NEAR ATLANTA, Geo.,
August 2, 1864.
. . . I have for some days been
occupying a good house on the Buckhead Road, about four miles north of Atlanta,
but am going to move in the morning more to the right to be nearer where I
expect the next battle. You have heard, doubtless, full accounts of the battles
of the 20th, 22nd, and 28th, in all which the enemy attacked a part of our
lines in force, but was always repulsed with heavy loss. But I fear we have
sustained a reverse in some cavalry that I sent around by the rear to break the
Macon road. It was commanded by McCook,1 a cousin of Dan's. They
reached the railroad and broke it; also burned a large number of the baggage
wagons belonging to the enemy, and were on their way back when they were beset
by heavy forces of cavalry about Newnan and I fear are overpowered and a great
part killed or captured. Some 500 have got in and give confused accounts, but
time enough has elapsed for the party to be back, and I hear nothing further of
them. Somehow or other we cannot get cavalry. The enemy takes all the horses of
the country, and we have to buy and our people won't sell. Stoneman is also out
with a cavalry force attempting to reach our prisoners confined at
Andersonville, but since McCook's misfortune I also have fears for his safety.
I am now moving so as to get possession of the railroad out of Atlanta to the
south — we already have possession of those on the north and east — when it
will be difficult for Hood to maintain his army in Atlanta. This army is much
reduced in strength by deaths, sickness, and expiration of service. It looks
hard to see regiments march away when their time is up. On the other side they
have everybody, old and young, and for indefinite periods. I have to leave also
along the railroad a large force to guard the supplies; so that I doubt if our
army much exceeds that of Hood. No recruits are coming, for the draft is not
till September, and then I suppose it will consist mostly of niggers and bought
recruits that must be kept well to the rear. I sometimes think our people do
not deserve to succeed in war; they are so apathetic.
McPherson was shot dead. I had
his body brought up to me, and sent it back to the railroad. He was shot high
up in the breast with a bullet, and must have fallen from his horse dead.
Howard, who succeeds him, is a fine gentleman and a good officer. . . . I expect we will have a hard fight for the
railroad about the day after to-morrow, and [it] must be more heavy on us as we
must attack. I am always glad when the enemy attacks, for the advantage then is
with us. Now our line is as strong as theirs, but being on the outer circle is
longer. I see that Grant has sprung his mines at Petersburg, and hope he will
succeed in taking that town, as it will be a constant threat to Richmond, but
Richmond itself can only be taken by regular siege. Atlanta is on high ground
and the woods extend up to the forts which look strong and encircle the whole
town. Most of the people are gone — it is now simply a big fort. . . .
__________
1 General E. M.
McCook.
SOURCES: M. A. DeWolfe Howe,
Editor, Home Letters of General Sherman, p. 304-6. A
full copy of this letter can be found in the William T Sherman Family
papers (SHR), University of Notre Dame Archives (UNDA), Notre Dame, IN
46556, Folder CSHR 2/17
No comments:
Post a Comment