Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-09-24
THE WAR IN GEORGIA.
The Occupation of Atlanta.
Affairs on the Lower Mississippi.
From 1he TMentY.seeord Regiment.

/
From the Tweniy-Seeosd Regiment.
The Success in Georyia- Feeling the Udy 20 at
La'sta--Entrance Of tie Cay-Rjoici1g of oar
7roops-7ze Welcome of Tie People-Hol0
they Sufced--7ze City gery much Damaged
- Great Destruction of Property BIZ Hood
Thousands of Des9'ters coming 6u-Ow'
Troops enjoying themselves. -
Correspondence of the state journal.
ATLANTA, Ca, Sept. 4, 1864.
After campaign OF four months of weary
marches, hard fare, and the loss of many
brave men, we are happy to write from this
place. Yes, the "Gate City" that Hood
felt able to hold" "THE place where he was
going to stand" has been occupied by YAM
kee soldiers. Sherman has succeeded, and
the rebel army is routed, whipped, and driven
out. Atlanta is ours.
A RECoNNoISANCE,
from the Sd division, goth army corps, sta
toned at Turner's Ferry during the late
movement, commanded by Col John Coburn,
who has commanded the I'd brigade during
the campaign, started from the Ferry at 6 a.
M of the I'd inst. and proceeded in the d.
rection of Atlanta. The column of 900 men
moved out on the Atlanta road, the skirmish
ers and fiankers extending away to the right
and left, feeling the way" through woods
and over by.roads. We saw nothing until
within sight OF our old works, where some
few cavalry of butternut persuasion were dis
covered by our advance, and routed with a
loss of two captured. Here occurred little
skirmishing of the old sort. Our line halted
to rest and the column got into position, for
an advance.
VIZ ENTER THE CITY.
Col Coburn having made proper disposition
of the forces and gave necessary instructions,
the expedition moved forward over our old
works, through abattis, pitfalls, over the reb-
ell works-now deserted-doyn and up, until,
at the very edge of the city, the Mayor and
City Council came out and surrendered the
city to Col. j. Coburn, with remarks appro-
pirate. The Mayor requested the Colonel to
wait few minutes, as there was some rebel
cavalry about town. Col. COburn told him
that he should move in Immediately, and
did so, the rebel cavalry leaving hastily
enough at the approach of our skirmish line.
THE CITIZENS
came out to meet u.s. The long looked for
Yankees had really come. The star spangled
banner once more hoated over the city. On
went the skirmishers to the south side of the
city, the column moving up White Hall
street 20 the City Hall. Then could you
have heard that cheer Oh. Messrs. Editors,
there oCds something soul-stirring in that one
long, loud shout of victory. The people
gathered around us and ones right arm was
in danger Women cursed the rebels who
had abused and plundered them of everything.
Men began to crawl from their places of con-
cealment, from the rear guard of Hoods
army who were left to conscript and bring up
able-bodied men. Our hands were full of
work to take care of the deserters who had
managed TO "flink" the cavalry. There are
many good Union people here NOR. A great
many mechanics and merchants from the
North here, hailed our coming with an unu-
sual greeting.
THE CITY
Shows signs of war Enthusiastically Beautiful
houses and public buildings are battered by
onr shells The stores have been robbed by
the rebels, who, II
cloth to leave, determined to leave nothing"
Fences had been burned, the gardens plum
dered, and everything justified the voice of
the citizens, who said had Hood staid there
another day they would have had nothing
left. The people had to resort to gopher
holes" or bomb-proofs, for protection during
the hours of bombardment. One woman
told me that for ten days the family had liv-
ed under ground, so exposed were they to
our shells. Many have been killed or injured
by the shot going through their houses Yet
for all this there are many people who have
undergone what they have, rather than leave,
hoping soon to be inside our lines. Thank
God they hoped not in vain. What must
these poor people have suffered.
There are many fine buildings here. The
city is beautiful for its shade trees and shrub
berry, There have been extensive manufac-
tories here of munitions of war, and the
building that contained the State Iron Works
is an extensive affair, though the machinery
has been removed. But will not attempt to
describe just now the buildings. The princi-
pal public institutions are the City Hall, Fe
male Seminary and Medical College.
THE TWENTIETH CORPS.
Most of the corps came up during the
night of the I'd, and the tramp, tramp of the
soldiers, the rumbling of artillery, and the
cheer after cheer of each successive regiment
told plainly that Atlanta is ours, and "Hood
is played out"
Gen. Slocum and Gems. Geary, Williams,
Ward, Knipe, Ruger, and the other brigade
commanders have established themselves
here. The I'd Massachusetts is doing Pro-
vost duty here, their Colonel being Provost
Marshal of the city. Gen. Sloeum commands
the post.
THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. w. a
Hood seems to have vented his rage on be-
ne obliged to abandon Atlanta in the de-
struction of property. He massed about one
hundred cars, five engines, and twenty-eight
carloads of ammunition at the immense roll
ing mill, and in one vast fire destroyed over
two millions of dollars worth of property,
and that such as the Southern Confederacy
could not spare or replace. Piles of ammu-
milton, guns, ETC., were thrown into wells,
mud holes, and stored up in cellars, &c. All
this tells truly that Hood was surprised to
find Sherman in his rear. si.
OUR TROOPS
are occupying convenient camps in and about
the city. The men are in fine spirits, get
plenty Of tobacco, and already the streets are
full Of army teams and stores. The blue
coats and shoulder straps are very plenty and
there is much in the appearance of Atlanta
to correspond with the occupation of Nash
vile by our army.
THE PRESENT SITUATION
The battles of the 31st ult. and LIST inst
were sanguinary. The rebel Hood finds him
self driven back, headed off, and whipped
completely. Deserters are continually com.
ing in who report the rebel army very dis
heartened We have over two thousand de-