A report1 came in today that General Sherman has
his headquarters in Atlanta, and that the rebel army is in retreat with our
army after them.2 News came also of the surrender of Fort Morgan at
Mobile, Alabama; also that General Grant is shelling Petersburg with
fifteen-inch shells. All things are quiet here at Rome, Georgia.
_______________
1 The information was gathered from a poster
or news sheet about four inches wide and twenty-two inches long, printed on one
side and sold among the soldiers at the hospital. Mr. Downing purchased one,
which he has preserved, and thinks he paid ten cents for it. — Ed.
2 General Sherman finally took Atlanta by a
bit of strategy. He withdrew his army from the rifle-pits in front of Atlanta,
and placing the Twentieth Army Corps across the Chattahoochee river to protect
his base of supplies at Marietta, moved with the remainder of the army in a
wide circuit by his right flank and got into the rear of Hood's army. It is said
that when Sherman made this move, Hood, taking it for granted that Sherman had
given up the siege, proclaimed the fact, and he and his army, together with the
citizens of Atlanta, began celebrating the event with a great jollification.
But when Hood, in the midst of their rejoicings, learned by courier the truth
about Sherman's move, and that the Union army was in his rear in full
force, he sent orders throughout his camp and the city, calling every man to
arms. He Immediately began the evacuation of Atlanta, destroying the ammunition
and all army supplies. — A. G. D.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 213
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