14th, General Schofield moved his column in line of battle, through a dense wood, with the inten- tion of piercing the enemy's centre. General Judah, command- ing the second division, advanced on the right, with General Cox supporting on the left. Judah moved his column rapidly over an open valley, then through a thick wood, until he reached an open space which divided him from the enemy. Owing to the slowness of his movements, or to the impracticable nature of the country. Cox's advance was not as forward as Judah's. As Judah deployed his column out of the woods, a valley of some five hundred yards in width separated him from the ene- my. Judah, believing that Cox was advancing simultaneous- ly with him, or thinking that the enemy were not in force on the other side, or acting from imperative orders, charged right across the valley, when one dense, continuous, withering fire opened from masked batteries and concealed lines on the other side. His first line was broken, and fell back on his second. This rallied under the fierce storm of shot and shell, and advanced, but was also broken. After repeated attempts to form his lines and rally, Judah was forced to fall back to the shelter of the woods and werks in his rear. Owing to the abrupt, impracticable nature of the ground, he was not able to place his artillery in position to cover his advance. By this time the wood had been cleared away from the crest of the hill, and our artillery got into position. I was then acting aid and captain on General Judah's staff". My horse was lamed by a piece of rock, splintered by a round shot, striking him in the leg, and I was leading him to the rear, when I met Major, now Colonel Wherry, of Schofield's staff, riding in. " Good God, Captain C," he exclaimed, "where is Gen- eral Judah ? '* 58 Sherman's march through the south. "He is at the front, trying to rally his broken line/' I replied. " I want to see him ; where are the rest of his aids?" " Two of them are there near that rock ; " and I pointed them out. He rode over to them ; they refused to go in, and he turned to me, exclaiming, " What will I do?" " Well, major, my horse is lame ; dismount an orderly, and I will go in." He did so. I went in, accompanied by the brave, dashing Major Wherry. We succeeded in reaching Judah's position between the contending batteries, though shot and shell were all the time ploughing through the ranks, and mowing down the col- umns and trees around us. Judah persisted in keeping his position, but wished Hovey's Indiana division to come to his support, and requested me to lead it in. While riding out to do so, a rifle bullet glanced off a tree, and struck -me in the breast. Fortunately, I had a book stuffed with papers inside my vest, which turned its course. It stunned me, however, and for a moment I lay senseless beside a tree. Having recovered my- self, I rode forward, and brought in Hovey's division to Judah's support. For this act General Schofield warmly thanked me, and General Judah presented me with a most complimentary letter.* It was evening. Cox's division had now become fully en- gaged. The battle had grown pretty hot on the left. Both Cox and Judah were so badly pressed that they could scarcely hold their position, had not General Stanley's division, of Howard's corps, come up to our support, swinging round on the left so as to extend his line toward Dalton. Stanley became fiercely en- gaged, and made a desperate resistance ; but the enemy had * Cedar Springs, Ga., May 18, 1864. Captain D. P. Conyngham, Acting A. D. C. Captain: — I cannot disrupt the associations tliat bind me to my personal staff, without thanking you for the many services you have rendered me. The gallant manner in which you have conveyed my orders, under a heavy fire, during the fearful ordeal to which my division was subjected on the 14th instant, not only commands my acknowledgment and admiration, but attests my long confirmed opinion that the Irish soldier is the nonpareil of a soldier. With the best wishes of your chief for your future success and welfare, I am truly yours, J. H. Judah, Brigadier General U. S. A. BATTLE OF RESACA. 59 ^massed their troops iu this position, and strove hard to turn our flank. Sherman, seeing the severe nature of the attack on this position, had ordered Hooker to move two of his divisions, that were in reserve, to support Howard and Schofield. Stanley*s troops had made a splendid resistance ; but wearied from a long march, and overpowered by numbers, were gradually losing ground, when Williams's division, of the 20th corps — a portion of the old 12th corps — had come to their support. They dash- ingly threw themselves to the front, beating back the enemy with fearful slaughter, and retaking a battery that had been wrested from Stanley's division. While this stubborn conflict was raging on the left, McPherson was busily engaged on the right. He had thrown Logan's corps across the creek, and occupied the heights on the east bank of the stream, overlooking the town. This movement had not been. accomplished without hard fighting. The rebel batteries along the heights poured a dreadful storm of shot and shell upon Logan's advance. McPherson, in order to neutralize this, had placed batteries on the heights on the west bank of the stream, annoying the rebel batteries, and thus giving a chance to Logan to charge across the stream, and take possession of the ridge of hills commanding the rebel position around Resaca. In this day's battle the enemy had been foiled in attempting to turn our left flank, and had lost some important positions on their own left. In fact, Logan had succeeded in turning it, and exposing Resaca, and also their line of escape across the river. . It was generally stated and believed that a portion of Polk's troops from Mobile had arrived in the course of the day, and were hastening up to Johnston's support. The country around was a succession of mounds, or large hills. The rebel line of battle extended in one circuitous line around these. The crest and slopes of these hills were sheltered by forest trees, which concealed their batteries and fortifications, the underbrush giving shelter to their skirmishers and sharp- shooters. During the night and early morning, Hooker had massed Geary's and Williams's divisions under cover of a strong hill on his front ; Butterfield had not yet taken up position. 60 Sherman's march through the south. The rebels had now occupied a strong position ; stronger, even, than on the former day, and the battle of the 15th threatened to be a desperate one. Their lines were now considerably depressed, but protected by strong works on the left flank, by a deep stream and marshy banks on the centre, and by the Oostanaula on the right. In this position Johnston had drawn up his troops in line of battle, scarcely three miles in extent ; while our line, occupying the outer line of a semicircle, was much more extended. Hooker was ordered to assault and take the position in his front. It was a strong one, protected by natural and artificial impediments of the most formidable kind. Sherman had ordered it to be taken, and taken it must be. It was a lofty elevation of hills, covered with a dense growth of timber and brushwood. Every nook and corner was bur- rowed with rifle-pits and intrenchments. Hooker's line of bat- tle advanced from the south-west, barely skimming the western base of the hill, and then crossed a deep valley in a more north- erly direction, extending to a commanding elevation we had gained the previous day. It was noon before Butterfield's division got into position. Hooker had now arranged his columns. Butterfield's division was deployed in columns by brigades. For some time. Hooker was at a loss to know which range was occupied by the enemy, and which to attack ; but they soon discovered themselves by opening on us from the hill on the left of the road. Colonel Woods's brigade, of Butterfield's division, charged the enemy's position on the left, while General Ward's brigade charged that on the right, supported by Colonel Colburn's brigade. The col- umn on the right advanced up the hill steadily, bravely, as if on parade, driving back the rebel sharpshooters and skirmishers to their works. Over the hill they swept ; down the valley in double quick time ; across it, raked by a withering fire from the rebel artillery ; up the opposite hill towards its base, where they met a regular shower of shell and bullets ; yet on they swept, plunged through the woods, striving desperately to gain its ascent. Colo- nel Colburn's brigade was now advancing to their relief, when a conflict of the most awful kind ensued for that hill. The reb- BATTLE OF RESACA. 61 els here unmasked several batteries, which staggered our columns for a moment by the shower of canister they poured into our lines. In the dense thickets, Colburn's men opened fire on Ward's brigade ; but some officers rushed to the front, and cor- rected this mistake. Ward had now gained the hill, and charged on the works, but fell, wounded. Colonel Harrison now led on the brigade. Their general fallen, their ranks broken, the gal- lant fellows had to fall back to the shelter of another hill. A correspondent relates the following incident : " As we were falling back, the rebels, thinking that we had been repulsed, cheered lustily. This stung the gallant color-bearer of the 127th Illinois, named Hess. Springing back to the embrasure, he floated the colors defiantly at the enemy. Brave fellow ! his death atoned for his rashness. A rebel shot him through the heart. Other hands took up the flag with a similar fate." Colonel Woods's brigade encountered but little resistance in its first advance ; but on gaining the crest of the hill, he found the timber cleared away on the other side, thus exposing his lines to an open fire from the enemy. Large masses of troops had moved across the open fields between the Dalton road and the railroad, as if attempting a flank movement. This was but a feint to cover a real attack ; for soon a whole division burst on Colonel Woods's front. They came charging up the clear slope in double quick, and with a fierce yell. Woods's men reserved their fire until they came right up to them, and then poured a deadly volley into the column. They faltered, rallied, charged ; but the same deadly fire thinned their lines, and drove them back. Again the rebels rallied, and would have crushed Woods's columns, had not General Knipe's brigade just then come to their assistance. Knipe charged directly into the rebel columns at the point of the bayonet. Though largely outnumbered, his gallant brigade returned -volley for volley, and bravely maintained their position until their general fell wounded, when the column steadily fell back, bearing their general with them. They also brought back a number of prisoners, and the battle-flags of the 38th and 58th Alabama. Our batteries all along our front continued all day 6 62 Sherman's march through the south. pouring the deadly storm of lead upon the enemy, iti order to cover the charges of Hooker and Logan. As night approached, Hooker reenforced his front, and re- newed the charge, with the most brilliant results, driving back the rebels from their works, capturing four guns, a number of flags, and seven hundred prisoners. The brunt of the battle fell upon Butterfield's and "Williams's divisions, which fought splendidly. Geary's division was but slightly engaged, being held in reserve. No serious engagement took place all day at any other point of the line. They all skirmished briskly with the enemy, in order to dis- tract their attention from Hooker's assault. The skirmishing in Logan's front, on the right, brought on a sharp engagement at that point. Night had set in. The ground was strewn with the dead and wounded. Our men slept beside their arms, for the rebel lines were quite close to them. The living, the dying, and the dead slept beside one another. We could hear the stealthy tramp of moving troops, and the rumble of wagons. There was much conjecture as to whether the enemy were retreating, or bringing forward supports and artillery to renew the conflict in the morning. During the day's battle we had temporarily seized a rebel battery, but were unable to hold it ; but succeeded in dragging two guns from the embrasure, and into a trench near the works. As we did so, the rebel batteries opened a converging lire on the spot, and compelled us to retreat ; so the guns lay there between both lines, and neither side dare touch them. Some of our men organized a volunteer party to bring in the guns at nio-ht. They clubbed together in a little valley near the fort, and waited until everything was silent, except the mournful cry of the whippoorwill, the groans of the wounded, and the tramp of the sentry. They then stole to the fort, tied ropes to the pieces, and were dragging them away, when the rebels jumped up and fired on SAD SCENES ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 63 them. The rebel batteries, having the range since the previous evening, swept across the little fort. Our pickets fired ; our skirmishers fired ; and soon our columns had sprung up, seized their arms, and opened a fierce volley through the dark woods ; they did not know where, or for what. Our batteries, too, took up the horrid din, and the whole combined to make the night hideous with the xmearthly shrieking and hissing of shells and bullets. Covered by the confusion, the rebels commenced retreating ; and ere morning dawned their main body had crossed the Oostanaula. After some time the firing ceased; the wearied troops again lay down beside their arms to repose. On the following morning I went to see that point where our troops fought so desperately, and grappled in a hand-to-hand death conflict with the foe. The work was a lunette, just on the crest of a hill, and well masked by some trees and brushwood around it. This was thickly strewn with the dead and wounded. Inside and around the work rebel and Union officers and men lay piled together ; some transfixed with bayonet wounds, their faces wearing that fierce, contorted look that marks those who have suffered agony. Others, who were shot dead, lay with their calm faces and glassy eyes turned to heaven. One might think they were but sleeping. Others had their skulls crushed in by the end of a musket^ while the owner of the musket lay stiff" beside them, wdth the death grip tightened on the piece. Clinging to one of the guns, with his hand on the spoke, and his body bent as if drawing it, lay a youth with the top of his head shot off". Another near him, his body cut in two, still clung to the ropes. Can a rescued nation sufficiently revere the memories of such heroes ? Men writhing in pain, men stark and cold ; broken caissons, rifles, and bayonets ; bloody clothes and torn haversacks, with all the other debris of war's havoc, weio the price we paid fol these two old cannon. 64 SHERMAN S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. A battle-field, when the carnage of the day is over ; when the angry passions of men have subsided ; when the death silence follows the din and roar of battle ; when the victors have re- turned triumphant to their camps to celebrate their victory, regardless of the many comrades they have left behind; when, the conquered sullenly fall back to a new position, awaiting to renew the struggle, — ^ is a sad sight. It is hard to listen to the hushed groans and cries of the dying, and to witness the lacerated bodies of your fellow-soldiers strewn around, some with broken limbs, torn and mangled bodies, writhing in agony. How often has some poor fellow besought me to shoot him, and put him out of pain ! It would be a mercy to do so, yet I dared not. Piled up together in a ditch, near a battery which they sup- ported with their lines, I found several rebel dead and wounded. I draeged some of the wounded out under the shelter of the trees. The ghouls of the army were there before me ; they had rifled the pockets of the dead and wounded indiscriminately. I gave many a poor fellow a reviving drink, amidst silent prayers. In one place I found a mere boy of about fifteen. His leg was shattered with a piece of shell. I placed his knapsack under his head. Poor child ! what stories he told me of his mother, away down in Carolina ; and his little sisters, how glad they would be, now that he was wounded, to see him home. They never saw him home, for he went to the home where the weary are at rest. I came up to the corpse of a rebel soldier, over whom a huge Kentuckian federal soldier was weeping. " My man," I exclaimed, " why do you weep over him ? Look at your comrades around you." " True, sir," he replied, wiping his eyes ; and pointing to a federal soldier near, he said, " There is my brother ; this man shot him : I killed him in return. He was my bosom friend. I loved him as a father loves his child." Next morning, as we were removing our wounded to hos-* FEDERAL AND REBEL LOSSES. 65 pital, I saw a group collected. I rode up, and found that they were some raw troops jeering and insulting rebel wounded. They belonged to Hovey's Indiana division. Veteran troops will never do this, but share their last drink and bite with them. I rated them pretty roundly, and ordered the cowardly sneaks to their regiments. After another battle or two, these very boys would feel indignant at such conduct. I then helped the doctor to put them in ambulances. The poor fellows' gratitude well repaid me. One man's brain was protruding through his wound. We left him, thinking he could not live long. I went there the following evening, and found him still living. Our loss in the battle of Resaca was pretty heavy. We had four generals wounded — Kilpatrick and Willech badly, Man- son seriously, and Hooker slightly. Om* total killed were about five hundred ; some two thousand wounded, and about five hundred missing. I have no means of fully ascertaining the rebel loss ; but it must be as large as ours. For the most part they fought under cover. Our captures were eight pieces of cannon, a large stock of small arms and commissary stores, besides the cheering ejflfect the victory had on our troops, and the demoralizing influence on Johnston's. Resaca was, in truth, the first great battle of the campaign. Here the enemy, aided by every advantage of ground and position, made a stand. A fair but desperate conflict ensued, and the enemy were whipped. From that day our army felt they were to be victorious ; Johnston's, that they were to be defeated. 6* ' 66 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER VII. THE PURSUIT. -OUR ARMY CROSS THE RIVER ON PONTOONS AND BRIDGES. — CAPTURE OF A REBEL COURIER. — A GOOD TRICK OP GENERAL THOMAS. - SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT OF GENERAL SWEENY. — STORMING THE HEIGHTS AT SNAKE CREEK. — DEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL VALOR. — SHERMAN AND THE LONE WIDOW. — A COUP D'CEIL FROM BUENA VISTA. — DESCRIP- TION OF THE COUNTRY. — TROUBLES OF THE CORRESPOND- ENTS.— PERSONAL ANECDOTES OF SHERMAN. General Johnston had pontooned the river just belojv the bend. He could not cross his trains by the regular road bridge, as the noise would reveal the movement. The troops crossed at several ferries, the major portion over a foot bridge laid beside the railroad bridge. The rebels had left behind them four guns, in addition to those captured the previous day, immense stores of ammunition, several thousand stands of small arms, a large amount of com- missary stores, and all their dead and wounded. They de- stroyed the railroad bridge, but had not time to demolish the road bridge near it. The pursuit commenced early next morning. McPherson had crossed over at Lay's Ferry, and the foot bridge left by the rebels. General Thomas had to lay down some additional bridges, and followed up right in the rear of the retreating army. General Schofield had to make a wide detour to the left, and crossed the Connasauga and Coosawattee, which form the Oostanaula at Fite's and Field's Ferries. Our cavalry were close upon the rear of the rebels, but were not in sufficient force to bring them to a stand. The troops effected the crossing of the rivers in very good time. PURSUIT OP THE REBELS. 67 McPherson Lad his pontoons already established. The rebels, in their haste, had left the road bridge and a foot bridge stand- ing. Schofield, however, had to ford or pontoon the two rivers. AH this was done with such despatch that the whole army was in pursuit by noon the following day. It soon became one con- tinual skirmish betweien the rear guard of Jo*hnston's army and our advance. His intention evidently was to cross the Etowah, fall back to the strong range of the Alletoona Mountains, and there, with his lines extending from the railroad to Dallas, give us battle. Near Adairsville, — which, by the way, is a pretty village eighteen miles south of Resaca, — Wood's division, of the 4th corps, came upon Hood's and part of Hardee's corps where they were intrenched, with the intention of checking our ad- vance. They opened a heavy artillery fire upon our lines. General Wood formed into line, deployed heavy bodies of skir- mishers, and a very brisk little fight ensued, which continued all the evening. The enemy retired after nightfall. On, the 17th Butterfield's division, of the 20th corps, drove the enemy from Cassville. Hookpr pressed on, driving them from Calhoun, which village presented nothing but ruined and shattered houses, the inhabitants having fled at our approach — some to the woods, others into the rebel lines. These had been pretty towns, with their neat, white houses, and trim flower gardens, before the scourge of war had swept over them. The country around is extremely fertile, and many a wealthy planter's mansion and farmer's homestead formed bonfires for our de- stroying army. The stubborn fight made by Johnston at Adairsville was for the purpose of protecting some wagons and artillery, which he wanted to get off by rail. His main army at this time was but a few miles ahead. Next morning the 4th corps marched through Kingston; in the afternoon they encountered a sljcrht opposition from Cheatham's division and two regiments of cavalry. ^ Meantime Hooker had moved by River Creek, reconnoi- tring south, and striking the railroad between Kingston and 68 Sherman's march through the south. Cassville. Butterfield's division was ahead, and encountered the enemy at Cassville, and kept them at bay until Williams's and Geary's divisions came to his support, when the whole corps formed into line, and drove the enemy from the town, after a very hot contest. The 20th and 23d corps had a slight skirmish with John- ston's flank. The 23d corps occupied the extreme left, harass- ing the enemy's flank. The 4th and 20th corps occupied the centre. The 14th corps came in on Hooker's right, while McPherson operated on our extreme right. Davis's division of the 14th corps had already moved on Home, occupying the town with slight opposition. At Rome we captured a small steamboat on the Coosa River, large quantities of supplies and cotton, and several founderies, all of which were destroyed. Rome is a beautiful little city, embowered amidst trees, and full of pretty flower gardens. Most of the families had fled. All the able-bodied negroes, men and women, had been carried off". The inhabitants must have left, in hot haste, with the garrison, for provisions and furniture were untouched in the houses ; and some of them looked as if the ladies had just gone out to pay an evening visit, and meant to be back to tea. Our men soon changed the appearance of things, liberally helping themselves to anything they wanted, and then destroyed the rest, and in some cases the houses with them. On our march a courier from General Johnston to his chief of cavalry, General Jackson, was captured. The despatch was asking information of Sherman's movements on his flank. The poor fellow appeared much terrified, made a generous confes- sion, and looked upon himself as booked for the other world. General Thomas dressed one of his scouts in the oflicer's clothing, and sent him off with the despatch. The brave fellow succeeded in his hazardous mission, and returned with valuable information. Our trains were now following up the army as far as Kings- ton and Rome, though Wheeler was threatening our communi- cation. On the 24th he made a dash on a train of about sixty SPLENDID CONDUCT OP SWEENY'S COMMAND. 69 wagons belonging to Schofield, which was going to (Jassville with surplus baggage. He captured the wagons, but had to burn them, as our cavalry was pressing him ; but he took away most of the teams. His men here acted with great cruelty, for we found some of our men with their brains dashed out, and we were told that they were butchered after being captured. Though not crediting all such reports, I cannot ignore them all, for I have met too many savagely butchered myself. I believe that none of those acts have ever been committed with the cognizance of the superior officers. I give them credit for more humanity on both sides. In all civil wars, and par- ticularly in one carried on with such bitter rancor as this, there must have been many savage acts and brutal murders perpe- trated. Our march and battles were characterized by many personal exploits of foolhardy daring that cannot be sur- passed. The crossing of the Oostanaula at those points where the enemy remained to dispute our passage was a noble achieve- ment. General T. W. Sweeny, commanding the second di- vision, 16th corps, had received orders to move to Lay's Ferry, a point south of Resaca, and take possession of the opposite bank. Johnson's brigade. Walker's division, Hardee's corps was fortified on the opposite bank, and opened a galling fire on the advancing troops, who had to charge over an open field to the shelter of some, rail fences, and a regular fire across the river ensued. Meanwhile pontoon boats were launched in Snake Crtek, a tributary of the Oostanaula, and six companies of the 66th Illi- nois and 81st Ohio were ordered to cross in them. The boats, with about three hundred soldiers, pushed down the stream, when a regular storm of rebel bullets whistled around them, toppling some into the water, more into the boats. On they push, blazing away at the enemy in return. The rebel bat- teries, now open, throwing round shot and shell among them, ploughing up the water around, and, in some cases, tearing through their crowded masses. At length they gained the shore, and with a shout of triumph TO Sherman's march through the south. and derision the brave fellows rushed up the banks, firing as they advanced ; then charging right on the enemy, breaking and routing them. Thus did these gallant western men open a passage across the river for Dodge's command. A private soldier of the 66th Indiana swam the Oostanaula, at Lay's Ferry, during the night, passed the pickets at the other side, scaled the rebel fort, pulled down a battle flag, reswam the river, returning safely to his comrades with the flag as a trophy. Near Cassville three soldiers belonging to the 23d corps were somewhat behind their command, and not being able to get up to it at night, bivouacked in a small farm-house aside from the road. About the middle of the night they heard a great noise outside, and on looking out tiiscovered the yard full of rebel cavalry. They were betrayed by the people of the house, all of whom they found had left while they were asleep. One of the cavalry, thinking to nab them quietly, gently opened the door, when one of the soldiers ran him through. His com- rades fired one volley into the house, the bullets passing through the rotten planks that formed its sides. The men lay quietly in the most secure positions, and fired out, and then immediately shifted to another corner, the rebels pouring a volley of bullets through the place they had left. This game was played for some time, when those outside, find- ing that they were paying too dear for it, resolved to burn down the house, though the family protested against it. The house* was set on fire, and the dry timbers began to blaze about them. Nothing was now before them but certain death, and they were resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible, when an unex- pected deliverance came. A squad of Stoneman's cavalry, passing near, heard the firing, and hastened to the spot. They attacked the besieging party in the rear, soon putting them to flight, and released their friends. Johnston had now succeeded in crossing the Etowah, burn- ing the road and railroad bridges near Cartersville. Here General Sherman halted his army for a few days to give it time to rest, and to bring up some supplies. INTERYIEW WITH A POOR WIDOW. 71 General Thomas's army lay around Cassville, General Sclio- field's at Kingston depot and the Etowah Bridge, with General McPherson's about Kingston. In this delightful and fertile sec- tion of country, which we found a garden before us, but left a wilderness behind us, the army now halted to rest, and to pil- lage, too. It was amusing to observe how the soldiers imposed on the innocent people by giving them forged vouchers. General Sherman, attended only by a single orderly, rode by a small plantation house, where he went in and sat down. The old lady was quite communicative, and Sherman entered into con- versation with her. " Well, have the boys taken much from you?" *' Almost all I have. Sherman was here ; he is a right nice un ; the poor man said he was hungry ; so I got him something to eat ; and as he said they were starving, he took a ham and a chicken, but he left me something he called a purtection paper," and she pulled a dirty, scribbled scroll from her breast, and handed it to Sherman. It read, — " Sergeant Take-them-all gives general protection to this poor, lone widow, with her husband in the army, and to her helpless chickens and roosters ; that is, what's left of them." *' And what did the boys say to this?" asked Sherman, who '^ould not help smiling at this novel protection. " Well, your fellows only laughed at it ; it 'pears like they have drefful little respect for their general." '"' I am afraid so, madam. If you give me some paper I'll write one they won't laugh at." " And are you an officer? " "Yes, ma'am." " May be you'd have a piece of backer, or a chew ; the sol- diers didn't leave me a blast." " Don't use them. Here is a cig^r, and a pass that won't be laughed at ; " and Sherman mounted and rode off. While the army is resting, we will devote a brief space to the general appearance of the country, its soil, climate, and geo- gi-aphical position. 72 Sherman's march through the south. Walker County, through which we had just campaigned, is south of Tennessee, and was laid ^out from Murray County in 1833. Its general appearance is hilly, or rather mountainous, inter- spersed with rich valleys of great fertility, covered with a dark, mulatto soil. It has several very prominent mountains, generally running from north to north-west, the principal of which are Taylor's Ridge, — Commonly called Rocky Face Ridge, — Lookout Mountain, overhanging Chattanooga, John's Mountain, and White Oak Mountains. These are separated by some fine valleys, among others Chickamauga, the scene of Rosecrans's memorable fight ; Ar- mucha Valley, where Sherman's army sat down before Johns- ton's intrenched position, along Rocky Face and Buzzard Roost ; and Dogwood Valley, where Schofield advanced, threatening Johnston's flank. It has. no towns of importance, Ringgold, Rossville, and Vil- lauow being the leading ones. All these are small places, but remarkably neat and picturesque. They have become rather historical from the stirring scenes of which they have been the theatre. This county has been called Cherokee Georgia ; and some of the tumuli and remains of the Cherokee settlement are still extant. This county is remarkable for its many caves, the most remarkable of which is Wilson's Cave, which is second only to the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. Its great mineral springs are its most remarkable feature, and possessed of strong medicinal qualities. They are situated at the foot of Taylor's Ridge, and are about fifty in number, all located within a space of less than half a mile. Twelve of these, and the chief ones, are grouped together in less than a quarter acre. These springs held a high reputation among the Indians ; and the beautiful valley has been justly called the " Vale of Springs." The waters are strongly mineral, combining chalybeate, red, white, and black sulphur, iron, magnesia, and salts, in various combinations. The scenery immediately around the springs is rather of the BUENA VISTA. 73 sylvan order ; but an hour's walk brings you to the mountain, whence you have a view of as picturesque, lovely, and romantic a region as the eye could • rest upon. The wood has been cleared from the top of Taylor's Ridge, from which point there is a magnificent stretch of mountain and valley scenery. This is called Buena Vista, and appropriately, for a good view it is. Here, wearied and fatigued, I slept that summer night of the 7th of May, after helping to drag up that section of artillery to liuena Vista. Here, next morning, I took a bird's-eye view of the camps of the contending hosts, their expiring watch-fires, and their marshalled troops, awaiting the battle. Here, on this point, crowded hundreds of Harker's and Newton's men who were not engaged, anxiously watching the battle raging along the ridge and beneath. How earnestly they watched our advance down Dogwood Valley, as we were steadily driving back the enemy's skirmishers and sharpshooters. And when we dashed into that thick wood beneath, and our huzzas, and the ringing sound of our rifles, told that we were still forcing back the enemy, what a shout went up from Buena Vista ! When we emerged from the wood with flying colors, the enemy driven back on their main lines, that shout rang over us, louder even than the din of battle. The men on the summit flung up th^ir caps, and they came down upon us like a shower. Never before had there been such a party on Buena Vista — never before had there been such a bloody drama played there, and, I trust, never will be again. Chattooga County, in which Sherman's army was. now rest- ing, is next to Walker. It is rather a beautiful country, even richer in soil than Walker County, and full of hills and valleys, equally fertile and picturesque. It derives its name from its principal river, Chattooga. It has some splendid plantations, with their wealthy home- steads, and numerous negro surroundings. Summerville is the capital of the county ; but we left this on our right flank. Adairsville and Kingston are small but interesting villages. We found them pretty well deserted. 7 T4 Sherman's march through the south. At Cassville, in Cass County, a pleasant spot, the rebels made a decided stand ; and consequently it suffered considerably. Floyd County now lay before us. Johnston had placed the Etowah between Sherman and himself. The Taylor Ridge of mountains continue in a south-west direction through Floyd, dividing the waters of the Chattooga from the tributaries of the Oostanaula. The Altoona range of hills cross these in a westerly direc- tion. This being a strong natural position, protected by water and mountain and hill range, Sherman justly conjectured that Johnston would avail himself of it. Floyd County differs little from the others either in soil or scenery. Its chief rivers are the Oostanaula and Etowah, which, unit- ing at Rome, form the Coosa. From Rome, the Coosa flows through a rich valley, with beautiful wooded hills and slopes on both sides. Rome itself is a handsome little town, situated upon an eleva- tion overlooking the river. It did not suffer much from the troops, as we only paid it a passing visit. It is about eighteen miles from Kingston, and is destined to become a flourishing business place. It also has several mineral springs, the most important of which is Cove Spring, on Little Cedar Creek. These gush out from a mountain, forming a pretty considerable creek. Having so far given a topographical description of the country through which we had operated, I will continue to describe its various features as I chronicle the advance and subsequent achievements of the army, which I left enjoying itself along the banks of the Etowah. Sherman had his headquarters at Kingston. Here he issued the following order, which rendered the position of newspaper correspondents in the army very uncomfortable. Kingston, Ga., May 20, 1864. .... What the commanding general does discourage is the existence of that class of men who will not take a musket THE REPORTER. 75 and fight, but wlio follow an army to pick up news for sale, speculating on a species of information which is dangerous to the army and to our cause, and who are more used to bolster idle and worthless officers than to notice the hard-working and meritorious, whose modesty is generally equal to their courage, and who scorn to seek the flattery of the press. "Vy. T. Sherman, Major General. This was by no means complimentary to the press or its representatives, and made the position of correspondents very unpleasant. Every stuck-up jackanapes of an officer, with more assurance than brains^ who had lately left the counter or workshop, thought he was privileged to insult gentlemen, and men of learning. However, I must say that no true gen- tleman in the service ever attempted to do so. I have reason to know that even Sherman's own staiF, with the exception of one or two, censured this order. His brother-in-law Gen- eral Ewing, Surgeon General Moor, Major General Barry, and other gentlemen of his staff, disapproved of it. As for his adjutant general. Major Dayton, he could not afford to be courteous to a representative of a newspaper. A respectable member of the associated press once called on him for permission to telegraph just a few lines to relieve the anxiety of the country after an important moyement. His reply was, — "No, sir. What the h — 1 do we care about the country? You should go to Washington for news. This is no place to come looking for it ? " Had Sherman issued an order prohibiting correspondents from accompanying the army, I would respect his strength of character ; but he knew too well that the war was a matter of history and public interest; that the country was liberally pouring forth its treasures and its blood to suppress treason, and that it would not allow the press to be gagged, and thus shut them off from the most reliable and expeditious source of infor- mation relative to the fate of their Mends, and the success of their cause in battle. 76 Sherman's march through the south. Thus exposed to petty annoyance from some worthless fops " clothed in a little brief authority," several correspondents left the army. This order was unworthy of Sherman. Intelligent corre- spondents had too much respect for themselves and their papers to write anything derogatory to the interest of the army, and if they did, he had his redress in his own hands. Sherman's abrupt manner of dealing with parties whose business was distasteful to him gave rise to a good many amusing stories about him. On one occasion a deputation from some commission waited on him for transportation to bring up supplies, and particularly tracts and Bibles to the soldiers. " Tracts and Bibles, gentlemen," he replied, "• are very good in their way, but rations and ammunition are much better. Now, I can't encroach on them." He was right, for most of these agents were mere hangers-on, living on the country, and giving the supplies to officers and quartermasters to propitiate them, and not to the soldiers, for whom they were intended. On another occasion Sherman was dining with Howard. A sanctimonious parson present thought the occasion demanded an extra strong grace. "With eyes and hands raised piously towards heaven, he was in the midst of it, when Sherman, who sat at the other end of the table unconscious of the chaplain, was bitterly denouncing some officer, and wound up by bringing his hand slap on the table, and exclaiming, — " Hang the man ! Will he ever stop ? " The chaplain, thinking the expression to apply to himself, let fall his hands, and became almost petrified. There was a sup- pressed titter around the table, and the chaplain did not recover his composure for the evening. Sherman was at times convivial, and would tell, with the richest humor, racy stories connected with himself, and the many strange characters he had come across. " I tell you," he said one evening to a party of us at dinner, " I have met more men afflicted with cotton on the brain than THE JEW AND HIS COTTON. 77 any other disease. Some time since a chaplain wrote to me for permission to go south, because, as he had numerous acquaint- ances there, he could buy plenty of cotton if he only had per- mission to bring it through the lines. I didn't mind this. Some time afterwards, I got another letter from the same party, renewing the request, but making an offer to give me half the profits. I at once ordered him beyond the lines ; and only that I believed he was not quite sane, I would have dealt harder with him. " At • Memphis," he continued, "I was completely pestered about cotton. A little Jew had somehow managed to get into the rebel lines,, and buy cotton from private parties, who agreed to send it to some neutral point outside their lines. Our cavalry met them, and brought in the cotton, the parties having no authority for dealing in it. The Jew came to me in a great fright. *' ' Ah, monseer jenral, de cavalry took mine cotton.' *' ' What right had you to go beyond our lines to buy cotton?' " ' Jenral, I knew de cotton vas dere ; and I knew de good government vants it ; so I said I'd buy the cotton, and bring it in to you.' " ' You paid for it, then? ' " ' Yes ; tree tousand dollas down in de gold.' " ' That is, you gave three thousand dollars to the rebels to use against us.' " ' No, jenral ; it vas for de cotton.' " 'Well, it's all the same ; it went into their hands ; and now, as you were so good to them, I order you to pay the same amount to our government, or else I will swing you out of a tree.' • " ' And can't I keep de cotton? ' " ' Not a pound of it. It's confiscated.' " We had no more Jews speculating in cotton after that." 7* 78 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER VIII. A CARNIVAL IN THE CAMPS.— RACING AND HUNTING PARTIKS.- STRAGGLERS AND MARAUDERS. — EXCESSES OF OUR TROOPS. — MURDER OF REBEL OFFICERS.- CAPRICIOUSNESS OF THE SOUTHERN LADIES.— MRS. MAJOR DASH AND MRS. CAPTAIN SMART. — CONDITION OF THE POOR WHITES.— INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES. — WHITES AND BLACKS. The section of country occupied by our encamped army extended some twenty miles, embracing Rome, Kingston, Cass- ville, and several other minor places. We had established strong posts at Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, and Dalton ; also con- necting posts to guard our lines of communication. The country around was very line, the weather favorable, and the officers and men seemed inclined to employ their days of rest with amusement and recreation. Races were got up, hunting parties formed ; also foraging and visiting parties. Generals and officers, in their gayest uniforms, rode from camp to camp, making it a pleasing and exciting scene. The most of the plantation houses were abandoned by their owners, who were either hiding in the woods until we should pass, or had gone on with the rebel army. Old men and women, with decrepit negroes, and squalling picaninnies, were the only persons at home. The lying press of the south, and all other sources from which they drew information, had so poisoned their minds with stories of our savage and cannibal acts that they trembled at our approach, and looked upon their total destruction as certain. Unfortunately the wanton acts of some of our troops gave color to this. In all large armies there is a class of cowardly ruf- fians who are sure to slink from battle, and whose only object is plunder. LIVING ON THE COUNTRY. 79 Owing to the wooded nature of the country, and the vast ex- tent of our lines, these fellows had too many opportunities of gratifying their thieving propensities. General Slicrman had issued an order that the army, as far as practicable, should live on the country. The soldiers took this as a license for each man to rob and pillage as much as he could ; and in truth too many of them seemed well inclined to obey this special order. For several days a most disgraceful scene of rifling houses, breaking up furniture, ripping up bedticks, and, after making a general mess of things, then firing the houses, ensued. This was somewhat modified by regular parties being de- tailed, under command of officers, to forage. Even these often committed the most wanton excesse's. I was one evening riding out towards our picket lines, and passing near a house, shel tercd in the trees, I heard cries and screams, as if from women in distress. I drew my revolver, and rode into the yard ; and what a sight met my view ! The yard was covered with the debris of furniture, beds, and bedding ; dead poultry and pigs lay around, while soldiers were making desperate charges on others that had not yet fallen. All the beehives were rifled, and the infuriated bees were flying about like so many little demons. I even saw a man wearing the shoulder-straps of a captain, with his hands full of things, rush through a back door at my approach. To add to the savage scene children were rushing about, screaming for their lives ; and on going into the house I found four miserable women huddled together in trembling fear. It took some time before I could convince them that they were safe. They were in such a frenzied state, that I remained some time, and put a guard on the house. , Such scenes were of too frequent occurrence ; and it often happened that the rebel cavalry came upon these pilfering strag- glers while they were rifling some houses, and of course they had no mercy to expect. On the left of our lines, just outside our picket station, was a very tempting plantation house ; still, the men felt a little deli- cacy in visiting it, as it was pretty close on the rebel lines. 80 Sherman's march through the south. At length a party of volunteers resolved to try the experi- ment. So they started off in the evening, being favored by the darkness, first having contrived to get the countersign, so that they could return. It happened that the old planter, a Mr. Hordel, had a son, an officer in Wheeler's cavalry. The young man, being sta- tioned near, availed himself of the opportunity to visit his family. He, together with two other officers, were in the house when our volunteer party surrounded it. They were quietly, and, as they thought, securely, sitting around the parlor fire, telling of their hairbreadth escapes and adventures. Mr. and Mrs. Hordel and their three blooming daughters were the willing auditors. • . There must be something strikingly interesting in the adven- tures of young Hordel's brother officers, who, by the by, were two fine-looking fellows ; for two of the young ladies seemed wonderfully pleased at them, and with greedy ears devoured their discourse, and gave them for their pains a world of sighs. A scout crept softly from the party abroad to the window, and looked through' the partially open shutters. He soon re- ported progress. What to do now was the question. The front door was locked. The servants were in the back yard, and would give the alarm, should they try to get in that way ; and the officers had their revolvers beside them on the table. What was to be done ? It was at once agreed to surprise them from the rear, but to leave three men at the window to fire on the officers if necessary. Two men slipped around, got into the kitchen, but were stoutly encountered by two of the rebel officers' orderlies.' The young officers, hearing the noise, jumped up, and soon a shot from the hall told them that they were surprised. They grasped their revolvers, and had drawn their swords, when the men at the window fired. One of the officers fell dead, while old Mr. Hordel, who had just at the moment jumped up, received the bullet aimed at his son. The third bullet took effect on one of the young ladies. CONDUCT OP SECESH LADIES., 81 The men outside joined their comrades, and fired through the windows. Hordel and his living friend rushed into the hall, and joined their orderlies, resolved to sell their lives dearly. A fierce fight ensued ; and as the men outside had set the house on fire, there is no knowing how it w*ould end had not the third orderly, who was outside at the time, made his escape ba(;k to a rebel cavalry post, and hurried them up. They surrounded the party, and killed every man of them except one, who made his escape into our lines, with a most exaggerated report of how they were surrounded, captured, and then butchered. I learned these true particulars from a negro who was in the house at the time. . As a general thing throughout the south, we experienced the most invfeterate hate on the part of the ladies. They were bitter against us, and full of the most absurd prejudices. They hated the Yankees ; but still, in many cases, they softened down wonderfully ; and when we remained any little time, they actually became warm converts to the Union. When first we entered a town they scarcely showed their pretty faces at all ; or, if they did, they wore such a scornful expression that we could well dispense with them. They tried all those petty modes of annoyance by which ladies can so well show their dislike. You were sure to hear rebel airs floating from Secesh pianos and fair Secesh vocalists. After a little time they began to mix more freely. They vowed that Captain Smart and Major Dash were ducks of young men. Certainly they could not be Yanks, they were so noble- looking, generous, and polite ! Heally, though they did not like them, they were too agreeable and too much like gentlemen to be treated rudely. Then they sang so well, and danced so divinely, they should like to meet them. No ; they positively could not be mere vulgar "Yanks." Some of the ladies brightened into sunshine and sniiles. " The bonny blue flag " gave way to "The star-spangled ban- ner ; " and the farce ended by the prettiest, but most violent of th6 Secesh ladies, becoming Mrs. Major Dash and Mrs. Captain Smart. 62 Sherman's march through the south. After all, we can hardly wonder that the southern ladlea should have exhibited so hitter a spirit. Raised up as they were in luxurious indolence, with slaves to anticipate their every whim, with pampered tastes, and a strong impression ingrafted upon them in childhood that labor of all kinds was dishonorable, the lesson of poverty came home to them with fearful force. Shut out from all communication" with the outer world, they were now deprived of all the luxuries of life, and could barely command its mere necessaries. The price of tea — one hundred and twenty dollars per pound in Confederate money — precluded the very thoughts of it. Coffee was proportionally scarce and dear. Of sugar they could always raise a rough supply from the cane and sorghum. Their horses were taken for the use of the army, their carriages were rotting in the coach-houses, and their dresses were unfit to appear in public. They had worn out their fine silks and rich dresses ; and such articles now, if they could be got at all, could be only obtained at fabulous prices. So they had to clothe their dainty figures in linsey-woolsey. And because all the able hands, black and white, were gone to the war, either to fight or work in the intrenchments, they had either to labor or to starve. Their colored servants became sulky and unmanageable, and ardently longed for the approach of the Yankees, whom they looked upon as their friends and deliverers. Their mistresses, now powerless to coerce them, had to cajole and coax them ; while the servants, conscious of their in- creasing power, gave them as little work, and caused them as much annoyance, as possible. In their blindness and ignorance they set the Yankees down as the cause of all this ; as the murderers of their broth- ers and husbands, and the destroyers of their peace and happi- ness. They could not separate cause from effect. Their only argument, as I heard it expressed, was, " Why don't the Yan- kees let us alone? Why do they endeavor to oppress and conquer us ? " There was another class in the south, who comprised the bone CONDITION OF THE POOR WHITES. ' 8*d and sinew of the war, and who, though living in the basest degradation, were not sensible of it. I mean the poorer classes, or, as they are more commonly called, " the poor white trash.'* These were scattered over the large plantations, tolerated to squat down and till a few acres in some remote corners, in consideration of the political influence their votes gave their masters. They were too ignorant to know that they were greater slaves than the bondmen whom their masters daily sold. They learned their politics from their fire-eating masters ; from ignorant county newspapers, which, of course, chimed with the planters, who supported them; and from preachers, who doled out whole volumes of sedition, instead of preaching the gospel, and whose only orthodox creed was blind submis- sion to the will of the slave owners. In such a school, and under such circumstances, can we wonder at the conditio^ of the non-slaveholding whites ? They tilled their arid plot, raised a little corn and rye, and, with a few half-starved hogs, which prowled through- the woods, they managed to support their miserable lives and half-naked and wholly uneducated children. As a relief they frequent the dram shanty, wh"fere they dis- cuss bad politics and drink worse whiskey. The planters have given the rudiments of trades to their slaves, and they do their work. They will not, therefore, em- ploy a white man. If they must employ such, it is sure to be some northern man that has settled among them. The very negro servants look down on them with contempt, for they feel that they are much more useful and have more influence. I had a good instance of the relative values of the black and white races in the south from a colored servant of General John Logan. Dick was an excellent servant, and was formerly a slave in some part of Northern Georgia. Like thousands more of his class, Dick thought the day of jubilee had come with the Yan- kees, and turned over to them. " Dick," said I to him, " was your master kind to you?" " O, bery much, massa ; massa bery kind." 84 Sherman's march through the south. " Did he give you plenty to eat and wear? '* *'Bery much, massa ; plenty ebery ting." *' Never whipped you ? " " Neber whipped dis nigger." *' Then why did you leave him?" Dick stopped for a moment ; then drew up his burly figure to its full height, and exclaimed, "Massa, I had a wife and two children. I have seen oder nigger's wives and children torn from their homes and sold. Why not mine ? Massa, I wanted to be free ; dis nigger wanted to own hisself." Dick's logic was sound. Slavery is a bitter draught ; and though, in my opinion, the negro was physically better cared for as a slave than he can be during that transition state through which he is now passing, still, I thank Heaven that slavery is abolished. It was a curse to the south, and a degradation to the north. But to Dick's story. *' I believe, Dick," I said, " a black man was of more value in the south than a white man." " Yah, yah ! " exclaimed Dick. " "White man no 'count dere ; dis nigger worth fifteen hunder dollars, white man nothing." " Why, then, Dick, it was better to be a black man than a poor white one." " Lor bress ou, massa ; poor white no value. Massa was sinking a well. It was down bery deep, and Pompey working liard at it, when neighbor Miller comes along, and says, ' Am surprised you leave Pompey down dere ; dat will sure cave in. Hire a poor white man.' Massa sent me for one, and put him in dat ere well in place of Pompey ; when, sartin en.uff', de well caved over him ; and Massa Miller says to massa, ' Now see, I am the lucky man to you ; I saved you twelve hunder dollars ; ' and dey went in and had a drink, and left poor white man dere." This was Dick's story, and I believe it was a true one, for I have seen too many instances of the selfish cruelty of planters to their poor white neighbors. No wonder that such men, so poor and wretched, should wish for some change. They knew that any alteration in their cir- THE LAND MONOPOLY. 85 cumstances could not be for the worse, and all parties, planters, parson, and politicians, told them that if the south attained its independence, their condition would be greatly improved ; and they rushed into a war to cut their own throats. I once asked a planter, " Why don't you try to educate the poor of the south, and better their condition ? " " It is hopeless, sir ; they are an indolent, good-for-nothing race." The answer reminded me of a similar one which I once got from an Irish agent, who was clearing oif the poor tenants by wholesale. " Why don't you give these people a lease, and en- courage them to remain at home ? " " Why, sir, if we gave them leases they would become too independent to vote for the landlord ; the only way is to keep them down, sir ; keep them dowr ! " . I pondered on his words, and thought therein lies the secret of Ireland's grievances, ' Another of the great evils of the south was the land monop- oly. A man had no status who did not own several slaves and several hundred acres, no matter though the former were old and feeble, and the latter covered with wood and underbrush. They were the true criterion of the social standing of the own- er. I met a lady in Kingston who complained bitterly of her destitute condition. Her husband was a doctor in the rebel army, and the owner of some ten thousand acres of land and some twenty slaves. He had tilled as much of that vast tract as his few slaves could manage, leaving the rest of it a wilder- ness. He had, perhaps, two hundred acres tilled out of the whole ; yet he would not dispose of any of it, except to a few poor white squatters, who were eking out a miserable existence. His dignity and prestige would suifer if he parted with it ; so, like the dog in the manger, he lay in his own way, and in the way of others. It was rather amusing to hear his little wife, who was now forced to bustle about and help herself, deplore her fallen state ; and of course the Yankees were held responsi- ble for her condition. " My husband had twenty thousand acres of land, and slaves 8 86 Sherman's march through the south. at his beck ; and look at me now, sir, without a servant !" she exclaimed. '' It's hard, madam, but you have brought it on yourselves. We did not want to come down here, had you not forced the issue upon us." " No, sir ; why don't you let us alone? We'll die before we'll be Yankee servants. You have taken all our slaves, and now want to make slaves of ourselves." " Such is not the case ; we are fighting for the maintenance of the Union ; we have not taken one of them ; all that can are following us. We cannot nor will not prevent them." " Tliey are all gone, the ungrateful wretches, except the chil- dren and a few old ones, and two the master took along with him, — I am sorry that he did not take the whole batch, — and we so kind to them." "Why, then, did they leave you, madam?" '' I am sure I don't know." " They wanted to be free, madam." " I am sure they were free enough. We never sold but two of them, and we had reared them up idly, and I am sure we had a right to get something out of them. One of them thought to get married to my waiting maid, Chloe, and as we did not want that, we sold them." " Are the colored people affectionate to each other ? " '' Very much so, indeed. It is strange how they take to one another, and fret when any of them are sold away." " Just so, madam. What would you say if you were sold away from your husband and children — what would you say if you were separated from the man you love ? " "Who dare do it?" said the little woman, defiantly. " And yet you do it to them ; do you believe they are human beings with divine souls, like you ? " " Don't exactly know ; guess they may." " And your Bible tells you, ' Do unto others as you would they should do unto you ; ' they have deep affections, as well as you, and are you justified in disregarding all these fine feelings ? " " O, that's different ; they are black folks, poor ignorant TALK WITH A SOUTHERN LAD?. 87 creatures. It's true they take it to heart very much, but then they get over it." " Just like you, madam ; if you lost your child or husband, you would feel very much : but as people must live after all, you'd get over it." " But you don't compare the poor ignorant things to us? " "Certainly not, madam. In some respects, perhaps in hu- man feeling and sympathies, they are your superiors ; and if they are ignorant, who made them so ? You exclude them from all edu- cation and chance of refinement, and then call them ignorant." " We had better make gods of them, as you do ; live with them, eat with them, and sleep with them." " There you are wrong. "We want to give them a fair chance to live, to own themselves and the fruits of their labor ; but we do not make them socially our equals ; it is you who do so." ." We, sir ; no, sir ! We are above that ; we tolerate them." " Indeed, madam ; look through the window here ; " and I pointed out a group of children at play ; some of the true Ethi- opian jet ; some looking as though they had been steeped in a hogshead of tobacco juice ; more a rich mahogany color ; with others so white that one could mistake them for the doctor's children, only for their short, crispy hair. Who knows whether they were or not? " What do you think of them, madam? Is there not equality between white and black ? And these are the children you sell for slaves ; your own flesh and blood. No wonder a judgment should come on you ! '* The little lady could not see it in this light ; and though the wife of a doctor, with twenty thousand acres of land, she smoked her pipe, and freely used her chopsticks and snuff, telling us that " 'backer and snuff were tarnation scarce." The besotted habit of indulging in tobacco and snuff, so pe- culiar to the lower and middle classes of the south, is equally filthy and demoralizing. It is repugnant to a northern man's sense of propriety and decency to see a pretty young girl swab- bing her teeth with dirty snuff, and then asking you for " some 'backer." I once stopped at a plantation house to rest. I was received 88 Sherman's march through the south. by a young girl, as perfect a specimen of female beauty as one could wish to see. She had hair like the raven, eyes like the gazelle, and a bust and frame that might enrapture a Canova. I took off my hat, and bowed in homage to so lovely a creature. She eyed me for some time, assumed a most negligent attitude, and then asked me, " I say, stranger, haven't you got any 'back- er you'd let a lady have ? '•' " I don't use it," I said, in surprise. " Oh — 1 you don't, old chap ! then you might have a cigar to make snuff. I hadn't a swab in a week : curse this d — d war." My admiration for her beauty soon gave way to a sense of disgust, and a deep hatred for a state of society which could convert a temple so divinely fair into a receptacle for tobacco juice, snuff, and filthy language. Despite these nasty habits, you will find among the poorest a good deal of homely honesty and hospitality. They will will- ingly share their last corn-cake with you. On account of the great extent of most of the plantations, houses are far apart ; school-houses few and far between ; and therefore the poorer class are extremely ignorant ; their cloth- ing, during the war, at least, was of the. poorest and meanest description ; with the women, consisting of a cotton gown, lin- sey petticoats, and no head covering. The men wear linsey trousers, stuffed into dirty, heavy boots, a hunting shirt of as many colors as Joseph's garment, all begrimed with filth, and surmounted by a slouched hat or skin cap. Their houses are generally log huts, badly put together, with sufiicient interstices to admit the rain, and let out the smoke, which too often escapes from cavernous fire-places at the end. They generally consist of but one room, with a rough floor of hewn logs. The fur- niture and contents of the hovel are composed of some not over clean culinary utensils, such as a broken pan, a few filthy tins, a dilapidated looking pot, two beds of corn shucks in a corner ; a dozen squalid children of all sizes and colors ; a couple of half- starved hounds, which show their bloodthirsty propensities by hungry, wistful looks at you. A troop of strange skeletons called hogs, or shotes, besiege the door with their clamorous LOWER-CLASS LIFE. 89 cries. The old ones, apparently sensible of the folly of expect- ing anything from creatures so wretched as their owners, have betaken themselves to the woods in pursuit of roots and berries. The owners disdain to work. It is laborious and disreputable. Hunting and fishing are much pleasanter. By fawning and sycophancy, they, become the henchmen of young massa, acquire drunken, dissipated habits, and live, swaggering and bullying about, a burden to themselves and a curse to society. These are the general characteristics of that class called the "poor white trash " whom I have met all through Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas, particularly in the latter states. I do not include in this category the laboring poor whites. The men who work for their living, though illiterate and poor, when con- trasted with the laboring classes of the north, compare favora- bly with the laboring classes of other countries. They are a hard-working, plodding people, either working as farm hands on the plantation, or cultivating their own little farms^ remote from the bustle of the world and the refinements of civilization, raising the necessaries, and some of the luxuries, of life, enough, at least, to support them. They know little of what is going on outside of their own sphere, and must ask " the master" " Who is president?" or, if there is a new one wanted, " Who will we vote for?" I expect many of them will keep voting for Jeff Davis for years to come. Some northern philanthropists are for extending the franchise to the emancipated negroes. If they do so, be assured they are only throwing so many vptes into the hands of the planter, to enable him to reestablish the power of the land-ocracy, and restore the political status of the south. Many colored folks, no doubt, understand the impor- tance of the franchise ; but with four fifths of them it will be as it was with the old nigger, who, when asked, would he not take an oath to support the Constitution, replied, scratching his woolly pate, " By de gor, massa, me hab no dejection to support her ; times drefful hard, massa ; hab 'nuff to do to support the ola *oman and de children, I s*pect." 8* 90 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER IX. SCENES IN CAMP. — STORIES BY THE FIRESIDE.— HOW AN ILLI- NOIS MAN SOLD A HORSE. — THE DOUBLE-ENDER GUN. — MIS- ERY OF THE PEOPLE. — THE HIDING-PLACE IN THE THICKET, AND THE DEAD GIRL. Many of my readers have not seen a vast army encamped. What a sight it presents ! Here are some showy headquarters, with their numerous surroundings of white tents. Look into these and you will find that officers do not fare so badly even in the field. Neat beds are contrived : some are cots ; others lithe saplings or frames covered with a cotton tick, and plenty of covering, probably contributed by some plantation house. On one side is a table laden with books, a box of cigars, and most likely a bottle of " commissary." These, with a looking glass and the officers' equipments, compose the furniture of the tent. Four flies form a mess tent ; and as the general and staff are going to dine, we will just see what kind of fare they have. It consists of stewed beef, hashed potatoes, and a couple of chickens, which the Georgian housekeepers were kind enough to rear for them, and most likely a few bottles of old rye, which the planters were kind enough to leave in their cellars for our especial benefit—- all these flanked by a respectable force of negro waiters. Officers and orderlies are always lounging or riding about headquarters, which gives it a very gay and stirring appear- ance. At some distance from these are the less pretentious headquarters of some brigadier general, or colonel, while a little farther on are the modest tents of the rank and file and company officers arranged in streets. CAMP SCENES. 91 The men arouud these are collected in groups, listening to long yarns beside the cook fire, or are formed into little parties playing cards, pitch and toss, or a thousand other games, known only in the army ; others, are dining, grumbling at their rations while dining on turkey. The cooks are busy around a huge tin caldran, placed on the fire, in which a joint of bacon and some peas are bubbling and bubbling around as if they were patriotic enough to enjoy being eaten for the good of the sol- diers. A smaller vessel simmers near it, but as the lid is on it I cannot see its contents — most likely a brace of chickens under the wing of a fat turkey. This is the way our troops lived on Sherman's campaign. You might ask where they got all these good things? They will tell you, — *' Bedad, cap, hard tack and sour billy were thinning us down like racers, and we sent Belzebub here [a full-blooded grinning negroj to buy these little luxuries for us." " The villain stole them, though ! " " O, no, massa cap, this nigger sartain he bought dem ere roosters," the hopeful Belzebub would grin out, as he resorted to that infallible remedy of a negro in distress, namely, to scratch his wool. The poor southern women will tell you that they forgot to pay ; and I believe them. The rascals became quite epicu- rean in their tastes in Carolina, good things flowed in such abundance on us. One evening, in passing by the men while at supper, I over- heard one call to the servant, " Come here, you black imp of Satan, and take this turkey ; I am tired of it ; and bring up that 'ere chicken." The tents themselves had a very picturesque appearance, scattered over hill and valley, in streets and in clumps, looking like so many canvas villages, or huge gypsy encampments. The groups of soldiers, the lines of soldiers marching to or from picket, the sentries moving statelily on their beats, gen- erals and ofiicers gayly dashing about, make a camp scene gor- geously imposing and impressive. How greatly is the eftect of a camp scene improved by night ! For miles around you the camp fires glitter and sparkle like the 92 Sherman's march through the south. lamps of a city. If standing on a hill, one circle of dancing ligiits and sparkling fireflies encompasses you ; while from the valleys beneath you the fires also glow, and the noise of song and merriment, of the harmony of music, floats around you. In some places the fire has ignited the tall pines, and envelops them in one sheet of flame, which leaps from limb to limb, and feeds on the resinous trunks, presenting the appearance of thou* sands of fiery demons, or huge flaming pillars. Then the men crowded around them, gambling and enjoying themselves by their light, look like so many dark imps, keeping up some hell- ish orgy ; and the sentries, walking up and down with their glittering rifles reflected by the fire, add to the sublimity of the scene. The officers are in their tents reading, telling stories, or en- joying a drink or a cigar. What strong yarns are spun, what a lot of peach brandy is consumed, particularly if a late dis- covery has been made, and many casks exhumed ; if so, all the officers are collected in the mess tent, a huge fire glows in front ; around this their servants are collected, all cheered by the peach brandy, and highly amused at the antics of some six young Ethiopian minstrels — servants and camp followers — who are capering about in the most fantastic manner, singing all kinds of negro songs, timing them by clapping their hands together and on their thighs, thus keeping up the most dis- cordant harmony, all agreeing, " dat de day of Jubelon am " come." It was certainly a strange sight to see these poor youths capering and jumping around to the no small amusement of the .officers and men, who laughed heartily, and so highly appre- ciated the fun of the thing, that they gave the peach to them so liberally that they soon fell oflT, one by one. One lad made a vigorous stand to maintain his position. He was a musical genius ; could produce all kinds of sounds with his voice ; imi- tate a drum, a piano, a fiddle, and the Lord knows what. He was so appreciated, and filled with vanity like any vain white folk, he struggled on for a time, blending all the harmony of the spheres in the most hissing manner, until at length all his THE " CAI*TAIN'S *' RUSE. 53 vanity yielded to the potent influence of peach brandy, and he fell down beside his brethren. Improvident and thoughtless soldiers are full of fun and drollery. Looking upon life as a very uncertain tenure, they try and make the most of it. Their motto is, " Eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die." You would hear more rich, real stories and incidents of battle-fields, beside a camp fire, from a jolly set of happy dogs, who, perhaps, might be shot the following day, than you would your whole life among your city friends. They will lie like troopers, and, I am afraid, steal and swear like troopers, too ; but then they make it all right by fighting like troopers. " I tell you, boys," said one of the men around the camp fire, after taking a pull out of the fire-water bottle, " I once made a good thing out of a strayed horse I cotched. You see, when a poor private meets a streak of luck, if he blabs at all he is sure to be tricked out of his chance. In making tracks around the country, while serving in the cavalry, I came on a regular snorter, a coal-black stud, and, taking it for granted that his owner was a sneaking rebel, I brought him with me ; and I thought I would keep the matter dark until I could sell him ; but the general himself heard of him, and ordered me to turn him over. I had to do so, boys ; and didn't I swear he'd be the last horse I'd ever bring in? Well, all the time the thing was heavy wid me, and I felt bad about it. I was orderly to Colonel Shuke, of the Illinois cavalry, and he was laid up with an ugly gash he got ; so I -had my own way. The colonel had a captain's old coat ; so I drew a pair of his long boots over my pants, put on his coat, and turned out a very cred- itable lookiu' captain. Knowing something of the barbering business, I embellished my frontispiece, which is as bare as a pole, with a fine pair of whiskers, made out of horse hair, and a darling mustache, just of the same material. Having fust man- aged to get the countersign, I rode off through the woods to the generaFs quarters. Of course, being a captain, no one minded me. I tied my old horse under cover. The night was very dark ; so I crept up close to the headquarters ; there, sure 94 Sherman's march through the south. enough, were all the horses, with a whole lot of orderlies, en- camped around them. I had to wait till they went to bed ; and there was no one there but the sentry, who occasionally sat on a pile of sacks, keeping watch all the time. " ' I will be up to that fellow^' says I, and got behind and let fall a bottle of whiskey, and then fell back to my hiding-place. He soon picked up the bottle, looked at it, took out the cork, and smelt it. • " ' Ain't I the lucky dog ! ' I heard him say. '• Some of the officers dropped this here. Well, they may bid good day to it now ; ' and he took a long pull out of it, and then sat down on the bags and took another pull, and then got up, went his rounds, and took another pull, and sat down again. I remarked that after every pull he sat longer and longer, until at last he fell asleep. *' ' Now is my time,' says I ; so I up and slips off the horse, changes the saddles, and lets old rasper find his way home, which I knew he would. I knew a colonel who wanted a fust- rate horse, and would pay a big price. He was in the 17th corps. So off I started for his quarters next morning. " ' Is Colonel Strunt in? ' says I. '^ ' Yes, captain,' replied an orderly. " ' I want to see him,' says I. The colonel soon walks out, hitching on his pants. " ' Good morning. Colonel Strunt,' says I, saluting him. " ' Good morning. Captain .' I saw he was at a loss about my name. " ' Sweltonback, of the 4th regulars,' I replied. " ' Captain Sweltonback. By George, but that is a splendid horse you have ; just turn him around.' The colonel was a great admirer of horse-flesh. " ' A noble horse, sir ; but, colonel, I want to inquire, have you any man named George Sweltonback in your brigade. I have a brother in this corps somewhere.' " ' Sweltonback, Sweltonback ! Well, I think not ; but I shall inquire. Captain, wouldn't you be tempted to sell that horse ? ' " ' Well, I don't like to part with hira, as he is a great favorite ; HUMORS OP THE CAMP. 95 but a.'j I am going out of service in a few days, sooner than take him home, I'd sell him for a good sum.' " * What price do you set on him, captain?' a i "VV^ell, I can't exactly say. You see I haven't my mind made up. Would you think two hundred and fifty dollars too much?' " ' It's a big price, captain ; but I like the horse. I will go two hundred. I couldn't do more.* " After much haggling I let him have the horse at two hun- dred dollars, drank heartily, rode one of his horses the most of the way home, took off my beard, mustache, and captain's coat, and went to my quarters. *' The general kicked up a dreadful row looking for that horse ; and when he came across Colonel Strunt riding on the identical black horse, wasn't there a scene ? It was as good as a play to see them. At it they went like two fishmongers, and I really thought they would run one another through ; for I was present at the interview." " And how did they settle it? " "I really don't know, for I soon after left. There was' a great fuss hunting up Captain Sweltonback, but he couldn't be found." "That was a capital trick," said a little wheezy man who seemed particularly attached to the bottle ; " but, by gorra, it wasn't as good as how Mick here eschaped from the tarnation murtherers that kilt him." " Tell us that, Mick," said the others by general acclamation. " An' sure it was nothing worth talking about," says Mick. " You see I went with a few of the boys to visit the neighbors ; and the spalpeens, not having any liking for us, took us prison- ers, and kilt one of the boys. We kilt two of them, and they said they'd kill another of us to make the number even; and faith and troth they selected myself, and made me sthand up beside a three. Though I argued and rasonified with them, there was no help ; so die I must. Faix, I had no liking for it ; but that was no use at all. I had an old gun that was slightly bent, and wouldn't throw fair for the life of you ; and I knew 96 Sherman's march through the south. there was two charges in it. All I ask of ye boys, honey, is to shoot me with my own gun ; it Avould be a consolation to me. Well, they agreed to please me, seeing I was about to die ; so the fellow up and bobs at me ; but, murther, he an' I jumped up in the air as if for a wager. That gun was a caution to sinners ; it shot both ways, and kilt him deader behind than me before ; but I let on being dead all the time ; and when they kicked me to see if I were all right, I didn't sthir, but the blood gushed from my side ; so they set me down for dead. Well, at night I got up, borrowed one of the dead men's coats, and stole away. ' The rest of my comrades never came back ; so I believe I was best oiF, after all." Women and children were dreadfully frightened at the approach of our army. It was almost painful to witness the horror and fear depicted on their features. They were schooled up to this by lying statements of what atrocious murders we were committing. " Neither life nor virtue is sacred from these northern bar- barians ; the old and infirm perish by their bloody hands, while lovely women — our wives and daughters — are reserved for a fate even worse than death. Strike, men of the south, and exterminate such polluted wretches — such living demons.'* This is an extract from a southern paper. Is it any wonder, then, that the country people trembled at our approach, and hid themselves away in woods and caves ? I rode out one evening alone to pay a visit to another camp which lay some six miles beyond us. In trying to make a short way through the woods, I lost the road, and rambled on through the forest, trying to recover it. This is no easy matter, as I soon discovered ; for I only got deeper and deeper into the forest. I then turned my horse's head down a valley that I knew would lead me out on a camp somewhere. In riding along this, I thought I saw a woman among the the trees. I rode in the direction, and saw her darting like a frighted deer towards a thick copse of tangled briers, wild vines, and underbrush. Fearing some snare, I followed, with pistol in hand; and FRIGHT OP THE INHABITANTS, 97 heavens, what a sight met my view ! In the midst of the thicket, sheltered by a bold bluff, were about a dozen women, as many children, and three old men, almost crazy with fear and excitement. Some of them screamed when they saw me, and all huddled closer, as if resolved to die together. I tied my horse, and assured them that they had no cause for fear ; that I was not going to harm them, but would protect them, if needed. Thus assured, they became somewhat communicative. They told me that they thought the soldiers would kill them^ and that they hid here on our approach. Thinking that we were only passing through, they had brought nothing to eat or to cover them. They were here now near three days, and had nothing but the berries they picked up in the woods. They looked wretched, their features wan and thin, their eyes wild and haggard, and their lips stained from the unripe wild fruit. Some of them were lying down, huddled together to keep them- selves warm ; their clothes were all saturated from the dew and a heavy shower of rain which fell during the day. I do not think one could realize so much wretchedness and suffering as that group presented. Some of the women were evidently planters' wives and daughters ; their appearance and worn dresses betokened it ; others were their servants, or the wives of the farm-laborers. There were two black women, and some three picaninnies. Under the shelter of a tree, I saw a woman sitting down, rock- ing her body to and fro, as she wept bitterly. I went over to her. Beside her was a girl of some fourteen years, lying at full length. As I approached, she looked so pale and statue-like, I exclaimed, — " What's the matter. Is she in a faint?" " Yes ; in one that she won't waken from," said an old crone neai'. " Dead ! " I exclaimed. " Well, stranger, I reckon so ; better for her go, poor darling, than have the Yankees cotch her." It was so. She was dead. I understood she was delicate ; 9 d8 Sherman's march through the south. and the hunger and cold had killed her. So nmeh were they afraid of being discovered that they had not even a fire lighted. I inquired my way to the camp, and soon returned with some provisions. The dead body was removed, and the sorrowing group returned to their homes ; but some of them had no homes, for the soldiers, on the principle that all abandoned houses belong to rebels, h^d laid them in ashes. MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMY. 99 CHAPTER X. ASSAULTS AND SKIRMISHES NEAR DALLAS AND ALLATOONA.— WOOD'S DIVISION STORMING THE HILL. — CLEBURNE'S REBEL DIVISION DRIVE THEM BACK. — GALLANT ATTACK OF GENERAL T. W. SWEENY. — KENESAW MOUNTAIN.— GENERAL FRANK P. BLAIR ARRIVES. — PERSONAL RISKS OF OUR GENERALS SHERMAN SHELLING A SKULKER. — ATTACK ON A TRAIN, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. We had secured possession of two good bridges across the Etowah, and had built some others. The army being recuper- ated and supplied with twenty days* rations, broke camp and moved forward on the morning of the 23d May, Johnston had now occupied the Allatoona Pass, his lines and works extending along the Allatoona range toward Dallas. The army of the Tennessee crossed the Etowah at the mouth of Conasaw Creek, and moved by the little town of Van Wirt, on our right j3ank, and south of Dallas. General Davis's division of the 14th corps had moved directly from Rome to Dallas, following McPherson's route. General Thomas, with the 4th and 20th, and part of the 14th corps, marched by Euharlee and Burnt Hickory, crossing the Pumpkin Vine Creek, on the main Dallas road. General Schofield, with the 23d corps, was moving still far- ther on our left. General Gerrard operated on the flank and rear of McPher- son's column ; General Stoneman, flank and rear of Schofield, with General McCook guarding our rear. On the 25th the 20th corps was well in advance on the centre. Williams's division crossed Pumpkin Vine Creek on a bridge partly burned by the rebels. Geary crossed about two miles farther up, and Butterfield about a mile below — all converging toward Dallas. 100 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. About three miles south of Pumpkin Vine Creek the enemy opened suddenly, from the dense underwood that lined the roads, at the head of Hooker's column. A heavy line of skirmishers were deployed, driving the enemy back, on the column which had filed into line of battle on the right and left of the road. The country was hilly and densely wooded, and favorable to a sudden attack by the enemy. Hooker had but one division south of the creek ; the others, were not up. The rebels made a fearful attack on Williams's division, but were met with firmness, and a surging, uncertain fight ensued. Williams was barely able to hold his position, for a large por- tion of both Polk's and Hood's corps were massed against him. About five o'clock Geary's noble "White Star Division" came to his support, and at once became engaged. Butterfield's division deployed into line of battle, and Williams and Butter- field charged the enemy in the face of a fierce storm of bullets and canister. Their ammunition was nearly exhausted, and the troops were wavering, when Geary's division, which, after the first assault, had been thrown back in reserve, formed into three lines, and advanced to their support. Geary reserved his fire until close upon the enemy, and then poured a deadly volley into them, which made them waver ; but again they rallied, and the contest lasted until the darkness of night separated them. Howard's corps was in the rear of the 20th, Wood's 2d division in front, and rapidly hurried up to their support ; but on account of the darkness, and a heavy thunder and rain storm, were not able to get up in time to assist them. We hastily threw up breastworks, and the men lay for the night within four hundred yards of the enemy. The rebel troops engaged were Stevenson's, Stewart's, and Hindman's divisions. Sherman had ordered Hooker to make a bold push for New Hope Church, a point where the Ackworth, Dallas, and Mari- etta roads meet. In trying to do so. Hooker had thrown out one column as a feeler, and thus suddenly struck the enemy's lines. ASSAULTS AND SKIRMISHES. 101, During the night the 4th corps, Howard's, moved into posi- tion on the left of Hooker's, with Schofield still on the extreme left. On the right of Hooker came Johnson's division of Palm- er's corps, while McPherson was still moving on Dallas by the extreme risrht flank. Johnston had occupied the Allatoona Ridge, a range of moun- tains extending in broken spurs. He had established lines along these, tending partly north-ea,5t by south-west. Ail the hills around were scooped, and grooved, and converted into rifle-pits and batteries. Our lines were formed in conformity to those of the rebels, but somewhat longer, and threatening to outflank them. The country here was very poor. Deep, dark valleys, high, barren ridges, all full of underbrush and forest trees, were the general characteristics. The 26th passed off with heavy skirmishing along our front, both armies trying to secure favorable positions. Our lines were pretty well established on the morning of the 27th, and the scene opened with a desultory fire between the sharpshooters, growing brisker as the day advanced. Batteries were established in Hooker's front. These were covering a section in front, which occasionally opened on the enemy. A rebel brigade of Pat Cleburne's division made a dashing assault on the advance guns, believing they were but partially supported. They came on splendidly, as Cleburne's crack troops always did, but were met by a concentrated musketry fire, and a generous allowance of canister from the guns. They staggered ; made another charge ; were again mowed down, and then fell back. Similar charges had been made at other points during the day. Johnston was looking out for a weak point to assault in force, but he soon found that there were no weak points there. In the afternoon General Thomas J. Wood, commanding the 2d division, 4th corps, made a flank movement, wheeling round the 23d corps. He was ordered to feel the enemy's right flank, and if possible turn it. He had to march through a regular 9 * 102 Sherman's march through the south. jungle of trees and underbrush, which consumed the most of the day. So it was close on night when he was able to form into line and advance. Wood wished to defer the assault until morning, but his orders were peremptory. He formed his division into columns of double lines by bri- gades. General Hazen's brigade in front ; Scribner's brigade of Johnson's division, 14th corps, supported Wood on the left. It was an ugly place to advance. Steep hills, thick brush- wood, and a small road that crossed a stream leading up to a place called Picket's Mills, were to be traversed. The troops moved calmly and steadily up that hill, through the matted wood, crossed the intervening ravine, and gained the crest of the hill. One would think these fine fellows were going to a parade, instead of to death, so calm and composed did they look. Having gained the crest of the hill, they halted to dress up their lines, and then descended its sides into a deep ravine, which separated them, by about one hundred yards, from the rebel works. Across this they charged with a shout. The rebels had all the time reserved their fire, and had lain down in their intrenchments, to make us believe that they were not in force. As our lines approached, they jumped to their feet. Two masked guns belched forth on us, while a regular sheet of lead and flame seemed to burst from behind the intrenchments. Under this fierce storm our men rushed up to the enemy's works, many of them sheltering themselves behind them. It was Cleburne's division that was there. This iron chief, the Stonewall Jackson of the western army, and his famed troops, seemed ubiquitous, for in the early part of the day he was fighting away on our centre. Our lines were shattered, our ammunition exhausted, and we had to fall back. The remnant of Wood's division intrenched itself, fearing an attack from the enemy during the night. They also suc- ceeded in bringing in most of their dead and wounded. Major Hanson, of General Wood's stafi*, was among the killed. He was a thorough gentleman, refined and courteous ; WOOD STORMING THE HILL. lOS a true soldier, brave and chivalrous. He died as he lived, a Christian and a soldier. The loss in Wood's division was very severe, numbering about thirteen hundred, all told. They made a desperate fight, but they fought against every disadvantage. ^ Fatigued with a trying march, they had to charge over hilly ground on strong intreiichments guarded by desperate troops. I strayed around that hill-side, where we had laid our dead and wounded that night. My horse could scarcely pick his way through them, so closely were they lying ; yet the noble brute picked his steps as safely as if it were clear day. It is strange that a horse will not shy at dead men ; and you can scarcely get him to pass one of his own species when dead. He will walk through piles of dead on the darkest night without touching a single man. That assault of Wood's division was one of the fiercest I have ever witnessed. One continued file firing was kept up all through. No pattering of bullets, but one unceasing roar of musketry ran along the lines for hours. The officers and men did all that men could do — rallied, charged ; but all to no use. Cleburne's division was too strongly intrenched. As the 124th, 41st, and 1st Ohio were bringing in the dead and wounded, the rebels jumped from their works and attacked them. They fought like so many tigers over their prey. When we gained that bloody field we could then see how desperately we fought for its possession. Dead bodies were found lying just behind the rebel works. The trees in the valley were cut through with bullets, just as if mowed down. The ramrods, fired in the hurry of the moment, were stuck in the trees. Captain Stenson, of General Howard's staff*, was badly wounded, and Howard slightly. General Howard and General Wood remained on the ground until near day, seeing that the troops were all safe and the wounded cared for, and then they threw themselves down, but not to sleep, for shells came 1 ur- tling through the trees, bursting near them. A piece of one struck General Johnson, of the 14th corps, in the side, seriously wounding him. 104 Sherman's march through the south. After much marching and manoeuvring, and considerable skirmishing, McPherson had taken up his position in front of Dallas. The enemy were not content to leave him inactive. About three o'clock on the afternoon of the 28th they opened an attack on Logan's pickets, and a very sharp contest ensued, and was maintained with great obstinacy on both sides. The enemy being largely reenforced, and Logan not sufficiently supported, his advance had to fall back on the main lines. It was evident from their manoeuvring and feeling our lines, that the enemy meant to make an assault. About five o'clock the rebels had massed in heavy columns, and charged on General Harrow's division. The rebel column moved boldly up the hill, exposed to a heavy artillery fire. Our troops lay down in their works, letting the enemy come within a few hundred yards of their breastworks, when they jumped to their feet, and poured into that proud, defiant column volley after volley, which made them quail and falter. Again they rallied and charged, cheering one another on, and dashing right up to our works. We had brought some guns to bear on their flank, thus exposing them to an enfilading fire. Despite this they doggedly persisted in maintaining their position, actually charging right against the works. At length they began to break off in detail, and soon the whole mass fol- lowed, making for the shelter of their works and the woods. Scarcely had this assault been repulsed, when they renewed it, in front of Osterhaus's line, repeating the same game with similar effects. After this there was a considerable lull in the storm of battle, and we thought that the enemy had given up all hopes of re- newing his mad assaults ; but we were disappointed. This time they had collected their troops for one more des- perate effort in front of Sweeny's division, 16th corps ; but they met a stubborn customer in Sweeny. Was he, brave Tom Sweeny, — who had lost his right arm in Mexico ; whose desperate resistance at Stone River was the turning-point of that important battle ; who had earned the name of " Bulldog Sweeny," so tenaciously did he hold his own, GALLANT ATTACK OF GENERAL SWEENY. 105 or scourge the rebels in his fights, — was he now to yield to twice repulsed columns? Certainly not ; and Sweeny met their assault with his characteristic dashing bravery, soon driving them back in broken and disjointed masses. Dallas is about twenty miles from the line of railway at Marysville, and forty-five from Atlanta. The operations around AUatoona and Dallas were not looked upon in the light of a general engagement, but rather a succes- sion of heavy skirmishes — desperate assaults and repulses. Johnston tried the assault on the right, and was repulsed with great slaughter ; we repeated the game on the left and left cen- tre with equal success. The following days we had continual heavy skirmishing and partial assaults along the lines, except in front of McPherson's position, which the enemy desperately assaulted. For twelve days, which were enlivened, by continued attacks and heavy skirmishing, we lay around the AUatoona range. On the 1st of June General McPherson moved to his left, and occupied General Thomas's place. Our left was then strength- ened, and swung around, occupying the woods leading to Al- latoona and Ackworth. General Stoneman's cavalry advanced into AUatoona, at the east end of the pass, and General Ger- rard's cavalry at the west end. Our infantry lines were now closing up, and we had fully accomplished our work in flanking the AUtoona pass. Johnston, finding his position untenable, fell back to the Ken- esaw range of hills. Kenesaw itself comprised twin peaks, rising boldly out of the valley, and commanding the line of rail- way and the passes to Marietta. Extending on our right was a rano-e of hills, the hio^hest of which are Pine Mountain and Lost Mountain. These form one continuous, irregular link of conical hills, with Kenesaw covering the town of Marietta, and the railroad back to the Chattahoochee. The enemy now occu- pied these hills with a line fully twelve miles long. The crests and sides of the hills were bristling with batteries, and crowds of men, looking in the distance like so many huge ants, Tvere busy felling trees, diggicig rifle-pits and intrenchments, and in 106 Sherman's march through the south. every way making grand preparations for the impending strug- gle. Sherman moved by Ackworth, and established a base of supplies at the AlMoona pass. He placed a garrison here, and had the railroad bridge across the Etowah built. He soon had a large store of supplies iff). While at Ackworth we were reenforced by Major General Blair, with two divisions of the 17th corps, and Colonel Long's brigade of cavalry. General Frank P. Blair is a man of considerable energy and resolution. He is about five feet eleven inches high, with strong, expressive features, covered with a long, sandy beard. Since the time he joined Sherman, until the winding up of the cam- paign by Johnston's surrender, his military career has been very creditable. In the campaign through South Carolina, a large share of the fighting fell to the lot of his corps, the 17th. Sherman calculated that these timely reenforcements would supply his loss in battle since the opening of the campaign. I expect, in every way, we must have lost, up to this, about twelve thousand men. Perhaps the enemy's loss was less, as they for the most part fought behind strong intrenchments. Several curious incidents, showing the danger to which our generals were exposed, occurred at this time. General' Hook- er's and Thomas's headquarters were very well under range of the enemy's guns, so that shells were falling about pretty fast. A piece of one went through General Hooker's mess tent, and another carried off a camp stool he was going to sit on. "Very impolite indeed! " said the general, looking after it, and getting another. As for Thomas, I don't think he was ever guilty of perpe- trating a joke ; he is too grave and stoical for that. Sherman, in his abrupt manner, says some good things. He was standing near a battery one day, as we were shelling along the line previous to Wood's advance, and with his glass was closely examining the enemy's position. Seeing them getting up a battery at a certain point, he turned to Captain De Grass, and said, "Look here ; do you see that point on the right of the wood?" INCIDENTS OF A BATTLE-FIELD. 107 " Yes, general.** " Put a shell in tliem ; yes, put them in there ; they are trying to start a battery there to sweep this point ; start them out of it, you, first." Sherman himself went to sight the first gun, and while doing so a sharpshooter sent a bullet glancing along the barrel just by his cheek. " Ha ! close shaving, that ; well, let us pay them back the compliment — fire ! " and right went the shell bang among them. " Very good, very good," said he with a grin ; " that kicked up a dust, and some of their heels, too ; give them more of them, with my compliments, captain." And away went Sherman's killing compliments, compelling the rebels to give up the idea of establishing their battery at that point. A man almost dead with fear had crouched under the roots of an uprooted tree. Sherman chanced to take shelter from a fierce fire near by. "When a shell burst close, the fellow would writhe, and cry out, " O Lord ! O Lord ! if I get out of this, I'll never be caught again. O, dear ! O, dear ! if I once get home •— O, it's dreadful ! I know I'll be killed ! " Sherman was so amused at the fellow's cowardice, that in order to increase his terror he would fling stones against the old tree, when the fellow crouched closer, exclaiming, " O, dear ! it is awful ! it's dreadful ! I'll surely be killed ! " " That's hard firing, my man," exclaimed the general. " Hard ! O, it's fearful. I think thirty shells struck this tree while I was here." " It's all over now, my man ; come out." The trembling wretch crawled out and looked about him. There was Sherman standing quite coolly. When the man saw who his tormentor was, he was nearly frightened as n^uch as by the shells, and darted right off for his command, not heeding the shells this time. A battle-field is one record of stirring incidents and acts of personal bravery, a few of which I will here relate. As a class, the sharpshooters must use a great deal of caution and strategy, both to shelter themselves and induce the enemy to expose themselves. Some sharpshooters had taken down several 108 Sherman's march through the south. of our men from behind the shelter of some large trees which protected them. But our boys resorted to a ruse. They sec- tioned off in t^vos, and took up favorable positions ; then one would dart out from the tree. The rebel sharpshooter, believ- ing that he had a sure thing of it, would expose himself, and pop at the other. This gave the comrade an opportunity of taking a sure shot at the rebel, while the other's motions were so rapid that he most likely escaped. The effects of fear, amounting almost to insanity, sometimes developed in action, are very extraordinary. In General Barker's brigade, the men were under orders to advance, when a sergeant retired to his tent, and shot himself through the head. I have known several cases of the kind. It appears strange that a man from fear of going into battle should kill himself. I have often seen men strip themselves stark naked, and run crazy out of a battle-field. I might suspect their sincerity, but I have seen them rush in this manner, under fire, into the rebel lines. This is caused, no doubt, by the stunning eflect of shells bursting around them, and killing their comrades. So great is the terror produced by the explosion of several shells, that I have seen a horse that was under a very heavy fire, tremble, the sweat at the same time bursting out of every pore, and then drop down dead, without being touched by ball or shell. I have also known some noble instances of the affection of the horse for his master. An or- derly of General Logan's, while carrying a despatch, was shot. His horse was a great pet, and would follow him and obey his commands. As soon as the master fell, the horse stood up, and turned round, and whined most piteously.' Though the noble animal seemed fully sensible of his danger, and would turn about to shelter himself from the shot and shell which were fall- ing around fast and furious, still he remained with the body several hours. He would move away a little by times, and neigh, as if calling for help, and when this failed, would again return to the body. I have known several other instances of affection on the part of the horse. A wounded horse looks at you with the most piteous, upbraiding expression, as much as to say, " It's all your doings ; I had nothing to do with it.'* AN AMUSING OCCURRENCE. 109 Johnston's position was now a strong one, besides, he had been reenforced by some ten thousand Georgia and Alabama militia. He now occupied tlie last strong range of hills north of the Chattahoochee. If driven from this he should fall behind the river, thus relieving us from the harassing attempts made by his cavalry and guerrilla squads, from his flank, upon our rear and lines of communication. "We had to garrison the railroad bridge on the river, important posts, and the different towns back to Chattanooga. We had to leave a garrison at Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Rome, Kingston, Allatoona, and other posts. This, of course, considerably weakened Sherman's effective strength. The militia, or one hundred days' men, soon relieved portions of these. The different garrisons, posts, and block-houses had to be connected by a chain of pickets, to prevent squads of cav- alry from raiding on the line, and destroying it and the telegraph wires. Still, they often succeeded in misplacing a rail, or placing a peculiar iron crank upon it, thus throwing the train off the track. This was a daily occurrence, and if by any chance it failed, they would open fife from the thickets of the forest on the train. Many passengers and soldiers got killed this way. Many trains were thrown off, until the whole line looked one lying-in hospital of invalid cars. I heard Sher- man oftentimes say, " That cursed line is more trouble tg me than to whip Johnston.'* The following amusing incident occurred to me in one of my dangerous trips on this road. We were crowded inside lug- gage vans and dirty cars ; outside them, in every place that a man could be stowed, a man was perched. The soldiers on the top had their pieces ready, looking out for breakers, while we, inside, were busy with revolvers, and wishing that the rascals dared make their appearance, just for the fun of the thing. Among those loudest in praise of his own heroism was a sutler, who, with a huge navy revolver, swore he was a match for any six of the guerrillas. By some chance we had a lady travelling with us, who appeared very much alarmed, and clung to the valiant Jack Falstaff hero for shelter and protection. This fired his courage. He told her to stick close to him, which she 10 110 Sherman's march through the south. literally did, by putting lier arms around his waist. Really, it was delightful to see her clinging to him, and to witness his bold, defiant air, as much as to say, " Let them come on now if they dare." We were passing above Resaca, in a gloomy section of country, without a house within miles of us. We had passed the military post a few miles, when bang goes a volley from the wood at the cars. At the same time the locomotive ran off the track ; but as it was going very slow, this was not of much consequence. The volley was returned by the men on the top, some of whom fell off, from the shock of the engine. We jumped up, and I naturally looked to see if our brave hero was mowing down the Philistines. All his courage had evaporated at the sound of lead, and he lay sprawling at the bottom of the car, making frantic efforts with one hand to keep the woman between him and the dangerous side, while with the other he was piling a regular barricade of sacks of corn around him. I took up the pistol, and could not resist the temptation of giving him a very powerful application of my boot, which he must have taken for a wipe of a shell, for he swore and prayed most vehemently, and kicked most spasmodically. If he were under the opera- tions of a most powerful battery, he could not do it better. The woman was almost frightened out of her life by his squalls and antics. Our ijien soon formed, and drove off the guerrillas. Fortunately, there was no one seriously injured, and the train having been put to rights, we soon got off. Our friend of the buskin courage was quite chop-fallen. He suffered most by the solicitude of the woman, who wanted to know where he was wounded. It was no use denying that he was, for she vowed that she felt the piece of shell hitting him, and he wouldn't halloo so, only he was badly hurt. SHERMAN COMMANDS A BATTERY. Ill CHAPTER XI. KENESAW MOUNTAIN. — SHEKMAN COMMANDS A BATTERY.— DEATH OF BISHOP POLK. — THE MARCH THROUGH THE MOUN- TAIN PASSES. — SHERMAN'S STEAM SCOUT.— A FRIENDI.Y VISIT, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. McPHERSOisr commanded the line of railroad between Alla- toona and Kenesaw, marching on parallel roads. General Hooker was on the right, with Schofield a little retired, and General Thomas in the centre, fronting Kenesaw. A heavy fall of rain set in on the 13th and 14th, rendering active opera- tions impossible. A brisk artillery fire was kept up on different parts of the lines. Towards the right of our line were some strong positions. Lost Mountain and Pine Mountain were separated by interven- ing hills. On these the rebels had established some batteries. Sherman was manoeuvring in order to compel Johnston to fall back from these natural ridges extending from Kenesaw, which would throw open the road by Nickajack Creek, and give him a better chance of flanking his left. On the morning of the 14th some change had been made in our lines. The fourth corps moved forward in the centre, closing up well on Hooker. Skirmishers were thrown out in order to cover the advance of our lines, and a few sections of artillery were placed in po- sition. The skirmishing was pretty brisk towards evening, and the batteries opened a dropping fire on the rebel position. Sherman rode up to a battery, and turned his glass towards Pine Mountain. After taking a good view he turned to the officer in com- mand, saying, " Captain Simonson, can you send a shell right 112 Sherman's march through the south. on the top of that knob ? 1 notice a battery there, and several general officers near it." " I'll try, general." The captain fired, and the general looked on with his glass. " Ah, captain, a little too high ; try again, with a shorter fuse ; " and up went the glass to his eye. Away went the shell, tearing through General Bishop Polk in its course. " That will do," said Sherman, shutting down his glass. It is said that Johnston and Hardee were on their horses beside Polk when he fell, and when the first shell came they remarked, — " It is safer to alight." Polk smiled, and still staid surveying our position, and thus met his death. We knew that night that he was killed, for our signal officers had discovered the system of the rebel signals, which enabled them to read the despatches along the enemy's lines. When we took that hill, two artillerists, who had concealed themselves until we had come up, and then came within our lines, showed us where his body lay after being hit. There was one pool of clotted gore there, as if an animal had been bled. The shell had passed through his body from the left side, tearing the limbs and body in pieces. Doctor M and myself searched that mass of blood, and discovered pieces of the ribs and arm bones, which we kept as souvenirs. The men dipped their handkerchiefs in it too, whether as a sacred relic, or to remind them of a traitor, I do not know. Thus fell Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk. He was bom in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1806. He graduated at West Point, but soon after entered the Protestant Episcopal ministry, and was appointed missionary bishop to Kansas and the Indian territory. In 1841 he was appointed regular bishop of the diocese of Louisiana. At the breaking out of the rebellion he was appointed major general, with command of the district of the Mississippi. The battle of Belmont was fought, and Forts Henry and Donelson fell, while the department was under his command. At the LIEUTENANT GENERAL POLK. 113 battle of Shiloh General Polk had command of a corps under Beauregard. He also served at Corinth. Having the command of a corps under Bragg, he participated in the movements through Tennessee and Kentucky. He fought at the battle of Perry ville, in October, 1862. Here he showed vironderful presence of mind, for somehow getting into the Federal lines he passed off as a Federal officer, actually ordering a regi- ment to fcease firing. He served at Murfreesborough and Stone River ; also during the fearful struggle of Chickamauga. On account of some difference with Bragg regarding that battle he was relieved. In January, 1864, he was again in the field, assuming the temporary command of the department of the Mississippi, in place of Johnston, appointed to the chief command. He commanded a wing of Johnston's army all through the cam- paign against Sherman, until he lost his life on Pine Knob. The 15 th opened with an irregular artillery fire along the lines, increasing as the day advanced. Our lines had pushed considerably forward at several points. A part of McPherson's command moved obliquely towards the left and the railroad, and soon became engaged with the enemy. Harrow's division, of the 15th corps, took up a position on their left, with Oster- haus in reserve. Towards evening McPherson's command engaged the enemy in front, while Harrow, with his division, wheeled to the right, forming a semicircle. He thus overlapped an outlying detachment of the enemy, comprising the 31st and 40th Alabama. They had soon to surrender. Harrow then fell back with his prisoners, and McPherson closed up his line, shifting more to the left. Sherman, finding that Johnston had occupied too extended a line for his forces, resolved to break through it between Kenesaw and Pine Mountain, and thus split his army in two. Simultaneously with McPherson's movements the other corps advanced, the 14th corps against the enemy's position on Ken- esaw ; Howard occupied Pine Mountain, and Hooker againtjt the enemy's intrenched position on Lost Mountain. This assault of Hooker's was one of the most desperate and best sustained of the many charges made on the enemy's position while occu- 10* 114 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. pying the stronghold of these mountain ranges. Lost Mountain is a conical-shaped hill, separated by a ridge from Pine Moun- tain : this ridge runs obliquely, connecting with Kenesaw. The enemy's left rested on Lost Mountain ; therefore this strong position was of vital importance. It covered a valley or gorge, which was the only outlet for our army to make a flank move- ment. Geary's second division formed into line of battle, and moved forward in column by brigade ; Colonel Ireland's bri- gade being in advance, Colonel P. H. Jones's next, and Colonel Candy's next. Geary's division was supported by the first and second divisions. Heavy lines of skirmishers wer* first thrown out in order to develop the enemy's strength and position. These were closely followed by the assaulting column, and a fierce fight ensued. For a moment the column was checked, but again they rallied, and charged with such desperate impetuosity that they soon had possession of the enemy's first line of work, driving them towards the crest of the mountain. Geary occupied the intrenchments and strengthened his position. In the course of the evening the enemy made several ineffectual attempts to regain their lost ground. This was a noble charge of Geary's division, and was right nobly sustained and resisted. Colonel Ireland's brigade suffered heaviest, it having lost in all about three hundred men. For a time it had to sustain the whole charge, but was ably supported by Colonel P. H. Jones's — now General Jones — brigade, which dashed into its sup- port with that daring impetuosity which has characterized itself and its brave young commander. Colonel Jones was wounded at Pea Vine Creek, and had just returned in time to partici- pate in the present fight, in which he lost about two hundred men. Colonel Candy's brigade lost about one hundred and thirty men. While Hooker was engaged on the right, McPherson on the left, Howard moved on thp centre, wheeling by Pine Mountain. The rebels retreated from the hilly knob in front to the range in rear, thus affording Howard only a chance of skirmishing with them. Towards evening his troops occupied Pine Knob, SOUTHERN SOLDIERS LOSING HEART. 115 where General Polk was killed. For the last three days we had captured a large number of prisoners, in all about two thou- sand. Geary, in his assault, captured about one half of these ; several of them had deserted into our lines. It is evident that the southern soldiers were then losing heart in their cause. I had been speaking to several of them, and they said, "The newspapers and officers tell us we are going on well ; we can't see it, though. Our lines are thinning every day ; our officers don't care for our lives, but dash us upon your lines recklessly, and get us butchered ; we are falling back every day ; if this is going on well, I can't see it." It is true that our army acted through the intelligence of the mass ; theirs through that of their leaders. They appeared to be mere puppets in the hands of the latter. The foreign ele- ment in their army was deserting very rapidly. On the 16th a captain, three lieutenants, and fifty-five men came into McPher- son's lines near Big Shanty. They assigned as their reason that they were tired of the war. They had served for three years, and did not want to fight any longer. They had been conscripted, and did not want to fight at all against the Union. Now, as they had got the chance, they deserted. "O mein Gott ! " exclaimed a German, " we have got 'nuff of de hunger, and de rout, and am tired of de ting." I asked an Irishman how it was that he, who had come from an oppressed country, could fight against the government that gave him a home and a living. "Begor, you see, sir," replied Pat, "we were down here when the ruction was kicked up, and sure there couldn't be a shindy without having an Irishman at one end or tudder ; so when we couldn't join the right side we had to fall in wid the wrong." While around Big Shanty, Ira B. Tuttle, with some four men, made a reconnoissance on the enemy's flank and rear. They struck on a quartermaster's depot, full of forage, some sixteen miles south-west from Atlanta. They made an unex- pected dash on the concern, which was poorly guarded. They captured the captain, a lieutenant colonel, and some .five men 116 Sherman's march through the south. who were lounging about. They secured their prisoners in an out-office, helped themselves to some good horses and equip- ments, leaving their own sorry nags in exchange, set fire to the store, which contained a large supply of corn and bacon, and returned safely to their own quarters. The success of our march has been unprecedented. Though our progress had been checked by natural barriers, strong enough to intimidate a less resolute general than Sherman, or less daring an army than his, — though our march lay through the mountain regions of Georgia, through bold, craggy hills, where the men had to drag up their bodies by grasping pro- jecting rocks or branches, through deep defiles and tangled brushwood, where the foot of man had never before disturbed the solitude of the place, nor the repose of snakes and crawling reptiles, — still onward that gallant army pressed, driving before them a stubborn enemy, who doggedly disputed every mountain crag and pass, and whose unerring rifle, like that of the red Indian, hurled death from every thicket. Napoleon's exploit in . crossing the Alps stands forth as the nonpareil of military achievements. Napoleon's chief foes were the cold and snow. Sherman had to encounter hills, some two thousand feet high, in which a powerful enemy lay intrenched, and which actually bristled with cannons and bayonets. Which is the nobler exploit I leave to history to judge. Johnston thought himself fully secure in the strong range of hills near Dalton ; but Sherman flanked him here, and so managed as to head him from the bold and defensible range of the Chattagata Mountains, crippling him severely by the desperate battle of Resaca. Johnston's next battle-ground was the Allatoona Range. Here, too, he deemed his position impregnable ; but he soon found that even the mountain fastness was a poor security. When driven from this, after several days' obstinate fighting, we hoped that he would fall back behind the Chattahoochee, allowing us to debouch on the open country lying between Marietta and the Chattahoochee ; but Johnston resolved to defend the strong position at Kenesaw and the neighboring range of hills. Here they firmly in- A SUCCESSFUL EXPEDIENT. 117 trenched themselves, their left and the batteries from Ken- esaw commanding the railroad, their right restin- on Lost Mountam, and commanding the pass by which Sherman could debouch on their flank towards the river. The rebel line extended in a south-westerly direction, or rather almost directly irom east to west. *^ Our operations of the 15th and 16th towards the base of the ridge made them fall back, not only from that point, but also trom Lost Mountain and Pine Knob. The e°emy kept their batteries 'on their right flank, com- manding the Marietta road, very silent. Sherman was at a loss to know what guns they had there, to see how far an assault was practicable. It was an impottant position, and McPherson was close upon it. No amount of artillery fire, or annoyance from our sharp, shooters, could bring them out. Sherman struck on a plan. He ordered a locomotive to be attached to three cars, and to put on full steam. "Now," said he, " run that down the road like hell ' " On she started, puffing, blowing, and snorting as if she were bent on going right into Atlanta. i sue were Tlie rebels heard the noise of the fiery monster as she came on, throwing sparks from her chimney, as if lashing herself into lury. They sprang from intrenehments, redoubts, and forts coming to the conclusion that it was laden with troops making a sudden dash into Marietta, on their rear. They opened at f right and left. Every battery was soon playin/away at fte inonster which, though perforated in several Jla^es, Zsed aJd ' shrieked the more, as if hurling defiance at them "That will do," said Sherman, walking away; "I know what they have there, now." o ay , i know Whether the engine got knocked off the track, or eot a shot through her boiler I oin't IpII Qk j- i , ^ for thl „„ , f ^^^ "^"^ S°°'J ^'"•^i<=«> however ; for the enemy revealed guns enough to convince Sherman tha they were too strong to be assaulted there The rebels now commenced threatening our communications Heretoiore, any attempts were mere guerrilla efforts ; but on tie 118 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. morning of the 16th, the rebel General Wharton, commanding a brigade of two thousand five hundred men, made a descent on the road between Kingston and Dalton, capturing and burning five freight trains laden with supplies. Reenforcements were hurried up from different points, and arrived in time to prevent them from doing any serious damage. They hovered about for some time, threatening our communications. While lying in front of Kenesaw, several days would pass over without any fighting, unless a kind of duel between the enemy's artillery on the hills, crests, and sides, and ours beneath them, and some volleys between the pickets, simply to keep their hands in practice, might be called fighting. We were tired of this, and wanted a battle, or some other excitement, to rouse us up. We were tired of watching the course of the shells as they whirred through the air, and con- jecturing as to where they fell, or whom they killed. " I tell you that fellow fell right in our second brigade," one would say. " Indeed, it didn't. It was more to the right," was the reply. " Well, it was a whopper. I am sure it was a sixty-four- pounder." "•Pshaw, there is more of it. How the hell do you know? Now, I'd take my oath it was only a twelve-pound parrott shell." " But I am confident it was a sixty-four-pounder. Didn't you hear the noise of it ? " *' How the deuce could they get up so heavy a gun there ; but, whist ; here comes another ? " and as this fellow was evi- dently visiting us, we jumped up and hugged some trees most affectionately, until he had'paid his flying visit. One evening, Colonel M and myself thought the thing such a bore that we decided on visiting some friends in the 20tli corps. A camp is a very hospitable kind of place. From the highest general down to the lowest full private, a drink is the summum honum of hospitality. Our friend had just raised a barrel of strong apple-jack at the expense of the natives. We found himself and his brother officers in a large hospital tent. They had all come to con- A CAMP VISIT. 11^ gratulate the colonel upon his valuable discovery, and also to taste said discovery. Some were joining in a rousing chorus, with their tin cans and fruit cans full of the native^ held up for inspection, as they chorused, — «« We won't go home till morning." Others, who had dropped off, were lying around, enjoying a snooze. We were a welcome accession, and were received with uproarious shouts. It was getting dark, and a cold, drizzling rain was falling when we started to return. When we got into the camp of our own division, I remarked the sentry at one post sitting under a tree, consoling himself with puffing a long pipe. " Colonel," said I, " that sentry hasn't challenged us." " Where — re — is he, the rascal ? I'll have him up," hickuped the colonel, who was stringent in the observance of military duty. We turned back. " I say, sir, — do you hear? " " Well, I reckon I do," said the other, coolly knocking the ashes from his pipe, and placing the gun, which stood upright near the tree, between his knees. " Why th — h — 1 didn't you challenge us? " "Challenge you;" and he took a long pull from t^he pipe. " Catch me challenging two drunken officers ; you might have a taste about you, colonel ; the night is raw ; " and he resumed his pipe. This was too much for the colonel; so he turned around, leaving the sentry in peace. " This reminds me," as Abe Lincoln would say, of a similar incident that occurred to me in the army of the Potomac. I had passed a sentry on a very important advanced post without being challenged. I turned around to reprimand him, asking him why he did not challenge. "Faith, captain," said he, presenting arms, "I didn't know you. 120 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. CHAPTER XII. A CHAPTER OF FIGHTING. -JOHNSTON ADDRESSES FALSE W0RD9 TO HIS M:EN. — A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE REBELS. — BATTLE OF GULP'S FARM. — DEATH OF GENERAL HARKER.— HIBERNIAN ANECDOTE. The duration and the fierce nature of the conflict of our cam- paign through Northern Georgia is unsurpassed in history. Fifty days from the opening of the conflict we sat down in front of Kenesaw. There were but few of these days that we had not more or less fighting along our lines. The days were followed by weary nights of incessant toil, oftentimes fighting and building breastworks and intrenchments — weary nights of restless anxiety, with the cold, damp ground for our bed, sleeping on wet branches, sometimes on rails, to keep us from the mud ; and then how often were our rude couches rendered too hot for us by the pattering bullets which rattled around us ! The rebels disputed every inch of ground with a heroism that has won our admiration, and has caused a feeling of regret that such soldiers had not a better cause. The 16th passed oflT quietly. On the evening of the 17th heavy skirmishing opened in front of Stanley's division of the 4th corps. Harker's brigade, of Newton's division, and part of Hazen's* brigade, of Wood's division, were also sharply en- gaged. Towards night the rebels opened a fierce fire along Howard's front, sending shot into our very camps and tents. Bradley's and Bridge's batteries replied with effect. On the left, near Big Shanty, Logan's and Blair's batteries were also briskly shelling the rebel works on the hill. Hooker, having repulsed them at Lost Mountain, was press- A NIGHT ATTACK. 121 ing on their jflank, while Schofield was swinging round on their left, repulsing their skirmishers, and capturing a number of prisoners. On the night of the 17th the rebels attacked our position. It was a beautiful night. The soft moonlight, beaming from the clear southern sky, floated through the forest trees, lighting them up with a bewitching charm of beauty. The air was calm and balmy, the sky without a cloud ; fire- flies, sparkling like diamonds, were flitting around. The cry of the whippoorwill resounded through the forest ; and the croak- ing of the toads rose from the marshes like the tinkling of sleigh bells. Houses that had been burned were yet shooting forth their columns of fire and smoke. Such was the night ! — a grand and solemn night ! Soon a dropping shot along the line awoke the wearied soldier as he lay on his rude couch. " It is nothing," he said, and lay down to sleep again, only for a moment, for a rapid musketry fire ensued, and the wearied soldier opened his eyes and jumped to his arms, for he knew it was a night attack. Our batteries soon opened, hurling shell and canister into the rebel works. The rebels h^d made a strong attack on McPherson's left, where they vainly strove to regain their lost position, but were repulsed by Logan's 15th corps. The rebels were foiled in their night attack at all points, and the horrid din of battle soon gave way to a placid stillness. The toads resumed their music in the marsh, and the whippoor- will his in the forest. The tired soldiers again lay down to rest, and dream of a home and fond ones they were never des- tined to see. Towards morning a sudden rain-storm burst over us in a per- fect deluge. The maxim " When it rains it pours," is very ap- plicable to the south. Next morning the country was one miserable swamp of slushy mire and water. The rebels had fallen back and abandoned their front line of works. General Howard ordered his whole line to follow them up sharply. General Harker's brigade led the advance, and having come up with the enemy, and being reenforced by Wag- 11 122 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. ner's brigade, they charged forward, driving them froni their first line of works. As we charged on the rebel skirmishers, they fled precipitately back on their intrenchments. A southern Charlotte Corday, a modern Joan of Arc, jumped upon the breastworks, waved a sword, and fiercely upbraided them with cowardice. There she stood, defiantly waving a flag in one hand and a sword in the other. Of course our men could have shot her down, but no rifle was turned on the Amazon. Her reproaches drove many a poor fellow back on our lines to certain death. The women of the south have much blood to answer for. Bitter and uncompromising, many a brother and lover their sneers and scoffs drove into the army never again to return. We thought the rebels were retreating, but they were only wheeling round their left to prevent it being outflanked by Schofield, who had wheeled round Pine Mountain, and was pressing along the Dallas and Marietta road. McPherson, too, was pressing closely on their right, and had taken posses- sion of a ridge beyond Big Shanty, and also of Bush Mountain. Thus threatened on the flanks, they had to refuse their centre and compress their lines, for Howard and Palmer were thun- dering at their centre. They could the more easily depress their lines, as they had good works in their rear, on which the citizens and negroes had been engaged for months. All their works along Kenesaw were of a formidable and scientific nature, strengthened by salient and traverse lines and angles. From such positions, seemingly impregnable, have we driven them since the opening of the campaign, day after day and week after week. Our skirmishers pressed on, and having developed their new position, Newton's division on the left and "Wood's famed division on the right were thrown into line of battle, with Stanley's division, to the rear of Wood's, held partly in reserve. The 5th Kentucky, 6th Indiana, and 124th Ohio, Hazen's brigade, and 32d Indiana and 25th Illinois, of Colonel Gibson's brigade, were thrown forward in a heavy line of skirmishers by General Wood. AN ARTILLERY DUEL. J23 On their left, Wagner's brigade and the 27th Illinois, of Hark- efs brigade, were also deployed, and with one gallant, united effort they succeeded in capturing the enemy's first line of works. Towards evening Captain Goodspeed's battery of five guns, and Bridge's 6th Ohio battery, with sections from Bradley's and Spencer's, opened a raking fire on the enemy, which was en- forced by a continuous fire of musketry from our skirmishers. The rebel line, unable to withstand this concentrated fire, fell back, leaving a large number of prisoners in our hands, also Colonel Perdieux, 1st Louisiana battalion, and another colonel, belonging to the 7th Mississippi, dead. Their loss must have been very heavy. Captain Levy, who was captured with his whole company, stated that his regiment alone lost nearly eighty men. Our loss was pretty considerable. The 4th corps alone cap- tured two hundred and twenty-seven prisoners ; Wood's noble division capturing one hundred and ten of them. At night the rebels fell still farther back to their works on Kenesaw Hill. We now occupied the house of a Mr. Wallace, on the Ma- rietta road, from which we had a fine view of the enemy along the slope of Kenesaw. Generals Sherman, Thomas, Hooker, Howard, and several others, had congregated here to watch the effect of our batteries on the enemy's works. The house and ofiices were used as a hospital, and military operations were going on in the rear while the doctors were busy amputating inside ; one party making cases for the oth- er. Captains Goodspeed and Bradley got their batteries into position ; these, with Bridge's in front of Stanley's division, opened all together on the rebel works, making the hill- side a pretty hot place. The rebels soon replied with two batteries from the slope and a section of heaTy guns from the crest. A regular artillery duel now ensued. The intervening valley was one dense cloud of smoke, which rose in floating canopies over the mountain. We could see the sheets of flame, followed by volumes of 124 Sherman's march through the south. smoke, jump out from the mouths of the brazen monsters, and the loud, reverberating sounds echoed along the mountains and valleys. An assault was now taking place ; this heavy artillery fire was merely to cover it. Stanley was charging the enemy in his front, while Wood and Newton were hotly engaged on his right. The 20th corps had by this time succeeded in crossing Noe's Creek, which had been very much swollen by the late rains. Williams's division had crossed, and was stubbornly engaged on the right. Palm- er's and Mcpherson's batteries were thundering away on our left, while far away on our right the 23d corps was disputing the passage of the swollen stream with the enemy. Early on the morning of the 20th Wood's division, 4th corps, crossed the creek and relieved Williams, who swung round to the right of the 20th corps, thus connecting Geary's division with the 4th corps. A slight tongue-like ridge ran out in front of Wood's division, which presented a first-rate position for a battery. The 49th Ohio advanced along this hill, driving back the ene- my. Two guns were immediately dragged forward, and, under the superintendence of General Wood himself, and his truly chivalric adjutant general. Captain Bestow, were put into po- sition and brought to bear on the enemy. Stanley was heavily engaged skirmishing all day ; and towards evening our bat- teries all along the front opened again on the enemy's guns upon the hill, which were becoming troublesome. Some fifty guns on both sides were belching away with all their might and main within the short range of less than a mile. We could see the shot and shell whizzing through the air like so many imps of hell on their unhallowed mission, the trees toppling over, and the rocks and dirt in front of the rebel batteries flying up in the air. The infernal din was increased by the incessant rattling of musketry along the lines. The rebels, finding that we were closing in on their flank, had massed in the centre, with the desperate resolution of piercing through the 4th corps. OBSTINATE FIGHTING. 125 We learned from deserters that part of Hood's and Hardee*s corps had been massed in the centre with that intention. Under shelter of the heaviest artillery fire, the rebels charged in massed columns on Stanley's front. Whittaker's brigade nobly met the attack, and repulsed them with loss. They next tried their hand on Kirby's, where they also met a stubborn resistance ; but after a fierce conflict of nearly one hour, they gained some temporary advantage, and took possession of a prominent knoll in our front. Cross's and Whittaker's brigades again pitched into them, and a most bloody conflict continued until after dark, with little success on either side. Our position at night was thus : Wood's and Newton's divisions had somewhat advanced, but Stanley's di- vision, having had to bear the brunt of the day's fighting, had barely kept its own. Stanley was hard pressed all the afternoon, and as he was over the creek and poorly supported, great anx- iety was felt about him ; but he kept his position until reen- forced, and then a ringing cheer along his lines apprised us that he was all right. Early on the morning of the 21st Wood's division moved forward to recover the height occupied by the rebels the pre- vious day. Wood threw forward the 15th Ohio, which pressed on the enemy, taking possession of the hill before the others had come to their support. With it they captured a large number of prisoners. The fighting for the past three days had been very severe. The air was hideous with one continuous roar of musketry and artillery. Hooker and Schofield were pressing the enemy well on our right ; the latter had succeeded in crossing some of his cavalry over Noe's Creek, thus threatening to turn the enemy's left. By this time our lines were within five hundred yards of the enemy at some points, and our flanks were partly encir- cling them. The fighting in front of General T. I. Wood's division, 4th corps, had been very severe. The 15th Ohio, under Lieu- tenant Colonel Askew, and the 49th Ohio, engaged a superior force on the contested hill, routed them, and soon established 11* 126 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. themselves in their place, though eight rebel guns were? all the time vomiting shot and shell on their advance. General Hazen's brigade and the 89th Illinois relieved them, repulsing the enemy still farther. Howard was confronted by Cheatham's troops. I have stated elsewhere that Johnston had sent his cavalry to harass our rear, and that they had succeeded in tapping the road between Kingston and Resaca. This attempt was much exaggerated, and the rebel leaders made the most of it. While in front of Kenesaw, Johnston issued a complimentary address to his troops, and, as good news, stated that the railroad was torn up, our supplies cut off, and our army starving, in fact, on half rations for several days^ - This order was being read to the troops, and was about re- ceiving a due amount of cheers and huzzas, when all stopped, with their hats in their hands, ready to give the cheer ; they listened a moment, and looked towards Big Shanty. What could that shrill loud whistle, and that puffing and blowing, mean? It was the engine, and it seemed to be considerably excited at all the lies the general was telling about it. The men listened a moment, looked at one another, uttered hard names, and slunk back to their quarters, while one loud, ring- ing cheer from our lines proclaimed that the boys were not starving, despite Johnston's assertion. Captain L. H. Levey, 1st Georgia, and sixty men, were cap- tured by our pickets. I asked the captain, " Don't you think your cause hopeless ? " " There are," replied the chivalrous captain, " about one hundred thousand high-toned, chivalric southern gentlemen whom ye may extirpate, but can never subdue." This sounded very fine ; but to spoil the chivalry of the thing, it turned out that the captain and his men were surprised on the picket line and captured by a sergeant and seven men, who frightened them into submission by pretending to have a whole regiment at their back. What forcibly struck us as we marched through the south was^ iiow fully impressed the people Were with the notion that thai SOUTHERN IGNORANCE OF THE NORTH. 12T Yankees were savages, some believed cannibals. This belief was not confined to the poorer classes either ; so corrupted were the minds of even the wealthier portions thatithey had not a much better opinion of us. They fully believed that we were coming wantonly to violate, destroy, or enslave them. On our approach women and children fled in terror into the woods and othur places of concealment. If all the menageries and lunatic asylums north, including the late Barnum's itself, were let loose upon them, they could not be more afraid. By degrees they ventured out, and became wonderfully relieved when they found that we did not eat any of them. I heard an old lady, with scarcely a tooth in her head, and shaking with fear and age, say, " Well, well, the Lord be praised ; you'ns not so bad after all ; the girls all ran away, afraid of you'ns fellows, but I thought I'd stay ; and there, not one of you'ns have touched me yet!" I went into a shanty where an old lady was sitting at one side of the fire, comfortably enjoying a puff from a soldier's pipe, and discussing the war question with the soldier, who occupied the other side. " And you tell me you'ns fellers have plenty backer, and cofiee, and snuff? " "•' Plenty, ma'am, more than we can use." " Dear me ! we'ns are badly off; haven't coffee, nor backer, nor snuff. I wish this war was over ; when do you reckon it will stop ? " '' Can't say ; as soon as they stop fighting, or when we have them all killed." " Well, there is an almighty lot of ye critters in it ; I know ye'll eat them up ; besides, you'ns fellows don't fight we'ns fair." " How so?" said the soldier. " Why, you'ns fight ind ways, and that's not fair," said the old lady, drawing a very indignant puff froni the pipe ; " besides, you'ns have furruners fightin' for you'ns." *^ Not that I know ; we are all either Americans or Ameri- can citizens." x 128 Sherman's march through the south. " O, yon'ns can't come over me dat way ; wasn't them fel- lers here to-day from a place called New Jersey ? " It is sad to witness the fearful sufferings of the people, par- ticularly the women and children, in those parts of Georgia through which we have campaigned. As for the men, we met but few indeed. All that were able to fight were con- scripted ; the rest were hid in the woods or caves ; some few had the good sense to remain at home, and trust to the humanity of the Yankee soldier. I am sorry to say that our men often wantonly burned down the houses, destroyed their contents, and drove forth their wretched inmates, houseless, homeless, starving outcasts, to perish of cold and hunger. It is true that such acts were not sanctioned, but stragglers and hangers-on, who bring up the rear of a large army, destroy everything, like a swarm of locusts, particularly when they find a place deserted. I have met, in more cases than those I have already alluded to, frenzied groups of affrighted, starving women and children huddled together in the woods, where many of them perished of cold and want. Such sad pictures of old and young, gray-haired matrons and timid girls, clinging together in hopeless misery, may be im- asfined, but cannot be described. I have seen whole columns of brave men melt away before the leaden storm of battle ; I have passed through the whirlwind and carnage of many a bloody field ; I have heard the groans of fearful agony from the poor sufferers under the surgeon's knife, where piles of legs and arms — the grim trophies of war — attested death's fearful harvest. Yet all these did not move me as did the sight of these poor, innocent, helpless miserables. The morning of the 22d of June opened with brisk skirmish- ing on our centre, which continued all day, but became hotter towards evening. About 4 o'clock our batteries opened on the rebel works all along the range, to which the enemy vigorously replied. Battery after battery opened, until it became a perfect storm of shot and shell, enlivened by the stirring interlude of small arms. BATTLE OF CULp's FARM. 129 About 4: o'clock the enemy commenced massing in front of Hooker, with the evident intention of attacking him. The position of Sherman's army was — Schofield was on the extreme right, moving down the Landtown road ; Hooker was on his left, commanding the Marietta road ; Howard on the left of Hooker ; Palmer next ; next came McPherson, extending in front of Big Shanty and Bush Mountain, on the line of r°ail- road. On the evening of the 21st, Hooker ordered Geary to advaace his skirmish line, and press back the enemy's, which he accomplished, though the rebels obstinately disputed a com- mandmg hill in his front. Gulp's farm is situated on the Powder Springs and Marietta mam road, and about five miles in a westerly direction from Marietta. Contiguous to it are a handsome frame church, a school-house, planters' establishments, including several negro shanties, all of which give it something of the appearance of a small village. Extending from this, partly in a northern direction, is a valley of reclaimed land, reaching some three miles in length and half a mile in width. This comprises Gulp's plantation, also the plantation of a Mr. Greer, whose house is situated in the middle of the valley, and was an important point of attack during the engagement. The land is rising on both sides, and is compressed in the middle with a small, sluggish stream, fringed with trees ; run- mng at right angles with this stream is a deep ravine, with a few thickly-wooded knolls scattered over the valley. This was the field of the battle of Gulp's farm. Hooker, having ascertained that the enemy were in force in his front, ordered General Williams to throw out a heavy line of skirmishers to keep the enemy engaged while he was form- mg into line, and, if possible, to get possession of Greer's house and the surrounding knolls. Williams at once deployed the 123d New York, supported by ^e 46th Pennsylvania, Ulst New York, and 5th Connecticut. Ihese advanced rapidly across the plain, and soon became engaged. Hooker had formed line with Williams's division 130 Sherman's mabch through the south. on the right, Rogers's brigade on the right, General Knipa's next, with Colonel Robinson's extending en echelon to the rear on the right. Geary's division was to the left of Williams's, but separated by over two hundred yards on account of the ravine and the extended nature of the line. Colonel P. H. Jones's second brigade closed up on the ravine so as to fill up the gap. Butterfield's division was on the extreme left, held in reserve. Hood's corps was hastily forming in front of the wood on the other side. He had wheeled round the previous night from Kenesaw, thus leaving Loring's corps — Polk's — on their ex- treme right, and Hardee in the centre. Hood had formed into line of battle in the following order : Stewart on the right, Stevens in the centre, and Hindman ou the left — all massed on the centre, and formed into lines by divisions front. Our artillery was hurried to the front, and hastily got into position. McGill's and Wheeler's batteries took up position in front of Gear3^s line, and opened an enfilading fire on the enemy. Captain Wheeler was killed beside his gun. Pinne- gar's first New York and Captain Woodberry's were in front of Williams's division. Hood's corps had now formed in front of Williams's position. Two brigades from Hardee's corps had taken up position in front of Geary's. Two regiments moved along Powder Spring road to turn Hooker's flank, he not being able to extend the line to cover the road. Hood's column was now advancing in magnificent order, as if on parade, with banners flying and ofiicers dashing from line to line. On they came in grand array : — ♦•Few shall part where many meet ; The earth shall be their winding-sheet." On came that proud column, with heavy lines of skirmish- ers in its front. Our skirmishers fell back, but obstinately disputing every inch in order to give our lines time to form, and our batteries to get into position. Colonel P. H. Jones, after a dashing brush with the enemy, now held Greer's house, DISCOMFITURE OF HOOD. 131 from which the rebels vainly and repeatedly tried to dislodge him. As the column neared the stream, pressing back our skirmishers with defiant cheers, our batteries along the hill suddenly opened, vomiting shell and canister among them, sweeping lanes through their ranks, and converting many a cheer into a death-groan. This raking fire from our batteries was fearfully thinning their lines. Stewart's shattered ranks were now hurled back on Stevens's, who, for a- moment, stemmed the torrent. Wc could see their officers rush before the men with wavinsT sabres, striving to rally them, but in vain ; for our artillery and musketry were showering lead like hailstones right into their lines. After repeated assaults, the panic-stricken rebels, with broken ranks, riderless horses, and trailing banners, fell back to their works. While the conflict was raging in front of Hooker, the regi- ments which had gone up the road to outflank him, did not fare any better. Schofield, hearing the firing, and apprised of what was going on, hurried up. Hascall's division was in front, and the 14th Kentucky, covered by two pieces of artillery, were thrown out as skirmishers. They engaged the advancing regiments, and, after a stubborn fight, repulsed them, thus covering Hooker's right. The 14th Kentucky lost heavily, but left sixty-nine dead rebels in its front, and brought in thirty prisoners. Schofield's main body soon came up to their support. Of a small engagement, this was a crushing one. The rebel lines were so exposed that their loss must be about a thousand, while ours was very light. It was a mad attempt on Hood's part to attack at such a disadvantage. If we had the selection of our ground, it could not be more favorable. It must be that Hood was under the impression that he was striking our right flank, and that Hooker was moving so care- lessly in column that he could outflank and crush him before he 132 Sherman's march through the south. could get into line. His sending the troops up the road con- firmed this ; but Schofield arrived in time to spoil that part of the programme. I rode over that battle-field when the conflict was ended. Along the little stream ran a rail fence. The rebels had crowded behind this for protection, but were literally mowed down. The torn, bloody knapsacks, haversacks, blankets, and the frequent pools of blood around, were ghastly evidences of how they suffered. The stream was actually choked up with bodies, and discolored with blood. In the ravine, and around the house where the rebels had crowded for shelter, their bodies lay piled on one another. On the 23d of June, the only fighting was in front of the 4th corps, where heavy skirmishing went on all day, enlivened by an artillery fire from, at least, fifty guns. We had advanced our skirmish lines close upon the rebels. Captain Dalger's battery was threatened by the enemy. He was sent word that he could get no support. " I want none," he replied ; " I'll support myself." And he did so, soon silencing the rebel battery in his front. There was considerable activity in front of McPherson during the 25th and 26th. Our batteries, along the whole line, opened a brisk fire on the rebel position, and our skirmishers crept up, as close as possible, to the shelter occupied by the enemy. Logan formed Harrow's division on the extreme left, and moved cautiously on the enemy, covering his advance by a heavy artillery fire. Harrow's advance was so rapid and well- timed that he surrounded a rebel brigade lying in advance of the woods, who durst not leave their shelter, and were all captured, to the number of about three hundred. Logan also brought up Morgan L. Smith's division, and took up an advanced position, intrenching himself. Osterhaus also advanced by the left, driving the enemy from their rifle-pits in his front. Blair, whose corps lay between Osterhaus's division and the other two divisions of Logan's corps, advanced his right far enough to complete his line, connecting with Osterhaus's advanced ACTIVITY OP THE CORPS. 133 position. Dodge, who occupied McPherson's right, had also pushed forward, and attempted at night to build a fort upon a hill in his front, which resulted in a night fight that did not prevent him from building his fort. Thus we had our lines so far advanced preparatory to the fatal assault of the 27th. General Sherman had decided on assaulting Kenesaw, with the resolution of forcing their breastworks, at a point where success would give the largest fruits of victory. He selected, as the chief point of attack, the left centre, because, if broken through, the head of the assaulting column would reach the railroad below Marietta, cut off the enemy's right and centre from its line of retreat, and could overwhelm it ; therefore General Sherman ordered an assault on the enemy's position at two points south of Kenesaw, by Generals McPher- sou and Thomas's commands. Precisely at eight o'clock, on the morning of the 27th, General Logan, after forming his corps into line of battle, advanced on the enemy's works, with orders to capture, if possible, a small knoll at the base of the moun- tain. Though advancing under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, he succeeded in taking the first line of works, and then the second, which he occupied. On his left Legget's division, of Blair's corps, wheeled round to the extreme left, and, supported by Gerrard's cavalry, made demonstrations on the enemy's right, west of Marietta. This was simply a feint to cover the main attack. The 16th corps also made an attack on the enemy's lines in its front, without gaining much advantage. Logan's corps was pretty heavily engaged ; but finding that the mountain was too steep and the rebel intrenchments too strong for assault, after a desperate struggle, he had to fall back to the second line of works. The assault on the right centre was equally unsuccessful, and even more fatal. Early in the morning, Baird's and Davis's divisions of the 14th corps, having quietly shifted during the night, moved in on the right of Howard. Geary's division, of the 20th corps, 12 134 Sherman's march through the south. had closed up on Davis, so as to engage the enemy at that point. Williams's and Butterfield's divisions were on Geary's right, with Schofield swinging round on the rebels' extreme right. The programme was this : Newton was to open the ball by an assault on a strong knoll west of Kenesaw, which was a powerful position in the hands of the enemy, and from which their artillery had considerably annoyed us. Stanley's and Wood's divisions were on the right and rear of Newton, some- what thrown back en echelon, but within supporting distance. Newton's division advanced in column by brigade, the 125th Ohio, Colonel Opdyke, covering the front as skirmishers, sup* ported by the 59th Illinois. Our lines had to advance through a dense wood, thence up a steep ascent. The enemy were strongly intrenched behind a breastwork, protected by an abatis. Barker's brigade had the advance, Kemball's on his left, and Wagner supporting. The 125th Ohio, 74th Illinois, skirmished heavily with the enemy for some time, driving them back on their main lines, but were there received by a destructive fire of musketry. Our lines followed up to their support, when two batteries opened on our front and flank, aided by a shower of musketry in front. Barker's men cheered, and dashed on ; but a decimating shower of bullets caused them to waver. Our officers rushed forward to cheer them on ; but from concealed batteries and secure breastworks the leaden storm came mowing them down by scores. Our batteries were playing on the enemy's, but regard- less of this, the rebels gave all their attention to our advancing columns, which soon gave way, and fell back in confusion. General Barker led this charge in person. With his cap in his raised hand, he cheered on his men ; and seeing them falter, he rushed to the front, but soon fell shot through the side. Beside him stood his adjutant general. Captain Ed. G. Whiteside, who, though shot through the thigh, still urged on the men, until his horse was shot under him, and he fell beside his noble general. LOSS OF GALLANT OFFICERS. 135 There were few more promising generals in the army than Charles G. Harker. He was a native of Mulligan Hill, New Jersey, and a graduate of West Point, and captain in the 15th regulars. He distinguished himself at Chickamauga, where he had his horse killed, and was rewarded by a brigadiership. He was again wounded at Resaca, and had a horse killed under him, also, at Mission Ridge. He was a brave, dashing soldier and efficient officer, and was always foremost where duty and danger called him. He fell in the prime of manhood, being but twenty-seven years of age, but left after him a name that history will record with pride. Davis's division, 14th corps, was also heavily engaged on the right of Newton, but was also repulsed. Geary's division, 20th corps, and Schofield's corps, were also engaged on our right. We were repulsed on all sides. Our loss was heavy in field officers and men. Besides the gallant General Harker, Colonel McCook, created general before he died, was mortally wound- ed ; Colonel Rice, 57th Ohio, severely. Our loss in rank and file must be between two and three thousand ; while the enemy's must be very slight, as they fought behind their works. I spent the evening previous with the noble young Harker. " So, general," said I, " you are to lead the advance to- morrow ? " " Yes," said he, " I lead it, whoever returns," " I hope, general, your usual good fortune will attend you, and that you will return safe." "Well, I hope so; a soldier should be always prepared to die, though ; " then after a pause he said, " They are powerful works ; we can never take them ; I will do my best, though." I saw him when he fell. It was a matter of surprise to me that he escaped so long ; for there he was, at the head of the line, cap in hand, rallying the troops, who were falling on all sides around him. I helped to remove him from the field, and asked him, "Gen- eral, do you suffer? Where are you struck?" He placed his hand on his side ; the pallor of death was oa bis brow. A few hours more and he had breathed his last. 136 Sherman's march through the south. As Harker^s brigade wavered in front of the rebel works, the colors were lying on the ground, — bearer after bearer had fallen, — when an Irish sergeant of the name of Kelly rushed forward, seized the colors, tore away the abatis with his left hand, jumped on the rebel works, planting the colors there, and calling on his comrades to follow him. He was immediately transfixed with bayonets and pierced with bullets. Finding himself not supported, he jumped backwards, flung the colors over his shoulders into the lines, calling out, "Boys, save the colors ! " and then fell dead. Next day General Johnston sent a flag of truce to Sherman, in order to give time to carry oflf the wounded and bury the dead, who were festering in front of their lines. A truce followed, and Rebels and Federals freely participated in the work of charity. It was a strange sight to see friends, to see old acquaintances, and in some instances brothers, who had been separated for years, and now pitted in deadly hostility, meet and have a good talk over old times, and home scenes, and connections. They drank together, smoked together, ap- peared on the best possible terms, though the next day they were sure to meet in deadly conflict again. Even some of the generals freely mixed with the men, and seemed to view the painful sight with melancholy interest. I saw Pat Cleburne, with that tall, meagre frame, and that ugly scar across his lank, gloomy face, stand with a thoughtful air, looking on the work his division had done ; for it was his troops that defended the line of works in the centre, and com- mitted such fearful havoc on Newton's and Davis's divisions. He looked a fit type of the lean Cassius. He was certainly to the western army what Stonewall Jackson was to the eastern ; and when he fell at Franklin, Hood's army had lost its ruling spirit. An officer, speaking of this sad burial, said, " I witnessed a strange scene yesterday in front of Davis's division. During the burial of the dead, grouped together in seemingly fraternal unity, were officers and men of both contending armies, who, but five minutes before, were engaged in the work of slaughter and death. INTERVIEWS UNDER FLAG OP TRUCE. 13T There were Generals Cleburne, Cheatham, Hindman, and Money, in busy converse with a group of Federal officers, mostly Tennessee officers, whom they had formerly known. Cheatham looked rugged and healthy, though seemingly sad and despond- ent. He wore his fatigue dress — a blue flannel shirt, black neck-tie, gray homespun pantaloons, and slouched, black hat. At first he was very taciturn ; but this wearing off, he made inquiries about old friends, particularly about those from Nashville. General Mooney was less reserved. He was elegantly dressed, as were also several other officers, who looked as if they wanted to cut a shine on the occasion. Captain Lee, from Columbia, broke the ice by asking Captain Nixon, 14th Michigan, "Do you belong to Mizner's regiment for some time stationed at Franklin and Columbia ? " '' Yes, sir ; I do." " Then you are the man who was provost marshal ? " " Yes, sir." " It is well for you that we didn't get possession of that place and you. I would have hung you ! " " No, you wouldn't," interposed a red-haired, red-eyed major, — Hawkins, — formerly deputy sheriff of Nashville, "for the boys say their folks were better treated by these Michigan men than by any troops ever stationed there." " That's so," said Major Vaulse, of Cheatham's staff; " boys, you have better whiskey than we have got ; " and the major tried the ardent. Colonel House was in charge of the burying party, and was courteous and affable. Under the shelter of a pine, I noticed a huge gray Kentuckian rebel, with his arm affectionately placed around the neck of a Federal soldier, a mere boy. The bronzed warrior cried and laughed by turns, and then kissed the young Federal. Attracted by such a strange proceeding, I went over to them, and said to the veteran, " Why, you seem very much taken by that boy ; I suppose he is some old friend of yours." " Old friend, sir ! Why, he is my son I '* 12* lB8 Sherman's march through the south. "Your son? Good God! how did it happen that you have taken different sides ? " " Well, sir, you see, like many other fools, I was carried away by darn stories, at first. I was told this thing would be over in a few weeks, and then we'd have a free country, and all that *ere stuff. Well, I'm darned if I believed a word of it ; but then I had to join or kick the bucket, like more of my neigh- bors." "And your son?" " Well, he had a kinder likin' for home ; but the d — d guer- rillas took everything his poor mother had ; so he joined you, and is trying to support the old woman with his pay, and I fightin* agin' him. ! " The strong man bent his head on his hands and sobbed. " Don't, father, don't ! " said the boy, kissing him ; " I guess it will be all over soon." " I hope so ; I hope so, boy. We're fightin' agin' one an- other ! " I have often witnessed scenes equally as sad and equally as expressive of the horrors of a civil war, where father sheds the blood of his son, and brother that of his brother. Though I could fill volumes with tales of our pickets, and the battle-field, I think the following was about as amusing a one as I have witnessed. While squads on both sides were engaged burying the dead, two Irishmen met, who were old friends in the good days of peace and union. "Musha, God bliss my soul ! Jem Gleeson, is this you?" said the rebel Irishman, dropping a body which he was drag- ging by the leg to the pit for burial, and giving the other a hug that might do credit to a bear. " Arrah, whisth ! is this yourself at all?" was Jem's reply, returning the embrace with equal fraternity. " By gor', it is my four bones ; but how the^ divil did you get here ? I thought you were safe an' sound in the ' ould dart.' " " In truth, I wish I was, Ned. Sure I don't know the day I will go to some other dart. And you, my ould friend, may A COMICAL SCENE. 180 be the one will seiid me there wid an ounce of lead in my sthomach." " Be gor', that's too bad. If you could only call to me, I'd ghoot some other one in your place. But tell me, how did you come here at all ? " " Arrah, shure I came over the say ; and then such a lot of frinds as I met in New York, every one persuading me I'd make my fortune and become a gineral if I joined the army ; and shure I thought they ought to know best ; so I took their advice." 5- Jem, seeing a canteen hanging by Ned's side, after exhausting their mutual embraces, asked, " Have you got a drop of the cretur' there ? " " Faix, in troth, I have ; come over here beyond." And they went and sat under a shady tree, where they had another big shake-hands and a big talk about old times. They drank one another's health, a health to absent friends, including the " ould dart" They had quite a jollification of it ; so much so that they were oblivious of the fact that the troops had fallen back to their respective lines. After a time they were seen to issue, arm in arm, from the tree, both proceeding to our lines. Ned's friends called out to him " to come back, or else they'd fire on him." ^'Arrah, hould your tongues," said Ned, waving his hat at them ; " shure I must see my friend home, and then I'll go back." When they approached our lines they stopped to have a part- ing chat and a dur a durish ; and the best thing we heard was, " Ned," from our man, " go home, now, and God purtect you ; go like a good fellow (hie, hie, hie), and shure I have nothing bad to say to ould Davis ; the divil isn't as bad as he is painted ! " (hie, hie, hie.) " That's thrue, Jem, I will ; but come wid me ; the boys will be glad to see you (hie, hie, hie), and we'll (hie) get another canteen (hie, hie). Come, Jem, let us go home " (hie, hie, hie). 140 Sherman's march through the south. Ned and Jem looked at one another, then nodded, then shook hands, and were parting, when our man turns back, and calls out, " I say, have the boys a dhrop below?" " Faix, in troth they have ; and if you come down, I'll drink ould Abe's health wid you ! " This was too much for the other ; he couldn't refuse so hon- ored a toast ; so he was actually staggering back to join him, when some of the men interfered, and sent each to his respec- tive command. KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 141 CHAPTER XIII. KENES AW. — CROSSING THE CHATTAHOOCHEE. — SHERMAN OUT- WITS AND OUTFLANKS JOHNSTON. — FIRST SIGHT OF ATLAN- TA.— CRUELTY OP THE SLAVE DEALERS. — THE STORY OF THE NEGRO OSTIN. Kenesaw Mountain, which will be the Waterloo of the future tourist, and whose sides and valleys are one vast cem- etery of patriots, is made up of two high peaks, which almost connect at their summits, and are about nine hundred feet hi^rh. Looking at them from our lines beneath them, they have the appearance of two immense mounds, surrounded at the base by smaller ones, separated by fertile little valleys well adapted to cultivation. The outline of the mountain rather curves on the eastern side, describing a kind of half circle, thence sloping toward the west, where it loses itself abruptly in a small valley. The base of the mountain is about five miles from east to west, and about a mile in width. Its sides are covered with thick for- ests, brushwood, projecting rocks, and huge bowlders. The rebel works around it were of the most elaborate kind, being all protected by their high position, stakes, abatis, and chevaux de frise in front, while traverse and salient lines shot out from their main works. These lines of defence extended as far as the summit, upon which were several batteries with guns located at all commanding points, and sharpshooters ensconced behind rocks, trees, and rifle-pits. It was impossible to take such a position by assault. Sherman did not remain long idle to muse over his repulses. Finding the position too formidable to be taken by direct assault, he resolved to outflank it. Owing to the hilly nature of the country and the great distance from the river, this was not prac- ticable on our left. Ten days* rations were issued, and on 142 Sherman's march through the south. the night of the 1st and 2d of Jnly^ our troops cautiously changed positions. McPherson wheeled round on the extreme right towards Nickajack ; Gerrard's cavalry took McPherson's place around Big Shanty and the eastern slope of Kenesaw. Schofield was also threatening this point, while Stoneraan's cavalry were pressing on Turner's Ferry on the Chattahoo- chee. The effect of this move was instantaneous. Johnston could not suffer us to cross the Chattahoochee, and thus head him off from Atlanta ; so on the night of the 2d he evacuated Ken- esaw. We captured a large number of prisoners around Kene- saw, in all over two thousand. After Johnston's retreat, we found several officers and men asleep. The 4th corps alone captured three hundred, making in all, since the opening of the campaign, for this one corps alone, thirteen hundred and sixty- five prisoners. General Hazen's brigade captured a number belonging to the 1st Georgian. Several of them came in vol- untarily, particularly the Irish and Germans. The 1st Geor- gian men stated that their regiment started nine hundred and, thirty-seven strong, and were now reduced by desertions and the casualties of war to three hundred and thirteen. In fact, the drain on Johnston's army had considerably reduced it, while ours was made good by recruits. When we consider that we had taken about eight thousand since the opening of the cam- paign, and how Johnston had been decimated by battle, desertion, and sickness, it is evident that it was no longer the proud, boasting army that confronted us at Kenesaw. The army moved rapidly in pursuit. The 4th and 14th, with two divisions of the 15th corps, followed up the centre towards Marietta, the other columns moving on the right and left. We struck Marietta about 8 o'clock in the morning, the enemy rap- idly falling back in our front, making no fight, but keeping up some skirmishing just to cover their rear. A provost guard was immediately detailed to protect the town from plunder. General Thomas came upon a chaplain, a hospital steward, and some darkies pillaging a house, and at once placed the ill assort- ed lot under arrest. Most of the inhabitants had fled, carrying everything of value with them. Others, finding that the Yan- MARIETTA. 143 kee barbarians were not going to destroy them, returned and mixed with the soldiers. In the centre of the town is a splendid hotel, which Sherman occupied as his temporary headquarters. The military college, the court-house, the churches and private buildings, were all spacious and of a most interesting nature. Marietta was considered one of the prettiest and healthiest towns in Cherokee Georgia. It is situated on an elevated plain, and is twenty miles from Atlanta by the railroad. It has some very good private and public buildings, is well laid out with good spacious streets shaded by trees. The Military Academy, which is situated on an elevation overlooking the town, is a very fine building, and is well located, both as regards the health of the pupils and the grounds for amusement and exercise. I am in- formed that General Sherman was at one time professor in this institute. How little did he imagine then, when instructing his pupils in tactics and manoeuvres, the building of forts, tangents, intrenchments, and the like, that he would one day define these lessons by practice around this very out of the way little town in Northern Georgia. We found a good many of the houses deserted. The terrible name and reputation of the Yankee had scared the inhabitants. Those who remained appeared so terri- fied that it was painful to witness their looks. This soon wore off, and they freely mixed with the soldiers, trading little arti- cles of barter, and talking over the stirring events transpirino- around them. Before we were an hour in the town, you would see some wearied soldier sitting on a piazza with his rifle resting between his knees, and he entertaining a group of interested women and children with his adventures and campaigns. Be- side him is a bowl of milk, from which he occasionally quaffs a deep draught by way of parenthesis. On a more fashionable piazza, in front of a more fashionable house, some officers gayly lounge. The young ladies of the house, rather tastefully dressed, considering that the war has shut them in from the fashionable world, think they have a right to enjoy their own piazza ; and of course the otficers pay all due attention to them, and they are so surprised to find Yankee oflficers courteous at all, that they enjoy the thing, soon get into good humor, and evidently become 144 Sherman's march through the south. converts to the Union, at least to a man. Marietta had a pop- ulation of about five thousand. It had also four churches, several hotels, schools, and stores, and was ffist becoming one of the most attractive and stirring towns in Georgia. From the many advantages it possesses in climate, soil, and location, it is destined to become a very important place. When falling back, the rebels tore away the rails of some two miles of the railroad between Big Shanty and Marietta, thus retarding the advance of our trains. The column halted, and rested for a few hours in Marietta, for the day was intensely hot. We then resumed our march. About three miles from Marietta, near Neal Dow Station, the rebels made a stand in order to cover their rear, which was badly pressed. Stanly's division, of the 4th corps, threw out a heavy line of skirmishers, and also moved forward to the front four pieces of artillery. Newton's division came up on Stanly's left, and Wood on his extreme left. Some brisk mus- ket and artillery firing followed. The programme was, that Schofield and McPherson were to attack on the right, while Thomas was to make a demonstration to direct the attention of the rebels from them while crossing Nickajack Creek, which they Avere ordered to do at all hazards. Howard had so disposed his troops as to be ready to assault the rebel advance work in the morning, and therefore kept his artillery shelling them all night. The morning of the 5th opened with brisk firing on both sides, and about 11 o^clock the cannonading became furious. Under cover of this, Stanly's division, 4th corps, in conjunction with King's division, 14th corps, made a dashing assault and succeeded in capturing the enemy's works. The rebels brought up reenforcements from their main line, which were also re- pulsed. Wood's and Newton's divisions had now come up to Stanly's support, and the rebels fell back. In this conflict, Stanly and King lost about three hundred, among them. Colonel William Stoughton, 11th Michigan, mortally wounded. Scho- field had met but little opposition in his front. He repulsed the skirmish line thrown out to check his advance, and captured sev- CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER. 145 eral prisoners. McPherson's column struck the enemy near Nickajack Creek, and after a sharp engagement, routed them. It was evident that Johnston only wanted time to get his trains over the Chattahoochee, as also to take possession of the strong line of works between Vining Station and the railroad bridge across the Chattahoochee. Next morning we resumed our march, the 4th and 14th corps moving parallel, the former along the line of railroad, the latter on the road contiguou.^. Wood's division, 4th corps, had the advance, and again encoun- tered the enemy near Vining Station. Hazen's brigade dashed bravely forward, driving their skirmishers in confusion across the river. The rebels barely had time to cut loose the pontoon and let it swing down the river, so closely was Hazen on their heels. The Chattahoochee River is one of the largest and most im- portant in the State of Georgia. Its head springs, and those of the Hiwassee, are in the Blue Ridge, towards the northern cor- ner of Habersham. It flows in partly a south-west direction, and after a course of near four hundred miles, it unites with the Flint River, thus forming the Appalachicola. It is navigable to Columbus. It drains a large section of country. In some places, where the country is level, it is low and marshy ; in other places, where the lands are rolling, it is very rapid and pictur- esque. Gold has been found in considerable quantities in its bed, particularly towards its head waters. The water power of the Chattahoochee and its tributaries has been turned to practical use. We struck on several grist mills, saw mills, fac- tories, and tanneries, the most important of which was Roswell factory, at Roswell, on Vickery's Creek. The cavalry seized this while in full operation. It was employed making clothes for the rebel army, and was consequently destroyed. There were at the time about three hundred female operators em- ployed in it, and it was feeling to witness how they wept, as this, their only means of support, was consigned to destruc- tion. They were sent north, or wherever they chose. This factory worked over four thousand spindles, and was certainly the most important in this section of country. A little village 13 146 Sherman's maech through the south. called Roswell was rapidly springing up about it, comprising several houses, a few stores, a church, and a female academj. The nature of the country around here is similar to that we have passed. The surface is broken and rolling, presenting some bold ridges and fertile valleys. The valleys of the Chat- tahoochee produce good cotton, corn, and wheat. The country around is thinly settled, except in some locations, where the nat- ural fertility of the land has induced settlers to locate. Here little villages, or hamlets, spring up. Between Marietta and Atlanta is a vast section of country, with but a few houses scattered here and there. The forest yet blooms in all its wild luxuriance, as it did some hundred years ago, when it was the sacred hunting ground of the Indian, and resounded with the sound of the chase or the wild war-whoop. "We occupied several important positions along the river. Gerrard's cavalry held the ford. He destroyed the factories which had supplied the rebel army with cloth. A French flag floated over one of these, but of course, under the circumstances, it was not respected. Speaking of the owner, vSherman says, *' A neutral, surely, is no better than one of our own citizens, and we do not allow our own citizens to fabricate cloth for hos- tile uses." General Thomas's flank now rested on the river, near Pace's Ferry. General McPherson held the mouth of the Nickajack Creek. Gerrard's cavalry, with New- ton's division, of the 4th corps, held Roswell, while General Schofield moved from his position on the Landtown road on our right, to Smyrna camp ground, near the mouth of Soap Creek, on our left. Schofield seized Soap Creek Ferry, surprised the guards, and captured several prisoners, and took up a strong position on the east bank. So sudden and well-timed was Scho- field's move, that the rebels thought his troops were reenforce- ments coming to join them by way of Decatur. " I say, Yanks," they hallooed to our fellows across the river, " how do ye get along there ? " " Very well, thank you ; how do you get on? " " Fus rato ; won't ye come over to see us? We'll give ye a warm reception." JOHNSTON OUTFLANKED. 147 " Well, the truth is, we have come a long ways to see you, and you show us nothing but your backs, which ain't very clean, either/' " We'll show ye something else in a few days more ; we're waitin": for reenfor cements." '' And where in God's name will you get them, unless you enlist the women ? " "Wouldn't you like to know, Mr. Yank? Well, wait a little." Deserters, too, told us that reenforcements were coming in. A little time after, they found their mistake, for Schofield had taken up a position commanding their right flank. The army of the Tennessee wheeled round from the extreme right to the extreme left, to follow in Schofield's track. Gen- eral Howard effected a crossing at Power's Ferry, and pontooned the river. We had, by the 9th, a large part of our army thrown across the Chattahoochee, above the enemy, and commanding the roads leading to Atlanta. Johnston had intrenched himself between Vining Station and the Chattahoochee Bridge. He also had advance intrenchments and forts guarding the road at Smyrna, with a tete du pont at the river. The river forms a deep curve here. Part of Johnston's army held these bends and the bridge, while the rest guarded the fords on the eastern side. There had been some heavy skirmishing during these move- ments, but nothing amounting to a fight. Wood's division, of the 4th corps, moved down from Power's Ferry, along the bank of the river, and dislodged the force there guarding Pace's Ferry. A pontoon was immediately thrown across the river, and the 14th corps passed over in a few hours. McPherson had now left Johnston in quiet possession, and swung round to the left. Thus we had our main army trains, wagons, and supplies on the Atlanta side of the river, while Johnston was on the other side in fancied security. Finding that his flank was turned, and that Sherman was likely to strike direct for Atlanta, he has- tily crossed the bridge at night, destroying it after him. He had all his trains and wagons over before. The crossing of the Chattahoochee was one of Sherman's best movements. A less 148 Sherman's march through the south. experienced general would be likely to press Johnston in his works. Sherman knew the strength of these too well, and also knew that by crossing far up on the left, and threatening a flank advance on Atlanta, Johnston would give up his position, and fall back to its relief. True, such movements would not break up Johnston's array, but it gave us a victory ; besides, Sherman and Johnston were watching each other's movements, like two expert wrestlers, to know who would make a slip, for they knew that to attack an intrenched position was likely to prove a defeat. The admirable way in which Sherman moved his army from right to left, as if it were a single brigade or division, con- founded Johnston. To-day Schofield and McPherson were threatening his left flank on the Sandtown road and Nickajack Creek ; to-morrow they are operating at Roswell and Soap Creek, several miles up, on his left ; and the first thing he heard was, that they had crossed, and were moving down on his flank, with the intention of cutting him off from Atlanta. So bold and rapid was this movement, that even Johnston himself was deceived by it, and looked upon the advancing column as a friendly one. Deserters and scouts informed us that the enemy were re- moving rolling stock and government property from Atlanta, and that the utmost panic and confusion reigned there. I am sure the roar of our cannon, as it thundered across the Chattahoochee, hurried their work, and made many a southern heart tremble. I can well fancy their feelings on the night of the 4th of July, as Johnston's couriers hurried to and fro, cheering the fear- stricken inhabitants with the news, that " the Yankees are coming ; " and then came the booming of our cannons to con- firm it. It was a city of mourning, a city of tears and tribu- lation. General Howard had his headquarters at the house of a Mr. Pace, after whom the ferry Was named. He was a wealthy planter, and had barely succeeded in getting himself and some thirty negroes across the river when we came up. Behind his house was a high hill, from the top of which Captain Morgan's STORY OF OSTIN. 149 battery, 14th cavalry, was pelting away at the rebels beyond the river. From the summit of this hill we could plainly see the steeples and houses of Atlanta ; also the smoke from the founderies in the rear, and'* could almost look into the rebel intrenchments beyond. We met a striking sight on the top of this hill — the mummy skeleton of a soldier dangling from a tree, tied by a string of hickory bark. In his pocket was his descriptive list and five dollars in Confederate money. His name was T. B. Dunkin, of some Alabama regiment. It is likely that he was some unfortunate deserter, who hung himself. I have known men to shoot themselves sooner than go into battle. Several of the men said he was a negro ; he was certainly black enough to be one. Several other skeletons were discov- ered in the woods. It was almost impossible to know whether they were those of white or colored people. There is no doubt, when the negroes heard of the ap- proach of our army, they tried to make their escape to it, and such as were caught were shot or hung. The following story of the sufferings of a poor negro was too well authenticated for me to doubt its truth. I give the real names of the inhuman butchers in the tragedy. Near Nance's Creek, a few miles beyond the Chattahoochee, lived a planter named Tom House. Tom had some ne- groes, and traded in their flesh by selling them out to other planters. Among them was a very faithful hand, called Ostin, whom he rented out to a man near Atlanta. Ostin*s master was a drunken brute, who ruled his slaves by kicks, and flog- gings. Ostin, of course, came in for a liberal share of this treatment. One evening his master came home from Atlanta in one of his drunken fits ; he seemed to have a dislike for Ostin, for the poor negro's piety and rectitude of life were a kind of censure on him ; besides, Ostin, with that privilege given by good mas- ters to their slaves, spcke to massa on the evil of his ways. The overseer, finding that poor Ostin was in bad odor, rc- 13* 150 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. ported him as keeping the hands idle by singing psalms and the like. " Send him to me," said the drunken master, " and I'll knock the d — 1 out of that fellow." Poor Ostin humbly presented himself. " I say, you old scratch of a blasted nigger, why do you be keeping my hands idle ? Is it for that I hired you ? " " No, massa ; I neber keep de hands idle ; dis nigger work like a boss." " Didn't Shinton tell me that you are always shouting your blasted hymns among the hands?" " We only pray to the good Lord, massa, to lighten our work here, and den take us to glory." " Come, you old woolly skunk, did I buy you to pray or to work? Now, if I hear any more of your d — d stuff, I'll flog the skin off your old bones." " De Lor' says, massa, dat we can't deny him ; and dis ole nigger won't deny the Lor' ; but dis poor nigger will work all he can." Why follow out the conversation between the drunken white brute and the poor negro, whose faith was so firm in the " good Lor' ? " Ostin returned to his cabin, and when the day's work was over, was joined by his little congregation in a most pa- thetic hymn. His master chanced to be passing by, and rudely broke in on their innocent devotions, and most brutally kicked and abused Ostin. He then tied him to a pole, and flogged him himself. At night poor Ostin made his escape. He had a wife and child at a Mrs. ^allinger's, near Nance's Creek. Hither poor Ostin went. His wife opened her cabin door on hearing his well- known knock ; he was all covered with blood and wounds. The wife soon comprehended the matter, and clasped her hands in agony. " Don't feel bad, Chloe," said poor Ostin ; " massa drunk, don't know what he's do, an' de good Lor' tell us to forgive those that don't know what da do." " But he'll kill you — he bad man.*' STORY OF OSTIN. 151 " No, Chloc," said Ostin, thoughtfully. " If I stay here, de massa send me back, and he whip me to death ; they say our savors are comin', and I go meet de Bridegroom." Ostin had made up his mind, and no persuasion of Chloe's could shake his resolution. So, after providing himself with a hoecake and some food in his wallet, he took an affectionate leave of Chloe and their little picaninny and started off. Ostin reached the banks of the Chattahoochee before day, but had to conceal himself in the brakes until night would come round again. He knew the country well, and he thought that by travelling by night and lying concealed by day, he could escape to our lines, which were then in front of Resaca. Poor Chloe did not sleep that night, expecting every minute to hear the pursuit ; nor was she long kept in suspense, for early in the morning Ostin's master, Mr. House, a planter named Giles Humphreys, and a Mr. Wemyss, rode up to the house, accompanied by bloodhounds. Wemyss made his living by keeping bloodhounds for hunting down runaway negroes. He had such a keen relish for the business, it was said he could smell out a negro himself. With unparalleled refinement they made Chloe give them an article of Ostin's clothing to help the scent. The party was joined by several young bloods and idle ne- groes, for such a hunt promised to be exciting, and created considerable interest. Mrs. Ballinger entered warmly into the spirit of the thing, treated the party liberally to fire-water. Being fully primed, off they started. The hounds soon took up the scent, and made the woods ring with their bloodthirsty cry. Poor Ostin heard this. It was his death knell, and as the hounds approached him, he ran along a creek to baflle their scent, and then lay down in the water with barely his head above it, and screened by overhanging branches. •The dogs were put at fault for some time, but were too well trained to the game to be thrown off the track. They ran up and down the river several times, snuffed around, and searched every hole and corner, all the time encouraged by the pack of human brutes behind them, who were impatient to satiate their thirst with blood. 152 Sherman's march through the south. After a long search they discovered poor Ostin, and dragged him out like a drowned rat, amidst the jeers and curses of their ruffianly followers. The poor fellow appealed for mercy, showed his wounds in proof of how he was treated, said he would be a faithful ser- vant if Massa House would keep him himself; but poor Ostin was appealing to hearts of stone. Several negroes had fled to the Yankees of late ; it was necessary to make a frightful ex- ample. Ostin was tied to a tree ; his back was placed against it ; his hands swung round it, and were pinioned to it. In this condi- tion the hounds were first let at him, to give them a taste of blood. Here an incident occurred that showed even the bloodhound to be capable of more kind feeling than a depraved planter. Among the dogs was an old hound, which was a great favorite with Ostin, who always fed and cared for it. When the other dogs fell to tearing the poor wretch, this dog fell on them, and was only removed with considerable difficulty. They next lighted fires about him, but his wet clothes would not burn. While this horrid sacrifice was going on, a woman, half naked and frantic, bounded in among them. It was his poor wife, who had followed the hunt, and had now come up. She threw herself upon the maimed and lacerated victim, every embrace only tearing open his wounds. Despite this affecting sight, the groans of the poor, suffering wretch, and the plead- ings of his unfortunate wife, poor Ostin was made a victim to intimidate others. The only mercy they showed him was to suspend him from the limb of a tree. No wonder that we dis- covered skeletons in the woods ; no wonder that slavery brought its own curse with it. Cliloe returned home, became pensive, and would not work ; but that Christian lady, Mrs. Ballinger, sold her down in Mont- gomery, Alabama, and retained the child. It is said that this lady kept her hand in practice by flogging some mulatto girls she had. It is hard to credit that any person could be guilty of such savage cruelty ; yet I heard the story from several. In this neighborhood was another man, named Newson, who punished CRUELTY OP NEWSON. 153 his negroes by nailing their ears to a tree. After flogging one negro, he tied him naked to a tree, and left him there for the flies and mosquitos to feed on his lacerated flesh. This man was looked upon as a monster of cruelty. His study was how to devise new modes of torture. He took par- ticular delight in flogging his negroes himself. I must say that such savage demons were the exceptions. I have met negroes who seemed to be actually petted by their masters. There were many kind, good masters, whose interest and feelings of humanity induced them' to treat their slaves with kindness ; but there were some others, demons in human flesh, who only wanted the power and the opportunity to gratify their hellish passions. 154 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER XIV. OUR CAVALRY AT WORK. — HOOD REPLACES JOHNSTON. — THEIR TACTICS COMPARED — THE BATTLE OF PEACH-TREE CREEK.— ATLANTA SURROUNDED. The all-absorbing interest felt in Grant's campaigns in Vir- ginia, and his movements before Richmond, for a time clouded Sherman's stirring and brilliant campaign in Georgia. If the importance of battles be rated by the thousands killed, we had not so bloody a scroll of honor to exhibit ; but if continual fighting and incessant and exhausting marching amount to anything, we, too, had suffered. It is true that about thirty thousand would cover our whole loss since the opening of the campaign until we sat down before Atlanta. That would scarcely fill up one battle account in Virginia. I have had some experience in marching and fighting. I have seen some- thing of the endurance of soldiers ; but I must say that Sher- man's campaign has surpassed my conception of man's capa- bility of endurance. Our*march had been one scene of stirring events and self-sacrifice, unparalleled in history. Our wearied troops had not only to march and fight by day, but were often disturbed from their fevered sleep on the wet ground by the shots of the enemy and a night attack. When repulsed, the men had to build new works and keep on the qui vlve. Yet these men, with their strong arms, stronger hearts, and bronzed faces, were cheerful under the most trying priva- tions. True, they may have grumbled a little, now and then, when disturbed from their sleep by the roar of the musket, or if disappointed in their coffee, or some other of the little enjoy- ments of a soldier's life ; but then, after giving vent to their spleen in a strong prayer or two for the Johnny Rebs, they THE ARMY BEFORE ATLANTA. • 155 would coolly fall into line, and, with stern looks and knit brows, walk up to the cannon's mouth, not for the bubble fame, but because it was their duty, and for the good of their country. Though our men were pretty well exhausted when we reached the Chattahoochee, and much in need of some rest, the sight of Jerusalem could not have a more inspiring effect on the devoted pilgrim than the sight of Atlanta had on our troops; it seemed the long-wished-for goal, and all were eager to rush on. Having safely effected the crossing of the Chattahoochee, General Sherman gave a rest of some six days to his army. All this time was well employed in collecting stores at AUa- toona, Marietta, Vining Station, and other depots, improving the railroads and bridges, and strengthening the guards along our lines of communication. Sherman now felt secure about Atlanta. Its fall was but a matter of time. Heretofore the operations of our cavalry were chiefly confined to protecting our flanks, guarding our trains, and patrolling our railroad lines. Sherman now resolved to organize large raiding parties to operate on the enemy*s rear and destroy their lines of commu- nication. Johnston's cavalry had made such attempts upon us with very partial success ; and now the Mississippi Railroad, con- necting with Atlanta and Alabama, was exposed, and General Sherman ordered General Rousseau to take command of the large cavalry force concentrated at Decatur, Alabama. Rousseau's force consisted of the 5th Indiana cavalry. Colonel Tom Harrison ; 5th Iowa cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick ; 2d Kentucky cavalry, Major Eifort ; 4th Tennessee and 9th Ohio cavalry, with two Rodman guns. General Rousseau, commanding the district of Nashville, had proposed to General Grant a concerted movement from Decatur upon Selma, which he looked upon as vulnerable to a cavalry attack. This proposition was not entertained at the time. Gen- 156 Sherman's march through the south. eral Sherman, seeing the necessity of destroying the railroad between Montgomery, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia, or- dered General Rousseau to make preparations for a raid on the road between the above points, also at Opelika, the point at which the Columbus road diverges from the Atlanta, West Point, and Montgomery road, thus cutting off Johnston's army from these two important sources of reenforcements and supplies. The force thus organized numbered about two thousand five hundred, and had about a thousand Spencer repeating rifles. With this expedition General Rousseau started from Decatur on the 10th, and, according to instructions, pushed rapidly south across the Coosa River, and thence struck directly for Opelika. In this raid Rousseau had been remarkably successful. He encountered the rebel General Clanton and whipped him ; passed through Talladega, struck the railroad on the 16th, twenty-five miles west of Opelika, tore it well up, also the branch line towards Columbus and West Point. Having fulfilled his instructions, he returned to Marietta with only a loss of about thirty men. Early on the morning of the 17th we broke camp around the Chattahoochee, and moved forward, every heart throbbing with the hope of entering Atlanta soon. The French, in their fatal march through Russia, did not look out with more longing desire for Moscow than we did for Atlanta. The 4th corps advanced on the Atlanta and Roswell road, the 23d corps upon the Decatur and Atlanta road, with the 14th and 23d on the Pace's Ferry and Atlanta road. McPherson's command was on our extreme left, with instructions to direct his course against the Augusta railroad, east of Decatur, near Stone Mountain. McPherson marched on a right wheel, and reached the Au- gusta road the following day, at a point seven miles east of Decatur, and with Gerrard's cavalry and Morgan L. Smith's division of infantry, tore up about four miles of the road. Next evening Schofield took possession of the town of Decatur. Wheeler's dismounted rebel cavalry were on our front, and SKIRMISHING WITH HOOD. 157 annoyed us from the shelter of rocks, trees, and the forest thickness. Wheeler himself had his headquarters in a farm- house near Buckhead Creek, about six miles from Atlanta. So close was the 4th corps pressing him, that he had only just time to leave before our troops came up. The day was spent in skirmishing with Wheeler's cavalry and Hood's rear guard, for the latter general was now in com- mand. After some sharp skirmishing, Schofield succeeded in effect- ing a crossing over Peach Creek. The 20th corps had formed a Junction with the right of How- ard's corps. Next morning General Thomas J. Wood moved out towards Peach Creek on a reconnoissance to develop the enemy's posi- tion. He advanced two brigades beyond Buckhead, and de- ployed a heavy line of skirmishers, which soon became engaged with the enemy. The rebels began to intrench, but our artillery and sharp- shooters soon made them move. General Wood, having succeeded in driving the enemy across the creek, sent two brigades over, which succeeded in driving the rebels from their first line of works, and holding their position. They also captured several officers and men of the 2d Tennessee, who reported Hood's main army only a little in their rear. The creek was too deep and wide for any great force to cross over. Brigadier General Hazen at once undertook the building of the bridge, which had been destroyed by the rebels in their retreat. General Hazen, to the cool daring of the soldier, the reflec- tive judgment of the wise general, combined a large share of engineering skill. While engaged personally on the bridge, his provost marshal, Captain S. B. Eaton, was badly wounded at his side by a sharpshooter, and Major Parkes, of the 79th Indiana, was also wounded in the leg. 14 158 Sherman's march through the south. Stanley effected a crossing on the left of Wood, and Hooker on the right. Peaijh Creek runs somewhat in a westerly direction, and is a deep, turbid stream. At the point where Howard had crossed, it is only about five miles from Atlanta. On the morning of the 20th a general advance in the direc- tion of Atlanta was begun. By 10 o'clock the 20th corps had reached a range of heights rising between the creek and the city, and skirting the creek on its south bank. The 4th corps had now occupied the centre, with Newton's division beyond the creek, and connecting with Hooker's left, while Hooker's right was supported by the 14th corps. In the brilliant and desperate conflict that ensued, it was but partially engaged. It came up, though, in time to form a junc- tion with Williams's division, and take a part in the contest. Before entering fully into ike details of this fight, I will give a short resume of the movements of the 20th corps the day previous. Hood was now in command of the army. General Johnston was removed, because he was not checking Sherman's onward march, and because he would not engage to hold Atlanta at all hazards. Jeff Davis had been at Macon, lately, painting the Confederacy in a most flourishing condition. Among other things he told his dupes that Johnston's falling back was merely a stratagem on his part ; that when our communication would be well cut up, he would pounce upon our army ; and that At- lanta should, and would, be kept at all hazards. Wheeler's attempt to cut up the line in our rear gave color to this ; and now, in order to keep up the drooping hopes of the Confederacy, it was necessary to make a desperate blow to hold Atlanta. And because Johnston refused to sacrifice an array to do this, he was removed. Hood put in his place, and a new mode of campaigning inaugurated. Johnston proved himself a wise and prudent general, when, finding himself not able to contend against his antagonist in the field, he was keeping his army compact and well in hand for any opportunity that his wily enemy should afford him. Hood was a brave man, but a JOHNSTON AND HOOD. 159 rash one ; all his strategy lay in desperate fighting. This might do well enough if he were superior in numbers, or had the means of replenishing his ranks ; but with a decimated army, and no means of replenishing it, it was certain destruc- tion. This he fully proved by his attack on Hooker on the 20th of July, on McPherson on the 22d, on Howard on the 28th, and in his insane attempt to capture Nashville, where Thomas gave the final blow to himself and his army. Had he followed Johnston's programme, or had Johnston retained command of the army, he would have fallen back toward Macon, giving us the option of garrisoning Atlanta, and contenting ourselves with a trifling victory, or following him up. It took about eighty thousand men to guard our lines of communication to Atlanta. It would take about eighty thousand more to Macon, and thus absorb our whole army. Well, should we follow them up, could they succeed in cutting off our supplies, we were ruined, or, should Sherman make one mistake, such a wily general as Johnston would be sure to take advantage of it. Hood first weakened his army by mad assaults, and then went on a wild-goose chase to Nashville with what remained, opening the road for Sherman's grand raid, which showed the weakness of the Confederacy, and broke its backbone. On the morning of the 19th, Geary's division, 20th corps, was ordered to advance. Williams's and Ward's divisions were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to follow Geary's. General Ward had taken command of the third division, General Osterhaus having gone home on sick leave. The 20th corps was encamped, at this time, on the Buckhead road, about two miles from Peach-tree Creek, and six miles due north from Atlanta. Geary advanced to the creek, repulsing the enemy in his front. The rebels destroyed the bridge over the creek, which was about twenty feet wide and five feet deep. The enemy took up a strong position on a range of hills on the other side. After a careful survey of the position, Geary resolved to make a crossing. He got his artillery into pf»sition, 80 as to cover the crossing. 160 Sherman's march through the south. The pioueers having ready the materials for laying the bridge, our artillery opened, and our sharpshooters advanced along the creek, under cover of the fire. A hastily constructed bridge was constructed, and Colonel Ireland rapidly threw his brigade across, and charged the enemy's flank. The whole division soon followed to his support, and succeeded in taking up a position beyond the creek. Meantime the 4th corps was effecting a crossing at Collier's Mills, and the 14th at Howel's Mills. On the morning of the 20th, "Williams's division crossed on the same bridge as Geary's, and Ward's farther on the left. About 11 o'clock, Colonel Candy's brigade, Geary's division, advanced nearly a mile across a ridge, and established a line there. This hill was on the flank of a ridge held by the rebel skirmishers. General Ward soon attacked their position, and met a stub- born resistance. The 13th New York battery (Bundy's) was placed in front of Candy's brigade, and enfiladed the rebel lines. Colonel P. H. Jones (now General Jones) sent out the 33d New Jersey, under Lieutenant Colonel Furratt, to support Ward's skirmish- ers and to fortify the hill. General Geary and staff" were out reconnoitring, and soon perceived the enemy massing in column for an assault. The divisions and brigades were formed into line as fast as possible. Candy's brigade occupied the advance left of Geary's line, Jones's the right, and Ireland's in reserve. Williams's division was on the right of Geary, Ward's on the left ; both somewhat refused, forming a kind of semicircle, with Geary's division as the apex. Newton's division, of Howard's corps, had fortunately moved to the right the night previous, in order to connect with Hooker, and was now thrown back en echelon, his left resting on the creek. They had barely time to throw up hurried breastworks of rails in their front, and bring their artillery into position, FIGHTING AT CLOSE QUARTERS. 161 when the enemy swept over the plain and burst on their front, next-on Geary's front and flank, actually wedging between his right and Williams's lines, thus swinging on his rear. Colonel Jones at once wheeled round by brigade front, Colonel Candy doing the same, thus exposing the enemy to a cross fire. The fighting here was close and desperate for some time, the enemy striving to crush Jones's and Candy's brigades, and thus pierce our centre and double up our flanks. Our troops, on the other hand, fully sensible of the imminent peril of the movement, fought with desperate determination, resolved to hold their ground until the lines could close up and support them. Jones's noble brigade, admirably led and fought by its brave commander, was nearly decimated, and could not hold out much longer ; Candy's brigade, too, was fearfully thinned, when Wil- liams's left closed up on the enemy, thus placing them between an enfilading fire. A desperate fight ensued, the troops, on both sides, being exposed, and fighting at close quarters. At some points it was a regular hand-to-hand conflict. Williams suc- ceeded in throwing his whole division on the enemy's flank, which was soon compelled to give way, and was actually mowed down while retreating over the plain to their works. In this short and desperate struggle we lost some valuable officers, among them Captain Thomas H. Elliot, adjutant general to General Geary. Captain Elliot was a native of Philadelphia, son to Colonel K. Elliot. He was a good officer, of splendid executive ability, a thorough gentleman, and refined scholar. Geary suffered much, during the war, in staiF officers, all of them being either killed or wounded. Captain Newcomb, of General Williams's staff*, was also killed. Several field-officers were either killed or wounded. Among the latter were Colonel Jackson, 134th New York, and Lieutenant Colonel Furratt, 33d New Jersey, both of whom distinguished themselves during the engagement. Robertson's brigade, of Williams's division, engaged the enemy on the flank, and lost severely. It made a noble fight, stemming the rebel advance until the rest of Williams's division came up. Colonel Loyz, of the 141st New York, was killed, Colonel U* 162 Sherman's march through the south. McNelty lost an arm, and the brave Colonel McGroarty, of the 61st Ohio, was shot through the shoulder. About 4 o'clock the rebels came on in massed columns against Newton, without skirmishers, and with fierce yells they bore down upon his line. Newton's division had but partly com- pleted their breastwork of rails, and had barely time to fall into line and seize their guns, before Walker's and Bates's division, " of Hardee's corps, burst right on them. The pickets guarding the interval between the right and left had barely time to jump into the creek and swim for their lives. For a moment everything was in confusion. Newton's line was extended and weak, being thrown back to guard the bridges across the creek. Captain Goodspeed brought up his guns with great rapidity^, and placed them in position. They opened with canister, and poured a deadly storm on the advancing enemy. The gunners worked with frenzied energy, pouring the leaden storm right into their faces, and sweeping whole lanes through their ranks. The rebels poured volley after volley into our line, and, though fearfully decimated, continued to advance. Officer after officer, color-bearer after color-bearer, line after line, went down before the sweeping storm of canister and bullets. At length their line began to falter and get into confusion. "We renewed our energy with a sort of frantic rage, and soon they wavered. One volley, one cheer from our men, and the enemy broke and fled. General Ward's division, on Newton's right, was struck at the same time. Ward had just halted his men at the foot of a hill, when he discovered that the enemy were gathering in his front, evidently with the intention of making an assault. Ward formed into line, and the enemy soon came pouring on him. Ward at once advanced up the hill in his front, in order to gain the crest before the rebels. Here the two columns first struck each other ; and as both sides fought with muskets, the destruction of life was fearful. Ward had previously sent his artillery to assist Newton. In Ward's front the men fought, at some points, at close THE BATTLE DESPERATE. 163 quarters, the contending lines actually intermingling together, and fighting hand to hand with the bayonet and clubbed rifles. This continued for nearly an hour, the opposing lines surging to and fro, until at length the rebels broke for the woods, leaving a large number of prisoners. The rebel charge next swept along to the right, striking Geary's and Williams's divisions, which were also exposed, not having time to throw up any works, for the rebel assault came by surprise. Palmer's 14th corps was partly intrenched on Williams's left, and considerably refused, and consequently did not suffer much during the fight. Ward captured six battle-flags and a large number of prison- ers, besides strewing the field in his front with killed and wounded. The 26th Wisconsin took the colors of the 33d Mississippi ; the 105th Illinois captured two colors, and the 129th Illinois one. Some of our men, being out of ammunition, emptied the dead rebels' cartridge-boxes into their own. Colonel Harrison, 129th Illinois, and four men, captured three officers and thirty men of the 57th Alabama. A boy about fourteen years old, named Ed. Harvey, 70th Indiana, captured five men, and brought them in prisoners. This battle was very obstinately contested on both sides. The rebels got mixed up with our lines, when a regular hand- to-hand death-struggle ensued. As soon as we recovered from the first surprise, and got to form our lines, we mowed the enemy down with fearful slaughter. The battle of the 20th was desperate and stubborn. Hooker was in marching column, and Hood thought he would strike him unprepared. In this he partly succeeded. A large gap intervened between Geary's and Williams's divisions, through which he burst with his massed troops in admirable order. Our troops, for a moment, gave way ; but, after recovering from the first panic, formed and wheeled about, presenting two fronts to the rebel column, which had now wedged through them. In this manner a double fire was brought to bear on their lines, and the slaughter was fearful. Along the deep hollow intervening 164 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. between Geary's and Williams's division the enemy poured along in masses, but only to be mowed down wholesale, Robertson's brigade, of Williams's division, hastened up along the crest of the hill, and facing by the left flank, engaged them. Geary's right struck them on the other side, and Knipe's brigade had formed in line on the right of Robertson and ia conjunction with the 14th corps. The enemy also poured down upon Knipe with the same fierceness and desperation they exhibited at the other points. At this stage the battle raged fiercely ; the air became dark and heavy from the sulphurous canopy of smoke which hung over the plain. Wounded men were borne to the rear by scores, the blood flowing from their wounds. Even those sickening sights, and the din of musketry, and the thundering roar of ar- tillery, did not damp the ardor of the contending heroes ; for fresh troops bravely advanced to fill the thinning lines which were made by some patriotic hearts, the treasured pride of many a household, sinking, quivering, upon the earth, to fill a soldier's grave and rend a mother's heart. This was the first of Hood's desperate assaults around At- lanta ; and dear was the price he paid for it, and bloody the harvest he reaped. In their telegrams to General Sherman, General Howard stated that he had buried two hundred, and that there was a large number of wounded in his front ; and Hooker reported, *' I have buried four hundred dead, and at least four thousand wounded lie in my front." Sherman himself estimated the rebel loss at about five thou- sand, and ours at fifteen hundred. He says, " The enemy left on the field over five hundred dead, about one thousand wound- ed severely, seven stands of colors, and many prisoners." I think myself the rebel loss is over-estimated. Generals, in making their returns, are seldom under the mark ; for the greater the loss to the enemy, the greater is their victory. I would set down our loss at about two thousand ; the enemy's at least double that. As they were the assaulting parties, and exposed, their loss must be severe. ATLANTA SURROUNDED. 165 Next day (21st July) McPherson moved forward and es- tablished a line east and south of Atlanta, and within three miles of the town. Blair's corps, 17th, formed the extreme left, and rested south of the city, his left flank being within two miles of the Macon railroad. Logan held the Decatur road, his centre resting on it, with Dodge on his right. Palmer, Howard, and Hooker's corps swung round to the right, forming an irregular semicircle. Hooker's right com- manded the Chattahoochee. The enemy's lines were adapted to ours, their left extending to the river, and covering the roads leading to Atlanta. Gerrard's cavalry occupied a line along the Decatur, Cross- Keys, and Lebanon road, protecting our supplies at Koswell. Stoneman was north of the river, between the Sandtown road and Vining's Bridge. Gerrard had sent forward a squad of cavalry in advance, which succeeded in cutting the railroad near Stone Mountain. We could see the heavy volumes of smoke rising from the burning of the cross-ties and station-houses. While Hooker was engaged with the enemy, our centre also skirmished v^^ith them. General T. J. Wood swung round on the Decatur road after General Stanley. Stanley soon struck the enemy, and, after some sharp fighting, drove them back to the rear of a Mr. Johnson's house, about four miles from Atlanta. Here the 40th Ohio and 21st Kentucky, which had the advance, struck on a strong line of rebels. Stanley hurried up his artillery, and opened on the rebels with good effect. Schofield had now connected with Stanley on the left, and had swung round his left towards Atlanta, timing his move- ment with McPherson's. On the night of the 21st, Schofield's right and McPherson's left were within less than three miles of Atlanta, so that they could actually rain in shell upon the devoted city. Our army now surrounded Atlanta in a horseshoe form. M(;Pherson's command stretched beyond the Atlanta and Au- gusta Railroad, which he had torn up, thus cutting off one 166 Sherman's march through the south. source of supplies from the enemy, and preventing them from falling back to Stone Mountain. Our lines were drawing tighter and tighter around the city. It was evident that it would soon fall, unless Hood, by any more of his dashing assaults, could burst through our lines and compel us to retreat. This he tried next day ; but the effect was as crushing and disastrous to him as his attempt on Hooker. BATTLE OF JULY. 167 CHAPTER XV. BATTLE OF THE 22D OF JULY. — DEATH OF GENERAL MCPHER- SON.— HIS LIFE AND SERVICES. — SCENES AMONG THE DEAD AND WOUNDED. Hood had now been reenforced by Stephen D. Lee, with about four thousand of the Trans-Mississippi army, and about ten thousand militia, which he had placed to garrison the trenches in and around Atlanta. Johnston had been removed for not fighting his army. Hood was resolved that he would not give any cause of complaint on this score, and if by any good fortune he should succeed, he would eclipse Johnston as a general ; besides, things were in such a desponding state, that even in case of failure his reputation could not suffer much. At a council of war held on the 16th, at which Jeff Davis himself presided, and Governor Brown, Johnston, and Hood were present, Johnston was relieved of his command, and Hood installed in his place. Next day Johnston issued a farewell address to the army ; this was followed by an address from Hood, and reckless assaults on our lines. Foiled in his desper- ate attempt on Hooker, under cover of the night he moved his army from the front of our right wing, and transferred it to our left. He seemed to understand our position thoroughly, for he knew that on McPherson's left was a deep, unguarded gap, through which he could move his columns with the bold inten- tion of outflanking our army. In this he was partly successful, and might have been fully so, only for our superior numbers and the desperate manner in which our troops fought. This move- ment of Hood's has been very much censured by military critics ; to me, it appears a masterly one. Had he succeeded, — and the chances were in his favor, — he would have broken our 168 Sherman's march through the south. left wing, and then he could safely capture our immense trains, which were parked around the Chattahoochee, and follow this up by an attack in rear on our right, or centre, while the militia behind the strong works in front were able to keep our advance in check. This assault appeared to me to have more wisdom in its design and execution, than the assault on Hooker's lines. In the latter the advantages were on the side of our army, as Hooker's divisions were close, and he got into position too soon for the rebels to obtain advantage. In the attack on McPher- son they succeeded in swinging their columns on our flanks and rear, and under such circumstances few troops will Avithstand a charge. I have seldom known a case where troops are out- flanked and enfiladed but they lose heart and break. Men are judged, not so much by the wisdom of their acts or counsels, as by the result. It was so with Hood ; he failed and is exe- crated ; had he succeeded, he would have been idolized. On the morning of the 22d, Generals Howard and Hooker, finding that the rebels had retired from their immediate front, followed them up close to their first line of works, and captured several prisoners and stragglers. They then threw out strong lines of skirmishers, and established their batteries in good posi- tions. The rebels kept pressing on Hooker's front in order to cloak their assault on the left. Schofield, too, considerably ad- vanced his lines, and skirmished with the enemy. Even the wily Sherman himself was for a time deceived by this move- ment of the enemy. He thought that Hood was so prostrated by his defeat on the 20th, that he was going to give up Atlanta without striking another blow for it. But Hood was simply car- rying out that bloody programme, of which his assault of the 20th was an index. General McPherson had moved from Decatur with the inten- tion of joining the column that was closing around Atlanta, and marched along the line of railroad with the 15th corps, destroy- ing it as he marched. Blair's corps, the 17th, was on the left of Logan, and Dodge's, the 16th, on his right, and connecting with Schofield near the Howard House. On the evening of the 21st, Blair's corps had a sharp engage- DEATH OF GENERAL M'pHERSON. 169 ment with the enemy for the possession of a commanding hill, called Ball Hill, south and east of the railroad. This we suc- ceeded in gaining, and it gave us a most commanding range of the very heart of the city itself. General Dodge was ordered from right to left to occupy this position, and make it a strong general left flank. General Dodge was in the act of moving by a kind of by-road for this point when the enemy struck him. After the repulse on our right, Hood hastily swung round Hardee's corps, followed by the others, on the flank and rear of McPherson. This hurried and unexpected movement partly took us by surprise. Unfortunately, McPherson had no cavalry guarding his front or flank, for Gerrard was out on a raid to Covington, on the Augusta line, and with instructions to send detachments to break the bridge across the Yellow and Uleau- hatchee River, tributaries of the Ocmulgee. At daylight on the 22d, the pickets discovered the rebel works in their front evacuated, as the enemy had fallen back to their main lines. Preparations were made to advance our whole line. Schofield's corps moved up first, and began to reverse the abandoned rebel works. There was much conjecture as to what this movement meant. Could it be that the city was evacuated ? Scouts and deserters reported so. Several of the latter, no doubt, came into our lines to confirm this report. About noon our troops were still moving into position, Giles A. Smith's division occupied the left of Blair's corps ; in his rear was General Fuller ; while General Sweeny's division brought up the extreme rear. This was fortunate, as, had they been up and in position, there would be no troops to check the headlong dash of Hardee's corps, as it swept around our extreme flank. The mystery of the falling back by the rebels was soon solved, for about 2 o'clock Hardee's corps had completely got in on our rear. Hardee made his assault on the rear of the 17th corps, repulsing a brigade supporting the artillery, and captur- ing the battery. When the attack was made. General McPher- son was at Howard's House, in consultation with Sherman, when he was apprised of the attack on his line^. The heavy roll of musketry and artillerjr from the left fully confirmed this report. 15 170 Sherman's march through the south. He hastily rode off, despatching his staff officers and orderliea to different parts of the lines with commands. He rode right for Dodge's column, in which there had been some changes made since morning. He passed to the left and rear of Gen- eral Giles Smith's division, which was Blair's extreme left. A gap intervened between the 16th and 17th corps, through which the general passed. Here he fell from the fire of the rebel sharpshooters. His wounded horse returned riderless, and the general's dead body was recovered in the course of the evening. As soon as General Sherman learned the sad news, he at once despatched an aid to General John A. Logan, instructing him to assume chief command. The death of McPherson was kept secret. He was too much beloved to let his army know that he was no more, at such a critical moment. At night, when his death was known, there was one general feeling of grief and indignation. Strong men, who unmoved saw their comrades fall around them, wept like children. Logan coolly assumed the command, making no display, so as to conceal the sad bereavement from officers and men. It is said that when the battle was fought and won. General Sherman, looking down on the body of the dead chieftain, exclaimed, — " Yes, yes ; it's all very well, if we could only restore Mc- Pherson." About noon the fight was raging fiercely. Hardee had struck Blair's left flank, overlapping it, and swinging round until he struck Dodge's corps in motion. The fighting was desperate in front of the 16th corps, the line of which ran partly at right angles to the 17th corps. Sweeny's division hastily got into line in the following order : Colonel Rice's brigade faced to the rear, and Colonel Mersey's southward, with Morrill's brigade, of Fuller's division, on Mersey's right. Soon the whole rebel column burst upon them. The 14th Ohio battery opened on their advance, hurling the deadly storm into their faces. The col- umn halted for a moment, and then defiantly came on. The rebel line was now overlapping Dodge's command, and threatened to turn his flank. He ordered the 81st Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel PROGRESS OP A BATTLE. 171 Adams, and the 12th Illinois, Colonel Von Sellar, to charge on the rebel flank. These regiments moved through a valley, and wheeling round the point of a ridge, suddenly burst on the rebel flank, slaughtering them terribly, and capturing several prisoners tind two stands of colors. Sweeny was all this time gallantly fighting his division, stemming the advance of Hardee's corps. Morrill's brigade impetuously charged the enemv, driving them back to the edge of the wood, but was soon over- powered and forced to fall back ; again it crossed the bloody field to be again repulsed, but soon rallied, advanced, and held its position. At the same time Rice's and Murray's brigades were fiercely engaged with the enemy. General SWeeny knew that in a great measure the fate of the day depended on his division ; unless he could check the rebel advance long enough for the troops to take up position, they would overwhelm them, flank and rear. With true Celtic chivalry he dashed from point to point, and if he saw any part of the lines wavering, there he was, regardless of shot and shell, encouraging and exhorting the troops. The attack in front of the 17th corps was steadily made and well sustained. After heavy hand-to-hand fighting, the rebels succeeded in doubling in on the 16th, and capturing several pieces of artillery. Generals Giles A. Smith's and Legget's divisions were makino* a stubborn stand against the enemy, who had swarmed upon them. They fought in the old intrenchments, and, being at- tacked in front and rear, had to fight, now on one side, then jump over it and fight on the other side ; the men bayoneting one another in the very trenches. The attack on the centre was equally obstinate. Logan's 15th corp? was fighting for life. Morgan L. Smith's division was almost decimated, and was at length forced to retire. The enemy had captured the most of our artillery, and driven back our lines at several points. That brave young artillerist Cap- tain De Grass sat down and wept like a child for his guns, and, as the enemy turned them on us, he could recognize their sound amidst the din and roar of battle, and wondered how they could 172 Sherman's march through the south. be so ungrateful as to turn upon him. The celebrated battery of twenty-pound Parrotfs, and Murray's regular battery were all in their hands. Things looked gloomy now. McPherson was dead, our ar- tillery captured, our troops repulsed at several points, and the stream of bleeding men that was going to the rear told the deadly nature of the conflict. General Sherman, accompanied by Schofield and Howard, occupied a prominent position near Colonel Howard's house, from which he could superintend the whole proceedings. On a commanding hill near, he placed a battery of the 15th corps, and another of the 23d corps, which commanded a converging, enfilading fire on the enemy. He then sent word to General Logan to mass his troops in the centre and charge. " You must retake those guns," was his peremptory order. Logan seemed to throw his own fiery spirit into the troops. He often rode at the heads of the columns, to make them believe the danger was not so great. Everything being ready. Wood's first division, 15th corps, was ordered to lead the charge. Wood swung his right around so as to envelop the rebel rear. The rebel column, looking upon us as completely broken, felt surprised that we should renew the conflict. They moved out in column to meet the assault. Our remaining artillery now opened, the batteries near Howard's house hurling shot and shell among them. A confiding cheer went up from our ranks, and on they swept. The contending lines were now so close that the artillery had to cease — one wild cheer from our lines, one sweeping charge, the men delivering a low and deadly fire into the advancing rebel columns as they came on. The enemy's line staggered, paused, and fled before that glit- tering forest of bayonets. This was the turning-point of battle ; we charged all along the line. The enemy were soon scattered and broken, and flying on all sides. We recovered all our artillery, except two pieces. Our loss in this battle was about thirty-five hundred, all counted. The enemy's loss was at least seven thousand. Logan buried over two thousand of the enemy's dead. hood's desperation. 173 Hood seemed to be well informed as to our positions, for he selected the only available point by which he could wheel to our rear ; besides, he knew that McPherson's immense wagon train vas left very poorly guarded at Decatur. He did not know, though, that Colonel Sprague — afterwards General Sprague — had gone with his brigade to guard it. Hood ordered Wheeler's cavalry to make a simultaneous attack on the train. Colonel Sprague, with his three regiments, met Wheeler's attack with promptness and firmness. Though Wheeler had two divisions of cavalry, mounted and dismounted, Colonel Sprague, with a loss of two hundred men, repulsed them and saved the trains. On the whole, this was one of the most desperately contested conflicts of the campaign. Hood, like the ruined gambler, staked all on one throw. His plans were well and wisely laid ; he surprised the cautious Sherman, and had he less brave troops and indefatigable generals to contend against, he would have succeeded. It was a desperate game ; the stakes were great, and though he lost, he played his hand well. The body of McPherson, as I said, was soon recovered. The rebels either did not know his rank, or had not time to remove him, as the lines soon after surged from that point. Two of our skirmishers, who saw the general fall, went over to the spot. The rebel skirmish lines were quite near. The general was scarcely dead when they came up. He was lying on his face and breathing heavily, but unable to speak. They turned him on his back ; he opened his eyes, and gave one parting look and a smile, when he saw they were his own men, and then expired. It was reported that the rebels stripped the body ; this is not likely, because, if they knew his rank, they certainly would have carried him off. One of the two men confessed to me, " You see, sir, we knew we hain't no chance of staying there long, as they were fighting all round us, but we did not want to let the poor gen- 15* 174 SH'RMAN^S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. eral get into their hands ; so, though it went sore to our hearts to strip .our noble general, we cut off his stars and buttons, so they would not know him. We then hid, and the rebels swept over us ; they kicked me up, and took me along. They searched me, and found the general's things with me, which one of them transferred to his own pocket. I watched this fellow ; he soon got knocked over ; I gave a jump and kicked about as if I were shot too ; so they left me there. I returned, and knowing that the dead rebel did not want the things any longer, I took them, and staid with the general's body until it was removed." McPherson was a great favorite in the army. Several of his brother generals came to bid farewell to the remains ; many were seen to weep as they turned away ; even the stern Sher- man's eyes were not dry. A victory was dearly bought at the sacrifice of such a man. Shetch of Major General McPherson. Major General James B. McPherson, United States volun- teers, and brigadier general of the regular army, was born in Sandusky, Ohio, in November, 1828, and was consequently in his thirty-sixth year when he was killed. He graduated at the head of his class at West Point, and entered the regular army with the brevet rank of second lieutenant of engineers. He was engaged in different military capacities, both in New York and on the Pacific coast. In 1861, when General Halleck was ordered to the depart- ment of the west, he was selected as aid-de-camp, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was chief engineer in the expe- dition against Forts Henry and Donelson, and for his services promoted to a brevet major of engineers. He served with Gen- eral Grant during his operations in Tennessee, and until after the battle of Shiloh. He was again promoted for his services at Shiloh to a brevet lieutenant colonelcy of engineers. He was soon promoted to a colonelcy, and again assigned to Gen- eral Halleck. At Corinth he again distinguished himself, and was soon after promoted to the rank of brigadier general of volunteers. At the battle of Luka, September, 1862, General m'pherson's life and services. 175 MoPherson held a position on the staff of General Grant, and distinguished himself at Corinth by carrying reenforeements to the besieged garrison in October, with the enemy intervening ; and next day, at the head of a division, he pursued the flying column of the foe. For his services he was promoted to the rank of major gen- eral of volunteers, to date October 8, 1862. He commanded ihe column that moved on Lagrange, under Grant, in the fall of 1862. He next- commanded an expedition into Mississippi. His history from this time forward is a history of Grant's va- rious battles and campaigns. He was engaged at Fort Gibson, being then in command of the 17th corps. Under his direction the Bayou Pere was bridged and crossed, the enemy being followed up to Jackson, Missis- sippi. He again whipped the enemy at Raymond, repulsed them after a severe fight, and again whipped them at Cham- pion's Hill. In front of Vicksburg he acted a distinguished part, both as a general and in the employment of his splendid engineering qualities. After the fall of Vicksburg, General Grant, in rec- ommending his various officers for promotion, says of him, after enumerating his many battles, " He is one of the ablest engi- neers and most skilful generals. I would respectfully but ur- gently recommend his promotion to the position of brigadier general in the regular army." This was granted, and the Board of Honor voted him a gold medal for his gallant conduct during the siege of Vicksburg. In February, 1864, he commanded a wing of Sherman's army, during the expedition from Vicksburg to Meridian. On Sherman assuming command of the military division of the Mississippi, General McPherson was placed in command of the army and department of the Tennessee, embracing the 15th, 16th, and 17th army corps. He thereupon removed his head- quarters to Huntsville ; and hence he commenced his mavements in the latter end of April, 1864, taking the right of Sherman's army in the Georgian campaign. On the 9th of May he occu- pied Snake Creek Gap, and the next day was within a mile of 176 Sherman's march through the south. Hesaca. Again, he encountered and routed the enemy at Pow- der Springs, near Dallas, inflicting a severe loss upon them. At AUatoona he distinguished himself; also in the several engagements around Big Shanty and Kenesaw Mountain. His command did a great deal of heavy marching on the Chatta- hoochee, now threatening the rebel left on Nickajack Creek, and then suddenly wheeling on their right, crossing the river, moving on Decatur, and destroying the Augusta line. After such brilliant services, he met his death, I might almost say, accidentally, in the desperate charge Hood made on his line on the 22d of July. In appearance he was near six feet high, of agreeable and engaging manners. His eyes were dark, his hair and beard, which he wore long and flowing, rather dark brown. He was a man of noble, stately presence, afiable and courteous to all. Though strict in the discharge of his military duties, he was beloved by his officers and revered by his soldiers. In his fall his soldiers lost their friend, the country a true patriot and wise general. In this battle I had an opportunity of witnessing how little personal animosity men who are engaged in deadly conflict entertain for one another, and again how the terrors of death itself cannot allay bitter personal hatred. Ambulances, with the blood dripping between their boards from the wounds of the poor sufferers inside, were hurrying to the rear. The low groans and the piercing shrieks that issued from the vehicles, as the victims were shaken about by the wheels getting into some deep slough, or bumping against a tree, pierced the very marrow in my bones. A long line of these wagons was continually hurrying from the field to the hos- pitals. In passing one of these, I was stopped Ky an angry alterca- tion going on inside. The ambulance was stopped, and the two wounded men, one of whom was a rebel, the other a Federal, were found to be engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand encounter. We wrenched the bayonets from their hands. SCENES AMONG THE DEAD AND WOUNDED. 177 " Shame, shame ! " I exclaimed, " for wounded men thus to butcher one another. You should not forget you are enemies no longer." "Should we, indeed ?" exclaimed the Federal soldier. "I hain't forgot it, though. I hain't forgot this here scoundrel burnt the house over my wife and children up in Tennessee ; he may thank his stars this leg and arm are shattered, or I'd have pinned him to the wagon here." It was true. The man's leg and arm were broken, and had afterwards to be amputated. " O, you are a fine fellow," sneered the other, who could scarcely speak from a bullet- wound through the chest. " Only for this ugly hole in my lungs, we'd see who could crow. I am a poor wounded prisoner now. You can do as you like, but if we met up in Tennessee, when you were on my track with your bloodhound, it would be different. Answell, did you not kill my brother and my father? and why should not I look for vengeance ? " " If I did, it was in fair fight. There was nothing of your d — n skulking, murdering tricks about it." Seeing the angry feeling between the two men, and that nothing but more blood could satisfy it, we removed one of them to another ambulance. Behind the ambulances were the stretcher-bearers removing the wounded from the field. The stretchers were dripping with . blood ; and as they deposited their gory burdens, some were senseless, some speechless, others cheerful, and conversing about the battle, treating their wounds very lightly. On the other hand, some who were not dangerously wounded were limping along on their muskets, hobbling to the rear. It was no unusual sight to see a Federal soldier kindly leaning on the arm of a Confederate one, who was less wounded than himself. These men appeared on the best possible terms, and almost wondered why they should be fighting against each other. As one had a canteen, they took several pulls out of it, and tnen stopped, and discussed its merits. On the whole, some of 178 Sherman's march through the south. these appeared to be the best possible friends. I met one stretcher carrying a very fine young rebel soldier. Beside it was a sergeant, who, as the bearers laid down their burden, wiped the death-damp from his brow, and gave him a drink from his canteen. The sergeant seemed to suffer as much agony as the mute soldier on the stretcher. I found they were brothers from Tennessee, and had now, for the first and last time, met in four years. The elder brother, who was now on the stretcher, was in business in Augusta at the breaking out of the war, and, of course, joined the rebel army ; the other, who remained at home, joined the Federal army. In the charge on the works, the sergeant had shot down this young fellow, who daringly placed the rebel colors on our works. He then recognized him as his elder brother. I knew another case in this fight where the father shot his own son. When the rebels were charging upon our lines, a young officer at their head was conspicuous for the desperate bravery with which he was leading on his men. "Will one of you shoot him down? or we are undone," exclaimed the officer in command. A sergeant, who was remarkable for his crack shot, took deliberate aim, and shot the rebel officer ; his men gave way, and we occupied the ground. The dying officer was brought within our lines, and the sergeant found that he was his only son whom he had left in business down in Charleston at the breaking out of the war. This was too much for the wretched father ; so in the grand charge that soon followed, he was conspicuous, and, with a frantic desperation, rushed right upon the enemy, and fell with his body actually perforated with bullets. I will relate another case, of an Irishman who came to this country in search of a long absent brother. One was north, ths other south, and both joined the contending armies. THE GERMAN BROTHERS. 179 The day after the battle, a flag of truce was sent out in order to bur J the dead. Our Irish friend was among the parties detailed ; and in one of the bodies brought for interment he discovered his long-lost brother. Another was the case of two Germans. One of our men, detailed for hospital duty, had a young soldier brought in to. his care, whose leg had been just amputated. The poor youth was still delirious, and dreamed and talked of absent friends in Rhineland. Then he commenced raving about Karl, a long absent brother, whom his parents commissioned him to find in America. "0, mine Gott ! " exclaimed Karl, covering his face with his hands, " but he is mine broder." And it was thus they met for the first time since Karl left the other, a prattling babe in the old home on the Rhine. All KarFs care could not save him ; but he was conscious before he died, and had the poor satisfaction of knowing Karl, and having a good talk about the old folks, and the grape- clad cottage overlooking the river. Karl heard his last sigh breathed, and bore his last wish to those at home. He had his body interred beneath a branching cedar, and placed a slab at his head, to tell his name and how he died. This even was a satisfaction to poor Karl, for he felt that his brother was not huddled into the common pit, where hundreds are flung in to rot together, but had a decent grave to himself. It is an aflecting sight to witness the removal of the dead and wounded from a battle-field, and the manner in which the foKmer are interred. In some cases, deep pits are sunk, and, perhaps, a hundred or more bodies are flung promiscuously into it, as if no one owned them, or cared for them. In other cases, where the bodies had been recognized, they were buried with some semblance of decency. I was once riding with a column over a battle-field, in which the skeletons of the hastily buried dead were partly exposed. The arm and hand of a man protruded from one of thesei sunken graves. 180 Sherman's march through the south. " Arrah, Bill," exclaimed one Irishman to another, " could you tell me what that man has his hand up for ? " " Faith, in troth, I don't know, if it ain't for his back pay and bounty," was the reply. I have often met skeletons in the woods, with the bones stretched out, and the old rotten knapsacks under the heads, and the remnants of the clothes still clinging around the bones. These were poor fellows who got wounded in the heat of battle, and retired to the shelter of the forest. Here they lay ; and not being discovered, and being unable to get away, they died, inch by inch, for carrion birds to pick their bodies. What must be the suffering of these poor fellows, with their festering wounds, crawling with maggots, without a hand to tend them, without a drop of water to cool their parched lips, with the ravens and turkey-buzzards croaking around them, watching, until they would be too helpless to defend themselves, to pounce on them, and pluck out their eyes, or drag the quivering flesh from their frames. I have seen others, particularly at the battle of Chancellors- ville, who fell, wounded, out in the woods, and who were burned up when the woods took fire, and whom we could not assist, as the rebel skirmishers and sharpshooters took down every man who dared to put out his head. Their shrieks and groans, as they writhed in the fiery furnace, still ring in my ears. DEFENCES OF ATLANTA. 181 CHAPTEH XVI. UNSUCCESSFUL CAVALRY RAIDS OF McCOOK AND STONEMAN— CHANGE OF COMMANDERS. -HOWARD'S APPOINTMENT AND HOOKER'S RESIGNATION.- THE BATTLE OF PROCTOR'S CREEK. Hood's attempt on our left being frustrated, he fell back to his inner line of works, while our lines tightened upon him at all points. The works around Atlanta were of the most for- midable nature. Deep lines of intrenchments, with forts and gabions, pro- tected by palisades, chevaux-de-frise, and pits, in their front, faced us on all sides. In these were several sallying-points, from which the skirmishers and sharpshooters could deploy. Sherman too well comprehended the impossibility of taking such works by assault ; so he devised a new plan of action. He issued an order to the army of the Tennessee to be ready to vacate its line, and to shift by the right flank below Proctor's Creek, and move to our extreme right. At the same time Generals Schofield and Thomas extended their line towards the Augusta road. Sherman's intentions were to swing the army to the rear of Hood, so as to operate on the East Point road. At the same time he had in operation a great cavalry raid on the enemy's rear. To General Stoneman he gave the command of his own ond General Gerrard's cavalry, making an effective force of about five thousand men ; and to General McCook he assigned the command of the cavalry returned by Kousseau, under com- mand of Colonel Harrison, and the 8th Indiana cavalry, mak- ing an aggregate of four thousand, or a total of about nine thousand cavalry. With these two formidable bodies, which were to act in 16 182 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. concert, — StODcman to the left of Atlanta, by McDonough Sta- tion, and McCook on Fayetteville, — he expected to whip "Wheeler's cavalry, and destroy the remaining routes to Atlanta by railroad. General Stoneman requested permission to be allowed to proceed to Macon and Anderson to release the Fed- eral prisoners confined in those prisons. Sherman left this at his own discretion, in case he felt he was able to do so after the defeat of Wheeler's cavalry, but, at the same time, allowing Gerrard's cavalry to fall back in time to cover his flank. Both cavalry expeditions started at the same time, and both proved more or less a failure. McCook succeeded in returning with his command, but with a heavy loss of both men and ma- terial. Stoneman had the most of his command cut up or captured, while he himself remained a prisoner in the hands of the enemy. Before I proceed with the siege of Atlanta, I will give a short account of those two expeditions, as they form an im- portant part of the campaign. McGooh*s Cavalry Baid, On the morning of the 27th July, General McCook broke camp at Mason's Seminary, near Sweetwater To^vn, on the Chattahoochee. His command consisted of two brigades, com- manded by Colonel Cloxton and Lieutenant Colonel Torrey, and also Colonel Harrison's command, which had lately returned from Rousseau's raid, and comprised the 8th Indiana, 2d Ken- tucky, 5th Iowa, 4th Tennessee, and 9th Ohio. McCook crossed Sweetwater on the main road leading to Villaricka. After meeting some slight resistance in crossing the Chatta- hoochee, the command moved on two parallels for Palmetto, skirmishing with Armstrong's brigade all the way. At Palmetto they tore up about two miles of the railroad, and burned about fifty railroad cars, a large supply of commis- sary stores, and over five hundred bales of cotton. They next struck for Lovejoy, over nasty broken roads and a very densely wooded country. On the morning of the 29th M 'cook's raid. 183 they surprised a large baggage train, and burned about one hundred and fifty wagons, and shot about six hundred mules. Generals Hardee, Loring, and Stewart's headquarter wagons were among the lot. They next struck Fayetteville, where they captured over four hundred men and ofiicers, and thence marched for Lovejoy, on the Macon line, destroying about two miles of the track and telegraph wire. According to the programme laid down by Sherman, Stone- man and McCook were to form a junction on the night of July 28th, on the Macon road, near Lovejoy, and effectually de- stroy it. McCook now found that a large cavalry force intervened be- tween himself and Stoneman, while another force was pressing on his rear, thus preventing the possibility of a junction ; so he h^d to wheel by the flank for Newman. Near Lovejoy, the 8th Iowa became engaged with the. ene- my, and was soon supported by the whole brigade. Kelly's rebel brigade had encountered them, and a sharp fight ensued, with little advantage at either side. McCook crossed the Flint River, near Whitewater Creek, without opposition, though the enemy was all the time hanging on his flank and rear. Near Glen Grove, the 4tli Kentucky, which formed the rear guard, and was commanded by Lieuten- ant Colonel Kelly, was attacked by two brigades of cavalry, and after making a desperate stand, was repulsed with considerable loss. The main body was all this time too hotly pressed to come to their relief. Early next morning, August 1, the advance struck Newman, but was there confronted with Roddy's command, of about one thousand infantry, to which command he had been lately transferred. These were on their way to Atlanta, to reenforce Hood, and took up a position commanding the main road, along which McCook was marching. The rebel cavalry were now pressing McCook on all sides, with Roddy blocking up his advance — rather his retreat. The 2d Kentucky were deployed to open the road to the left of the town, so as to allow the main body to swing round on Roddy's flank, and 184 Sherman's march through the south. force a passage towards the river. Major Starr commanded th^s brilliant, destructive, but successful charge. After cutting through Roddy's lines, they were confronted by a new line, of dismounted cavalry. Captain Mitchell, of McCook's staff, here came up with reenforcements, and both combined charged on the second line, and, after repeated assaults and repulses, suc- ceeded in breaking it. The second brigade had now formed line in advance, and encountered an assault of the enemy, which was sustained with desperate force, both by their mounted and dismounted cavalry. General McCook, finding himself sorely pressed, ordered his ambulances and prisoners into a valley, under cover. The 8th Iowa made here another charge, but, not being supported, were mostly all captured. In their former charge they captured Brigadier General Ross. The enemy had now almost encircled McCook, who, seeing his desperate situation, threw forward a heavy line of dis- mounted skirmishers, supported by mounted men, and a section of artillery. Our batteries opened a heavy fire of canister on the rebels, checking their advance. A desperate assault, headed by Colonel Harrison, and Gen- eral McCook's staff, was now made, which succeeded in repuls- ing the enemy ; but, unfortunately, the brave Colonel Harrison fell into their hands. The enemy soon rallied, and swept down upon our front. General McCook ordered the 2d Indiana cavalry to meet the charge, which they did with good effect. The enemy were closing in their circle, and McCook, finding there was no other way of escape but by cutting his way through, spiked his guns, released his prisoners, abandoned his wairons and ambulances, and rallied his command for one final charge. It was gallantly made and desperately sustained ; but though hundreds fell, the main part succeeded in cutting their way through and through. McCook, with his shattered command, succeeded in crossing stoneman's raid. 185 the Chattahoochee, near Bushy Creek, and reached Marietta on the 3d of August, with about sixteen hundred men. Large squads came in for days afterwards ; but numbers, including one whole regiment, had been picked up by the enemy. Stoneman*s Raid, Major Greneral Stoneman started from Decatur on the morn- ing of the 27th July, with the following forces : — First brigade, commanded by Colonel Adams ; the second brigade, comprising the 5th and 6th Indiana, Colonel Biddle ; the 14th Illinois, 8th Michigan, and McLouglilan's Ohio squad- ron, formed the third brigade, commanded by Colonel Capron. The command took the Georgia Railroad, towards Coving-' ton, thence south by Monticello, capturing a large number of horses, and about three hundred negroes, whom they mounted on the prizes. At Macon a battalion of the 14th Illinois made a dash on a station called Gordon, near the Oconee River, destroying eleven locomotives and several trains loaded with quartermasters' and commissary stores. When near Macon, General Stoneman learned that all the prisoners had been sent to Charleston the day previous, and the garrison considerably reenforced. Up to this he had encoun- tered very little resistance, but now he found a strong garrison in his front, with cavalry wheeling on his flank and rear. Stoneman sent out heavy skirmish lines to develop the enemy's strength, but soon encomitered General Iverson's cavalry in force. This was between Clinton and Hillsborough, and about fifteen miles from Macon. The country around here was very unfavorable for cavalry operations, and he soon found Allan's brigade of infantry had wheeled on his flank, and taken up position on the main road, thus cutting off his retreat. Armstrong's brigade of cavalry, comprising the 1st aid 2d Kentucky, had wheeled in on his left flank, thus completely hemming him in. The 1st and 2d Kentucky, of Adams's bri- gade, encountered their rebel namesakes, and both fought with 16* 18(3 Sherman's march through the south. ftll the desperation of contending soldiei*s, embittered "by personal animosities. Stoneman now dismounted some of his troops, ■who repeatedly charged the enemy in front, but "were each time repulsed. A panic seemed to seize the troops on all sides. The}' Avere n\llied by Stoneman and staff, who charged at theh* head, but were driven back in disorder. Soon the enemy dashed on his flanks, while the infantry and a battery kept SAveepiug the lines in front. Despite the example and exhortations of their officers, the men refused to charge. Major Keogli, of Stoneman's staff, dashed in front, trying to rally the men ; and having partially succeeded, went right upon the enemy, but was met by a deri- sive cheer and sweeping lire. He Avas soon deserted, except by some officers. This small, Spartan band swept down upon the enemy, and for a moment appeared successful ; but many a saddle having been emptied, the gallant few returned, among whom was their brave leader, Major Keogh. The enemy were now sweeping the lines on all sides with artillery, infantry, and ca^-alry. The led horses broke loose, and the frightened negroes rushed frantically about, adding con- siderably to the confusion. Stoneman now ordered aU the commanders to rally their troops, and cut their way through as well as they could ; as for himself, he was resolved on surrendering. Several remonstrated, stating there was yet a chance of making their escape ; but he could not be prevailed on to do so. Major Iveogh and sev- eral more i-efused to abandon him, though they saw a prospect of escape. Colonel Adams and his brigade made an escape almost intact. Colonel Caprou's brigade also made its escape, but halted at night, and overpcrvN'ered by sleep and fatigue, and, I feai*, by something stronger, too, they slept so soundly that they only awoke in the morning to the clangor and clash of arms. Thev had neither sentries, pickets, nor patroles out ; or, if thev had, they slept so soundly that they did not feel the rebel cavali-y sweeping over them. FAILURE OP STONEMAN'S RAID. 187 One scene of mid confnsion followed ; men jnmped from Ilieir sleep and rubbed their eyes, but were soon cleft down, while others awoke in the other world. The majority of the brigade was either captured or slain ; only a small portion made their escape. It is said that General Stoneman sat down on a tree and wept. This raid liad proved a great failure, McCook succeeded in doing material injury to the enemy, and, though surrounded, cutting his way through, saving the most of his command. Stoneman appeared to have got into a perfect trap, while his men became unmanageable. Indeed, some accounts state that they imbibed too freely the apple-jack and peach brandy with which the citizens lib- erally supplied them. Somehow there appeared to be a want of cooperation among the different raiding parties that started under such favorable auspices ; the only one that succeeded effectually being that of Rousseau, who went out on his own responsibility. There was to be a joint cooperation between McCook, Stoneman, and Gerrard. McCook owed his safety to desperate fighting. General Gerrard moved to Flat Rock, to cover Stoneman's movement to McDonough. Here Stoneman was to join him ; but he wheeled off towards Covington, and Gerrard had to return. Thus the three columns were isolated, and afforded an easy prey to the enemy, who seemed perfectly aware of our movements, and was fully prepared to meet them. Since the fight of the 22d, no important movements took place in Atlanta. The usual daily amount of skirmishing and artillery firing continued. We had pushed our works quite close to the rebels at several points, and had got our lines pretty well around Atlanta. Hood must have been considerably weak- ened after his late assaults on our lines. The battles of the 20th and 22d fully proved our superiority over the rebels in fair, open fight. Though, in both cases, they took us partly by surprise, unprotected by defensive works of any amount, which gave them a decided advantage in the beginning of the fight. 188 Sherman's march. through the south. yet they were ultimately repulsed with wholesale slaughter. Had we got such an advantage over them, we would have broken through their lines, crushed in their flanks, and swept them before us. In the mountain regions, jungles, and defiles, through which we had passed, their natural strongholds, aided by formidable works, enabled them to annoy and often to repulse our advancing columns ; but here the tables were turned. Hood was forced to come out of his intrenchments and fight us on open ground, or give us the chance of doing, what we ultimately did, namely, wheel round to our right and destroy the only running line of communication he had open. About this time some important changes were made in com- manders. Major General O. O. Howard was appointed to the command of the army of the Tennessee, in place of the lamented General McPherson. General Howard had seen much service, both in the army of the Potomac and in the western armies. He served all through the peninsular campaign, and lost his right arm at Fair Oaks. He also commanded at Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettys- burg. Since his transfer to the western army, he served through all its trying campaigns, and confirmed his high reputation as a brave and eflicient general. He succeeded General Granger in the command of the 4th corps, and served with Sherman all through the desperate and protracted campaign from Chattanooga, in which his noble corps took a leading part, hanging fiercely on the enemy's rear in their retreat from Rocky Face Ridge to Resaca. General Howard is not only a cautious general, but also a thorough patriot and practical soldier. Kind and cour- teous to all, his orders are obeyed with alacrity, while his Christian example has had a most salutary effect on his com- mand. General Joe Hooker, feeling slighted at Howard's appoint- ment, who was his junior, resigned. There is but one opinion regarding Hooker while serving in the western armies. No man could do better. His gallant corps, the 20th, distinguished itself in the present campaign^ and CHAI^GB OP COMMANDERS. 189 has suffered fearfully. Since the day it stormed the granite heights of Lookout Mountain, until it hurled back the rebel tide at Peach-tree Creek, it knew no rest. His men were devotedly attached to him, and actually wept when he left. The command of the dth corps now devolved on Major Gen- eral Stanly, a well-tried and efficient officer. Stanly was best known as a cavalry officer ; in this branch he had few su- periors. He distinguished himself with the 4th corps in its many fights, and commanded that corps at the desperate battle of Franklin, where he got wounded through the neck. Major General Slocnm was appointed to the command of the 20th corps. General Slocum was then in Vicksburg, in the capture of which city he took a prominent part. General Slocum's reputation was best known in conjunction with the old 12th corps, which he commanded in many a stubborn battle in Virginia and Maryland. His services in the west, though of recent date, had so far won the admiration of General Sherman that he at once had him appointed to the command of the 20th corps. General Williams was now com- manding the corps in his absence. General Palmer also resigned the command of the 14th corps, and General Jefferson C. Davis was promoted to that command. General Davis was a dashing officer ; but his unfortunate affair with the hectoring bully Nelson seemed to retard his career. The Augusta line was now thoroughly broken up for miles, cross-ties burned, and rails bent in all kinds of fantastic shapes. There was no danger that it could be replaced, and Sherman's object was to extend his right flank, so as to command the Macon line, on the western side of Atlanta. The array of the Tennessee broke camp on our extreme left flank on the night of the 26th, and noiselessly marched around our lines to the extreme right, to operate on the Macon and Atlanta Railroad. Schofield now refused the left of his line, and Kirby's and Taylor's brigades of the 4th corps took up position on his extreme left, partly en icAelon, occupying the 190 Sherman's march through the south. old line of rebel works, thus preventing all chances of a flank movement by the enemy on that point. On the morning of the 27th Major General Howard received his appointment as commander of the department of the Tennessee, and, accompanied by his personal staff and his brother Colonel Howard, who had served i beside him from the first Bull Run battle to the present time, proceeded to take charge of his new command, now in line of march, and make preparations for the coming battle, which appeared imminent. Dodge's corps alone arrived in time to take up position on the evening of the 27th. General Howard, in person, located them on the right, and considerably in advance of the 14th corps, which had formed our extreme right. Early next morning Blair took position on the right of the 16th corps, thus extending our line within a few miles of the Macon line. Logan took position on the right of Blair, but so refused as to cover the right flank and prevent a repetition of the 22d. Davis's old division of the 14th corps was expected up to cover the right flank, but did not arrive in time. Howard's line now was something in the shape of a horse- shoe, mth the toe to the enemy, and resting on a wooded ridge with partly open fields in front. Howard, finding the enemy making demonstrations, and fearing that they would strike him before he got into position, had to move cautiously until he occupied the hill, which he at once intrenched. A rebel battery was all this time playing on his advance. General Logan was ordered to capture this. Logan threw for- ward his skirmish lines, and his sharpshooters soon silenced the guns ; he also soon brought a battery to bear on that point. General Howard, finding the rebels massing in his front, with the evident intention of trying his flank, sent out his escort as vedettes, for he had no cavalry, to watch the enemy's move- ments. About 10 o'clock he went to the right to reconnoitre, and try to ascertain the point where the enemy were likely to assault. On his right was an open plain, which his artillery commanded ; so he felt satisfied they could not charge over that. Soon after the enemy, in massed columns, burst on Logan's REPULSE OP THE REBELS. 191 front. Two regiments, which Logan had sent out to capture the guns, were first struck, and fell back to the main lines. This encouraged the enemy to follow up the assault at this point. General Howard ordered up his reserve to support Logan, and prolong his right for fear of being turned. The attack on Logan was fierce and heavy. One continual fire of musketry and artillery ran along his line. The enemy, though repeatedly repulsed, still continued to charge upon his lines, where they were literally mowed down ; some being bay- oneted, others clubbed. After every assault they fell back, leaving in our hands tro- phies, such as colors captured, officers, and men. This desperate conflict contmued, with slight intermission, from 11 to near 4. The muskets of the troops got foul several times from the rapid firing, and regiment after regiment, brigade after brigade, and division after division, had to be replaced. After sustaining several heavy repulses, and being severely cut up and exhausted, the rebels fell back, leaving their dead and wounded, several stands of colors, and a large number of prisoners in our hands. General Logan handled his troops admirably, behaving with great gallantry, and exposing himself to the enemy's fire. After the battle, as he and General How- ard were riding along the lines, they were received with loud cheers. The attack was chiefly confined to Logan's corps. Blair and Dodge were only partially engaged, just enough to cause a di- version in favor of Logan. The heaviest fighting was along the Lick Skillet road, which was occupied by Stewart's and Lee's corps. Our loss, all counted, was calculated at about one thou- sand. The rebel loss I should set down as over three thousand. Amcng their wounded were Lieutenant Generals Stewart and Loring, also Brigadier Generals Rector, Sphral, Brown, Rnd WalthalL 192 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER XVII. SHELLING ATLANTA. — A SCOUT'S EXPERIENCE OF HANGING.— THE LADY MAJOR. While Howard's engagement was raging on our right, a vigorous demonstration was taking place along our lines ; the artillery had opened with shot and shell upon the city. Our skirmishers pressed on the enemy's at various points. Indeed, the skirmishing in front of the 4th corps swelled almost into the maujiiitude of a battle. Major General Stanly brought his artillery into position, and kept up a warm fire. General Thomas J. Wood's division captured the rifle-pits in his front, one line of works, and about fifty prisoners. From several points along the lines we could plainly see the doomed city, with the smoke of burning houses and bursting shells enveloping it in one black canopy, hanging over it like a funeral pall. The scene at night was sublimely grand and terrific ! The din of artillery rang on the night air. In front of General Geary's headquarters was a prominent hill, from which we had a splendid view of the tragedy enacting before us. One night I sat there with the general and staff, and several other-officers, while a group of men sat near us enjoying the scene, and spec- ulating on the effects of the shells. It was a lovely, still night, with the stars twinkling in the sky. The lights from the camp- fires along the hills and valleys, and from amidst the trees, glimmered like the gas-lights of a city in the distance. We could see the dark forms reclining around them, and mark the solemn tread of the sentinel on his beat. A rattle of musketry rang from some point along the line. It was a false alarm. ATLANTA SHELLED. 193 The men for a, moment listened, and then renewed their song and revelry, which was for a while interrupted. The song, and music, and laughter floated to our ears from the city of camps, that dotted the country all round. Sherman had lately ordered from Chattanooga a battery of four and a half inch rifles, and these were trying their metal on the city. Several batteries, forts, and bastions joined in the fierce cho- rus. Shells flew from the batteries, up through the air, whiz- zing and shrieking, until they reached a point over the devoted city, when down they went, hurling the fragments, and leaving in their train a balloon-shaped cloud of smoke. From right, and left, and centre flew these dread missiles, all converging toAvards the city. From our commanding position we could see the flash from the guns, then the shells, with their burning fuses, hurtling through the air like flying meteors. "• I hain't no objection to be out of that 'ere place," said a soldier in the group near us, who were also intently looking on. *' E-ather hot, I guess," said another. " A little too much so to be healthy, I reckon," was the response. " What matter whether one is killed there or here ? We must all die when our time comes," said a fatalist. " I have no objection to wait for my time, and not go meet it half ways," said the general's cook. " You," said a patriot, with disdain, " you don't feel that it is sweet to die for one's country." ""Be gor, then, as for myself, I'd sooner live for my country, any day, than die for it," replied a wit from the Emerald Isle. "Where is the diiFerence?" replied the fatalist, who also ap- peared to be something of a deist, " we are all born to die ; and must die ; death is but a sleep, a rest. What does it mat- ter whether we sleep to-night or twenty years hence ? We can't die until our time comes." " Then you think that we will all die at a certain time?" " Certainly," replied the fatalist, gravely. " Bosh ! then do you mean to tell me that all the men that 17 194 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. have been killed in this war would die, had they remained at home ? " " Certainly not ; but the war was made for them, or, rather, they for the war ; so they could not avoid it ; it is all fate." "By George, I believe you're right," said another ; " at the battle of Resaea my musket dropped out of my hand, and I stooped to pick it up, and a cannon ball came over my head, killing the two men behind me." " All chance ; nothing more." This philosophical conversation might have continued much longer, had not a dark volume of smoke shot up from the city in one vast spiral column ; and then came a dead, heavy, rum- bling report. One of the arsenals was blown up by a shell. This was followed by a fierce fire, which shot up, almost simul- taneously, in diiferent points. A cheer came from our batteries, and was taken up along the whole line. " War is a cruelty," said the general beside me ; '^ we know not how many innocents are now sufiering in this miserable city." " I'm dog gone if I like it," said a soldier, slapping his brawny hand upon his thigh ; "I can fight my weight of rattle- snakes, scaramouches, or sneaking rebels ; but this thing of smoking out women and children, darn me if it's fair." " Psha ! " exclaimed an orderly near us, on whom the general placed great reliance as a scout, and who went through some hair-breadth escapes ; " the women are the worst of them ; one of them put the rope once on my neck to hang me." " Indeed ! how was that, Beutley?" " At the battle of Peach-tree Creek I got captured, and was brought before General Hood to be pumped ; and as he could not get anything out of me, he had ordered me back to the other prisoners, when an officer, attended by an escort, rode up and saluted the general. "'Ha! Mademoiselle Major, how do you do?' replied the general, doffing his hat. " ' Well, general ; ' and she jumped off her horse, throwing the bridle to her orderly, and politely returned the salute. "The she-major was strangely dressed; she wore a cap THE LADY MAJOR; 195 decked with feathers and gold lace, flo\ving pants, mth a full kind of velvet coat coming just below her hips, and fastened with a rich crimson sash, and partly open at the bosom. *' In her belt she carried a revolver, and by her side a regula- tion SAvord. I looked at her ; her features were rather sun- burned, giving her a manly appearance. Only for her voluptuous bust, little hands, and peculiar airs, I might have taken her to be a very handsome little officer of the masculine gender. " As I gazed at her, she looked full into my face ; and tnrning to the general, she pointed her whip at me, and asked, ' Who is that fellow, general ? ' " ' A prisoner that has just come in — a dunce ; I couldn't get a word ont of him.' " ' Indeed, general, that is a spy ; * and she again pointed her whip at me. " ' O, no ; he is only just brought in captured.' " ' That may be ; but he is a spy. I saw him at General Johnston's, one day, and he was full of lying information, which cost the general many a life.' " ' Is that so ? ' said the general. " ' On my honor ; come here, Hartly ; ' and she called over her orderly. ' Did you ever see that man before?' *' ' Yes, Mademoiselle Major.' "'Where?' *' ' At General Johnston's, where he was giving" information as a scout.' " ' What have you to say to all this, my man? ' said the gen- eral. " I had nothing to say, for it wns true. " 'What shall I do with him ; shall I hang him?' said the general. "• ' Give him to me,' said she, with a sweet smile ; 'I am going to General Johnston's ; it might be well to take him there.' " ' I make you a present of him,' said the general. " After spending some time with the general in the tent, she came out, and placing me between herself and her orderly, rode off. When, she came into the wood, she and her orderly alighted, 196 Sherman's march through the south. and she pulled out from under her dress a strong, but fine, rope. " ' Sneaking dog of a Yankee ! * she exclaimed, looking at me with a vengeful eye, ' you hung the only man I ever loved ; I swore I'd have vengeance. I have had it ; but I have it doubly now, by giving you a similar death.' " My hands, all this time, were firmly tied, so I was poT\'er- less. While the orderly stood with a pistol before me, she tied the rope firmly around my neck, giving it several good pulls, to make sure it was all right. They then helped me to get up on the saddle of one of the horses, so as to have a fall, while the orderly proceeded up the tree to tie the rope to a limb. " Now was my time. While the orderly was climbing, I flung my two hands across the rope, and snatched it from him, jumped into the saddle, and drove my heels furiously into the horse's side, which made him plunge and rear. She held him bravely with one hand, while pulling out her pistol with the other. Before she could fire, I got a chance, and struck her with my heavy boot right in the face, spoiling her beauty, and giving the dentist a job. She fell. The horse bounded off with me, and I escaped. " After that, I believe I would swear against women in gen- eral, had not a woman saved my life in return. '' I could not get ofi" the mule chain with which she fastened my hands, though I tugged until the blood was oozing out of them, and my teeth filed almost to the gums. The cord, too, was so firmly tied to my neck that I could not get rid of it. There I was, like a half-strangled whelp, with all my creden- tials about me. I had no control over my horse ; so, fearing that he would take me back to the rebel lines, I slipped from him, and skulked away as well as I could. I got into a little by-road, and thought I would venture up to a shanty where I saw some nigger children playing around the door. They ran in, frightened, when they saw my hands tied, and I trailing my rope. " I followed them in, when — heavens, how I shook ! — there were two rebel soldiers, drinking some whiskey. THE COMPASSIONATE LADY. 197 " * Hilloo ! * said one, ' here is a d — d Yank, that cheated the gallows ; well, I hain't against a man settling his accounts ; so we'll take care of him until he gets another swing.' " They questioned me, and taunted me with brutal jeers and laughs. " At length they took me away ; and not having enough of whiskey to get there, they called to another house for more. To make the more sure of me, they locked me into a dark room without any window, so that I could not possibly escape, while they were enjoying their debauch. " For a time I heard the drunken soldiers, noisy, and sing- ing ; and then they evidently had fallen asleep, for I heard their loud snores. "It was now a bit into the night. I presumed they had made up their minds to remain where they were ; so I threw myself down, and tried to sleep. Though death stared me in the face, I had fallen into a sound slumber, when I felt myself gently shook by the shoulder. I looked up, saying, ' I'm ready ; ' but instead of the two drunken soldiers, a gentle young woman stood over me, with a shaded light in her hands. " ' Make no noise," she whispered, ' but get up.' I looked at her as I sat up. She took a knife and cut the cord from my neck, and then tried to open the chain. " ' Your poor hands are all torn,' said she, compassionately, as she unloosed the bloody chain. "'Alas! yes,' said I; 'but why do you try to save me?' "'Because I am a woman, and true to the instincts of a woman, which is to save and not to kill. Poor boy ! some sis- ter or mother would fret for you. If you should ever meet one in such a situation, do as much for him. Now go, but very quietly.' " ' But you ! will they hurt you ? ' " ' No, no. I know them ; it would not do for them to quar- rel with me ; follow me.' " I glided through the kitchen ; the two rebels were sleeping beside the fire. I passed out, then imprinted a grateful kiss upon my deliverer's cheek, fled, and got into camp next day." 17* 198 Sherman's march through the south. CHAPTER XVIII. THE SIEGE CONTINUED. — SHAEPSHOOTERS FRATERNIZING. — A MILITARY GAME OF CHESS BETWEEN SHERMAN AND HOOD.— SHERMAN WINS THE GAME, AND ATLANTA TOO. — CAVALRY RAIDS OF KILPATRICK AND WHEELER. — THE DECISIVE BAT- TLE OF JONESBORO'. — ATLANTA OCCUPIED BY OUR TROOPS. In the beginning of August, the fighting around Atlanta had settled down to a regular siege. Every day had its skirmish- ing, its artillery duels, and an assault and repulse. Like another Troy, the enemy fought outside their walls and intrenchments, and many an amusing combat took place, particularly between the skirmishers. I have often seen a rebel and a Federal soldier making right for the same rifle-pit, their friends on both sides loudly cheering them on. As they would not have time to fight, they reserved their fire until they got into the pit, when woe betide the laggard, for the other was sure to pop him as soon as he got into cover. Sometimes they got in together, and then came the tug of war ; for they fought for possession with their bayonets and closed fists. In some cases, however, they made a truce, and took joint possession of it. It was no unusual thing to see our pickets and skirmishers enjoying themselves very comfortably with the rebels, drinking bad whiskey, smoking and chewing worse tobacco, and trading coffee and other little articles. The rebels had no coffee, and our men plenty, while the rebels had plenty of whiskey ; so they very soon came to an understanding. It was strange to see these men, who had been just pitted in deadly conflict, trading, and bantering, and chatting, as if they were the best friends in the world. They discussed a battle with the same gusto they would a cock-fight, or horse-race, and made inquiries about their TRADE BETWEEN YANKEES AND REBELS. 199 friends, as to who was killed, and who not, in the respective armies. Friends that have been separated for years have met in this way. Brothers who parted to try their fortune have often met on the picket line, or on the battle-field. I once met a Ger- man soldier with the head of a dying rebel on his lap. The stern veteran was weeping, whilst the boy on his knee looked pityingly into his face. They were speaking in German, and from my poor knowledge of the language, all I could make out was, that they were brothers ; that the elder had come out here several years before ; the younger followed him, and being in- formed that he was in Macon, he went in search of him, and got conscripted ; while the elder brother, who was in the north all the time, joined our army. The young boy was scarcely twenty, with light hair, and a soft, fair complexion. The pallor of death was on his brow, and the blood was flowing from his breast, and gurgled in his throat and mouth, which the other wiped away with his handkerchief. When he could speak, the dying youth's conversation was of the old home in Germany, of his brothers and sisters, and dear father and mother, who were never to see him ao^ain. In those improvised truces, the best possible faith was observed by the men. These truces were brought about chiefly in the fol- lowing manner. A rebel, who was heartily tired of his crippled position in his pit, would call out, "I say, Yank ! " " Well, Johnny Reb," would echo from another hole or tree. " I'm going to put out my head ; don't shoot." " Well, I won't." The reb would pop up his head ; the Yank would do the same. " Hain't you got any coffee, Johnny?" " Na'r a bit, but plenty of rot-gut." " All right ; we'll have a trade." They would meet, while several others would follow the ex- ample, until there would be a regular bartering mart established. In some cases the men Avould come to know each other so well, that they would often call out, — '' Look out, reb ; we're going to shoot," or, " Look out, Yank, we're going to shoot," as the case may be. 200 SHERMAN'S MAECH THROUGH THE SOUTH. On one occasion the men were holding a friendly reunion of this sort, when a rebel major came down in a great fury, and ordered the men back. As they were going back, he ordered, them to fire on the Federals. They refused, as they had made a truce. The major swore and stormed, and in his rage he snatched the gun from one of the men, and fired at a Federal soldier, wounding him. A cry of execration at such a breach of faith rose from all the men, and they called out, " Yanks, we couldn't help it." At night these men deserted into our lines, assigning as a reason, that they could not with honor serve any longer in an army that thus violated private truces. After their late bloody repulses, the rebels seemed to lose heart altogether, and the desertions were very numerous. While on the Chattahoochee, a camp of rebel conscripts on the Hen- dersonsville road, seven miles from Atlanta, was abandoned, and nearly five hundred of them came into our lines. As I have said before, we had now settled down to a regular siege, pounding away at the beleaguered city on eyery side. Hood had his intrenchments and forts garrisoned with militia, conva- lescents, and some worthless conscripts, and had kept the veteran troops on hand to operate when required ; they, having the arc of a circle to act on, could hurriedly move from point to point. Our heavy shelling was regularly replied to, by the enemy, who revealed some heavy guns. I weighed one projectile ; it weighed sixty-four pounds. It had plunged in among our tents at General Thomas J. Wood's headquarters, but fortunately did not burst, but made a regular fuss and a scare, kicking up a whole lot of puddle ; in fact, conducting itself like a miniature vol- cano. General Sherman, finding that the right of the army of the Tennessee did not extend to the Western Kailroad, ordered General Schofield to shift from the extreme left to the right, and General Gerrard's cavalry to take up Schofield's place. Next he ordered the 14th corps to follow, and move in on the extreme right, below Utoy Creek. The aim of these movements was to get possession of the railroad between Atlanta and East Point. MILITARY GAME OP CHESS. 201 This accomplished, Atlanta should fall. Right before us, within a few miles of our lines, almost within reach of our guns, runs this great life artery of the rebel city. Once cut this jugular vein, and Atlanta speedily faUs. Sherman knew this welC and therefore turned all his attention to it ; the rebels knew it well, and therefore were exceedingly vigilant and active to resist all our attempts upon it. They left their strong works to be guard- ed by the militia and conscripts, and followed up our move- ments with the utmost promptness and daring. It was evident now that the battle would not come off before Atlanta. Per- haps Sherman could take it by direct assault ; but we had learned that assaults were always costly, even when successful. Sher- man was cautious and wary, pushing his skirmishers everywhere, beatmg aU bushes, and suspicious nooks and dells. Hood, on the other hand, was watchful to counteract any movement of his wily foe. It was a great game of chess. Hood had castled, and Sherman moved to checkmate him. This had continued so long that we were getting tired of it ; so the indication of a new move on Sherman's part was hailed mth delight. It ap- peared now that his tactics were to bring corps after° corps from the left to the right wing, in the hopes that the rebels would draw off their forces from the city to oppose us, and thus leave It open to attack on the north. But they, having the inner line and having been considerably reenforced, continued to keep their works strongly garrisoned, and also to confront us at every ad- vance we made on their flank. Hood also seemed perfectly conscious of all our movements, for when we threw a corps ' with the greatest celerity on their flank, he hurried heavy masses of troops to confront them. Their scouts must have been clev- erer than ours, or they were able to fathom our movements through the tangled woods and ravines of the country. On the 3d of August, General Schofield, having "gamed the north side of Utoy Creek, prepared to make a lodgment there. The creek is a deep, narrow channel, running east and west, four miles south of Atlanta. The banks of the creek are very steep, and their sides are tangled with vines and bushes. Hob- son's brigade, of HascaU's division, deployed, throwing their 202 Sherman's march through the south. fianks across the creek ; they soon became masters of the bridge, capturing a captain and his whole command. Had Schofield been supported next day by the 14th corps, he certainly would have succeeded in getting in on the railroad, as the rebels had not yet taken up position, or intrenched them- selves. But two days were lost in a squabble about precedency which gave the enemy full time to understand our move, and counteract it. General Palmer was ordered to report to General Schofield, while acting in concert with him. This he refused to do, and consequently the delay. It appears that Schofield was his junior; but a battle-field is no place to settle points of eti- quette. However, we had few such squabbles, as we were too far from Washington for intriguing generals to flourish. Palmer resigned, and Jefi* C. Davis took the command ; and on the morning of the 6th, the 23d corps wheeled to the right of the 14th, in order to attack the enemy's flank, and thus uncover the Macon line. On the previous day General Reilley's brigade attempted to force the rebel lines, and, after a stubborn fight, were repulsed, with considerable loss. Cox's division opened the attack early in the forenoon, and was supported by the 2d divisions of the 14th corps, and succeeded in establishing a line almost at right angles with the creek. A heavyskirmish line was then thrown out in the centre, com- manded by Lieutenant Colonel Mott, 12th Kentucky, and charged through a dense wood, though filled with rebel skirmishers, driving them from their pits in fine style ; but they were soon forced to retreat, as a heavy line opened upon them, and the rebels, charging over their works, pursued them. The 8th Tennessee, having got too far in advance, was sur- rounded, and mostly captured, with their colors. The 2d division sustained the 3d, and also lost heavily, with- out effecting any material injury on the enemy. We had gained no advantage at any point. We simply held the creek, with our right reaching within three miles of East Point, and about two miles from the railroad. KTLPATRICK S RAID. 203 After the fight, the 23d corps held a position nearly at right angles with the 14th corps, and facing southward, the 2d division slightly refused to protect the flank, and rested upon a strong and easily defensible ridge. Our works now in front of Atlanta were formidable, and held by very light lines. Indeed, they might be said to be impreg- nable. The same might be said of the rebel works confronting us. We were thus far fairly matched. On the 16th of August, General Sherman drew up his pro- gramme for the grand flank movement on the right, in order to command the western line, and thus control the supplies of the city. This was to commence on the 28th. This movement contemplated the withdrawal of the 20th corps to the intrenched positions around the Chattahoochee Bridge, and the march of the main army to the West Point Railroad, near Fairborn, and afterwards to the Macon road, near Jonesboro*, to start with fifteen days' provisions. A larhe force of almost seven thousand cavalry, had wheeled on our rear in order to cut off our supplies, and w^as operating near Adairsville, and had succeeded in capturing about eight hundred head of cattle. This movement induced Sherman to suspend the execution of his plan. He ordered General Kilpatrick, who had lately returned, recovered from his wounds, to collect all the cavalry he could, and move on West Point and Fairborn, and there break the railroad, and thence proceed to Macon. He could the easier do this, as Wheeler was raiding upon the Chattanooga line. KiJpatrick*s Raid. His forces comprised the 3d division of cavalry, over two thousand strong, and Minty's and Long's brigades, of the 2d cavalry division, about the same strength. Colonel Minty, in the absence of General Gerrard, com- manded the 2d division. The expedition started on the 18th of August for their rendezvous at Sandtown. 204 Sherman's march through the south. Colonel Minty broke camp, and made Sandtown, under shelter of the darkness, in order to cloak the movement from the enemy. To show how well informed the rebels were of all our movements, a letter was captured on the 20th, dated the 18th, giving Hood full particulars about the movement, its destination, and the force engaged. Minty arrived at Sandtown on the morning of the 19th, reported to General Kilpatrick, and received his orders. At night, the whole command, numbering five thousand men, started forward, striking for the AVest Point Railroad, near Fairborn. The rebel General Ross encountered the 3d division, and checked its advance. Minty and Long moved to the front, and slowly drove the enemy back on Flint River. Here the destruction of the bridge and depth of the stream checked our advance ; besides Ross's and Ferguson's brigades were draAvn up in line on the other side. Our artillery at once hurried up, and with the dismounted skirmishers, soon cleared the bank, and our troops crossed over. Minty hurried on to Jonesboro', a town on the Macon Rail- road, twenty miles south of Atlanta, the 4th Michigan covering his front as skirmishers. The rebels fell back to the shelter of the houses, from which they opened a sharp fire on Minty's advance. Minty brought up his artillery ; but the rebels vacated the houses, mounted, and rode away. Minty charged after them into the town. The third division quickly came up, and commenced destroying all rebel property, the depot, and some railroad stock. While so engaged, Ross and Ferguson, who had been reenforced by some infantry from Atlanta, at this time were forming south of them. Kilpatrick moved east, towards Lovejoy Station, with the purpose of destroying the railroad. As we were leaving Jonesboro', more infantry came in from Griffin. Next morning, the enemy followed us up. ktlpatrick's raid. 205 The 4th Michigan, having struck the railroad, commenced tearing it up ; the 4th regulars were sent out to support them. Before they could get into line, a brigade of infantry pounced down upon them, sweeping over them, killing, wounding, and capturing the most of those engaged in burning the tracks. Long's brigade immediately came up, with artillery, and re- pulsed the rebels. While engaged with the infantry, the rebel cavalry, compris- ing Ross's and Ferguson's brigades, swept down on our flanks. Minty's brigade hastily formed on the right of the road. The 3d brigade formed in the same manner on the left of the road. Kilpatrick was now completely surrounded. There was no- means of escape, but a sharp sabre, brave heart, and strong arm. Minty was ordered to charge. At the words, "Attention! forward! charge!" away went his brigade, followed by a host of darkies, on pack-mules, wlio, with kettles and pans rattling, and darkies flying for dear life, almost made the scene ludicrous as well as grand. On came Minty and his troops. The rebels were drawn up behind a hastily constructed barricade. They met them with a scattered fire, but, being unable to withstand the charge, broke, followed by Minty's men, who cut them down by whole- sale on the retreat. This gallant charge of Minty's brigade gave Kilpatrick time to collect and form his scattered troops. It also deterred the enemy from trying to bar his passage. Minty's men captured three stands of colors, the 4th United States two, and the 4th Michigan one. Minty had his horse shot under him. The 3d division now struck for the McDon- ough road. Long's brigade soon came into collision with a brigade of Cleburne's division, and was repulsed. General Long was here wounded. Kilpatrick now made the best of his way back, and reached Cotton River on the night of the 21st, where he bivouacked until next morning. Thence he moved forward by South River, over which the bridge was destroyed ; so he had to swim it, losing one man, 18 i:Ub SHERMAN S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. several animals, and some wagons. They reached Lithonia on the following day, and on the next reached camp in rear of our infantry lines. This raid was more brilliant than successful, etfecting little real good. As for the portion of the railroad they succeeded in destroying, it could be repaired in one day. J^^eeler's Baids. Hood, being repulsed in all his assaults, sent Wheeler's cavalry to operate on Sherman's lines of communication. Wheeler moved on our flank, with the intention of tapping the Chattanooga line as far as possible from Sherman's main army. Wheeler's first attempt was on Dalton, which had a garrison of only four hundred men, commanded by Colonel Seibold, who, in reply to Wheeler's letter demanding a surren- der, returned the following soldierly reply : — I have been placed here to defend the post, but not to surrender it. B. Seibold, Commanding United States forces. Wheeler made a bold attack, his men swarming into the town, and Avould have succeeded in crushing the little garrison, had not Major General Steedman come to his rescue. The garrison rallied out to support Steedman, and, joined by Colonel Morgan's 14th United States colored troops, charged on the enemy, soon clearing them out. Wheeler had torn up some miles of the track near Calhoun, and captured about fifteen hundred head of cattle, the most of which Avere retaken, or stampeded. He next moved round towards Cleveland, with the expecta- tion of destroying the Knoxville line, but Avas again met by General Steedman, near Graysville, and Avell Avhipped. Tlie rebel cavalry was now divided into raiding parties, operating on our communications at various points. Major General Steedman commanded the district of Chatta- nooga, and rendered the most efiicient services by keeping the wheeler's movements. 207 line open, and sending forward troops to the different points threatened, thus frustrating Wheeler's raiding assaults. Wherever Wheeler threatened in force, there he was sure to encounter Steedman in person, and to get well whipped to boot. These important movements of Steedman's culminated in the successful part he took in Thomas's great battle of Nashville, where his troops were the first to strike Hood's flank, turn it, and thus materially contribute to that crowning victory. Though Steedman was reckoned one of our fighting generals, his promptitude and exertions proved him also to be one of our thinking generals. The government fully appreciated his services, and placed Major General Steedman in command of one of the most important of the southern departments. Rousseau's cavalry also contributed to frustrate the designs of Wheeler and Morgan, and to restore our communications, which, for a time, were interrupted. We now come to Sherman's crowning victory — to that great strategic movement which confounded Hood, and placed Atlanta in our hands. The works which Johnston had built around Atlanta, during his slow but masterly retreat, were of the most formidable character and strength. It was truly a city of intrenchments and fortifications. For some time it became apparent to Sherman that he could not take them by direct assault, and also that the Western Rail- road was too well guarded to be effectually destroyed by cavalry raids, of casual attempts. On the other hand, it would take, at least, two hundred thousand men to completely invest the place so as to prevent sallies and cut off all communications, as the trenches were garrisoned by old men, militia, conscripts, and mere boys, who would do very well behind works, but would prove an encum- brance in the field. Sherman's purpose now was to deprive Hood of this strength,