InaconversationwithGeneralJohnston，afterthewar，heexplainedthatonthatdayhehadriddeninpersonfromMariettatoPineMountain，heldbyBates’sdivision，andwasaccompaniedbyGeneralsHardeeandPolk。WhenonPineMountain，reconnoitring，quiteagroupofsoldiers，belongingtothebatterycloseby，clusteredabouthim。Henoticedthepreparationsofourbatterytofire，andcautionedthesementoscatter。Theydidso，andhelikewisehurriedbehindtheparapet，fromwhichhehadanequallygoodviewofourpositionbutGeneralPolk，whowasdignifiedandcorpulent，walkedbackslowly，notwishingtoappeartoohurriedorcautiousinthepresenceofthemen，andwasstruckacrossthebreastbyanunexplodedshell，whichkilledhiminstantly。Thisismymemoryoftheconversation，anditisconfirmedbyJohnstonhimselfinhis\"Narrative，\"page337，exceptthathecalculatedthedistanceofourbatteryatsixhundredyards，andsaysthatPolkwaskilledbythethirdshot;Iknowthatourgunsfiredbyvolley，andbelievethathewashitbyashotofthesecondvolley。IthasbeenassertedthatIfiredthegunwhichkilledGeneralPolk，andthatIknewitwasdirectedagainstthatgeneral。Thefactis，atthatdistancewecouldnoteventellthatthegroupwereofficersatall;Iwasonhorseback，acoupleofhundredyardsoff，beforemyorderstofirewereexecuted，hadnoideathatourshothadtakeneffect，andcontinuedmyridedownalongthelinetoSchofield’sextremeflank，returninglateintheeveningtomyhead—quartersatBigShanty，whereIoccupiedanabandonedhouse。
Inacotton—fieldbackofthathousewasoursignal—station，ontheroofofanoldgin—house。Thesignal—officerreportedthatbystudyingtheenemy’ssignalshehadlearnedthekey，andthathecouldreadtheirsignals。Heexplainedtomethathehadtranslatedasignalaboutnoon，fromPineMountaintoMarietta，\"SendanambulanceforGeneralPolk’sbody;\"andlaterinthedayanother，\"Whydon’tyousendanambulanceforGeneralPolk？\"FromthisweinferredthatGeneralPolkhadbeenkilled，buthoworwhereweknewnot;andthisinferencewasconfirmedlaterinthesamedaybythereportofsomeprisonerswhohadbeencaptured。
Onthe15thweadvancedourgenerallines，intendingtoattackatanyweakpointdiscoveredbetweenKenesawandPineMountain;butPineMountainwasfoundtobeabandoned，andJohnstonhadcontractedhisfrontsomewhat，onadirectline，connectingKenesawwithLostMountain。ThomasandSchofieldtherebygainedabouttwomilesofmostdifficult，country，andMcPherson’sleftlappedwellaroundthenorthendofKenesaw。Wecapturedagoodmanyprisoners，amongthemawholeinfantryregiment，theFourteenthAlabama，threehundredandtwentystrong。
Onthe16ththegeneralmovementwascontinued，whenLostMountainwasabandonedbytheenemy。Ourrightnaturallyswunground，soastothreatentherailroadbelowMarietta，butJohnstonhadstillfurthercontractedandstrengthenedhislines，coveringMariettaandalltheroadsbelow。
Onthe17thand18ththerainagainfellintorrents，makingarmymovementsimpossible，butwedevotedthetimetostrengtheningourpositions，moreespeciallytheleftandcentre，withaviewgraduallytodrawfromthelefttoaddtotheright;andwehadtoholdourlinesontheleftextremelystrong，toguardagainstasallyfromKenesawagainstourdepotatBigShanty。Garrard’sdivisionofcavalrywaskeptbusyonourleft，McPhersonhadgraduallyextendedtohisright，enablingThomastodothesamestillfarther;buttheenemy’spositionwassoverystrong，andeverywhereitwascoveredbyintrenchments，thatwefounditasdangeroustoassaultasapermanentfort。Weinlikemannercoveredourlinesofbattlebysimilarworks，andevenourskirmisherslearnedtocovertheirbodiesbythesimplestandbestformsofdefensiveworks，suchasrailsorlogs，piledintheformofasimplelunette，coveredontheoutsidewithearththrownupatnight。
Theenemyandourselvesusedthesameformofrifle—trench，variedaccordingtothenatureoftheground，viz。:thetreesandbusheswerecutawayforahundredyardsormoreinfront，servingasanabatisorentanglement;theparapetsvariedfromfourtosixfeethigh，thedirttakenfromaditchoutsideandfromacoveredwayinside，andthisparapetwassurmountedbya\"head—log，\"composedofthetrunkofatreefromtwelvetotwentyinchesatthebutt，lyingalongtheinteriorcrestoftheparapetandrestinginnotchescutinothertrunkswhichextendedback，forminganinclinedplane，incasethehead—logshouldbeknockedinwardbyacannon—shot。Themenofbotharmiesbecameextremelyskillfulintheconstructionoftheseworks，becauseeachmanrealizedtheirvalueandimportancetohimself，sothatitrequirednoordersfortheirconstruction。Assoonasaregimentorbrigadegainedapositionwithineasydistanceforasally，itwouldsettoworkwithawill，andwouldconstructsuchaparapetinasinglenight;
butIendeavoredtosparethesoldiersthishardlaborbyauthorizingeachdivisioncommandertoorganizeoutofthefreedmenwhoescapedtousapioneercorpsoftwohundredmen，whowerefedoutoftheregulararmysupplies，andIpromisedthemtendollarsamonth，underanexistingactofCongress。Thesepioneerdetachmentsbecameveryusefultousduringtherestofthewar，fortheycouldworkatnightwhileourmenslept;theyinturnwerenotexpectedtofight，andcouldthereforesleepbyday。Ourenemiesusedtheirslavesforasimilarpurpose，butusuallykeptthemoutoftherangeoffirebyemployingthemtofortifyandstrengthenthepositiontotheirrearnexttobeoccupiedintheirgeneralretrograde。Duringthiscampaignhundredsifnotthousandsofmilesofsimilarintrenchmentswerebuiltbybotharmies，and，asarule，whicheverpartyattackedgottheworstofit。
Onthe19thofJunetherebelarmyagainfellbackonitsflanks，tosuchanextentthatforatimeIsupposedithadretreatedtotheChattahoocheeRiver，fifteenmilesdistant;butaswepressedforwardweweresoonundeceived，forwefounditstillmoreconcentrated，coveringMariettaandtherailroad。Thesesuccessivecontractionsoftheenemy’slineencouragedusanddiscouragedhim，butweredoubtlessjustifiedbysoundreasons。Onthe20thJohnston’spositionwasunusuallystrong。KenesawMountainwashissalient;histwoflankswererefusedandcoveredbyparapetsandbyNoondayandNose’sCreeks。Hisleftflankwashisweakpoint，solongasheactedonthe\"defensive，\"whereas，hadhedesignedtocontracttheextentofhislineforthepurposeofgettinginreserveaforcewithwhichtostrike\"offensively\"fromhisright，hewouldhavedoneawiseact，andIwascompelledtopresumethatsuchwashisobject:WewerealsosofarfromNashvilleandChattanoogathatwewerenaturallysensitiveforthesafetyofourrailroadanddepots，sothattheleft（MePherson）washeldverystrong。
Aboutthistimecamereportsthatalargecavalryforceoftheenemyhadpassedaroundourleftflank，evidentlytostrikethisveryrailroadsomewherebelowChattanooga。IthereforereenforcedthecavalrystationedfromResacatoCasaville，andorderedforwardfromHuntsville，Alabama，theinfantrydivisionofGeneralJohnE。
Smith，toholdKingstonsecurely。
WhilewewerethusengagedaboutKenesaw，GeneralGranthadhishandsfullwithLee，inVirginia。GeneralHalleckwasthechiefofstaffatWashington，andtohimIcommunicatedalmostdaily。I
findfrommyletter—bookthatonthe21stofJuneIreportedtohimterselyandtrulytheconditionoffactsonthatday:\"Thisisthenineteenthdayofrain，andtheprospectoffairweatherisasfaroffasever。Theroadsareimpassable;thefieldsandwoodsbecomequagmire’safterafewwagonshavecrossedover。Yetweareatworkallthetime。TheleftflankisacrossNoondayCreek，andtherightisacrossNose’sCreek。TheenemystillholdsKenesaw，aconicalmountain，withMariettabehindit，andhashisflanksretired，tocoverthattownandtherailroadbehind。Iamallreadytoattackthemomenttheweatherandroadswillpermittroopsandartillerytomovewithanythinglikelife。\"
Theweatherhasawonderfuleffectontroops:inactionandonthemarch，rainisfavorable;butinthewoods，whereallisblindanduncertain，itseemsalmostimpossibleforanarmycoveringtenmilesoffronttoactinconcertduringwetandstormyweather。
StillIpressedoperationswiththeutmostearnestness，aimingalwaystokeepourfortifiedlinesinabsolutecontactwiththeenemy，whilewiththesurplusforcewefeltforward，fromoneflankortheother，forhislineofcommunicationandretreat。Onthe22dofJuneIrodethewholeline，andorderedGeneralThomasinpersontoadvancehisextremerightcorps（Hooker’s）;andinstructedGeneralSchofield，byletter，tokeephisentirearmy，viz。，theTwenty—thirdCorps，asastrongrightflankinclosesupportofHooker’sdeployedline。Duringthisdaythesuncameout，withsomepromiseofclearweather，andIhadgotbacktomybivouacaboutdark，whenasignalmessagewasreceived，dated—
KULPHOUSE，5。30P。M。
GeneralSHERMAN:
Wehaverepulsedtwoheavyattacks，andfeelconfident，ouronlyapprehensionbeingfromourextremerightflank。Threeentirecorpsareinfrontofus。
Major—GeneralHOOKER。
Hooker’scorps（theTwentieth）belongedtoThomas’sarmy;Thomas’sheadquartersweretwomilesnearertoHookerthanmine;andHooker，beinganoldarmyofficer，knewthatheshouldhavereportedthisfacttoThomasandnottome;Iwas，moreover，speciallydisturbedbytheassertioninhisreportthathewasuneasyabouthisrightflank，whenSchofieldhadbeenspeciallyorderedtoprotectthat。
Ifirstinquiredofmyadjutant，Dayton，ifhewerecertainthatGeneralSchofieldhadreceivedhisorders，andheansweredthattheenvelopeinwhichhehadsentthemwasreceiptedbyGeneralSchofieldhimself。Iknew，therefore，thatGeneralSchofieldmustbenearby，inclosesupportofHooker’srightflank。GeneralThomashadbeforethisoccasioncomplainedtomeofGeneralHooker’sdispositionto\"switchoff，\"leavingwidegapsinhisline，soastobeindependent，andtomakegloryonhisownaccount。Ithereforeresolvednottooverlookthisbreachofdisciplineandpropriety。Therebelarmywasonlycomposedofthreecorps;Ihadthatverydayriddensixmilesoftheirlines，foundthemeverywherestronglyoccupied，andthereforeHookercouldnothaveencountered\"threeentirecorps。\"BothMcPhersonandSchofieldhadalsocomplainedtomeofthissametendencyofHookertowidenthegapbetweenhisowncorpsandhisproperarmy（Thomas’s），soastocomeintoclosercontactwithoneorotherofthewings，assertingthathewastheseniorbycommissiontobothMcPhersonandSchofield，andthatintheeventofbattleheshouldassumecommandoverthem，byvirtueofhisoldercommission。
Theyappealedtometoprotectthem。Ihadheardduringthatdaysomecannonadingandheavyfiringdowntowardthe\"KulpHouse，\"
whichwasaboutfivemilessoutheastofwhereIwas，butthiswasnothingunusual，foratthesamemomenttherewasfiringalongourlinesfulltenmilesinextent。Earlythenextday（23d）Irodedowntothe\"KulpHouse，\"whichwasonaroadleadingfromPowderSpringstoMarietta，aboutthreemilesdistantfromthelatter。OnthewayIpassedthroughGeneralButterfield’sdivisionofHooker’scorps，whichIlearnedhadnotbeenengagedatallinthebattleofthedaybefore;thenIrodealongGeary’sandWilliams’sdivisions，whichoccupiedthefieldofbattle，andthemenwereengagedinburyingthedead。IfoundGeneralSchofield’scorpsonthePowderSpringsroad，itsheadofcolumnabreastofHooker’sright，thereforeconstituting\"astrongrightflank，\"andImetGeneraleSchofieldandHookertogether。Asrainwasfallingatthemoment，wepassedintoalittlechurchstandingbytheroad—side，andI
thereshowedGeneralSchofieldHooker’ssignal—messageofthedaybefore。Hewasveryangry，andprettysharpwordspassedbetweenthem，Schofieldsayingthathisheadofcolumn（Hascall’sdivision）
hadbeen，atthetimeofthebattle，actuallyinadvanceofHooker’sline;thattheattackorsallyoftheenemystruckhistroopsbeforeitdidHooker’s;thatGeneralHookerknewofitatthetime;andheofferedtogooutandshowmethatthedeadmenofhisadvancedivision（Hascall’s）werelyingfartheroutthananyofHooker’s。GeneralHookerpretendednottohaveknownthisfact。I
thenaskedhimwhyhehadcalledonmeforhelp，untilhehadusedallofhisowntroops;assertingthatIhadjustseenButterfield’sdivision，andhadlearnedfromhimthathehadnotbeenengagedthedaybeforeatall;andIassertedthattheenemy’ssallymusthavebeenmadebyonecorps（Hood’s），inplaceofthree，andthatithadfallenonGeary’sandWilliams’sdivisions，whichhadrepulsedtheattackhandsomely。AswerodeawayfromthatchurchGeneralHookerwasbymyside，andItoldhimthatsuchathingmustnotoccuragain;inotherwords，Ireprovedhimmoregentlythantheoccasiondemanded，andfromthattimehebegantosulk。GeneralHookerhadcomefromtheEastwithgreatfameasa\"fighter，\"andatChattanoogahewasglorifiedbyhis\"battleabovetheclouds，\"
whichIfearturnedhishead。Heseemedjealousofallthearmycommanders，becauseinyears，formerrank，andexperience，hethoughthewasoursuperior。
Onthe23dofJuneItelegraphedtoGeneralHalleckthissummary，whichIcannotagainbetterstate:
Wecontinuetopressforwardontheprincipleofanadvanceagainstfortifiedpositions。Thewholecountryisonevastfort，andJohnstonmusthaveatleastfiftymilesofconnectedtrenches，withabatisandfinishedbatteries。Wegaingrounddaily，fightingallthetime。Onthe21stGeneralStanleygainedapositionnearthesouthendofKenesaw，fromwhichtheenemyattemptedinvaintodrivehim;andthesamedayGeneralT。J。Wood’sdivisiontookahill，whichtheenemyassaultedthreetimesatnightwithoutsuccess，leavingmorethanahundreddeadontheground。Yesterdaytheextremeright（HookerandSchofield）advancedonthePowderSpringsroadtowithinthreemilesofMarietta。Theenemymadeastrongefforttodrivethemaway，butfailedsignally，leavingmorethantwohundreddeadonthefield。Ourlinesarenowinclosecontact，andthefightingisincessant，withagooddealofartillery—fire。Asfastaswegainonepositiontheenemyhasanotherallready，butIthinkhewillsoonhavetoletgoKenesaw，whichisthekeytothewholecountry。Theweatherisnowbetter，andtheroadsaredryingupfaSt。Ourlossesarelight，and，not—
withstandingtherepeatedbreaksoftheroadtoourrear，suppliesareample。
Duringthe24thand25thofJuneGeneralSchofieldextendedhisrightasfarasprudent，soastocompeltheenemytothinouthislinescorrespondingly，withtheintentiontomaketwostrongassaultsatpointswheresuccesswouldgiveusthegreatestadvantage。IhadconsultedGeneralsThomas，McPherson，andSchofield，andweallagreedthatwecouldnotwithprudencestretchoutanymore，andthereforetherewasnoalternativebuttoattack\"fortifiedlines，\"athingcarefullyavoideduptothattime。Ireasoned，ifwecouldmakeabreachanywhereneartherebelcentre，andthrustinastrongheadofcolumn，thatwiththeonemoietyofourarmywecouldholdincheckthecorrespondingwingoftheenemy，andwiththeothersweepinflankandoverwhelmtheotherhalf。The27thofJunewasfixedasthedayfortheattempt，andinordertooverseethewhole，andtobeinclosecommunicationwithallpartsofthearmy，IhadaplaceclearedonthetopofahilltotherearofThomas’scentre，andhadthetelegraph—wireslaidtoit。Thepointsofattackwerechosen，andthetroopswereallpreparedwithaslittledemonstrationaspossible。About9A。M。Ofthedayappointed，thetroopsmovedtotheassault，andallalongourlinesfortenmilesafuriousfireofartilleryandmusketrywaskeptup。Atallpointstheenemymetuswithdeterminedcourageandingreatforce。McPherson’sattackingcolumnfoughtupthefaceofthelesserKenesaw，butcouldnotreachthesummit。Aboutamiletotheright（justbelowtheDallasroad）Thomas’sassaultingcolumnreachedtheparapet，whereBrigadier—GeneralBarkerwasshotdownmortallywounded，andBrigadier—GeneralDanielMcCook（myoldlaw—partner）wasdesperatelywounded，fromtheeffectsofwhichheafterwarddied。
By11。30theassaultwasinfactover，andhadfailed。Wehadnotbrokentherebellineateitherpoint，butourassaultingcolumnsheldtheirgroundwithinafewyardsoftherebeltrenches，andtherecoveredthemselveswithparapet。McPhersonlostaboutfivehundredmenandseveralvaluableofficers，andThomaslostnearlytwothousandmen。Thiswasthehardestfightofthecampaignuptothatdate，anditiswelldescribedbyJohnstoninhis\"Narrative\"
（pages342，343），whereheadmitshislossinkilledandwoundedasTotal……808
This，nodoubt，isatrueandfairstatement;but，asusual，Johnstonoverestimatesourloss，puttingitatsixthousand，whereasourentirelosswasabouttwenty—fivehundred，killedandwounded。
Whilethebattlewasinprogressatthecentre，SchofieldcrossedOlley’sCreekontheright，andgainedapositionthreateningJohnston’slineofretreat;and，toincreasetheeffect，IorderedStoneman’scavalrytoproceedrapidlystillfarthertotheright，toSweetwater。Satisfiedofthebloodycostofattackingintrenchedlines，Iatoncethoughtofmovingthewholearmytotherailroadatapoint（Fulton）abouttenmilesbelowMarietta，ortotheChattahoocheeRiveritself，amovementsimilartotheoneafterwardsosuccessfullypractisedatAtlanta。Alltheorderswereissuedtobringforwardsuppliesenoughtofillourwagons，intendingtostriptherailroadbacktoAllatoona，andleavethatplaceasourdepot，tobecoveredaswellaspossiblebyGarrard’scavalry。GeneralThomas，asusual，shookhishead，deemingitriskytoleavetherailroad;butsomethinghadtobedone，andI
hadresolvedonthismove，asreportedinmydispatchtoGeneralHalleckonJuly1st:
GeneralSchofieldisnowsouthofOlley’sCreek，andontheheadofNickajack。Ihavebeenhurryingdownprovisionsandforage，andtomorrownightproposetomoveMcPhersonfromthelefttotheextremeright，backofGeneralThomas。ThiswillbringmyrightwithinthreemilesoftheChattahoocheeRiver，andaboutfivemilesfromtherailroad。BythismovementIthinkIcanforceJohnstontomovehiswholearmydownfromKenesawtodefendhisrailroadandtheChattahoochee，whenIwill（bytheleftflank）reachtherailroadbelowMarietta;butinthisImustcutloosefromtherailroadwithtendays’suppliesinwagons。JohnstonmaycomeoutofhisintrenchmentstoattackThomas，whichisexactlywhatI
want，forGeneralThomasiswellintrenchedonalineparallelwiththeenemysouthofKenesaw。IthinkthatAllatoonaandthelineoftheEtowaharestrongenoughformetoventureonthismove。ThemovementissubstantiallydowntheSandtownroadstraightforAtlanta。
McPhersondrewoutofhislinesduringthenightofJuly2d，leavingGarrard’scavalry，dismounted，occupyinghistrenches，andmovedtotherearoftheArmyoftheCumberland，stretchingdowntheNickajack;butJohnstondetectedthemovement，andpromptlyabandonedMariettaandKenesaw。Iexpectedasmuch，for，bytheearliestdawnofthe3dofJuly，Iwasupatalargespy—glassmountedonatripod，whichColonelPoe，UnitedStatesEngineers，hadathisbivouacclosebyourcamp。IdirectedtheglassonKenesaw，andsawsomeofourpicketscrawlingupthehillcautiously;soontheystoodupontheverytop，andIcouldplainlyseetheirmovementsastheyranalongthecrestjustabandonedbytheenemy。InaminuteIrousedmystaff，andstartedthemoffwithordersineverydirectionforapursuitbyeverypossibleroad，hopingtocatchJohnstonintheconfusionofretreat，especiallyatthecrossingoftheChattahoocheeRiver。
Imustclosethischapterhere，soastogivetheactuallossesduringJune，whicharecompiledfromtheofficialreturnsbymonths。Theselosses，fromJune1sttoJuly3d，wereallsubstantiallysustainedaboutKenesawandMarietta，anditwasreallyacontinuousbattle，lastingfromthe10thdayofJunetillthe3dofJuly，whentherebelarmyfellbackfromMariettatowardtheChattahoocheeRiver。Ourlosseswere:
KilledandMissingWoundedTotalLossinJuneAggregate1，7905，7407，530
JohnstonmakeshisstatementoflossesfromthereportofhissurgeonFoard，forprettymuchthesameperiod，viz。，fromJune4thtoJuly4th（page576）:
KilledWoundedTotalTotal……4683，4803，948
Inthetabularstatementthe\"missing\"embracestheprisoners;and，givingtwothousandasafairproportionofprisonerscapturedbyusforthemonthofJune（twelvethousandninehundredandeighty—
threeinallthecampaign），makesanaggregatelossintherebelarmyoffifty—ninehundredandforty—eight，tooursofseventy—fivehundredandthirty——alessproportionthanintherelativestrengthofourtwoarmies，viz。，assixtoten，thusmaintainingourrelativesuperiority，whichthedesperategameofwarjustified。
CHAPTERXVIII。
ATLANTACAMPAIGN——BATTLESABOUTATLANTA
JULY，1864。
Asbeforeexplained，onthe3dofJuly，bymovingMcPherson’sentirearmyfromtheextremeleft，atthebaseofKenesawtotheright，belowOlley’sCreek，andstretchingitdowntheNickajacktowardTurner’sFerryoftheChattahoochee，weforcedJohnstontochoosebetweenadirectassaultonThomas’sintrenchedposition，ortopermitustomakealodgmentonhisrailroadbelowMarietta，oreventocrosstheChattahoochee。Ofcourse，hechosetoletgoKenesawandMarietta，andfallbackonanintrenchedcamppreparedbyhisordersinadvanceonthenorthandwestbankoftheChattahoochee，coveringtherailroad—crossingandhisseveralpontoon—bridges。IconfessIhadnotlearnedbeforehandoftheexistenceofthisstrongplace，inthenatureofatete—du—pont，andhadcountedonstrikinghimaneffectualblowintheexpectedconfusionofhiscrossingtheChattahoochee，abroadanddeepriverthentohisrear。Orderingeverypartofthearmytopursuevigorouslyonthemorningofthe3dofJuly，IrodeintoMarietta，justquittedbytherebelrear—guard，andwasterriblyangryatthecautiouspursuitbyGarrard’scavalry，andevenbytheheadofourinfantrycolumns。ButJohnstonhadinadvanceclearedandmultipliedhisroads，whereasourshadtocrossatrightanglesfromthedirectionofPowderSpringstowardMarrietta，producingdelayandconfusion。BynightThomas’sheadofcolumnranupagainstastrongrear—guardintrenchedatSmyrnacamp—ground，sixmilesbelowMarietta，andthereonthenextdaywecelebratedourFourthofJuly，byanoisybutnotadesperatebattle，designedchieflytoholdtheenemytheretillGeneralsMcPhersonandSchofieldcouldgetwellintopositionbelowhim，neartheChattahoocheecrossings。
ItwasherethatGeneralNoyes，lateGovernorofOhio，losthisleg。Icameverynearbeingshotmyselfwhilereconnoitringinthesecondstoryofahouseonourpicket—line，whichwasstruckseveraltimesbycannon—shot，andperfectlyriddledwithmusket—balls。
DuringthenightJohnstondrewbackallhisarmyandtrainsinsidethetete—du—pontattheChattahoochee，whichprovedoneofthestrongestpiecesoffield—fortificationIeversaw。Weclosedupagainstit，andwerepromptlymetbyaheavyandseverefire。
Thomaswasonthemainroadinimmediatepursuit;nextonhisrightwasSchofield;andMcPhersonontheextremeright，reachingtheChattahoocheeRiverbelowTurner’sFerry。Stoneman’scavalrywasstillfarthertotheright，alongdowntheChattahoocheeRiverasfarasoppositeSandtown;andonthatdayIorderedGarrard’sdivisionofcavalryuptherivereighteenmiles，tosecurepossessionofthefactoriesatRoswell，aswellastoholdanimportantbridgeandfordatthatplace。
AboutthreemilesoutfromtheChattahoocheethemainroadforked，therightbranchfollowingsubstantiallytherailroad，andtheleftoneleadingstraightforAtlanta，viaPaice’sFerryandBuckhead。
Wefoundthelatterunoccupiedandunguarded，andtheFourthCorps（Howard’s）reachedtheriveratPaice’sFerry。Theright—handroadwasperfectlycoveredbythetete—du—pontbeforedescribed，wheretheresistancewasverysevere，andforsometimedeceivedme，forIwaspushingThomaswithorderstofiercelyassaulthisenemy，supposingthathewasmerelyopposingustogaintimetogethistrainsandtroopsacrosstheChattahoochee;but，onpersonallyreconnoitring，Isawtheabatisandthestrongredoubts，whichsatisfiedmeofthepreparationsthathadbeenmadebyJohnstoninanticipationofthisveryevent。WhileIwaswithGeneralJeff。C。
Davis，apoornegrocameoutoftheabatis，blanchedwithfright，saidhehadbeenhiddenunderalogallday，withaperfectstormofshot，shells，andmusket—balls，passingoverhim，tillashortlullhadenabledhimtocreepoutandmakehimselfknowntoourskirmishers，whointurnhadsenthimbacktowherewewere。Thisnegroexplainedthathewithaboutathousandslaveshadbeenatworkamonthormoreontheseverylines，which，asheexplained，extendedfromtheriveraboutamileabovetherailroad—bridgetoTurner’sFerrybelow，——beinginextentfromfivetosixmiles。
Therefore，onthe5thofJulywehaddrivenourenemytocoverinthevalleyoftheChattahoochee，andweheldpossessionoftheriveraboveforeighteenmiles，asfarasRoswell，andbelowtenmilestothemouthoftheSweetwater。Moreover，weheldthehighgroundandcouldoverlookhismovements，insteadofhislookingdownonus，aswasthecaseatKenesaw。
>FromahilljustbackofMining’sStationIcouldseethehousesinAtlanta，ninemilesdistant，andthewholeinterveningvalleyoftheChattahoochee;couldobservethepreparationsforourreceptionontheotherside，thecampsofmenandlargetrainsofcoveredwagons;andsupposed，asamatterofcourse，thatJohnstonhadpassedtheriverwiththebulkofhisarmy，andthathehadonlyleftonoursideacorpstocoverhisbridges;butinfacthehadonlysentacrosshiscavalryandtrains。BetweenHoward’scorpsatPaice’sFerryandtherestofThomas’sarmypressingupagainstthistete—du—pont，wasaspaceconcealedbydensewoods，incrossingwhichIcamenearridingintoadetachmentoftheenemy’scavalry;andlaterinthesamedayColonelFrankSherman，ofChicago，thenonGeneralHoward’sstaff，didactuallyridestraightintotheenemy’scamp，supposingthatourlineswerecontinuous。
HewascarriedtoAtlanta，andforsometimetheenemysupposedtheywereinpossessionofthecommander—in—chiefoftheopposingarmy。
IknewthatJohnstonwouldnotremainlongonthewestbankoftheChattahoochee，forIcouldeasilypractiseonthatgroundtobetteradvantageourformertacticsofintrenchingamoietyinhisfront，andwiththerestofourarmycrosstheriverandthreateneitherhisrearorthecityofAtlantaitself，whichcitywasofvitalimportancetotheexistencenotonlyofhisownarmy，butoftheConfederacyitself。InmydispatchofJuly6thtoGeneralHalleck，atWashington，Istatethat:
Johnston（inhisretreatfromKenesaw）haslefttwobreaksintherailroad——oneaboveMariettaandonenearMining’sStation。Theformerisalreadyrepaired，andJohnston’sarmyhasheardthesoundofourlocomotives。ThetelegraphisfinishedtoMining’sStation，andthefield—wirehasjustreachedmybivouac，andwillbereadytoconveythismessageassoonasitiswrittenandtranslatedintocipher。
IproposetostudythecrossingsoftheChattahoochee，and，whenallisready，tomovequickly。Asabeginning，Iwillkeepthetroopsandwagonswellbackfromtheriver，andonlydisplaytotheenemyourpicket—line，withafewfield—batteriesalongatrandom。
IhavealreadyshiftedSchofieldtoapointinourleftrear，whencehecaninasinglemovereachtheChattahoocheeatapointabovetherailroad—bridge，wherethereisaford。Atpresentthewatersareturbidandswollenfromrecentrains;butifthepresenthotweatherlasts，thewaterwillrundownveryfaSt。Wehavepontoonsenoughforfourbridges，but，asourcrossingwillberesisted，wemustmanoeuvresome。Alltheregularcrossing—placesarecoveredbyforts，apparentlyoflongconstruction;butweshallcrossinduetime，and，insteadofattackingAtlantadirect，oranyofitsforts，Iproposetomakeacircuit，destroyingallitsrailroads。Thisisadelicatemovement，andmustbedonewithcaution。Ourarmyisingoodconditionandfullofconfidence;buttheweatherisintenselyhot，andagoodmanymenhavefallenwithsunstroke。Thecountryishighandhealthy，andthesanitaryconditionofthearmyisgood。
AtthistimeStonemanwasveryactiveonourextremeright，pretendingtobesearchingtheriverbelowTurner’sFerryforacrossing，andwaswatchedcloselybytheenemy’scavalryontheotherside，McPherson，ontheright，wasequallydemonstrativeatandnearTurner’sFerry。Thomasfacedsubstantiallytheintrenchedtete—du—pont，andhadhisleftontheChattahoocheeRiver，atPaice’sFerry。Garrard’scavalrywasupatRoswell，andMcCook’ssmalldivisionofcavalrywasintermediate，aboveSoap’sCreek。
Meantime，also，therailroad—constructionpartywashardatwork，repairingtherailroaduptoourcampatVining’sStation。
Ofcourse，IexpectedeverypossibleresistanceincrossingtheChattahoocheeRiver，andhadmadeupmymindtofeignontheright，butactuallytocrossoverbytheleft。WehadalreadysecuredacrossingplaceatRoswell，butonenearerwasadvisable;GeneralSchofieldhadexaminedtheriverwell，foundaplacejustbelowthemouthofSoap’sCreekwhichhedeemedadvantageous，andwasinstructedtoeffectanearlycrossingthere，andtointrenchagoodpositionontheotherside，viz。，theeastbank。But，preliminarythereto，IhadorderedGeneralRousseau，atNashville，tocollect，outofthescattereddetachmentsofcavalryinTennessee，aforceofacoupleofthousandmen，torendezvousatDecatur，Alabama，thencetomakearapidmarchforOpelika，tobreakuptherailroadlinksbetweenGeorgiaandAlabama，andthentomakejunctionwithmeaboutAtlanta;or，ifforced，togoontoPensacola，oreventoswingacrosstosomeofourpostsinMississippi。GeneralRousseauaskedleavetocommandthisexpeditionhimself，towhichIconsented，andonthe6thofJulyhereportedthathewasallreadyatDecatur，andIgavehimorderstostart。Hemovedpromptlyonthe9th，crossedtheCoosabelowthe\"TenIslands\"andtheTallapoosabelow\"HorseshoeBend，\"havingpassedthroughTalladega。HestrucktherailroadwestofOpelika，toreitupfortwentymiles，thenturnednorthandcametoMariettaonthe22dofJuly，whencehereportedtome。Thisexpeditionwasinthenatureofaraid，andmusthavedisturbedtheenemysomewhat;but，asusual，thecavalrydidnotworkhard，andtheirdestructionoftherailroadwassoonrepaired。Rousseau，whenhereportedtomeinpersonbeforeAtlanta，onthe28dofJuly，statedhisentirelosstohavebeenonlytwelvekilledandthirtywounded。
Hebroughtinfourhundredcapturedmulesandthreehundredhorses，andalsotoldmeagoodstory。HesaidhewasfardowninAlabama，belowTalladega，onehot，dustyday，whentheblueclothingofhismenwasgraywithdust;hehadhaltedhiscolumnalongaroad，andheinperson，withhisstaff，hadgonetothehouseofaplanter，whomethimkindlyonthefront—porch。Heaskedforwater，whichwasbrought，andasthepartysatontheporchinconversationhesaw，inastable—yardacrosstheroad，quiteanumberofgoodmules。Heremarkedtotheplanter，\"Mygoodsir，IfearImusttakesomeofyourmules。\"Theplanterremonstrated，sayinghehadalreadycontributedliberallytothegoodcause;thatitwasonlylastweekhehadgiventoGeneralRoddytenmules。Rousseaureplied，\"Well，inthiswaryoushouldbeatleastneutral——thatis，youshouldbeasliberaltousastoRoddy\"（arebelcavalrygeneral）。\"Well，ain’tyouonourside？\"\"No，\"saidRousseau;\"I
amGeneralRousseau，andallthesemenyouseeareYanks。\"\"GreatGod！isitpossible！AretheseYanks！WhoeversupposedtheywouldcomeawaydownhereinAlabama？\"Ofcourse，Rousseautookhistenmules。
SchofieldeffectedhiscrossingatSoap’sCreekveryhandsomelyonthe9th，capturingthesmallguardthatwaswatchingthecrossing。
Bynighthewasonthehighgroundbeyond，stronglyintrenched，withtwogoodpontoon—bridgesfinished，andwasprepared，ifnecessary，foranassaultbythewholeConfederatearmy。ThesamedayGarrard’scavalryalsocrossedoveratRoswell，droveawaythecavalry—pickets，andhelditsgroundtillrelievedbyNewton’sdivisionofHoward’scorps，whichwassentuptemporarily，tillitinturnwasrelievedbyDodge’scorps（Sixteenth）oftheArmyoftheTennessee，whichwastheadvanceofthewholeofthatarmy。
ThatnightJohnstonevacuatedhistrenches，crossedovertheChattahoochee，burnedtherailroadbridgeandhispontoonandtrestlebridges，andleftusinfullpossessionofthenorthorwestbank—besideswhich，wehadalreadysecuredpossessionofthetwogoodcrossingsatRoswellandSoap’sCreek。IhavealwaysthoughtJohnstonneglectedhisopportunitythere，forhehadlaincomparativelyidlewhilewegotcontrolofbothbanksoftheriverabovehim。