436

FIGHT AT DALLAS.

swarmed in through the opening in overwhelming numbers." Hooker, in a night battle, defeated the rebels, and at two A. M. they gave way. On Monday, at dawn, they had evacuated their works, and burned the trains, although they saved their artillery. The Union army at once advanced, and the cavalry pressed on the enemy's rear. Johnston partially destroyed the bridge across the Oostanaula, and got off safely with his army, preventing McPherson from pontooning the river, by a destructive fire. The Federal loss in two days was five thousand; that of the rebels was less. One thousand prisoners, eight guns, and an abundance of stores were taken by the Unionists. The whole army followed in pur suit, as rapidly as the rough ground and the passage of streams would permit.

There was a severe action at Adairsville, near Calhoun, on the 17th, but Johnston continued his retreat. On the 18th, Clinton was occupied, and here the troops rested a few days while supplies came up, and the communication with Chattanooga was again established. A garrison being left here and at Rome, Georgia, the army, on the 23d, moved toward Dallas, which lay west of the railroad, and south of the strong pass of Alatoona. Hooker was sent to secure the junction of the Ackworth, Marietta, and Dallas railroads. In a severe conflict with the Confederates, on the 25th, at New Hope Church, in which his division was distinguished for bravery, General Geary drove them to the junction. Night came on before Hooker arrived there, and a heavy rain storm having fallen, the wearied troops halted, and lay down on the damp field.

There was now constant fighting for three days. On the 28th, Johnston fell furiously on McPherson, as he closed up on the army of Thomas. The onset made by the corps of Hardee and Polk, was sudden and terrific. The patriots, behind a long line of rifle pits, awaited the enemy. Logan and McPherson animated the troops, who reserved their fire till the foe came within short range, when the front rank sent forth a deadly volley, followed by another from the rear rank. The rebels recoiled, but though they had been mowed down in great numbers, on they came again, charging with shouts of defiance to the "cannon's mouth." The brave patriots never flinched, and as night came on the baffled enemy retired, with' the loss of three thousand men,

ALATOONA-BATTLE OF KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 437

triple that of the Unionists. Sherman now paused, and per. plexed the enemy with his flink movements, by sending McPherson around to the left. On the 1st of June, Johnston, finding his communications with Atlanta threatened, abandoned the stronghold of Alatoona, which Sherman made his secondary base. Leaving a garrison to protect it, and having repaired the railroad, the victorious army, on the 9th, pursued the foe to the stronghold on the rugged brow of Kenesaw. This formidable height has two peaks-on the left lay Chestnut Hills, and on the right, Pine Mountain and Lost Mountain, all being of the same range, and overlooking the town of Marietta and the railroad. Sherman says, "the scene was enchanting, too beautiful to be disturbed by the rude clamors of war; but the Chattahoochee lay beyond,

and I had to reach it."

The

The army was up on the 11th of June, and arrangements were made to break the line between Kenesaw and Pine Mountains. Hooker was on its right and front, Howard on its left and front, and Palmer between it and the railroad. On the 14th, during a severe artillery fire, Lieutenant-general (Bishop) Polk was killed by a shell, which was hurled among a group of officers. On the next morning, the Confederates were found to have abandoned Pine Mountain. On the 17th, Lost Mountain was also abandoned, and the enemy occupied Kenesaw, their wings and centre being so disposed as to cover Marietta and the railroad, and leaving no weak point on which the line could be assailed. enemy could see all the movements of the Union army in the valley below, the thunders of whose cannon shook the mountain. Heavy rains fell on the exposed troops, the roads became impassable, and the country a marsh. But the work advanced, and the troops intrenched on every rod of ground which they gained. "General McPherson, watching the enemy on Kenesaw, and working his left forward; General Thomas, swinging as it were on a grand left wheel, his left on Kenesaw, connected with General McPherson, while General Schofield was all the while working to the south and east, along the old Sandtown road."

On the 22d, the Confederate General Hood made a sudden attack on Hooker's and Williams' divisions, but was repulsed with the loss of eight hundred men. On the 27th, the weather being now fine, the columns moved to the grand

438 SHERMAN'S ARMY CROSSES THE CHATTAHOOCHEE.

assault on two different points, Thomas assailing the one and McPherson the other. Surmounting all the obstacles which the nature of the ground presented, the steady lines soon became engaged in a fearful struggle with the well posted enemy. Kenesaw smoked like a volcano, and incessant thunders rolled down to its base. In leading on their brigades with conspicuous gallantry, Generals McCook and Harker fell, and many other brave officers and men were swept down by the dreadful fire which streamed from the mountain. But valor was in vain, and the bugles sounded the recall, but not until three thousand patriots had been killed or wounded, among whom were many excellent officers. General Sherman, who was here defeated for the first time, now attended to the burial of the slain, and sent McPherson forward to the Chattahoochee, far behind Kenesaw.

Johnston at once evacuated his stronghold, and Sherman occupied Marietta. He now pursued the enemy. On the 4th and 5th of July, the rebel army crossed the Chattahoochee. On the 9th, Sherman had secured three points at which to cross, but this last line was also abandoned by the enemy, who now fell back to Atlanta. Meanwhile, General Rosseau, who with two thousand cavalry had been sent round Atlanta, to destroy the railroad at Opelika, Alabama, had successfully carried out his orders with the loss of only thirty men, and now returned.

Sherman had now the control of the Chattahoochee, and resolved on the capture of Atlanta, eight miles distant, but after its severe marches and constant fighting, the army required rest, and was now encamped within sight of the "Gate City," in a beautiful and romantic country. On the 17th of July, the advance was again made; some fighting occurring on this day. Atlanta soon came within full view of the troops, as they moved against this stronghold. Johnston was superseded in command of the rebel army by General Hood, who determined at once to assume the offensive, and it was evident that a desperate battle was about to be fought, which would decide the fate of this city, the very heart of th› Confederacy.

CHAPTER XLIII.

JULY-DECEMBER, 1864.

HOOD'S ATTACK—ASSAULT ON MCPHERSON—HIS DEATH-HOWARD SUCCEEDS MCPHERSON-RESIGNATION OF HOOKER-STONEMAN'S RAID AND CAPTURE -SHERMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS IN DANGER-KILPATRICK'S RAID-THE ARMY ON THE MACON ROAD-ATLANTA CUT OFF AND EVACUATED-SLOCUM OCCUPIES THE CITY-NON-COMBATANTS ORDERED OUT-GALLANTRY OF CORSE AT ALATOONA-PURSUIT OF HOOD-PREPARATIONS FOR THE MARCH TO THE SEA-ROME AND ATLANTA BURNED-SHERMAN'S ORDERS RESPECTING FORAGING PARTIES-DIVISIONS OF THE ARMY-PILLAGE OF MADISON -CAVALRY FIGHT AT LOVEJOY-MILLEDGEVILLE REACHED-BATTLE OF GRISWOLDVILLE-MILLEN-DEFEAT OF WHEELER AT WAYNESBOROSHERMAN'S MARCH TO SAVANNAH-CAPTURE OF FORT MCALLISTER-SAVANNAH EVACUATED-SHerman enteRS THE CITY-THOMAS'S CAMPAIGN TO NASHVILLE-UTTER DEFEAT OF HOOD.

On the 20th of July, Hood made a sudden and furious onset upon the Union lines. The first shock was met by Newton's division of Howard's corps, and Johnston's of Palmer's corps. They had just thrown up a barricade of rails, and from behind it now poured a destructive fire on the foe. General Hooker had no defences, but his troops stood firm. At the point of attack there was a gap in the lines which Hood attempted to pierce; but the lines could not be broken. The Union batteries poured forth a destructive fire, piling the dead in heaps upon the field. The rebels fled to their intrenchments with the loss of five thousand men, the Union loss being but half that number. On the 22d, Hood, abandoning his line of defence, fell back to his redoubts. Thomas was now moving onward in front, and McPherson marching down the railroad toward Atlanta. Hood massed on the latter general, and made such a sud.. den, fierce onset that the Union forces were almost overwhelmed. The first blow fell on Blair, and the infuriated foe rushed down on the whole line with great impetuosity. In the rear twelve guns were captured, the enemy rushing up to the very muzzles, and planting their flag next the stars and stripes. A most desperate hand to hand struggle was here maintained. Sherman, with Howard and Schofield,

440

STONEMAN'S RAID AND CAPTURE.

were on a commanding eminence which presented a view of the field. Sherman gave General Logan the order, "You must retake those guns." While the artillery from the hills poured a concentrated fire on the enemy, Logan quickly massed his troops; Wood's division led the charge, and in a keen contest part of the guns were retaken. The struggle was short, but bloody. Six tremendous attacks were made on the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth corps, but when night fell the victory was won. Ranks and companies, swept down by a single volley, strewed the ground. General Logan's report estimates the rebel loss in killed at three thousand, and his entire loss at twelve thousand men, besides eighteen stand of colors and five thousand small arms. The Union loss was seventeen hundred men and eight pieces of artillery. The greatest loss was the death of General James B. McPherson, a very talented officer, who was held in high esteem by General Grant.

The next day Garrard returned from a successful cavalry raid to Covington, forty-two miles east of Atlanta, in which the railroad bridges and a large quantity of cotton and stores were destroyed. The lines were now drawn closer to the city, and in order to cut off its supplies, Stoneman, with five thousand cavalry, was sent to destroy the Macon_railroad. McCook was to meet him on the railroad near Lovejoy, and participate in the movement. Stoneman penetrated the country until he was in front of Macon, but on his return was captured, after losing one thousand of his men, by Iverson. McCook performed his part, but being surrounded by a large infantry and cavalry force, had to cut his way out by desperate fighting. Hood, now seeing the coils tightening around him, massed his army in a fierce assault on the Army of the Tennessee on the 28th. This army was now commanded by Howard. Hooker, offended that his claims were not attended to, had previously requested to be relieved, and left the Army of the West. The attack was made by an advance on the Bull's Ferry road, and the massed Confederates, in parallel lines, moved right upon the Fifteenth corps. The charge was met so firmly that the enemy broke and fled, and six assaults, after rallying, were attended with no more favorable results. The enemy's loss in this attack was six thousand, with five stands of colors and two thousand muskets, while the loss of the patriots