sing them to be
evacuated. When a rebel would turn his back to run, half a regiment
would salute him, in its modest way. This was fun for the boys and they
seemed to relish it.

On the 21st, a reconnoitering expedition was sent out to ascertain the
strength and whereabouts of the enemy, and after advancing one mile and
a half found him in force, strongly intrenched, and then returned.

There being now nothing to confront it, our division moved forward on
the 22nd, and passing a line of intrenchments which were found
evacuated, arrived and camped within three or four miles of
Atlanta--the Gate City of the South. In this position, our brigade was
left in reserve, the first time on the whole campaign, having, however,
to keep a regiment on a hill, half a mile in advance of the main line
of works, as a lookout. While on this eminence, the boys had some
sociable times with the Johnnies, trading and exchanging with them as
long as agreeable, there being an agreement that there should be no
shooting while trafficking was going on.

On the 22nd, the day on which General McPherson was killed, there was
hard fighting on the left, Hood having massed his forces in the hope to
crush it, but after the most desperate fighting of the campaign, his
efforts were foiled, and he was compelled to withdraw with an
overwhelming loss. Sherman's report of a few days after, gave the
enemy's loss as six to our one.

The Second Division of the Fourteenth Corps was moved from its position
on the morning of the 28th, and marched to the right. It was now that
General James D. Morgan took command of it, General Davis being
indisposed. General Morgan was ordered to move his command by Turner's
ferry and East Point and come in on the flank of General Howard's new
line, so that, in case of an attack it would catch the attacking rebel
force in flank or rear. This plan proved abortive by the sickness of
General Davis and mistake of roads by General Morgan, who, by this
mishap was greatly delayed. Meantime, Hardee and Lee sallied forth from
Atlanta by the Bell's Ferry road, and formed their masses in the open
fields behind a swell of ground, and after some heavy artillery firing,
advanced in parallel lines against the Fifteenth Corps, expecting to
catch it in air; but Sherman was prepared for this very contingency;
our troops were expecting this attack and met it with a raking fire of
musketry, which thinning the ranks of the enemy, compelled him to
wi