towhichpointIdispatchedLieutenant—ColonelWillardWarner，ofmystaff，withaguardofonehundredmen，andGeneralHoodsentColonelClare，ofhisstaff，withasimilarguard;theseofficersandmenharmonizedperfectly，andpartedgoodfriendswhentheirworkwasdone。InthemeantimeIalsohadreconnoitredtheentirerebellinesaboutAtlanta，whichwerewellbuilt，butwereentirelytooextensivetobeheldbyasinglecorpsordivisionoftroops，soIinstructedColonelPoe，UnitedStatesEngineers，onmystaff，tolayoffaninnerandshorterline，susceptibleofdefensebyasmallergarrison。
BythemiddleofSeptemberallthesematterswereinprogress，thereportsofthepastcampaignwerewrittenupanddispatchedtoWashington，andourthoughtsbegantoturntowardthefuture。
AdmiralFarraguthadboldlyandsuccessfullyrunthefortsattheentrancetoMobileBay，whichresultedinthecaptureofFortMorgan，sothatGeneralCanbywasenabledtobeginhisregularoperationsagainstMobileCity，withaviewtoopentheAlabamaRivertonavigation。Myfirstthoughtsweretoconcertoperationswithhim，eitherbywayofMontgomery，Alabama，orbytheAppalachicula;butsolongaline，tobeusedasabaseforfurtheroperationseastward，wasnotadvisable，andIconcludedtoawaittheinitiativeoftheenemy，supposingthathewouldbeforcedtoresorttosomedesperatecampaignbytheclamorraisedattheSouthonaccountofthegreatlosstothemofthecityofAtlanta。
GeneralThomasoccupiedahouseonMariettaStreetswhichhadaverandawithhighpillars。Weweresittingthereoneevening，talkingaboutthingsgenerally，whenGeneralThomasaskedleavetosendhistrainsbacktoChattanooga，fortheconvenienceandeconomyofforage。IinquiredofhimifhesupposedwewouldbeallowedmuchrestatAtlanta，andhesaidhethoughtwewould，orthatatalleventsitwouldnotbeprudentforustogomuchfartherintoGeorgiabecauseofouralreadylonglineofcommunication，viz。，threehundredmilesfromNashville。Thiswastrue;buttherewewere，andwecouldnotaffordtoremainonthedefensive，simplyholdingAtlantaandfightingforthesafetyofitsrailroad。Iinsistedonhisretainingalltrains，andonkeepingallhisdivisionsreadytomoveatamoment’swarning。Allthearmy，officersandmen，seemedtorelaxmoreorless，andsinkintoaconditionofidleness。GeneralSchofieldwaspermittedtogotoKnoxville，tolookaftermattersinhisDepartmentoftheOhio;andGeneralsBlairandLoganwenthometolookafterpolitics。Manyoftheregimentswereentitledto，andclaimed，theirdischarge，byreasonoftheexpirationoftheirtermofservice;sothatwithvictoryandsuccesscamealsomanycausesofdisintegration。
TherebelGeneralWheelerwasstillinMiddleTennessee，threateningourrailroads，andrumorscamethatForrestwasonhiswayfromMississippitothesametheatre，fortheavowedpurposeofbreakingupourrailroadsandcompellingustofallbackfromourconqueSt。Toprepareforthis，oranyotheremergency，IorderedNewton’sdivisionoftheFourthCorpsbacktoChattanooga，andCorse’sdivisionoftheSeventeenthCorpstoRome，andinstructedGeneralRousseauatNashville，GrangeratDecatur，andSteadmanatChattanooga，toadoptthemostactivemeasurestoprotectandinsurethesafetyofourroads。
HoodstillremainedaboutLovejoy’sStation，and，uptothe15thofSeptember，hadgivennosignsofhisfutureplans;sothatwiththisdateIclosethecampaignofAtlanta，withthefollowingreviewofourrelativelossesduringthemonthsofAugustandSeptember，withasummaryofthoseforthewholecampaign，beginningMay6andendingSeptember15，1864。ThelossesforAugustandSeptemberareaddedtogether，soastoincludethoseaboutJonesboro:
KilledandMissingWoundedTotalGrandAggregate……1，4083，7315，139
Hood’slosses，asreportedforthesameperiod，page577，Johnston’s\"Narrative:\"
KilledWoundedTotal4823，2233，705
Towhichshouldbeadded:
Prisonerscapturedbyus:……3，738
Givinghistotalloss……7，44
Onrecapitulatingtheentirelossesofeacharmyduringtheentirecampaign，fromMaytoSeptember，inclusive，wehave，intheUnionarmy，aspertableappended:
Killed……4，423
Wounded……22，822
Missing……4，442
AggregateLoss……31，627
IntheSouthernarmy，accordingtothereportsofSurgeonFoard（pp。576，577，Johnston’s\"Narrative\"）
Totalkilled……3，044
Totalkilledandwounded……21，996
Prisonerscapturedbyus……12，983
AggregatelosstotheSouthernArmy……34，979
Theforegoingfiguresareofficial，andareverynearlycorrect。I
seenoroomforerrorsaveinthecavalry，whichwasverymuchscattered，andwhosereportsaremuchlessreliablethanoftheinfantryandartillery;butasSurgeonFoard’stablesdonotembraceWheeler’s，Jackson’s，andMartin’sdivisionsofcavalry，I
inferthatthecomparison，astocavalrylosses，isa\"stand—off。\"
IhavenodoubtthattheSouthernofficersflatteredthemselvesthattheyhadfilledandcrippledofustwoandevensixtoone，asstatedbyJohnston;buttheyweresimplymistaken，andIherewithsubmitofficialtabularstatementsmadeupfromthearchivesoftheWarDepartment，inproofthereof。
UnitedStatesArmycommanding。
Ihavealsohadacarefultabularstatementcompiledfromofficialrecordsintheadjutant—general’soffice，givingthe\"effectivestrength\"ofthearmyundermycommandforeachofthemonthsofMay，June，July，August，andSeptember，1864，whichenumerateeveryman（infantry，artillery，andcavalry）forduty。Therecapitulationclearlyexhibitstheactualtruth。Weopenedthecampaignwith98，797（ninety—eightthousandsevenhundredandninety—seven）men。Blair’stwodivisionsjoinedusearlyinJune，giving112，819（onehundredandtwelvethousandeighthundredandnineteen），whichnumbergraduallybecamereducedto106，070（onehundredandsixthousandandseventymen），91，675（ninety—onethousandsixhundredandseventy—five），and81，758（eighty—onethousandsevenhundredandfifty—eight）attheendofthecampaign。
Thisgradualreductionwasnotaltogetherowingtodeathandwounds，buttotheexpirationofservice，orbydetachmentssenttopointsattherear。
CHAPTERXX
ATLANTAANDAFTER——PURSUITOFHOOD。
SEPTEMBERANDOCTOBER，1864。
BythemiddleofSeptember，mattersandthingshadsettleddowninAtlanta，sothatwefeltperfectlyathome。Thetelegraphandrailroadswererepaired，andwehaduninterruptedcommunicationtotherear。Thetrainsarrivedwithregularityanddispatch，andbroughtusamplesupplies。GeneralWheelerhadbeendrivenoutofMiddleTennessee，escapingsouthacrosstheTennesseeRiveratBainbridge;andthingslookedasthoughweweretohaveaperiodofrepose。
Oneday，twocitizens，Messrs。HillandFoster，cameintoourlinesatDecatur，andweresenttomyheadquarters。TheyrepresentedthemselvesasformermembersofCongress，andparticularfriendsofmybrotherJohnSherman;thatMr。HillhadasonkilledintherebelarmyasitfellbackbeforeussomewherenearCassville，andtheywantedtoobtainthebody，havinglearnedfromacomradewhereitwasburied。Igavethempermissiontogobyrailtotherear，withanotetothecommandingofficer，GeneralJohnE。Smith，atCartersville，requiringhimtofurnishthemanescortandanambulanceforthepurpose。Iinvitedthemtotakedinnerwithourmess，andwenaturallyranintoageneralconversationaboutpoliticsandthedevastationandruincausedbythewar。Theyhadseenapartofthecountryoverwhichthearmyhadpassed，andcouldeasilyapplyitsmeasureofdesolationtotheremainderoftheState，ifnecessityshouldcompelustogoahead。
Mr。HillresidedatMadison，onthemainroadtoAugusta，andseemedtorealizefullythedanger;saidthatfartherresistanceonthepartoftheSouthwasmadness，thathehopedGovernorBrown，ofGeorgia，wouldsoproclaimit，andwithdrawhispeoplefromtherebellion，inpursuanceofwhatwasknownasthepolicyof\"separateStateaction。\"Itoldhim，ifhesawGovernorBrown，todescribetohimfullywhathehadseen，andtosaythatifheremainedinert，Iwouldbecompelledtogoahead，devastatingtheStateinitswholelengthandbreadth;thattherewasnoadequateforcetostopus，etc。;butifhewouldissuehisproclamationwithdrawinghisStatetroopsfromthearmiesoftheConfederacy，I
wouldsparetheState，andinourpassageacrossitconfinethetroopstothemainroads，andwould，moreover，payforallthecornandfoodweneeded。IalsotoldMr。Hillthathemight，inmyname，inviteGovernorBrowntovisitAtlanta;thatIwouldgivehimasafeguard，andthatifhewantedtomakeaspeech，Iwouldguaranteehimasfullandrespectableanaudienceasanyhehadeverspokento。IbelievethatMr。Hill，afterreachinghishomeatMadison，wenttoMilledgeville，thecapitaloftheState，anddeliveredthemessagetoGovernorBrown。IhadalsosentsimilarmessagesbyJudgeWrightofRome，Georgia，andbyMr。King，ofMarietta。Onthe15thofSeptemberItelegraphedtoGeneralHalleckasfollows:
Myreportisdone，andwillbeforwardedassoonasIgetinafewmoreofthesubordinatereports。IamawaitingacourierfromGeneralGrant。Allwell;thetroopsareingood，healthycamps，andsuppliesarecomingforwardfinely。GovernorBrownhasdisbandedhismilitia，togatherthecornandsorghumoftheState。
IhavereasontobelievethatheandStephenswanttovisitme，andhavesentthemheartyinvitation。IwillexchangetwothousandprisonerswithHood，butnomore。
GovernorBrown’sactionatthattimeisfullyexplainedbythefollowingletter，sincemadepublic，whichwasthenonlyknowntousinpartbyhearsay:
EXECUTIVEDEPARTMENT
MILLEDGEVILLE，GEORGIA，September10，1864
GeneralJ。B。HOOD，commandingarmyofTennessee。
GENERAL:AsthemilitiaoftheStatewerecalledoutforthedefenseofAtlantadaringthecampaignagainstit，whichhasterminatedbythefallofthecityintothehandsoftheenemy，andasmanyoftheselefttheirhomeswithoutpreparation（expectingtobegonebutafewweeks），whohaveremainedinserviceoverthreemonths（mostofthetimeinthetrenches），justicerequiresthattheybepermitted，whiletheenemyarepreparingforthewintercampaign，toreturntotheirhomes，andlookforatimeafterimportantinterests，andpreparethemselvesforsuchserviceasmayberequiredwhenanothercampaigncommencesagainstotherimportantpointsintheState。Ithereforeherebywithdrawsaidorganizationfromyourcommand……
JOSEPHC。BROWN
ThismilitiahadcomposedadivisionundercommandofMajor—GeneralGustavusW。Smith，andwerethusdispersedtotheirhomes，togatherthecornandsorghum，thenripeandreadyfortheharvesters。
Onthe17thIreceivedbytelegraphfromPresidentLincolnthisdispatch:
WASHINGTON，D。C。，September17，1864
Major—GeneralSHERMAN:
Ifeelgreatinterestinthesubjectsofyourdispatch，mentioningcornandsorghum，andthecontemplatedvisittoyou。
A。LINCOLN，PresidentoftheUnitedStates。
Irepliedatonce:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，ATLANTA，GEORGIA，September17，1864。
PresidentLINCOLN，Washington。，D。C。:
Iwillkeepthedepartmentfullyadvisedofalldevelopmentsconnectedwiththesubjectinwhichyoufeelinterested。
Mr。Wright，formermemberofCongressfromRome，Georgia，andMr。
King，ofMarietta，arenowgoingbetweenGovernorBrownandmyself。
IhavesaidtothemthatsomeofthepeopleofGeorgiaareengagedinrebellion，beganinerrorandperpetuatedinpride，butthatGeorgiacannowsaveherselffromthedevastationsofwarpreparingforher，onlybywithdrawingherquotaoutoftheConfederateArmy，andaidingmetoexpelHoodfromthebordersoftheState;inwhichevent，insteadofdesolatingthelandasweprogress，Iwillkeepourmentothehigh—roadsandcommons，andpayforthecornandmeatweneedandtake。
Iamfullyconsciousofthedelicatenatureofsuchassertions，butitwouldbeamagnificentstrokeofpolicyifwecould，withoutsurrenderingprincipleorafootofground，arousethelatentenmityofGeorgiaagainstDavis。
ThepeopledonothesitatetosaythatMr。StephenswasandisaUnionmanatheart;andtheysaythatDaviswillnottrusthimorlethimhaveashareinhisGovernment。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
IhavenottheleastdoubtthatGovernorBrown，atthattime，seriouslyentertainedtheproposition;buthehardlyfeltreadytoact，andsimplygaveafurloughtothemilitia，andcalledaspecialsessionoftheLegislature，tomeetatMilledgeville，totakeintoconsiderationthecriticalconditionofaffairsintheState。
Onthe20thofSeptemberColonelHoracePorterarrivedfromGeneralGrant，atCityPoint，bringingmetheletterofSeptember12th，askingmygeneralviewsastowhatshouldnextbedone。HestaidseveraldaysatAtlanta，andonhisreturncarriedbacktoWashingtonmyfullreportsofthepastcampaign，andmyletterofSeptember20thtoGeneralGrantinanswertohisofthe12th。
Aboutthistimewedetectedsignsofactivityonthepartoftheenemy。Onthe21stHoodshiftedhisarmyacrossfromtheMasonroad，atLovejoy’s，totheWestPointroad，atPalmettoStation，andhiscavalryappearedonthewestsideoftheChattahoochee，towardPowderSprings;thus，asitwere，steppingaside，andopeningwidethedoorforustoenterCentralGeorgia。Iinferred，however，thathisrealpurposewastoassumetheoffensiveagainstourrailroads，andonthe24thaheavyforceofcavalryfromMississippi，underGeneralForrest，madeitsappearanceatAthena，Alabama，andcaptureditsgarrison。
GeneralNewton’sdivision（oftheFourthCorps），andCorse’s（oftheSeventeenth），weresentbackbyrail，theformertoChattanooga，andthelattertoRome。Onthe25thItelegraphedtoGeneralHalleck:
Hoodseemstobemoving，asitwere，totheAlabamaline，leavingopentheroadtoMason，asalsotoAugusta;buthiscavalryisbusyonallourroads。Aforce，numberestimatedashighaseightthousand，arereportedtohavecapturedAthena，Alabama;andaregimentofthreehundredandfiftymensenttoitsrelief。IhavesentNewton’sdivisionuptoChattanoogaincars，andwillsendanotherdivisiontoRome。IfIweresurethatSavannahwouldsoonbeinourpossession，IshouldbetemptedtomarchforMilledgevilleandAugusta;butImustfirstsecurewhatIhave。
Jeff。DavisisatMacon。
OnthenextdayItelegraphedfurtherthatJeff。DaviswaswithHoodatPalmettoStation。Oneofourspieswasthereatthetime，whocameinthenextnight，andreportedtomethesubstanceofhisspeechtothesoldiers。ItwasarepetitionofthosehehadmadeatColombia，SouthCarolina，andMason，Georgia，onhiswayout，whichIhadseeninthenewspapers。DavisseemedtobeperfectlyupsetbythefallofAtlanta，andtohavelostallsenseandreason。HedenouncedGeneralJos。JohnstonandGovernorBrownaslittlebetterthantraitors;attributedtothempersonallythemanymisfortuneswhichhadbefallentheircause，andinformedthesoldiersthatnowthetablesweretobeturned;thatGeneralForrestwasalreadyonourroadsinMiddleTennessee;andthatHood’sarmywouldsoonbethere。HeassertedthattheYankeearmywouldhavetoretreatorstarve，andthattheretreatwouldprovemoredisastrousthanwasthatofNapoleonfromMoscow。HepromisedhisTennesseeandKentuckysoldiersthattheirfeetshouldsoontreadtheir\"nativesoil，\"etc。，etc。Hemadenoconcealmentofthesevaingloriousboasts，andthusgaveusthefullkeytohisfuturedesigns。Tobeforewarnedwastobeforearmed，andIthinkwetookfulladvantageoftheoccasion。
Onthe26thIreceivedthisdispatch。
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA，September26，1864—10a。m。
Major—GeneralSHERMAN，AtlantaItwillbebettertodriveForrestoutofMiddleTennesseeasafirststep，anddoanythingelseyoumayfeelyourforcesufficientfor。Whenamovementismadeonanypartofthesea—coast，Iwilladviseyou。IfHoodgoestotheAlabamaline，willitnotbeimpossibleforhimtosubsisthisarmy？
U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
Answer:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，ATLANTA，GEORGIA，September26，1864。
GENERAL:Ihaveyourdispatchofto—day。Ihavealreadysentonedivision（Newton’s）toChattanooga，andanother（Corse’s）toRome。
Ourarmiesaremuchreduced，andifIsendbackanymore，IwillnotbeabletothreatenGeorgiamuch。TherearemenenoughtothereartowhipForrest，buttheyarenecessarilyscatteredtodefendtheroads。
CanyouexpeditethesendingtoNashvilleoftherecruitsthatareinIndianaandOhio？Theycouldoccupytheforts。
HoodisnowontheWestPointroad，twenty—fourmilessouthofthis，anddrawshissuppliesbythatroad。JeffersonDavisisthereto—day，andsuperhumaneffortswillbemadetobreakmyroad。
Forrestisnowlieutenant—general，andcommandsalltheenemy’scavalry。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
GeneralGrantfirstthoughtIwasinerrorinsupposingthatJeff。
DaviswasatMaconandPalmetto，butonthe27thIreceivedaprintedcopyofhisspeechmadeatMacononthe22d，whichwassosignificantthatIorderedittobetelegraphedentireasfarasLouisville，tobesentthencebymailtoWashington，andonthesamedayreceivedthisdispatch:
WASHINGTON，D。C。，September27，1864—9a。m。
Major—GeneralSHERMAN，Atlanta:
YousayJeffDavisisonavisittoGeneralHood。IjudgethatBrownandStephensaretheobjectsofhisvisit。
A。LINCOLN，PresidentoftheUnitedStates。
TowhichIreplied:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，ATLANTA，GEORGIA，September28，1864。
PresidentLINCOLN，Washington，D。C。:
IhavepositiveknowledgethatMr。DavismadeaspeechatMacon，onthe22d，whichImailedtoGeneralHalleckyesterday。ItwasbitteragainstGeneralJos。JohnstonandGovernorBrown。Themilitiaareonfurlough。BrownisatMilledgeville，tryingtogetaLegislaturetomeetnextmonth，butheisafraidtoactunlessinconcertwithotherGovernors，JudgeWright，ofRome，hasbeenhere，andMessrs。HillandNelson，formermembersofCongress，areherenow，andwillgotomeetWrightatRome，andthengobacktoMadisonandMilledgeville。
GreateffortsarebeingmadetoreenforceHood’sarmy，andtobreakupmyrailroads，andIshouldhaveatonceagoodreserveforceatNashville。Itwouldhaveabadeffect，ifIwereforcedtosendbackanyconsiderablepartofmyarmytoguardroads，soastoweakenmetoanextentthatIcouldnotactoffensivelyiftheoccasioncallsforit。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
AllthistimeHoodandIwerecarryingontheforegoingcorrespondencerelatingtotheexchangeofprisoners，theremovalofthepeoplefromAtlanta，andthereliefofourprisonersofwaratAndersonville。Notwithstandingtheseverityoftheirimprisonment，someofthesemenescapedfromAndersonville，andgottomeatAtlanta。Theydescribedtheirsadcondition:morethantwenty—fivethousandprisonersconfinedinastockadedesignedforonlytenthousand;debarredtheprivilegeofgatheringwoodoutofwhichtomakehuts;deprivedofsufficienthealthyfood，andthelittlestreamthatranthroughtheirprisonpenpoisonedandpollutedbytheoffalfromtheircookingandbutcheringhousesabove。Onthe22dofSeptemberIwrotetoGeneralHood，describingtheconditionofourmenatAndersonville，purposelyrefrainingfromcastingodiumonhimorhisassociatesforthetreatmentofthesemen，butaskinghisconsentformetoprocurefromourgenerousfriendsattheNorththearticlesofclothingandcomfortwhichtheywanted，viz。，under—clothing，soap，combs，scissors，etc。——allneededtokeeptheminhealth——andtosendthesestoreswithatrain，andanofficertoissuethem。GeneralHood，onthe24th，promptlyconsented，andItelegraphedtomyfriendMr。JamesE。Yeatman，Vice—PresidentoftheSanitaryCommissionatSt。Louis，tosendusalltheunder—clothingandsoaphecouldspare，specifyingtwelvehundredfine—toothcombs，andfourhundredpairsofshearstocuthair。ThesearticlesindicatetheplaguethatmostafflictedourprisonersatAndersonville。
Mr。Yeatmanpromptlyrespondedtomyrequest，expressedthearticles，buttheydidnotreachAndersonvilleintime，fortheprisonersweresoonafterremoved;thesesuppliesdid，however，finallyovertakethematJacksonville，Florida，justbeforethewarclosed。
Onthe28thIreceivedfromGeneralGranttwodispatchesCITYPOINT，VIRGINIA;September27，1864—8。30a。m。
Major—GeneralSHERMAN:
Itisevident，fromthetoneoftheRichmondpressandfromothersourcesofinformation，thattheenemyintendmakingadesperateefforttodriveyoufromwhereyouare。IhavedirectedallnewtroopsfromtheWest，andfromtheEasttoo，ifnecessary，incasenonearereadyintheWest，tobesenttoyou。IfGeneralBurbridgeisnottoofaronhiswaytoAbingdon，IthinkhehadbetterberecalledandhissurplustroopssentintoTennessee。
U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA;September27，1864—10。30a。m。
Major—GeneralSHERMAN:
IhavedirectedallrecruitsandnewtroopsfromalltheWesternStatestobesenttoNashville，toreceivetheirfurtherordersfromyou。IwasmistakenaboutJeff。DavisbeinginRichmondonThursdaylaSt。HewasthenonhiswaytoMacon。
U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
ForresthavingalreadymadehisappearanceinMiddleTennessee，andHoodevidentlyedgingoffinthatdirection，satisfiedmethatthegeneralmovementagainstourroadshadbegun。IthereforedeterminedtosendGeneralThomasbacktoChattanooga，withanotherdivision（Morgan’s，oftheFourteenthCorps），tomeetthedangerinTennessee。GeneralThomaswentuponthe29th，andMorgan’sdivisionfollowedthesameday，alsobyrail。AndItelegraphedtoGeneralHalleckItakeitforgrantedthatForrestwillcutourroad，butthinkwecanpreventhimfrommakingaseriouslodgment。Hiscavalrywilltravelahundredmileswhereourswillten。IhavesenttwodivisionsuptoChattanoogaandonetoRome，andGeneralThomasstartedto—daytodriveForrestoutofTennessee。Ourroadsshouldbewatchedfromtherear，andIamgladthatGeneralGranthasorderedreservestoNashville。IpreferforthefuturetomakethemovementonMilledgeville，Millen，andSavannah。Hoodnowreststwenty—fourmilessouth，ontheChattahoochee，withhisrightontheWestPointroad。HeisremovingtheironoftheMaconroad。I
canwhiphisinfantry，buthiscavalryistobefeared。
TherewasgreatdifficultyinobtainingcorrectinformationaboutHood’smovementsfromPalmettoStation。Icouldnotgetspiestopenetratehiscamps，butonthe1stofOctoberIwassatisfiedthatthebulkofhisinfantrywasatandacrosstheChattahoocheeRiver，nearCampbellton，andthathiscavalrywasonthewestside，atPowderSprings。OnthatdayItelegraphedtoGeneralGrant:
HoodisevidentlyacrosstheChattahoochee，belowSweetwater。Ifhetriestogetonourroad，thissideoftheEtowah，Ishallattackhim;butifhegoestotheSelma&Talladegaroad，whywillitnotdotoleaveTennesseetotheforceswhichThomashas，andthereservessoontocometoNashville，andformetodestroyAtlantaandmarchacrossGeorgiatoSavannahorCharleston，breakingroadsanddoingirreparabledamage？Wecannotremainonthedefensive。
TheSelma&TalladegaroadhereinreferredtowasanunfinishedrailroadfromSelma，Alabama，throughTalladega，toBlueMountain，aterminussixty—fivemilessouthwestofRomeandaboutfifteenmilessoutheastofGadsden，wheretherebelarmycouldbesuppliedfromthedirectionofMontgomeryandMobile，andfromwhichpointHoodcouldeasilythreatenMiddleTennessee。Myfirstimpressionwas，thatHoodwouldmakeforthatpoint;butbythe3dofOctobertheindicationswerethathewouldstrikeourrailroadnearerus，viz。，aboutKingstonorMarietta。
OrderswereatoncemadefortheTwentiethCorps（Slocum’s）toholdAtlantaandthebridgesoftheChattahoochee，andtheothercorpswereputinmotionforMarietta。
ThearmyhadundergonemanychangessincethecaptureofAtlanta。
GeneralSchofieldhadgonetotherear，leavingGeneralJ。D。CogincommandoftheArmyoftheOhio（Twenty—thirdCorps）。GeneralThomas，also，hadbeendispatchedtoChattanooga，withNewton’sdivisionoftheFourthCorpsandMorgan’softheFourteenthCorps，leavingGeneralD。S。Stanley，theseniormajor—generalofthetwocorpsofhisArmyoftheCumberland，remainingandavailableforthismovement，viz。，theFourthandFourteenth，commandedbyhimselfandMajor—GeneralJeff。C。Davis;andafterGeneralDodgewaswounded，hiscorps（theSixteenth）hadbeenbrokenup，anditstwodivisionswereaddedtotheFifteenthandSeventeenthCorps，constitutingtheArmyoftheTennessee，commandedbyMajor—GeneralO。O。Howard。GeneralsLoganandBlairhadgonehometoassistinthepoliticalcanvass，leavingtheircorps，viz。，theFifteenthandSeventeenth，underthecommandofMajor—GeneralsOsterhausandT。
E。G。Ransom。
Thesefivecorpswereverymuchreducedinstrength，bydetachmentsandbydischarges，sothatforthepurposeoffightingHoodIhadonlyaboutsixtythousandinfantryandartillery，withtwosmalldivisionsofcavalry（Kilpatrick’sandGarrard’s）。GeneralElliottwasthechiefofcavalrytotheArmyoftheCumberland，andwastheseniorofficerofthatarmofservicepresentfordutywithme。
WehadstrongrailroadguardsatMariettaandKenesaw，Allatoona，EtowahBridge，Kingston，Rome，Resaca，Dalton，Ringgold，andChattanooga。Alltheimportantbridgeswerelikewiseprotectedbygoodblock—houses，admirablyconstructed，andcapableofastrongdefenseagainstcavalryorinfantry;andatnearlyalltheregularrailroad—stationswehadsmallerdetachmentsintrenched。Ihadlittlefearoftheenemy’scavalrydamagingourroadsseriously，fortheyrarelymadeabreakwhichcouldnotberepairedinafewdays;butitwasabsolutelynecessarytokeepGeneralHood’sinfantryoffourmainrouteofcommunicationandsupply。ForresthadwithhiminMiddleTennesseeabouteightthousandcavalry，andHood’sarmywasestimatedatfromthirty—fivetofortythousandmen，infantryandartillery，includingWheeler’scavalry，thenaboutthreethousandstrong。
WecrossedtheChattahoocheeRiverduringthe3dand4thofOctober，rendezvousedattheoldbattle—fieldofSmyrnaCamp，andthenextdayreachedMariettaandKenesaw。Thetelegraph—wireshadbeencutaboveMarietta，andlearningthatheavymassesofinfantry，artillery，andcavalry，hadbeenseenfromKenesaw（marchingnorth），IinferredthatAllatoonawastheirobjectivepoint;andonthe4thofOctoberIsignaledfromMining’sStationtoKenesaw，andfromKenesawtoAllatoona，overtheheadsoftheenemy，amessageforGeneralCorse，atRome，tohurrybacktotheassistanceofthegarrisonatAllatoona。Allatoonawasheldby，asmallbrigade，commandedbyLieutenant—ColonelTourtellotte，mypresentaide—de—camp。Hehadtwosmallredoubtsoneithersideoftherailroad，overlookingthevillageofAllatoona，andthewarehouses，inwhichwerestoredoveramillionrationsofbread。
ReachingKenesawMountainabout8a。m。ofOctober5th（abeautifulday），IhadasuperbviewofthevastpanoramatothenorthandweSt。Tothesouthwest，aboutDallas，couldbeseenthesmokeofcamp—fires，indicatingthepresenceofalargeforceoftheenemy，andthewholelineofrailroadfromBigShantyuptoAllatoona（fullfifteenmiles）wasmarkedbythefiresoftheburningrailroad。Wecouldplainlyseethesmokeofbattleabout，Allatoona，andhearthefaintreverberationofthecannon。
>FromKenesawIorderedtheTwenty—thirdCorps（GeneralCox）tomarchduewestontheBurntHickoryroad，andtoburnhousesorpilesofbrushasitprogressed，toindicatetheheadofcolumn，hopingtointerposethiscorpsbetweenHood’smainarmyatDallasandthedetachmentthenassailingAllatoona。TherestofthearmywasdirectedstraightforAllatoona，northwest，distanteighteenmiles。Thesignal—officeronKenesawreportedthatsincedaylighthehadfailedtoobtainanyanswertohiscallforAllatoona;but，whileIwaswithhim，hecaughtafaintglimpseofthetell—taleflagthroughanembrasure，andaftermuchtimehemadeouttheseletters—\"C。，\"\"R。，\"\"S。，\"\"E。，\"\"H。，\"\"E。，\"\"R。，\"andtranslatedthemessage——\"Corseishere。\"Itwasasourceofgreatrelief，foritgavemethefirstassurancethatGeneralCorsehadreceivedhisorders，andthattheplacewasadequatelygarrisoned。
Iwatchedwithpainfulsuspensetheindicationsofthebattleragingthere，andwasdreadfullyimpatientattheslowprogressoftherelievingcolumn，whoseadvancewasmarkedbythesmokeswhichweremadeaccordingtoorders，butabout2p。m。InoticedwithsatisfactionthatthesmokeofbattleaboutAllatoonagrewlessandless，andceasedaltogetherabout4p。m。ForatimeIattributedthisresulttotheeffectofGeneralCog’smarch，butlaterintheafternoonthesignal—flagannouncedthewelcometidingsthattheattackhadbeenfairlyrepulsed，butthatGeneralCorsewaswounded。Thenextdaymyaide，ColonelDayton，receivedthischaracteristicdispatch:
ALLATOONA，GEORGIA，October6，1884—2P。M。
CaptainL。M。DAYTON，Aide—de—Camp:
Iamshortacheek—boneandanear，butamabletowhipallh——lyet！Mylossesareveryheavy。AforcemovingfromStilesboro’toKingstongivesmesomeanxiety。TellmewhereShermanis。
JOHNM。CORSE，Brigadier—General。
Inasmuchasthe，enemyhadretreatedsouthwest，andwouldprobablynextappearatRome，IansweredGeneralCorsewithorderstogetbacktoRomewithhistroopsasquicklyaspossible。
GeneralCorse’sreportofthisfightatAllatoonaisveryfullandgraphic。ItisdatedRome，October27，1864;recitesthefactthathereceivedhisordersbysignaltogototheassistanceofAllatoonaonthe4th，whenhetelegraphedtoKingstonforcars，andatrainofthirtyemptycarswasstartedforhim，butabouttenofthemgotoffthetrackandcauseddelay。By7p。m。hehadatRomeatrainoftwentycars，whichheloadedupwithColonelRowett’sbrigade，andpartoftheTwelfthIllinoisInfantry;startedat8
p。m。，reachedAllatoona（distantthirty—fivemiles）at1a。m。ofthe5th，andsentthetrainbackformoremen;buttheroadwasinbadorder，andnomoremencameintime。HefoundColonelTourtellotte’sgarrisoncomposedofeighthundredandninetymen;
hisreenforcementwasonethousandandfifty—four:totalforthedefense，nineteenhundredandforty—four。Theoutpostswerealreadyengaged，andassoonasdaylightcamehedrewbackthemenfromthevillagetotheridgeonwhichtheredoubtswerebuilt。
TheenemywascomposedofFrench’sdivisionofthreebrigades，variouslyreportedfromfourtofivethousandstrong。Thisforcegraduallysurroundedtheplaceby8a。m。，whenGeneralFrenchsentinbyflagoftrucethisnote:
AROUNDALLATOONA，October5，1884。