Onthe13thIorderedMcPherson，withtheFifteenthCorps，tomoveuptoRoswell，tocrossover，preparegoodbridges，andtomakeastrongtete—du—pontonthefartherside。StonemanhadbeensentdowntoCampbellton，withorderstocrossoverandtothreatentherailroadbelowAtlanta，ifhecoulddosowithouttoomuchrisk;
andGeneralBlair，withtheSeventeenthCorps，wastoremainatTurner’sFerry，demonstratingasmuchaspossible，thuskeepingupthefeintbelowwhilewewereactuallycrossingabove。ThomaswasalsoorderedtopreparehisbridgesatPowers’sandPaice’sFerries。BycrossingtheChattahoocheeabovetherailroadbridge，wewerebetterplacedtocoverourrailroadanddepotsthanbelow，thoughamovementacrosstheriverbelowtherailroad，tothesouthofAtlanta，mighthavebeenmoredecisive。Butwewerealreadysofarfromhome，andwouldbecompelledtoacceptbattlewheneveroffered，withtheChattahoocheetoourrear，thatitbecameimperativeformetotakeallprudentialmeasuresthecaseadmittedof，andIthereforedeterminedtopasstheriverabovetherailroad—bridge—McPhersonontheleft，Schofieldinthecentre，andThomasontheright。Onthe13thIreportedtoGeneralHalleckasfollows:
Alliswell。IhavenowaccumulatedstoresatAllatoonaandMarietta，bothfortifiedandgarrisonedpoints。HavealsothreeplacesatwhichtocrosstheChattahoocheeinourpossession，andonlyawaitGeneralStoneman’sreturnfromatripdowntheriver，tocrossthearmyinforceandmoveonAtlanta。
Stonemanisnowouttwodays，andhadorderstobebackonthefourthorfifthdayatfurthest。
>Fromthe10thtothe15thwewereallbusyinstrengtheningtheseveralpointsfortheproposedpassageoftheChattahoochee，inincreasingthenumberandcapacityofthebridges，rearrangingthegarrisonstoourrear，andinbringingforwardsupplies。Onthe15thGeneralStonemangotbacktoPowderSprings，andwasorderedtoreplaceGeneralBlairatTurner’sFerry，andBlair，withtheSeventeenthCorps，wasordereduptoRoswelltojoinMcPherson。Onthe17thwebeganthegeneralmovementagainstAtlanta，ThomascrossingtheChattahoocheeatPowers’sandPaice’s，bypontoon—
bridges;SchofieldmovingouttowardCrossKeys，andMcPhersontowardStoneMountain。Weencounteredbutlittleoppositionexceptbycavalry。Onthe18thallthearmiesmovedonageneralrightwheel，ThomastoBuckhead，forminglineofbattlefacingPeach—TreeCreek;Schofieldwasonhisleft，andMcPhersonwellovertowardtherailroadbetweenStoneMountainandDecatur，whichhereachedat2p。m。ofthatday，aboutfourmilesfromStoneMountain，andsevenmileseastofDecatur，andthereheturnedtowardAtlanta，breakinguptherailroadasheprogressed，hisadvance—guardreachingEcaturaboutnight，wherehecameintocommunicationwithSchofield’stroops，whichhadalsoreachedDecatur。About10A。M。ofthatday（July18th），whenthearmieswereallinmotion，oneofGeneralThomas’sstaff—officersbroughtmeacitizen，oneofourspies，whohadjustcomeoutofAtlanta，andhadbroughtanewspaperofthesameday，orofthedaybefore，containingJohnston’sorderrelinquishingthecommandoftheConfederateforcesinAtlanta，andHood’sorderassumingthecommand。IimmediatelyinquiredofGeneralSchofield，whowashisclassmateatWestPoint，aboutHood，astohisgeneralcharacter，etc。，andlearnedthathewasboldeventorashness，andcourageousintheextreme;Iinferredthatthechangeofcommandersmeant\"fight。\"Noticeofthisimportantchangewasatoncesenttoallpartsofthearmy，andeverydivisioncommanderwascautionedtobealwayspreparedforbattleinanyshape。Thiswasjustwhatwewanted，viz。，tofightinopenground，onanythinglikeequalterms，insteadofbeingforcedtorunupagainstpreparedintrenchments;but，atthesametime，theenemyhavingAtlantabehindhim，couldchoosethetimeandplaceofattack，andcouldatpleasuremassasuperiorforceonourweakestpoints。Therefore，wehadtobeconstantlyreadyforsallies。
Onthe19ththethreearmieswereconvergingtowardAtlanta，meetingsuchfeebleresistancethatIreallythoughttheenemyintendedtoevacuatetheplace。McPhersonwasmovingastrideoftherailroad，nearDecatur;SchofieldalongaroadleadingtowardAtlanta，byColonelHoward’shouseandthedistillery;andThomaswascrossing\"Peach—Tree\"inlineofbattle，buildingbridgesfornearlyeverydivisionasdeployed。TherewasquiteagapbetweenThomasandSchofield，whichIendeavoredtoclosebydrawingtwoofHoward’sdivisionsnearerSchofield。Onthe20thIwaswithGeneralSchofieldnearthecentre，andsoonafternoonheardheavyfiringinfrontofThomas’sright，whichlastedanhourorso，andthenceased。
Isoonlearnedthattheenemyhadmadeafurioussally，theblowfallingonHooker’scorps（theTwentieth），andpartiallyonJohnson’sdivisionoftheFourteenth，andNewton’softheFourth。
ThetroopshadcrossedPeach—TreeCreek，weredeployed，butatthetimewererestingfornoon，when，withoutnotice，theenemycamepouringoutoftheirtrenchesdownuponthem，theybecamecommingled，andfoughtinmanyplaceshandtohand。GeneralThomashappenedtobeneartherearofNewton’sdivision，andgotsomefield—batteriesinagoodposition，onthenorthsideofPeach—TreeCreek，fromwhichhedirectedafuriousfireonamassoftheenemy，whichwaspassingaroundNewton’sleftandexposedflank。
Afteracoupleofhoursofhardandcloseconflict，theenemyretiredslowlywithinhistrenches，leavinghisdeadandmanywoundedonthefield。Johnson’sandNewton’slosseswerelight，fortheyhadpartiallycoveredtheirfrontswithlightparapet;butHooker’swholecorpsfoughtinopenground，andlostaboutfifteenhundredmen。Hereportedfourhundredrebeldeadleftontheground，andthattherebelwoundedwouldnumberfourthousand;butthiswasconjectural，formostofthemgotbackwithintheirownlines。Wehad，however，metsuccessfullyaboldsally，hadrepelledithandsomely，andwerealsoputonourguard;andtheeventillustratedthefuturetacticsofourenemy。ThissallycamefromthePeach—Treeline，whichGeneralJohnstonhadcarefullypreparedinadvance，fromwhichtofightusoutsideofAtlanta。Wethenadvancedourlinesincompactorder，closeuptothesefinishedintrenchments，overlappingthemonourleft。FromvariouspartsofourlinesthehousesinsideofAtlantawereplainlyvisible，thoughbetweenuswerethestrongparapets，withditch，fraise，chevaux—de—frise，andabatis，preparedlonginadvancebyColonelJeremyF。Gilmer，formerlyoftheUnitedStatesEngineers。
McPhersonhadtheFifteenthCorpsastridetheAugustaRailroad，andtheSeventeenthdeployedonitsleft。Schofieldwasnextonhisright，thencameHoward’s，Hooker’s，andPalmer’scorps，ontheextremeright。Eachcorpswasdeployedwithstrongreserves，andtheirtrainswereparkedtotheirrear。McPherson’strainswereinDecatur，guardedbyabrigadecommandedbyColonelSpragueoftheSixty—thirdOhio。TheSixteenthCorps（Dodge’s）wascrowdedoutofpositionontherightofMcPherson’sline，bythecontractionofthecircleofinvestment;and，duringthepreviousafternoon，theSeventeenthCorps（Blair’s）hadpusheditsoperationsonthefarthersideoftheAugustaRailroad，soastosecurepossessionofahill，knownasLeggett’sHill，whichLeggett’sandForce’sdivisionshadcarriedbyassault。GilesA。Smith’sdivisionwasonLeggett’sleft，deployedwithaweakleftflank\"inair，\"inmilitaryphraseology。TheeveningbeforeGeneralGresham，agreatfavorite，wasbadlywounded;andtherealsoColonelTomReynolds，nowofMadison，Wisconsin，wasshotthroughtheleg。Whenthesurgeonsweredebatingtheproprietyofamputatingitinhishearing，hebeggedthemtosparetheleg，asitwasveryvaluable，beingan\"importedleg。\"HewasofIrishbirth，andthiswell—timedpieceofwitsavedhisleg，forthesurgeonsthought，ifhecouldperpetrateajokeatsuchatime，theywouldtrusttohisvitalitytosavehislimb。
Duringthenight，Ihadfullreportsfromallpartsofourline，mostofwhichwaspartiallyintrenchedasagainstasally，andfindingthatMcPhersonwasstretchingouttoomuchonhisleftflank，Iwrotehimanoteearlyinthemorningnottoextendsomuchbyhisleft;forwehadnottroopsenoughtocompletelyinvesttheplace，andIintendedtodestroyutterlyallpartsoftheAugustaRailroadtotheeastofAtlanta，thentowithdrawfromtheleftflankandaddtotheright。InthatletterIorderedMcPhersonnottoextendanyfarthertotheleft，buttoemployGeneralDodge’scorps（Sixteenth），thenforcedoutofposition，todestroyeveryrailandtieoftherailroad，fromDecaturuptohisskirmish—line，andIwantedhim（McPherson）tobeready，assoonasGeneralGarrardreturnedfromCovington（whitherIhadsenthim），tomovetotheextremerightofThomas，soastoreachifpossibletherailroadbelowAtlanta，viz。，theMaconroad。Inthemorningwefoundthestronglineofparapet，\"Peach—Treeline，\"tothefrontofSchofieldandThomas，abandoned，andourlineswereadvancedrapidlycloseuptoAtlanta。ForsomemomentsIsupposedtheenemyintendedtoevacuate，andinpersonwasonhorsebackattheheadofSchofield’stroops，whohadadvancedinfrontoftheHowardHousetosomeopenground，fromwhichwecouldplainlyseethewholerebellineofparapets，andIsawtheirmendraggingupfromtheinterveningvalley，bythedistillery，treesandsaplingsforabatis。Ourskirmishersfoundtheenemydowninthisvalley，andwecouldseetherebelmainlinestronglymanned，withgunsinpositionatintervals。Schofieldwasdressingforwardhislines，andIcouldhearThomasfarthertotherightengaged，whenGeneralMcPhersonandhisstaffrodeup。WewentbacktotheHowardHouse，adoubleframe—buildingwithaporch，andsatonthesteps，discussingthechancesofbattle，andofHood’sgeneralcharacter。
McPhersonhadalsobeenofthesameclassatWestPointwithHood，Schofield，andSheridan。Weagreedthatweoughttobeunusuallycautiousandpreparedatalltimesforsalliesandforhardfighting，becauseHood，thoughnotdeemedmuchofascholar，orofgreatmentalcapacity，wasundoubtedlyabrave，determined，andrashman;andthechangeofcommandersatthatparticularcrisisarguedthedispleasureoftheConfederateGovernmentwiththecautiousbutprudentconductofGeneralJos。Johnston。
McPhersonwasinexcellentspirits，wellpleasedattheprogressofeventssofar，andhadcomeoverpurposelytoseemeabouttheorderIhadgivenhimtouseDodge’scorpstobreakuptherailroad，sayingthatthenightbeforehehadgainedapositiononLeggett’sHillfromwhichhecouldlookovertherebelparapet，andseethehighsmoke—stackofalargefounderyinAtlanta;thatbeforereceivingmyorderhehaddivertedDodge’stwodivisions（theninmotion）fromthemainroad，alongadiagonalonethatledtohisextremeleftflank，thenheldbyGilesA。Smith’sdivision（SeventeenthCorps），forthepurposeofstrengtheningthatflank;
andthathehadsentsomeintrenching—toolsthere，toerectsomebatteriesfromwhichheintendedtoknockdownthatfoundery，andotherwisetodamagethebuildingsinsideofAtlanta。Hesaidhecouldputallhispioneerstowork，anddowiththeminthetimeindicatedallIhadproposedtodowithGeneralDodge’stwodivisions。OfcourseIassentedatonce，andwewalkeddowntheroadashortdistance，satdownbythefootofatreewhereIhadmymap，andonitpointedouttohimThomas’spositionandhisown。
Ithenexplainedminutelythat，afterwehadsufficientlybrokenuptheAugustaroad，IwantedtoshifthiswholearmyaroundbythereartoThomas’sextremeright，andhopedthustoreachtheotherrailroadatEastPoint。Whilewesattherewecouldhearlivelyskirmishinggoingonnearus（downaboutthedistillery），andoccasionallyround—shotfromtwelveortwenty—fourpoundgunscamethroughthetreesinreplytothoseofSchofield，andwecouldhearsimilarsoundsallalongdownthelinesofThomastoourright，andhisowntotheleft;butpresentlythefiringappearedalittlemorebrisk（especiallyoveraboutGilesG。Smith’sdivision），andthenweheardanoccasionalgunbacktowardDecatur。Iaskedhimwhatitmeant。Wetookmypocket—compass（whichIalwayscarried），andbynotingthedirectionofthesound，webecamesatisfiedthatthefiringwastoofartoourleftreartobeexplainedbyknownfacts，andhehastilycalledforhishorse，hisstaff，andhisorderlies。
McPhersonwastheninhisprime（aboutthirty—fouryearsold），oversixfeethigh，andaveryhandsomemanineveryway，wasuniversallyliked，andhadmanynoblequalities。Hehadonhisbootsoutsidehispantaloons，gauntletsonhishands，hadonhismajor—general’suniform，andworeasword—belt，butnosword。Hehastilygatheredhispapers（saveone，whichInowpossess）intoapocket—book，putitinhisbreast—pocket，andjumpedonhishorse，sayinghewouldhurrydownhislineandsendmebackwordwhatthesesoundsmeant。Hisadjutant—general，Clark，Inspector—GeneralStrong，andhisaides，CaptainsSteeleandGile，werewithhim。
Althoughthesoundofmusketryonourleftgrewinvolume，IwasnotsomuchdisturbedbyitasbythesoundofartillerybacktowardDecatur。IorderedSchofieldatoncetosendabrigadebacktoDecatur（somefivemiles）andwaswalkingupanddowntheporchoftheHowardHouse，listening，whenoneofMcPherson’sstaff，withhishorsecoveredwithsweat，dasheduptotheporch，andreportedthatGeneralMcPhersonwaseither\"killedoraprisoner。\"Heexplainedthatwhentheyhadleftmeafewminutesbefore，theyhadriddenrapidlyacrosstotherailroad，thesoundsofbattleincreasingastheynearedthepositionoccupiedbyGeneralGilesA。
Smith’sdivision，andthatMcPhersonhadsentfirstone，thenanotherofhisstafftobringsomeofthereservebrigadesoftheFifteenthCorpsovertotheexposedleftflank;thathehadreachedtheheadofDodge’scorps（marchingbytheflankonthediagonalroadasdescribed），andhadorderedittohurryforwardtothesamepoint;thatthen，almostifnotentirelyalone，hehadfollowedthisroadleadingacrossthewoodedvalleybehindtheSeventeenthCorps，andhaddisappearedinthesewoods，doubtlesswithasenseofabsolutesecurity。Thesoundofmusketrywasthereheard，andMcPherson’shorsecameback，bleeding，wounded，andriderless。I
orderedthestaff—officerwhobroughtthismessagetoreturnatonce，tofindGeneralLogan（theseniorofficerpresentwiththeArmyoftheTennessee），toreportthesamefactstohim，andtoinstructhimtodrivebackthissupposedsmallforce，whichhadevidentlygotaroundtheSeventeenthCorpsthroughtheblindwoodsinrearofourleftflank。Isoondispatchedoneofmyownstaff（McCoy，Ithink）toGeneralLoganwithsimilarorders，tellinghimtorefusehisleftflank，andtofightthebattle（holdingfasttoLeggett’sHill）withtheArmyoftheTennessee;thatIwouldpersonallylooktoDecaturandtothesafetyofhisrear，andwouldreenforcehimifheneededit。IdispatchedorderstoGeneralThomasonourright，tellinghimofthisstrongsally，andmyinferencethatthelinesinhisfronthadevidentlybeenweakenedbyreasonthereof，andthatheoughttotakeadvantageoftheopportunitytomakealodgmentinAtlanta，ifpossible。
Meantimethesoundsofthebattleroseonourextremeleftmoreandmorefurious，extendingtotheplacewhereIstood，attheHowardHouse。Withinanhouranambulancecamein（attendedbyColonelsClarkandStrong，andCaptainsSteeleandGile），bearingMcPherson’sbody。IhaditcarriedinsideoftheHowardHouse，andlaidonadoorwrenchedfromitshinges。Dr。Hewitt，ofthearmy，wasthere，andIaskedhimtoexaminethewound。Heopenedthecoatandshirt，sawwheretheballhadenteredandwhereitcameout，orratherlodgedundertheskin，andhereportedthatMcPhersonmusthavediedinafewsecondsafterbeinghit;thattheballhadrangedupwardacrosshisbody，andpassedneartheheart。
Hewasdressedjustasheleftme，withgauntletsandbootson，buthispocket—bookwasgone。OnfurtherinquiryIlearnedthathisbodymusthavebeeninpossessionoftheenemysomeminutes，duringwhichtimeitwasrifledofthepocket—book，andIwasmuchconcernedlesttheletterIhadwrittenhimthatmorningshouldhavefallenintothehandsofsomeonewhocouldreadandunderstanditsmeaning。FortunatelythespotinthewoodswhereMcPhersonwasshotwasregainedbyourtroopsinafewminutes，andthepocket—bookfoundinthehaversackofaprisonerofwarcapturedatthetime，anditanditscontentsweresecuredbyoneofMcPherson’sstaff。
Whilewewereexaminingthebodyinsidethehouse，thebattlewasprogressingoutside，andmanyshotsstruckthebuilding，whichI
fearedwouldtakefire;soIorderedCaptainsSteeleandGiletocarrythebodytoMarietta。Theyreachedthatplacethesamenight，and，onapplication，Iorderedhispersonalstafftogoonandescortthebodytohishome，inClyde，Ohio，whereitwasreceivedwithgreathonor，anditisnowburiedinasmallcemetery，closebyhismother’shouse，whichcemeteryiscomposedinpartofthefamilyorchard，inwhichheusedtoplaywhenaboy。
Thefoundationisreadylaidfortheequestrianmonumentnowinprogress，undertheauspicesoftheSocietyoftheArmyoftheTennessee。
Thereportsthatcametomefromallpartsofthefieldrevealedclearlywhatwasthegameofmyantagonist，andthegroundsomewhatfavoredhim。Therailroadandwagon—roadfromDecaturtoAtlantaliealongthesummit，fromwhichthewatersflow，byshort，steepvalleys，intothe\"Peach—Tree\"andChattahoochee，tothewest，andbyothervalleys，ofgentlerdeclivity，towardtheeast（Ocmulgee）。
Theridgesandlevelgroundweremostlycleared，andhadbeencultivatedascornorcottonfields;butwherethevalleyswerebroken，theywereleftinastateofnature——wooded，andfallofundergrowth。McPherson’slineofbattlewasacrossthisrailroad，alongageneralridge，withagentlebutclearedvalleytohisfront，betweenhimandthedefensesofAtlanta;andanothervalley，behindhim，wasclearoftimberinpart，buttohisleftrearthecountrywasheavilywooded。Hood，duringthenightofJuly21st，hadwithdrawnfromhisPeach—Treeline，hadoccupiedthefortifiedlineofAtlanta，facingnorthandeast，withStewart’s——formerlyPolk’s——corpsandpartofHardee’s，andwithG。W。Smith’sdivisionofmilitia。Hisowncorps，andpartofHardee’s，hadmarchedouttotheroadleadingfromMcDonoughtoDecatur，andhadturnedsoastostriketheleftand，rearofMcPherson’sline\"inair。\"AtthesametimehehadsentWheeler’sdivisionofcavalryagainstthetrainsparkedinDecatur。Unluckilyforus，IhadsentawaythewholeofGarrard’sdivisionofcavalryduringthenightofthe20th，withorderstoproceedtoCovington，thirtymileseast，toburntwoimportantbridgesacrosstheUlcofauhatcheeandYellowRivers，totearuptherailroad，todamageitasmuchaspossiblefromStoneMountaineastward，andtobegonefourdays;sothatMcPhersonhadnocavalryinhandtoguardthatflank。
Theenemywasthereforeenabled，undercoverortheforest，toapproachquitenearbeforehewasdiscovered;indeed，hisskirmish—
linehadworkedthroughthetimberandgotintothefieldtotherearofGilesA。Smith’sdivisionoftheSeventeenthCorpsunseen，hadcapturedMurray’sbatteryofregularartillery，movingthroughthesewoodsentirelyunguarded，andhadgotpossessionofseveralofthehospitalcamps。TherightofthisrebellinestruckDodge’stroopsinmotion;but，fortunately，thiscorps（Sixteenth）hadonlytohalt，facetotheleft，andwasinlineofbattle;andthiscorpsnotonlyheldinchecktheenemy，butdrovehimbackthroughthewoods。AboutthesametimethissameforcehadstruckGeneralGilesA。Smith’sleftflank，doubleditback，capturedfourgunsinpositionandthepartyengagedinbuildingtheverybatterywhichwasthespecialobjectofMcPherson’svisittome，andalmostenvelopedtheentireleftflank。Themen，however，wereskillfulandbrave，andfoughtforatimewiththeirbackstoAtlanta。Theygraduallyfellback，compressingtheirownline，andgainingstrengthbymakingjunctionwithLeggett’sdivisionoftheSeven—
teenthCorps，wellandstronglypostedonthehill。OneortwobrigadesoftheFifteenthCorps，orderedbyMcPherson，camerapidlyacrosstheopenfieldtotherear，fromthedirectionoftherailroad，filledupthegapfromBlair’snewlefttotheheadofDodge’scolumn—nowfacingtothegeneralleft——thusformingastrongleftflank，atrightanglestotheoriginallineofbattle。
Theenemyattacked，boldlyandrepeatedly，thewholeofthisflank，butmetanequallyfierceresistance;andonthatgroundabloodybattleragedfromlittleafternoontillintothenight。ApartofHood’splanofactionwastosallyfromAtlantaatthesamemoment;
butthissallywasnot，forsomereason，simultaneous，forthefirstattackonourextremeleftflankhadbeencheckedandrepulsedbeforethesallycamefromthedirectionofAtlanta。
Meantime，ColonelSprague，inDecatur，hadgothisteamsharnessedup，andsafelyconductedhistraintotherearofSchofield’sposition，holdingincheckWheeler’scavalrytillhehadgotoffallhistrains，withtheexceptionofthreeorfourwagons。I
remainedneartheHowardHouse，receivingreportsandsendingorders，urgingGeneralsThomasandSchofieldtotakeadvantageoftheabsencefromtheirfrontofsoconsiderableabodyaswasevidentlyengagedonourleft，and，ifpossible，tomakealodgmentinAtlantaitself;buttheyreportedthatthelinestotheirfront，atallaccessiblepoints，werestrong，bynatureandbyart，andwerefullymanned。About4p。m。theexpected，sallycamefromAtlanta，directedmainlyagainstLeggett’sHillandalongtheDecaturroad。AtLeggett’sHilltheyweremetandbloodilyrepulsed。Alongtherailroadtheyweremoresuccessful。Sweepingoverasmallforcewithtwoguns，theyreachedourmainline，brokethroughit，andgotpossessionofDeGress’sbatteryoffourtwenty—poundParrotts，killingeveryhorse，andturningthegunsagainstus。GeneralCharlesR。Wood’sdivisionoftheFifteenthCorpswasontheextremerightoftheArmyoftheTennessee，betweentherailroadandtheHowardHouse，whereheconnectedwithSchofield’stroops。Hereportedtomeinpersonthatthelineonhislefthadbeensweptback，andthathisconnectionwithGeneralLogan，onLeggett’sHill，wasbroken。Iorderedhimtowheelhisbrigadestotheleft，toadvanceinechelon，andtocatchtheenemyinflank。GeneralSchofieldbroughtforwardallhisavailablebatteries，tothenumberoftwentyguns，toapositiontotheleftfrontoftheHowardHouse，whencewecouldoverlookthefieldofaction，anddirectedaheavyfireovertheheadsofGeneralWood’smenagainsttheenemy;andwesawWood’stroopsadvanceandencountertheenemy，whohadsecuredpossessionoftheoldlineofparapetwhichhadbeenheldbyourmen。Hisrightcrossedthisparapet，whichhesweptback，takingitinflank;and，atthesametime，thedivisionwhichhadbeendrivenbackalongtherailroadwasralliedbyGeneralLoganinperson，andfoughtfortheirformerground。ThesecombinedforcesdrovetheenemyintoAtlanta，recoveringthetwentypoundParrottgunsbutoneofthemwasfound\"bursted\"whileinthepossessionoftheenemy。Thetwosix—poundersfartherinadvancewere，however，lost，andhadbeenhauledbackbytheenemyintoAtlanta。PoorCaptaindeGresscametomeintears，lamentingthelossofhisfavoriteguns;whentheywereregainedhehadonlyafewmenleft，andnotasinglehorse。
Heaskedanorderforareequipment，butItoldhimhemustbegandborrowofotherstillhecouldrestorehisbattery，nowreducedtothreeguns。HowhedidsoIdonotknow，butinashorttimehedidgethorses，men，andfinallyanothergun，ofthesamespecialpattern，andservedthemwithsplendideffecttilltheverycloseofthewar。ThisbatteryhadalsobeenwithmefromShilohtillthattime。
ThebattleofJuly22disusuallycalledthebattleofAtlanta。ItextendedfromtheHowardHousetoGeneralGilesA。Smith’sposition，aboutamilebeyondtheAugustaRailroad，andthenbacktowardDecatur，thewholeextentofgroundbeingfullysevenmiles。
Inpartthegroundwasclearandinpartdenselywooded。Irodeoverthewholeofitthenextday，anditborethemarksofabloodyconflict。TheenemyhadretiredduringthenightinsideofAtlanta，andweremainedmastersofthesituationoutside。I
purposelyallowedtheArmyoftheTennesseetofightthisbattlealmostunaided，savebydemonstrationsonthepartofGeneralSchofieldandThomasagainstthefortifiedlinestotheirimmediatefronts，andbydetaching，asdescribed，oneofSchofield’sbrigadestoDecatur，becauseIknewthattheattackingforcecouldonlybeapartofHood’sarmy，andthat，ifanyassistancewererenderedbyeitheroftheotherarmies，theArmyoftheTennesseewouldbejealous。Noblydidtheydotheirworkthatday，andterriblewastheslaughterdonetoourenemy，thoughatsadcosttoourselves，asshownbythefollowingreports:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELDNEARATLANTA，July23，1864。
GeneralHALLECK，Washington，D。C。
YesterdaymorningtheenemyfellbacktotheintrenchmentsproperofthecityofAtlanta，whichareinageneralcircle，witharadiusofoneandahalfmiles，andweclosedin。Whilewewereformingourlines，andselectingpositionsforourbatteries，theenemyappearedsuddenlyoutofthedensewoodsinheavymassesonourextremeleft，andstrucktheSeventeenthCorps（GeneralBlair）
inflank，andwasforcingitback，whentheSixteenthCorps（GeneralDodge）cameupandcheckedthemovement，buttheenemy’scavalrygotwelltoourrear，andintoDecatur，andforsomehoursourleftflankwascompletelyenveloped。Thefightthatresultedwascontinuousuntilnight，withheavylossonbothsides。Theenemytookoneofourbatteries（Murray’s，oftheRegularArmy）
thatwasmarchinginitsplaceincolumnintheroad，unconsciousofdanger。Aboutp。m。theenemysalliedagainstthedivisionofGeneralMorganL。Smith，oftheFifteenthCorps，whichoccupiedanabandonedlineofrifle—trenchneartherailroadeastofthecity，andforceditbacksomefourhundredyards，leavinginhishandsforthetimetwobatteries，butthegroundandbatterieswereimmediatelyafterrecoveredbythesametroopsreenforced。I
cannotwellapproximateourloss，whichfellheavilyontheFifteenthandSeventeenthCorps，butcountitasthreethousand;I
knowthat，beingonthedefensive，wehaveinflictedequallyheavylossontheenemy。
GeneralMcPherson，whenarranginghistroopsabout11。00A。M。，andpassingfromonecolumntoanother，incautiouslyrodeuponanambuscadewithoutapprehension，atsomedistanceaheadofhisstaffandorderlies，andwasshotdead。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELDNEARATLANTA，July26，1864。
Major—GeneralHALLECK，Washington，D。C。
GENERAL:Ifinditdifficulttomakepromptreportofresults，coupledwithsomedataorinformation，withoutoccasionallymakingmistakes。McPherson’ssuddendeath，andLogansucceedingtothecommandasitwereinthemidstofbattle，madesomeconfusiononourextremeleft;butitsoonrecoveredandmadesadhavocwiththeenemy，whohadpractisedoneofhisfavoritegamesofattackingourleftwheninmotion，andbeforeithadtimetocoveritsweakflank。Afterridingoverthegroundandhearingthevaryingstatementsoftheactors，IdirectedGeneralLogantomakeanofficialreportoftheactualresult，andIherewithincloseit。
Thoughthenumberofdeadrebelsseemsexcessive，Iamdisposedtogivefullcredittothereportthatourloss，thoughonlythirty—
fivehundredandtwenty—onekilled，wounded，andmissing，theenemy’sdeadaloneonthefieldnearlyequaledthatnumber，viz。，thirty—twohundredandtwenty。Happeningatthatpointofthelinewhenaflagoftrucewassentintoaskpermissionforeachpartytoburyitsdead，IgaveGeneralLoganauthoritytopermitatemporarytruceonthatflankalone，whileourlaborsandfightingproceededatallothers。
IalsosendyouacopyofGeneralGarrard’sreportofthebreakingoftherailroadtowardAugusta。IamnowgroupingmycommandtoattacktheMaconroad，andwiththatviewwillintrenchastronglineofcircumvallationwithflanks，soastohaveaslargeaninfantrycolumnaspossible，withallthecavalrytoswingroundtothesouthandeast，tostrikethatroadatorbelowEastPoint。
Ihavethehonortobe，yourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSDEPARTMENTANDARMYOFTHETENNESSEE
BEFOREATLANTAGEORGIA，July24，1864
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi。
GENERAL:Ihavethehonortoreportthefollowinggeneralsummaryoftheresultoftheattackoftheenemyonthisarmyonthe22dinst。
Totalloss，killed，wounded，andmissing，thirty—fivehundredandtwenty—one，andtenpiecesofartillery。
Wehaveburiedanddeliveredtotheenemy，underaflagoftracesentinbythem，infrontoftheThirdDivision，SeventeenthCorps，onethousandoftheirkilled。
ThenumberoftheirdeadinfrontoftheFourthDivisionofthesamecorps，includingthoseonthegroundnotnowoccupiedbyourtroops，GeneralBlairreports，willswellthenumberoftheirdeadonhisfronttotwothousand。
ThenumberoftheirdeadburiedinfrontoftheFifteenthCorps，uptothishour，isthreehundredandsixty，andthecommandingofficerreportsthatatleastasmanymoreareyetunburied;
burying—partiesbeingstillatwork。
ThenumberofdeadburiedinfrontoftheSixteenthCorpsisfourhundredandtwenty—two。Wehaveoveronethousandoftheirwoundedinourhands，thelargernumberofthewoundedbeingcarriedoffduringthenight，aftertheengagement，bythem。
Wecapturedeighteenstandsofcolors，andhavethemnow。Wealsocapturedfivethousandstandsofarms。
Theattackwasmadeonourlinesseventimes，andwasseventimesrepulsed。Hood’sandHardee’scorpsandWheeler’scavalryengagedus。
Wehavesenttotherearonethousandprisoners，includingthirty—threecommissionedofficersofhighrank。
Westilloccupythefield，andthetroopsareinfinespirits。A
detailedandfullreportwillbefurnishedassoonascompleted。
Recapitulation。
Ourtotalloss……3，521
Enemy’sdead，thusfarreported，buried，anddeliveredtothem……3，220
TotalprisonerssentNorth……1，017
Totalprisoners，wounded，inourhands……1，000
Estimatedlossoftheenemy，atleast……10，000
Veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，JoanA。Logan，Major—General。
Onthe22dofJulyGeneralRousseaureachedMarietta，havingreturnedfromhisraidontheAlabamaroadatOpelika，andonthenextdayGeneralGarrardalsoreturnedfromCovington，bothhavingbeenmeasurablysuccessful。Theformerwasabouttwenty—fivehundredstrong，thelatteraboutfourthousand，andbothreportedthattheirhorseswerejadedandtired，needingshoesandreSt。
But，aboutthistime，IwasadvisedbyGeneralGrant（theninvestingRichmond）thattherebelGovernmenthadbecomearousedtothecriticalconditionofthingsaboutAtlanta，andthatImustlookoutforHoodbeinggreatlyreenforced。Ithereforewasresolvedtopushmatters，andatoncesetabouttheoriginalpurposeoftransferringthewholeoftheArmyoftheTennesseetoourrightflank，leavingSchofieldtostretchoutsoastoresthisleftontheAugustaroad，thentornupforthirtymileseastward;
and，asauxiliarythereto，IorderedallthecavalrytobereadytopassaroundAtlantaonbothflanks，tobreakuptheMaconroadatsomepointbelow，soastocutoffallsuppliestotherebelarmyinside，andthustoforceittoevacuate，orcomeoutandfightusonequalterms。
ButitfirstbecamenecessarytosettletheimportantquestionofwhoshouldsucceedGeneralMcPherson？GeneralLoganhadtakencommandoftheArmyoftheTennesseebyvirtueofhisseniority，andhaddonewell;butIdidnotconsiderhimequaltothecommandofthreecorps。BetweenhimandGeneralBlairthereexistedanaturalrivalry。Bothweremenofgreatcourageandtalent，butwerepoliticiansbynatureandexperience，anditmaybethatforthisreasontheyweremistrustedbyregularofficerslikeGeneralsSchofield，Thomas，andmyself。Itwasall—importantthatthereshouldexistaperfectunderstandingamongthearmycommanders，andataconferencewithGeneralGeorgeH。ThomasattheheadquartersofGeneralThomasJ。Woods，commandingadivisionintheFourthCorps，he（Thomas）remonstratedwarmlyagainstmyrecommendingthatGeneralLoganshouldberegularlyassignedtothecommandoftheArmyoftheTennesseebyreasonofhisaccidentalseniority。Wediscussedfullythemeritsandqualitiesofeveryofficerofhighrankinthearmy，andfinallysettledonMajor—GeneralO。O。Howardasthebestofficerwhowaspresentandavailableforthepurpose;
onthe24thofJulyItelegraphedtoGeneralHalleckthispreference，anditwaspromptlyratifiedbythePresident。GeneralHoward’splaceincommandoftheFourthCorpswasfilledbyGeneralStanley，oneofhisdivisioncommanders，ontherecommendationofGeneralThomas。AllthesepromotionshappenedtofalluponWest—Pointers，anddoubtlessLoganandBlairhadsomereasontobelievethatweintendedtomonopolizethehigherhonorsofthewarfortheregularofficers。Irememberwellmyownthoughtsandfeelingsatthetime，andfeelsurethatIwasnotintentionallypartialtoanyclass，IwantedtosucceedintakingAtlanta，andneededcommanderswhowerepurelyandtechnicallysoldiers，menwhowouldobeyordersandexecutethempromptlyandontime;forIknewthatwewouldhavetoexecutesomemostdelicatemanoeuvres，requiringtheutmostskill，nicety，andprecision。IbelievedthatGeneralHowardwoulddoallthesefaithfullyandwell，andIthinktheresulthasjustifiedmychoice。IregardedbothGeneralsLoganandBlairas\"volunteers，\"thatlookedtopersonalfameandgloryasauxiliaryandsecondarytotheirpoliticalambition，andnotasprofessionalsoldiers。