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immediately around Atlanta attacked furiously in front。
It was an ordeal that no other army ever passed through successfully。
The steadiest troops in Europe would think it foolhardiness to attempt to
withstand an assault in force in front and rear at the same time。
The finest legions that follow any flag to…day must almost inevitably
succumb to such a mode of attack。 But the seasoned veterans of the Army
of the Tennessee encountered the shock with an obstinacy which showed
that the finest material for soldiery this planet holds was that in which
undaunted hearts beat beneath blue blouses。 Springing over the front of
their breastworks； they drove back with a withering fire the force
assailing them in the rear。 This beaten off； they jumped back to their
proper places； and repulsed the assault in front。 This was the way the
battle was waged until night compelled a cessation of operations。 Our
boys were alternately behind the breastworks firing at Rebels advancing
upon the front； and in front of the works firing upon those coming up in
the rear。 Sometimes part of our line would be on one side of the works；
and part on the other。
In the prison we were greatly excited over the result of the engagement；
of which we were uncertain for many days。 A host of new prisoners
perhaps two thousandwas brought in from there； but as they were
captured during the progress of the fight； they could not speak
definitely as to its issue。 The Rebel papers exulted without stint over
what they termed 〃a glorious victory。〃 They were particularly jubilant
over the death of McPherson； who； they claimed； was the brain and guiding
hand of Sherman's army。 One paper likened him to the pilot…fish； which
guides the shark to his prey。 Now that he was gone； said the paper；
Sherman's army becomes a great lumbering hulk； with no one in it capable
of directing it； and it must soon fall to utter ruin under the skilfully
delivered strokes of the gallant Hood。
We also knew that great numbers of wounded had been brought to the prison
hospital； and this seemed to confirm the Rebel claim of a victory； as it
showed they retained possession of the battle field。
About the 1st of August a large squad of Sherman's men； captured in one
of the engagements subsequent to the 22d； came in。 We gathered around
them eagerly。 Among them I noticed a bright； curly…haired； blue…eyed
infantrymanor boy； rather； as he was yet beardless。 His cap was marked
〃68th O。 Y。 Y。 L；〃 his sleeves were garnished with re…enlistment stripes；
and on the breast of his blouse was a silver arrow。 To the eye of the
soldier this said that he was a veteran member of the Sixty…Eighth
Regiment of Ohio Infantry （that is； having already served three years； he
had re…enlisted for the war）； and that he belonged to the Third Division
of the Seventeenth Army Corps。 He was so young and fresh looking that
one could hardly believe him to be a veteran； but if his stripes had not
said this； the soldierly arrangement of clothing and accouterments； and
the graceful； self…possessed pose of limbs and body would have told the
observer that he was one of those 〃Old Reliables〃 with whom Sherman and
Grant had already subdued a third of the Confederacy。 His blanket；
which； for a wonder； the Rebels had neglected to take from him； was
tightly rolled； its ends tied together； and thrown over his shoulder
scarf…fashion。 His pantaloons were tucked inside his stocking tops；
that were pulled up as far as possible； and tied tightly around his ankle
with a string。 A none…too…clean haversack； containing the inevitable
sooty quart cup； and even blacker half…canteen； waft slung easily from
the shoulder opposite to that on which the blanket rested。 Hand him his
faithful Springfield rifle； put three days' rations in his haversack； and
forty rounds in his cartridge bog； and he would be ready； without an
instant's demur or question； to march to the ends of the earth； and fight
anything that crossed his path。 He was a type of the honest； honorable；
self respecting American boy； who； as a soldier； the world has not
equaled in the sixty centuries that war has been a profession。
I suggested to him that he was rather a youngster to be wearing veteran
chevrons。 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃I am not so old as some of the rest of the
boys； but I have seen about as much service and been in the business
about as long as any of them。 They call me 'Old Dad；' I suppose because
I was the youngest boy in the Regiment； when we first entered the
service； though our whole Company； officers and all； were only a lot of
boys； and the Regiment to day； what's left of 'em； are about as young a
lot of officers and men as there are in the service。 Why； our old
Colonel ain't only twenty…four years old now； and he has been in command
ever since we went into Vicksburg。 I have heard it said by our boys that
since we veteranized the whole Regiment； officers； and men； average less
than twenty…four years old。 But they are gray…hounds to march and
stayers in a fight； you bet。 Why； the rest of the troops over in West
Tennessee used to call our Brigade 'Leggett's Cavalry；' for they always
had us chasing Old Forrest； and we kept him skedaddling； too； pretty
lively。 But I tell you we did get into a red hot scrimmage on the 22d。
It just laid over Champion Hills； or any of the big fights around
Vicksburg； and they were lively enough to amuse any one。〃
〃So you were in the affair on the 22d； were you！ We are awful anxious to
hear all about it。 Come over here to my quarters and tell us all you
know。 All we know is that there has been a big fight； with McPherson
killed； and a heavy loss of life besides； and the Rebels claim a great
victory。〃
〃O； they be …。 It was the sickest victory they ever got。 About one
more victory of that kind would make their infernal old Confederacy ready
for a coroner's inquest。 Well； I can tell you pretty much all about that
fight； for I reckon if the truth was known； our regiment fired about the
first and last shot that opened and closed the fighting on that day。
Well； you see the whole Army got across the river； and were closing in
around the City of Atlanta。 Our Corps； the Seventeenth； was the extreme
left of the army； and were moving up toward the City from the East。
The Fifteenth （Logan's） Corps joined us on the right； then the Army of
the Cumberland further to the right。 We run onto the Rebs about sundown
the 21st。 They had some breastworks on a ridge in front of us； and we
had a pretty sharp fight before we drove them off。 We went right to
work； and kept at it all night in changing and strengthening the old
Rebel barricades； fronting them towards Atlanta； and by morning had some
good solid works along our whole line。 During the night we fancied we
could hear wagons or artillery moving away in front of us； apparently
going South； or towards our left。 About three or four o'clock in the
morning； while I was shoveling dirt like a beaver out on the works； the
Lieutenant came to me and said the Colonel wanted to see me； pointing to
a large tree in the rear； where I could find him。 I reported and found
him with General Leggett； who commanded our Division； talking mighty
serious； and Bob Wheeler； of F Company； standing there with his
Springfield at a parade rest。 As soon as I came up； the Colonel says：
〃Boys； the General wants two level…headed chaps to go out beyond the
pickets to the front and toward the left。 I have selected you for the
duty。 Go as quietly as possible and as fast as you can； keep your eyes
and ears open； don't fire a shot if you can help it； and come back and
tell us exactly what you have seen and heard； and not what you imagine or
suspect。 I have selected you for the duty。'
〃He gave us the countersign； and off we started over the breastworks and
through the thick woods。 We soon came to our skirmish or pickets； only a
few rods in front of our works； and cautioned them not to fire on us in
going or returning。 We went out as much as half a mile or more； until we
could plainly hear the sound of wagons and artillery。 We then cautiously
crept forward until we could see the main road leading south from the
City filled with marching men； artillery and teams。 We could hear the
commands of the officers and see the flags and banners of regiment after
regiment as they passed us。 We got back quietly and quickly； passed
through our picket line all right； and found the General and our Colonel
sitting on a log where we had left them； waiting for us。 We reported
what we had seen and heard； and gave it as our opinion that the Johnnies
were evacuating Atlanta。 The General shook his head； and the Colonel
says： 'You may re turn to your company。' Bob says to me：
〃'The old General shakes his head as though he thought them d…d Rebs
ain't evacuating Atlanta so mighty sudden； but are up to some devilment
again。 I ain't sure but he's right。 They ain't going to keep falling
back and falling back to all eternity； but are just agoin' to give us a
rip…roaring great big fight one o' these dayswhen they get a good
ready。 You hear me！'
〃Saying which we both went to our companies； and laid down to get a