TheFifteenth（Logan\'s）Corpsjoinedusontheright,thentheArmyoftheCumberlandfurthertotheright。WerunontotheRebsaboutsundownthe21st。Theyhadsomebreastworksonaridgeinfrontofus,andwehadaprettysharpfightbeforewedrovethemoff。Wewentrighttowork,andkeptatitallnightinchangingandstrengtheningtheoldRebelbarricades,frontingthemtowardsAtlanta,andbymorninghadsomegoodsolidworksalongourwholeline。Duringthenightwefanciedwecouldhearwagonsorartillerymovingawayinfrontofus,apparentlygoingSouth,ortowardsourleft。Aboutthreeorfouro\'clockinthemorning,whileIwasshovelingdirtlikeabeaveroutontheworks,theLieutenantcametomeandsaidtheColonelwantedtoseeme,pointingtoalargetreeintherear,whereIcouldfindhim。IreportedandfoundhimwithGeneralLeggett,whocommandedourDivision,talkingmightyserious,andBobWheeler,ofFCompany,standingtherewithhisSpringfieldataparaderest。AssoonasIcameup,theColonelsays:
\"Boys,theGeneralwantstwolevel—headedchapstogooutbeyondthepicketstothefrontandtowardtheleft。Ihaveselectedyoufortheduty。Goasquietlyaspossibleandasfastasyoucan;keepyoureyesandearsopen;don\'tfireashotifyoucanhelpit,andcomebackandtellusexactlywhatyouhaveseenandheard,andnotwhatyouimagineorsuspect。Ihaveselectedyoufortheduty。\'
\"Hegaveusthecountersign,andoffwestartedoverthebreastworksandthroughthethickwoods。Wesooncametoourskirmishorpickets,onlyafewrodsinfrontofourworks,andcautionedthemnottofireonusingoingorreturning。Wewentoutasmuchashalfamileormore,untilwecouldplainlyhearthesoundofwagonsandartillery。WethencautiouslycreptforwarduntilwecouldseethemainroadleadingsouthfromtheCityfilledwithmarchingmen,artilleryandteams。Wecouldhearthecommandsoftheofficersandseetheflagsandbannersofregimentafterregimentastheypassedus。Wegotbackquietlyandquickly,passedthroughourpicketlineallright,andfoundtheGeneralandourColonelsittingonalogwherewehadleftthem,waitingforus。Wereportedwhatwehadseenandheard,andgaveitasouropinionthattheJohnnieswereevacuatingAtlanta。TheGeneralshookhishead,andtheColonelsays:\'Youmayreturntoyourcompany。\'Bobsaystome:
\"\'TheoldGeneralshakeshisheadasthoughhethoughtthemd———dRebsain\'tevacuatingAtlantasomightysudden,butareuptosomedevilmentagain。Iain\'tsurebuthe\'sright。Theyain\'tgoingtokeepfallingbackandfallingbacktoalleternity,butarejustagoin\'togiveusarip—roaringgreatbigfightoneo\'thesedays——whentheygetagoodready。Youhearme！\'
\"Sayingwhichwebothwenttoourcompanies,andlaiddowntogetalittlesleep。Itwasaboutdaylightthen,andImusthavesnoozedawayuntilnearnoon,whenIheardtheorder\'fallin！\'andfoundtheregimentgettingintoline,andtheboysalltallyingaboutgoingrightintoAtlanta;thattheRebelshadevacuatedtheCityduringthenight,andthatweweregoingtohavearacewiththeFifteenthCorpsastowhichwouldgetintotheCityfirst。Wecouldlookawayoutacrossalargefieldinfrontofourworks,andseetheskirmishlineadvancingsteadilytowardsthemainworksaroundtheCity。Notashotwasbeing,firedoneitherside。