ag
in the State House, Columbus. The marks on the staff are still showing.

Sherman continued fortifying and lengthening his battle-line to the right
(nearly south), until the morning of July 2d, when we found the
Confederate lines were vacated. We followed close to their rear guard,
about seven miles to "Smirny Camp Grounds," where we became quite strongly
engaged, driving their rear and developing a strong line of works. Here we
were held with very brisk skirmishing until July 5th, losing a few men
from the regiment on the 4th. Again we moved briskly south, hoping to meet
our enemy in the confusion of crossing the Chattahoochee River, but we
failed. From the bluffs on the north side of the river we first saw
Atlanta, ten miles away, while here the non-veterans (those that did not
reenlist), were ordered to Chattanooga and mustered out, the veterans and
recruits holding the company and regimental organization. On the 16th we
crossed the river, advancing slowly that the army of the Tennessee and
Ohio (McPherson and Schofield), who had a greater distance to move, might
be nearer. On the 20th we crossed Peach Tree Creek and gained a ridge
about half a mile south, when our division of the 4th and the 20th corps
were to establish a line. The Confederate army, now commanded by General
Hood, had concentrated in front of this position, intending to crush us
while we were in the confusion of crossing the stream, and did make a most
furious attack when but part of the line had gained position. Those not in
line, being close, countercharged, driving the enemy and establishing a
connected line. Hood repeated the assault, but was at every point
repulsed. Thus less than half of the army of the Cumberland alone, without
fortifications and hardly an equal show with the enemy, lacking a
completed line at the opening, thoroughly repulsed the combined strength
of Hood's army. On the 22nd we advanced in line to the front of the main
fortifications around Atlanta. The army of the Tennessee, in the effort to
close to our left, fought the battle of Atlanta, their commander, General
McPherson, being among the slain. We skirmished very heavily and were
under the direct fire of their artillery from the main line of
fortifications in front of the city. This continued more or less until
August 26th. The army of the Tennessee, now under the command of General
Howard, moved to the extreme right. The army of the Ohio, under General
Schofield, a few d