A large detail from our regiment was put to work on the
railroad. Three of us, Hiram Frank, John D. Moore and I, took French leave this
afternoon and climbed to the top of Kenesaw mountain. It is a grand view from
the mountain, but we had to pay for our sightseeing, for when we got back to
camp we found that our command had left. They were ordered to go on the
double-quick to Altoona, Georgia, and we had to run about four miles before we
caught up with them. Our bunkmates were carrying our knapsacks, haversacks,
canteens and rifles, with all accouterments, and they were about as thankful as
we were when we caught up with them.1
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1 General Corse had flagged Sherman for
reinforcements, as Hood was trying to capture the place. Our army had about one
million rations stored at Altoona. Sherman flagged: “Hold the fort; I am
coming,” and General Corse answered back that he'd hold the fort to the death
if need be. — A. G. D.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 220-1
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