AssoonasitwasknownthatGeneralHowardhadbeenchosentocommandtheArmyoftheTennessee;GeneralHookerappliedtoGeneralThomastoberelievedofthecommandoftheTwentiethCorps，andGeneralThomasforwardedhisapplicationtomeapprovedandheartilyrecommended。IatoncetelegraphedtoGeneralHalleck，recommendingGeneralSlocum（thenatVicksburg）tobehissuccessor，becauseSlocumhadbeendisplacedfromthecommandofhiscorpsatthetimewhentheEleventhandTwelfthwereunitedandmadetheTwentieth。
GeneralHookerwasoffendedbecausehewasnotchosentosucceedMcPherson;buthischanceswerenotevenconsidered;indeed，IhadneverbeensatisfiedwithhimsincehisaffairattheGulpHouse，andhadbeenmorethanoncedisposedtorelievehimofhiscorps，becauseofhisrepeatedattemptstointerferewithGeneralsMcPhersonandSchofield。IhadknownHookersince1836，andwasintimatelyassociatedwithhiminCalifornia，whereweservedtogetheronthestaffofGeneralPersiferF。Smith。HehadcometousfromtheEastwithahighreputationasa\"fighter，\"whichhehadfullyjustifiedatChattanoogaandPeach—TreeCreek;atwhichlatterbattleIcomplimentedhimonthefieldforspecialgallantry，andafterwardinofficialreports。Still，Ididfeelasenseofreliefwhenheleftus。Wewerethentwohundredandfiftymilesinadvanceofourbase，dependentonasinglelineofrailroadforourdailyfood。Wehadabold，determinedfoeinourimmediatefront，stronglyintrenched，withcommunicationopentohisrearforsuppliesandreenforcements，andeverysoldierrealizedthatwehadplentyofhardfightingahead，andthatallhonorshadtobefairlyearned。
UntilGeneralSlocumjoined（inthelatterpartofAugust），theTwentiethCorpswascommandedbyGeneralA。S。Williams，theseniordivisioncommanderpresent。Onthe25thofJulythearmy，therefore，stoodthus:theArmyoftheTennessee（GeneralO。O。
Howardcommanding）wasontheleft，prettymuchonthesamegroundithadoccupiedduringthebattleofthe22d，allreadytomoverapidlybythereartotheextremerightbeyondProctor’sCreek;
theArmyoftheOhio（GeneralSchofield）wasnextinorder，withitsleftflankreachingtheAugustaRailroad;nextinorder，conformingcloselywiththerebelintrenchmentaofAtlanta，wasGeneralThomas’sArmyoftheCumberland，intheorderof——theFourthCorps（Stanley’s），theTwentiethCorps（Williams’s），andtheFourteenthCorps（Palmer’s）。Palmer’srightdivision（JeffersonC。
Davis’s）wasstronglyrefusedalongProctor’sCreek。Thislinewasaboutfivemileslong，andwasintrenchedasagainstasallyaboutasstrongaswasourenemy。Thecavalrywasassembledintwostrongdivisions;thatofMcCook（includingthebrigadeofHarrisonwhichhadbeenbroughtinfromOpelikabyGeneralRousseau）
numberedaboutthirty—fivehundredeffectivecavalry，andwaspostedtoourrightrear，atTurner’sFerry，wherewehadagoodpontoon—bridge;andtoourleftrear，atandaboutDecatur，werethetwocavalrydivisionsofStoneman，twenty—fivehundred，andGarrard，fourthousand，unitedforthetimeandoccasionunderthecommandofMajor—GeneralGeorgeStoneman，acavalry—officerofhighrepute。MyplanofactionwastomovetheArmyoftheTennesseetotherightrapidlyandboldlyagainsttherailroadbelowAtlanta，andatthesametimetosendallthecavalryaroundbytherightandlefttomakealodgmentontheMaconroadaboutJonesboro。
Alltheordersweregiven，andthemorningofthe27thwasfixedforcommencingthemovement。Onthe26thIreceivedfromGeneralStonemananoteaskingpermission（afterhavingaccomplishedhisorderstobreakuptherailroadatJonesboro）togoontoMacontorescueourprisonersofwarknowntobeheldthere，andthentopushontoAndersonville，wherewasthegreatdepotofUnionprisoners，inwhichwerepennedatonetimeasmanyastwenty—threethousandofourmen，badlyfedandharshlytreated。Iwrotehimananswerconsentingsubstantiallytohisproposition，onlymodifyingitbyrequiringhimtosendbackGeneralGarrard’sdivisiontoitspositiononourleftflankafterhehadbrokenuptherailroadatJonesboro。Promptly，andontime，allgotoff，andGeneralDodge’scorps（theSixteenth，oftheArmyoftheTennessee）reacheditspositionacrossProctor’sCreekthesameevening，andearlythenextmorning（the28th）Blair’scorps（theSeventeenth）deployedonhisright，bothcorpscoveringtheirfrontwiththeusualparapet;
theFifteenthCorps（GeneralLogan’s）cameupthatmorningontherightofBlair，stronglyrefused，andbegantopreparetheusualcover。AsGeneralJeff。C。Davis’sdivisionwas，asitwere，leftoutofline，IordereditontheeveningbeforetomarchdowntowardTurner’sFerry，andthentotakearoadlaiddownonourmapswhichledfromtheretowardEastPoint，readytoengageanyenemythatmightattackourgeneralrightflank，afterthesamemannerashadbeendonetotheleftflankonthe22d。
Personallyonthemorningofthe28thIfollowedthemovement，androdetotheextremeright，wherewecouldhearsomeskirmishingandanoccasionalcannon—shot。AsweapproachedthegroundheldbytheFifteenthCorps，acannon—ballpassedovermyshoulderandkilledthehorseofanorderlybehind;andseeingthatthisgunenfiladedtheroadbywhichwewereriding，weturnedoutofitandrodedownintoavalley，whereweleftourhorsesandwalkeduptothehillheldbyMorganL。Smith’sdivisionoftheFifteenthCorps。NearahouseImetGeneralsHowardandLogan，whoexplainedthattherewasanintrenchedbatterytotheirfront，withtheappearanceofastronginfantrysupport。Ithenwalkeduptotheridge，whereI
foundGeneralMorganL。Smith。Hismenweredeployedandengagedinrollinglogsandfence—rails，preparingahastycover。Fromthisridgewecouldoverlooktheopenfieldsnearameeting—houseknownas\"EzraChurch，\"closebythePoor—House。Wecouldseethefreshearthofaparapetcoveringsomeguns（thatfiredanoccasionalshot），andtherewasalsoanappearanceofactivitybeyond。GeneralSmithwasintheactofsendingforwardaregimentfrom，hisrightflanktofeelthepositionoftheenemy，whenI
explainedtohimandtoGeneralsLoganandHowardthattheymustlookoutforGeneralJeff。C。Davis’sdivision，whichwascommingupfromthedirectionofTurner’sFerry。
Astheskirmish—firewarmedupalongthefrontofBlair’scorps，aswellasalongtheFifteenthCorps（Logan’s），IbecameconvincedthatHooddesignedtoattackthisrightflank，toprevent，ifpossible，theextensionofourlineinthatdirection。Iregainedmyhorse，androderapidlybacktoseethatDavis’sdivisionhadbeendispatchedasordered。IfoundGeneralDavisinperson，whowasunwell，andhadsenthisdivisionthatmorningearly，underthecommandofhisseniorbrigadier，Morgan;but，asIattachedgreatimportancetothemovement，hemountedhishorse，androdeawaytoovertakeandtohurryforwardthemovement，soastocomeupontheleftrearoftheenemy，duringtheexpectedbattle。
Bythistimethesoundofcannonandmusketrydenotedaseverebattleasinprogress，whichbeganseriouslyat11。30a。m。，andendedsubstantiallyby4p。m。Itwasafierceattackbytheenemyonourextremerightflank，wellpostedandpartiallycovered。ThemostauthenticaccountofthebattleisgivenbyGeneralLogan，whocommandedtheFifteenthCorps，inhisofficialreporttotheAdjutant—GeneraloftheArmyoftheTennessee，thus:
HEADQUARTERSFIFTEENTHARMYCORPS
BEFOREATLANTA，GEORGIA，July29，1864
Lieutenant—ColonelWILLIAMT。CLARK，AssistantAdjutant—General，ArmyoftheTennessee，present。
COLONEL:Ihavethehonortoreportthat，inpursuanceoforders，I
movedmycommandintopositionontherightoftheSeventeenthCorps，whichwastheextremerightofthearmyinthefield，duringthenightofthe27thandmorningofthe28th;and，whileadvancinginlineofbattletoamorefavorableposition，weweremetbytherebelinfantryofHardee’sandLee’scorps，whomadeadeterminedanddesperateattackonusat11A。M。ofthe28th（yesterday）。
Mylineswereonlyprotectedbylogsandrails，hastilythrownupinfrontofthem。
Thefirstonsetwasreceivedandchecked，andthebattlecommencedandlasteduntilaboutthreeo’clockintheevening。Duringthattimesixsuccessivechargesweremade，whichweresixtimesgallantlyrepulsed，eachtimewithfearfullosstotheenemy。
Laterintheeveningmylineswereseveraltimesassaultedvigorously，buteachtimewithlikeresult。TheworstofthefightingoccurredonGeneralHarrow’sandMorganL。Smith’sfronts，whichformedthecentreandrightofthecorps。Thetroopscouldnothavedisplayedgreatercourage，norgreaterdeterminationnottogiveground;hadtheyshownless，theywouldhavebeendrivenfromtheirposition。
Brigadier—GeneralsC。R。Woods，Harrow，andMorganL。Smith，divisioncommanders，areentitledtoequalcreditforgallantconductandskillinrepellingtheassault。MythanksareduetoMajor—GeneralsBlairandDodgeforsendingmereenforeementsatatimewhentheyweremuchneeded。Mylosseswerefiftykilled，fourhundredandforty—ninewounded，andseventy—threemissing:
aggregate，fivehundredandseventy—two。
ThedivisionofGeneralHarrowcapturedfivebattle—flags。Therewereaboutfifteenhundredortwothousandmusketsleftontheground。Onehundredandsixprisonerswerecaptured，exclusiveofseventy—threewounded，whoweresenttoourhospital，andarebeingcaredforbyoursurgeons。Fivehundredandsixty—fiverebelshaveuptothistimebeenburied，andabouttwohundredaresupposedtobeyetunburied。Alargenumberoftheirwoundedwereundoubtedlycarriedawayinthenight，astheenemydidnotwithdrawtillneardaylight。Theenemy’slosscouldnothavebeenlessthansixorseventhousandmen。Amoredetailedreportwillhereafterbemade。
Iam，veryrespectfully，Yourobedientservant，JOHNA。LOGAN，Major—General，commandingFifteenthArmyCorps。
GeneralHoward，intransmittingthisreport，added:
Iwishtoexpressmyhighgratificationwiththeconductofthetroopsengaged。Ineversawbetterconductinbattle。GeneralLogan，thoughillandmuchwornout，wasindefatigable，andthesuccessofthedayisasmuchattributabletohimastoanyoneman。
Thiswas，ofcoarse，thefirstfightinwhichGeneralHowardhadcommandedtheArmyoftheTennessee，andheevidentlyaimedtoreconcileGeneralLoganinhisdisappointment，andtogaintheheartofhisarmy，towhichhewasastranger。HeveryproperlyleftGeneralLogantofighthisowncorps，butexposedhimselffreely;and，afterthefiringhadceased，intheafternoonhewalkedthelines;themen，asreportedtome，gatheredabouthiminthemostaffectionateway，andheatoncegainedtheirrespectandconfidence。TothisfactIatthetimeattachedmuchimportance，foritputmeateaseastothefutureconductofthatmostimportantarmy。
AtnoinstantoftimedidIfeeltheleastuneasinessabouttheresultonthe28th，butwantedtoreapfullerresults，hopingthatDavis’sdivisionwouldcomeupattheinstantofdefeat，andcatchtheenemyinflank;butthewoodsweredense，theroadsobscure，andasusualthisdivisiongotonthewrongroad，anddidnotcomeintopositionuntilaboutdark。Inlikemanner，IthoughtthatHoodhadgreatlyweakenedhismainlinesinsideofAtlanta，andaccordinglysentrepeatedorderstoSchofieldandThomastomakeanattempttobreakin;butbothreportedthattheyfoundtheparapetsverystrongandfullmanned。
Ourmenwereunusuallyencouragedbythisday’swork，fortheyrealizedthatwecouldcompelHoodtocomeoutfrombehindhisfortifiedlinestoattackusatadisadvantage。Inconversationwithme，thesoldiersoftheFifteenthCorps，withwhomIwasonthemostfamiliarterms，spokeoftheaffairofthe28thastheeasiestthingintheworld;that，infact，itwasacommonslaughteroftheenemy;theypointedoutwheretherebellineshadbeen，andhowtheythemselveshadfireddeliberately，hadshotdowntheirantagonists，whosebodiesstilllayunburied，andmarkedplainlytheirlinesofbattle，whichmusthavehaltedwithineasymusket—rangeofourmen，whowerepartiallyprotectedbytheirimprovisedlineoflogsandfence—rails。Allborewillingtestimonytothecourageandspiritofthefoe，who，thoughrepeatedlyrepulsed，camebackwithincreaseddeterminationsomesixormoretimes。
ThenextmorningtheFifteenthCorpswheeledforwardtotheleftoverthebattle—fieldofthedaybefore，andDavis’sdivisionstillfartherprolongedtheline，whichreachednearlytotheever—to—be—
remembered\"Sandtownroad。\"
Then，byfurtherthinningoutThomas’sline，whichwaswellentrenched，IdrewanotherdivisionofPalmer’scorps（Baird’s）
aroundtotheright，tofurtherstrengthenthatflank。Iwasimpatienttohearfromthecavalryraid，thenfourdaysout，andwaswatchingforitseffect，readytomakeaboldpushforthepossessionofEastPoint。GeneralGarrard’sdivisionreturnedtoDecaturonthe31st，andreportedthatGeneralStonemanhadpostedhimatFlatRock，whilehe（Stoneman）wenton。ThemonthofJulythereforeclosedwithourinfantrylinestronglyentrenched，butdrawnoutfromtheAugustaroadonthelefttotheSandtownroadontheright，adistanceoffulltenmeasuredmiles。
Theenemy，thoughevidentlysomewhatintimidatedbytheresultsoftheirdefeatsonthe22dand28th，stillpresentedaboldfrontatallpoints，withfortifiedlinesthatdefiedadirectassault。Ourrailroadwasdonetotherearofourcamps，ColonelW。P。WrighthavingreconstructedthebridgeacrosstheChattahoocheeinsixdays;andourgarrisonsanddetachmentstotherearhadsoeffectuallyguardedtherailroadthatthetrainsfromNashvillearriveddaily，andoursubstantialwantswerewellsupplied。
Themonth，thoughhotintheextreme，hadbeenoneofconstantconflict，withoutintermission，andonfourseveraloccasions—
—viz。，July4th，20th，22d，and28th——theseaffairshadamountedtorealbattles，withcasualtylistsbythethousands。AssumingthecorrectnessoftherebelsurgeonFoard’areport，onpage577ofJohnston’s\"Narrative，\"commencingwithJuly4thandterminatingwithJuly31st，wehave:
Aggregatelossoftheenemy……10，841
Ourlosses，ascompiledfromtheofficialreturnsforJuly，1864，are:
KilledandMissing。Wounded。Total。
AggregatelossofJuly……3，8045，9159，719
Inthistablethecolumnof\"killedandmissing\"embracestheprisonersthatfellintothehandsoftheenemy，mostlylostintheSeventeenthCorps，onthe22dofJuly，anddoesnotembracethelossesinthecavalrydivisionsofGarrardandMcCook，which，however，weresmallforJuly。Inallotherrespectsthestatementisabsolutelycorrect。Iamsatisfied，however，thatSurgeonFoardcouldnothavebeeninpossessionofdatasufficientlyaccuratetoenablehimtoreportthelossesinactualbattleofmenwhoneversawthehospital。DuringthewholecampaignIhadrenderedtometri—monthlystatementsof\"effectivestrength，\"fromwhichI
carefullyeliminatedthefiguresnotessentialformyconduct，sothatatalltimesIknewtheexactfighting—strengthofeachcorps，division，andbrigade，ofthewholearmy，andalsoendeavoredtobearinmindourlossesbothontheseveralfieldsofbattleandbysickness，andwellrememberthatIalwaysestimatedthatduringthemonthofJulywehadinflictedheavierlossontheenemythanwehadsustainedourselves，andtheabovefigurespxoveitconclusively。Beforeclosingthischapter，Imustrecordoneortwominoreventsthatoccurredaboutthistime，thatmayproveofinterest。
Onthe24thofJulyIreceivedadispatchfromInspector—GeneralJamesA。Hardie，thenondutyattheWarDepartmentinWashington，totheeffectthatGeneralsOsterhausandAlvanP。Hoveyhadbeenappointedmajor—generals。Bothofthesehadbegunthecampaignwithusincommandofdivisions，buthadgonetotherear——theformerbyreasonofsickness，andthelatterdissatisfiedwithGeneralSchofieldandmyselfaboutthecompositionofhisdivisionoftheTwenty—thirdCorps。Bothwereesteemedasfirst—classofficers，whohadgainedspecialdistinctionintheVicksburgcampaign。Butuptothattime，whenthenewspapersannounceddailypromotionselsewhere，noprominentofficersservingwithmehadbeenadvancedapeg，andIfelthurt。IansweredHardieonthe25th，inadispatchwhichhasbeenmadepublic，closingwiththislanguage:\"Iftherearbethepostofhonor，thenwehadbetterallchangefrontonWashington。\"Tomyamazement，inafewdaysI
receivedfromPresidentLincolnhimselfananswer，inwhichhecaughtmefairly。Ihavenotpreservedacopyofthatdispatch，andsupposeitwasburnedupintheChicagofire;butitwascharacteristicofMr。Lincoln，andwasdatedthe26thor27thdayofJuly，containedunequivocalexpressionsofrespectforthosewhowerefightinghardandunselfishly，offeringusafullshareofthehonorsandrewardsofthewar，andsayingthat，inthecasesofHoveyandOsterhaus，hewasinfluencedmainlybytherecommendationsofGeneralsGrantandSherman。Onthe27thI
replieddirect，apologizingsomewhatformymessagetoGeneralHardie，sayingthatIdidnotsupposesuchmessageseverreachedhimpersonally，explainingthatGeneralGrant’sandSherman’srecommendationsforHoveyandOsterhaushadbeenmadewhentheeventsoftheVicksburgcampaignwerefreshwithus，andthatmydispatchofthe25thtoGeneralHardiehadreflectedchieflythefeelingsoftheofficersthenpresentwithmebeforeAtlanta。Theresultofallthis，however，wasgood，foranotherdispatchfromGeneralHardie，ofthe28th，calledonmetonominateeightcolonelsforpromotionasbrigadier—generals。Iatoncesentacircularnotetothearmy—commanderstonominatetwocolonelsfromtheArmyoftheOhioandthreefromeachoftheothers;andtheresultwas，thatonthe29thofJulyItelegraphedthenamesof——
ColonelWilliamGross，Thirty—sixthIndiana;ColonelCharlesC。
Walcutt，Forty—sixthOhio;ColonelJamesW。Riley，OneHundredandFourthOhio;ColonelL。P。Bradley，Fifty—firstIllinois;ColonelJ。W。Sprague，Sixty—thirdOhio;ColonelJosephA。Cooper，SixthEastTennessee;ColonelJohnT。Croxton，FourthKentucky;ColonelWilliamW。Belknap，FifteenthIowa。Thesewerepromptlyappointedbrigadier—generals，werealreadyincommandofbrigadesordivisions;andIdoubtifeightpromotionswereevermadefairer，orweremorehonestlyearned，duringthewholewar。
CHAPTERXIX。
CAPTUREOFATLANTA。
AUGUSTANDSEPTEMBER，1864
ThemonthofAugustopenedhotandsultry，butourpositionbeforeAtlantawashealthy，withamplesupplyofwood，water，andprovisions。Thetroopshadbecomehabituatedtotheslowandsteadyprogressofthesiege;theskirmish—lineswereheldcloseuptotheenemy，werecoveredbyrifle—trenchesorlogs，andkeptupacontinuousclatterofmusketry。Themainlineswereheldfartherback，adaptedtotheshapeoftheground，withmusketsloadedandstackedforinstantuse。Thefield—batterieswereinselectpositions，coveredbyhandsomeparapets，andoccasionalshotsfromthemgavelifeandanimationtothescene。Themenloiteredaboutthetrenchescarelessly，orbusiedthemselvesinconstructingingenioushutsoutoftheabundanttimber，andseemedassnug，comfortable，andhappy，asthoughtheywereathome。GeneralSchofieldwasstillontheextremeleft，Thomasinthecentre，andHowardontheright。TwodivisionsoftheFourteenthCorps（Baird’sandJeff。C。Davis’s）weredetachedtotherightrear，andheldinreserve。
IthusawaitedtheeffectofthecavalrymovementagainsttherailroadaboutJonesboro，andhadheardfromGeneralGarrardthatStonemanhadgoneontoMason;duringthatday（August1st）ColonelBrownlow，ofaTennesseecavalryregiment，cameintoMariettafromGeneralMcCook，andreportedthatMcCook’swholedivisionhadbeenoverwhelmed，defeated，andcapturedatNewnan。Ofcourse，Iwasdisturbedbythiswildreport，thoughIdiscreditedit，butmadeallpossiblepreparationstostrengthenourguardsalongtherailroadtotherear，onthetheorythattheforceofcavalrywhichhaddefeatedMcCookwouldatoncebeontherailroadaboutMarietta。AtthesametimeGarrardwasorderedtooccupythetrenchesonourleft，whileSchofield’swholearmymovedtotheextremeright，andextendedthelinetowardEastPoint。Thomaswasalsoorderedstillfurthertothinouthislines，soastosetfreetheotherdivision（Johnson’s）oftheFourteenthCorps（Palmer’s），whichwasmovedtotheextremerightrear，andheldinreservereadytomakeaboldpushfromthatflanktosecureafootingontheMasonRailroadatorbelowEastPoint。
Thesechangeswereeffectedduringthe2dand3ddaysofAugust，whenGeneralMcCookcameinandreportedtheactualresultsofhiscavalryexpedition。HehadcrossedtheChattahoocheeRiverbelowCampbellton，byhispontoon—bridge;hadthenmarchedrapidlyacrosstotheMasonRailroadatLovejoy’sStation，wherehehadreasontoexpectGeneralStoneman;but，nothearingofhim，hesettowork，toreuptwomilesoftrack，burnedtwotrainsofcars，andcutawayfivemilesoftelegraph—wire。Healsofoundthewagon—trainbelongingtotherebelarmyinAtlanta，burnedfivehundredwagons，killedeighthundredmules;andcapturedseventy—twoofficersandthreehundredandfiftymen。Findinghisprogresseastward，towardMcDonough，barredbyasuperiorforce，heturnedbacktoNewnan，wherehefoundhimselfcompletelysurroundedbyinfantryandcavalry。Hehadtodrophisprisonersandfighthiswayout，losingaboutsixhundredmeninkilledandcaptured，andthenreturnedwiththeremaindertohispositionatTurner’sFerry。
Thiswasbadenough，butnotsobadashadbeenreportedbyColonelBrownlow。Meantime，rumorscamethatGeneralStonemanwasdownaboutMason，ontheeastbankoftheOcmulgee。Onthe4thofAugustColonelAdamsgottoMariettawithhissmallbrigadeofninehundredmenbelongingtoStoneman’scavalry，reporting，asusual，alltherestlost，andthiswaspartiallyconfirmedbyareportwhichcametomeallthewayroundbyGeneralGrant’sheadquartersbeforeRichmond。AfewdaysafterwardColonelCapronalsogotin，withanothersmallbrigadeperfectlydemoralized，andconfirmedthereportthatGeneralStonemanhadcoveredtheescapeofthesetwosmallbrigades，himselfstandingwithareserveofsevenhundredmen，withwhichhesurrenderedtoaColonelIverson。Thusanotherofmycavalrydivisionswasbadlydamaged，andoutofthefragmentswehastilyreorganizedthreesmalldivisionsunderBrigadier—GeneralsGarrard，McCook，andKilpatrick。
StonemanhadnotobeyedhisorderstoattacktherailroadfirstbeforegoingtoMaconandAndersonville，buthadcrossedtheOcmulgeeRiverhighupnearCovington，andhadgonedownthatriverontheeastbank。HereachedClinton，andsentoutdetachmentswhichstrucktherailroadleadingfromMacontoSavannahatGriswoldStation，wheretheyfoundanddestroyedseventeenlocomotivesandoverahundredcars;thenwentonandburnedthebridgeacrosstheOconee，andreunitedthedivisionbeforeMacon。
Stonemanshelledthetownacrosstheriver，butcouldnotcrossoverbythebridge，andreturnedtoClinton，wherehefoundhisretreatobstructed，ashesupposed，byasuperiorforce。Therehebecamebewildered，andsacrificedhimselfforthesafetyofhiscommand。Heoccupiedtheattentionofhisenemybyasmallforceofsevenhundredmen，givingColonelsAdamsandCapronleave，withtheirbrigades，tocuttheirwaybacktomeatAtlanta。Theformerreachedusentire，butthelatterwasstruckandscatteredatsomeplacefarthernorth，andcameinbydetachments。Stonemansurrendered，andremainedaprisoneruntilhewasexchangedsometimeafter，lateinSeptember，atRoughandReady。
Inowbecamesatisfiedthatcavalrycouldnot，orwouldnot，makeasufficientlodgmentontherailroadbelowAtlanta，andthatnothingwouldsufficebutforustoreachitwiththemainarmy。Thereforethemosturgenteffortstothatendweremade，andtoSchofield，ontheright，wascommittedthechargeofthisspecialobject。Hehadhisowncorps（theTwenty—third），composedofeleventhousandandseventy—fiveinfantryandeighthundredandeighty—fiveartillery，withMcCook’sbrokendivisionofcavalry，seventeenhundredandfifty—fourmenandhorses。ForthispurposeIalsoplacedtheFourteenthCorps（Palmer）underhisorders。Thiscorpsnumberedatthetimeseventeenthousandtwohundredandeighty—eightinfantryandeighthundredandtwenty—sixartillery;butGeneralPalmerclaimedtorankGeneralSchofieldinthedateofhiscommissionasmajor—general，anddeniedthelatter’srighttoexercisecommandoverhim。GeneralPalmerwasamanofability，butwasnotenterprising。Histhreedivisionswerecompactandstrong，wellcommanded，admirableonthedefensive，butslowtomoveortoactontheoffensive。Hiscorps（theFourteenth）hadsustained，uptothattime，fewerhardknocksthananyothercorpsinthewholearmy，andIwasanxioustogiveitachance。IalwaysexpectedtohaveadesperatefighttogetpossessionoftheMaconroad，whichwasthenthevitalobjectiveofthecampaign。Itspossessionbyuswould，inmyjudgment，resultinthecaptureofAtlanta，andgiveusthefruitsofvictory，althoughthedestructionofHood’sarmywastherealobjecttobedesired。YetAtlantawasknownasthe\"Gate—CityoftheSouth，\"wasfulloffounderies，arsenals，andmachine—shops，andIknewthatitscapturewouldbethedeath—knelloftheSouthernConfederacy。
Onthe4thofAugustIorderedGeneralSchofieldtomakeaboldattackontherailroad，anywhereaboutEastPoint，andorderedGeneralPalmertoreporttohimforduty。HeatoncedeniedGeneralSchofield’srighttocommandhim;but，afterexaminingthedatesoftheirrespectivecommissions，andhearingtheirarguments，IwrotetoGeneralPalmer。
August4th。—10。45p。m。
>FromthestatementsmadebyyourselfandGeneralSchofieldto—day，mydecisionis，thatheranksyouasamajor—general，beingofthesamedateofpresentcommission，byreasonofhisprevioussuperiorrankasbrigadier—general。Themovementsofto—morrowaresoimportantthattheordersofthesuperioronthatflankmustberegardedasmilitaryorders，andnotinthenatureofcooperation。
Ididhopethattherewouldbenonecessityformymakingthisdecision;butitisbetterforallpartiesinterestedthatnoquestionofrankshouldoccurinactualbattle。TheSandtownroad，andtherailroad，ifpossible，mustbegainedto—morrow，ifitcostshalfyourcommand。Iregardthelossoftimethisafternoonasequaltothelossoftwothousandmen。
IalsocommunicatedthesubstanceofthistoGeneralThomas，towhosearmyPalmer’scorpsbelonged，whorepliedonthe5th:
IregrettohearthatPalmerhastakenthecoursehehas，andI
knowthatheintendstoofferhisresignationassoonashecanproperlydoso。Irecommendthathisapplicationbegranted。
Andonthe5thIagainwrotetoGeneralPalmer，arguingthepointwithhim，advisinghim，asafriend，nottoresignatthatcrisislesthismotivesmightbemisconstrued，andbecauseitmightdamagehisfuturecareerincivillife;but，atthesametime，Ifeltitmydutytosaytohimthattheoperationsonthatflank，duringthe4thand5th，hadnotbeensatisfactory——notimputingtohim，however，anywantofenergyorskill，butinsistingthat\"theeventsdidnotkeeppacewithmydesires。\"GeneralSchofieldhadreportedtomethatnight:
IamcompelledtoacknowledgethatIhavetotallyfailedtomakeanyaggressivemovementwiththeFourteenthCorps。IhaveorderedGeneralJohnson’sdivisiontoreplaceGeneralHascall’sthisevening，andIproposeto—morrowtotakemyowntroops（Twenty—
thirdCorps）totheright，andtrytorecoverwhathasbeenlostbytwodays’delay。Theforcemaylikelybetoosmall。
Isanctionedthemovement，andorderedtwoofPalmersdivisions——
Davis’sandBaird’s——tofollowenecheloninsupportofSchofield，andsummonedGeneralPalmertomeetmeinperson:Hecameonthe6thtomyheadquarters，andinsistedonhisresignationbeingaccepted，forwhichformalactIreferredhimtoGeneralThomas。
HethenrodetoGeneralThomas’scamp，wherehemadeawrittenresignationofhisofficeascommanderoftheFourteenthCorps，andwasgrantedtheusualleaveofabsencetogotohishomeinIllinois，theretoawaitfurtherorders。GeneralThomasrecommendedthattheresignationbeaccepted;thatJohnson，theseniordivisioncommanderofthecorps，shouldbeorderedbacktoNashvilleaschiefofcavalry，andthatBrigadier—GeneralJeffersonC。Davis，thenextinorder，shouldbepromotedmajorgeneral，andassignedtocommandthecorps。ThesechangeshadtobereferredtothePresident，inWashington，andwere，induetime，approvedandexecuted;andthenceforwardIhadnoreasontocomplainoftheslownessorinactivityofthatsplendidcorps。IthadbeenoriginallyformedbyGeneralGeorgeH。Thomas，hadbeencommandedbyhiminperson，andhadimbibedsomewhathispersonalcharacter，viz。，steadiness，goodorder，anddeliberationnothinghastyorrash，butalwayssafe，\"slow，andsure。\"OnAugust7thI
telegraphedtoGeneralHalleck:
Havereceivedto—daythedispatchesoftheSecretaryofWarandofGeneralGrant，whichareverysatisfactory。Wekeephammeringawayallthetime，andthereisnopeace，insideoroutsideofAtlanta。
To—dayGeneralSchofieldgotroundthelinewhichwasassaultedyesterdaybyGeneralReilly’sbrigade，turneditandgainedthegroundwheretheaseanlthadbeenmade，andgotpossessionofallourdeadandwounded。Hecontinuedtopressonthatflank，andbroughtonanoisybutnotabloodybattle。Hedrovetheenemybehindhismainbreastworks，whichcovertherailroadfromAtlantatoEastPoint，andcapturedagoodmanyoftheskirmishers，whoareofhisbesttroops——forthemilitiahugthebreastworksclose。I
donotdeemitprudenttoextendanymoretotheright，butwillpushforwarddailybyparallels，andmaketheinsideofAtlantatoohottobeendured。IhavesentbacktoChattanoogafortwothirty—
poundParrotts，withwhichwecanpickoutalmostanyhouseintown。Iamtooimpatientforasiege，anddon’tknowbutthisisasgoodaplacetofightitouton，asfartherinland。Onethingiscertain，whetherwegetinsideofAtlantaornot，itwillbeaused—upcommunitywhenwearedonewithit。
InSchofield’sextensiononthe5th，GeneralReilly’sbrigadehadstruckanoutwork，whichhepromptlyattacked，but，asusual，gotentangledinthetreesandbusheswhichhadbeenfelled，andlostaboutfivehundredmen，inkilledandwounded;but，asabovereported，thisoutworkwasfoundabandonedthenextday，andwecouldseefromitthattherebelswereextendingtheirlines，parallelwiththerailroad，aboutasfastaswecouldaddtoourlineofinvestment。Onthe10thofAugusttheParrottthirty—pounderswerereceivedandplacedinPosition;foracoupleofdayswekeptupasharpfirefromallourbatteriesconvergingonAtlanta，andateveryavailablepointweadvancedourinfantry—lines，therebyshorteningandstrengtheningtheinvestment;butIwasnotwillingtoorderadirectassault，unlesssomeaccidentorpositiveneglectonthepartofourantagonistshouldrevealanopening。However，itwasmanifestthatnosuchopeningwasintendedbyHood，whofeltsecurebehindhisstrongdefenses。Hehadrepelledourcavalryattacksonhisrailroad，andhaddamagedusseriouslythereby，soIexpectedthathewouldattemptthesamegameagainstourrear。ThereforeImadeextraordinaryexertionstorecomposeourcavalrydivisions，whichweresoessential，bothfordefenseandoffense。Kilpatrickwasgiventhatonourrightrear，insupportofSchofield’sexposedflank;Garrardretainedthatonourgeneralleft;andMcCook’sdivisionwasheldsomewhatinreserve，aboutMariettaandtherailroad。Onthe10th，havingoccasiontotelegraphtoGeneralGrant，theninWashington，Iusedthislanguage:
SinceJuly28thHoodhasnotattemptedtomeetusoutsidehisparapets。Inordertopossessanddestroyeffectuallyhiscommunications，Imayhavetoleaveacorpsattherailroad—bridge，wellintrenched，andcutloosewiththebalancetomakeacircleofdesolationaroundAtlanta。Idonotproposetoassaulttheworks，whicharetoostrong，nortoproceedbyregularapproaches。Ihavelostagoodmanyregiments，andwilllosemore，bytheexpirationofservice;andthisistheonlyreasonwhyIwantreenforcements。
Wehavekilled，crippled，andcapturedmoreoftheenemythanwehavelostbyhisacts。
Onthe12thofAugustIheardofthesuccessofAdmiralFarragutinenteringMobileBay，whichwasregardedasamostvaluableauxiliarytoouroperationsatAtlanta;andlearnedthatIhadbeencommissionedamajor—generalintheregulararmy，whichwasunexpected，andnotdesireduntilsuccessfulinthecaptureofAtlanta。Thesedidnotchangethefactthatwewereheldincheckbythestubborndefenseoftheplace，andaconvictionwasforcedonmymindthatourenemywouldholdfast，eventhougheveryhouseinthetownshouldbebattereddownbyourartillery。Itwasevidentthatwemoatdecoyhimouttofightusonsomethinglikeequalterms，orelse，withthewholearmy，raisethesiegeandattackhiscommunications。Accordingly，onthe13thofAugust，I
gavegeneralordersfortheTwentiethCorpstodrawbacktotherailroad—bridgeattheChattahoochee，toprotectourtrains，hospitals，spareartillery，andtherailroad—depot，whiletherestofthearmyshouldmovebodilytosomepointontheMaconRailroadbelowEastPoint。