Decatur, Ga., July 19,
1864.
To-night we are in Decatur, six miles from Atlanta. The
Rebels were yet in Atlanta this morning, for they ran a train to this burg this
morning, but they may now be gone. Our line of battle crosses the railroad
nearly at right angles, facing Atlanta. I think the 23d Corps has swung around
in front of us, and the 16th Corps is now on our left. Our cavalry had some
fighting after 1 p. m. today. A citizen says there was nearly 4,500 Rebel
cavalry here. A small portion of our mounted forces made a half-charge on the
Johnnies just this side of town, and the Rebels stampeded. They knew we had a
large force, and, of course, could not tell just what number was coming on
them. They broke down every fence in town and ran over everything but the
houses in their mad panic to get away. Our men, as usual, all stopped in town
to flank the onions, potatoes, chickens and sundries, in which they were busily
engaged when the Rebels, who had rallied and got a battery in position, opened
right lively. Our men drove them away, and then all hands went to foraging
again. To-morrow night, I think, will give us Atlanta, or there will be a fair
start for a new graveyard near the town. I hear no fighting on the right. We
have passed over the same miserable looking country to-day. I caught a small
scorpion to-day, also a reddish brown bug not quite as large as a thrush, and
as savage as a mad rat. Wish I could preserve some of these bugs and things; I
know you'd like 'em
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an
Illinois Soldier, p. 282
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