The Indianapolis journal., 1885-10-18
ATLANTA'S BOMB-PROOFs.
The Habitations in Which the Citiz ems
Sought Safety During the Siege.


Atlanta Constitution.
A we'll digger, few days ago, in delving
through the soil in the eastern part of the city,
struck something hard with his pick. He found
that he had discovered bomb shell and care
fully he removed the soil until the deadly mis-
sile was cleared from its bed of clay.
his well-dlgger was aware of the danger of
the rusty bombs which lie imbedded in the soil
around Atlanta. No less than four or FIVE per
sons have been killed by the explosion of these
shells, which missed their original aim and sunk
apparently harmless into the SOIL
During the siege of Atlanta. in 1864 it was
practical question and one of vital interest how
TO dodge them. Gradually the confederate lines
drew nearer to the city. The faint echo of their
guns was heard ten miles away. When the lines
fell back to the river there was universal wall
in Atlanta. The river had beon regarded as bar
rler beyond which the invader could not come
and there was constant expectation that John
ston would do something to paralyZe his enemy.
One evening about dusk came the news TO the
city that the confederate troops had crossed the
river and burned the bridge behind them. That
announcement stilled a thousand hearts i'm the
beleaguered CITY, There was then no alternative
but capture. The people knew the relative force
OF the armies. They were we'll aware that Sher-
man had over ore hundred thousand men, elated
with successful march into the heart Of their
enemy's country, while opposing them were
about forty thousand men in gray who had
been fighting slow and desperate retreat
Alter the river was crossed the federal army
swept with little obstruction to the very out
skirts OF the city. Atlanta then had a regular
population of about 10, 000 but the concentration
OF war supplies and the Importance attached to
it as base Of supplies had run the population
up to 900 or %, 900. The city was teeming
with people, all in great agitation when they
heard that the invader had set his foot on tho
eastern bank of the Chattahoochie
How to defend the city was the next question.
II was answered by some very practical and
intelligent men. whose duty to the Southern
COnfQdePacv kap in a ~
Chief among these Colonel L. z. Grant. the
present president of the Atlanta 6S West Point
railroad. Colonel Grant planned three complete
lines of Notifications One was to SKIRT the
boundary of the city, the other was to surround
the thlckly-settled districts, while the third was
to encircle the very heart of the CITY, with the
courthouse as sort of final rampant and strong
hold. All these works were duly constructed.
according to Colonel Grants plans, and the de
fenses of Atlanta were famous for their
ingenuity and strength. But the federal forces
fought their way on until they were within can
non shot of the city. They tried by several
desperate assaults like that of July %, mile
beyond the cemetery, and like the bloody on
saught on Peachtree creek few days later, to
sweep right into the city. In all these efforts
they were checked by force hardly half as
In sight of the city Many officers of minor
rank fell Men were moved down like wheat
by the determined defenders of the CITY, It.
must be a slow siege to win.
Sherman realized this fact quickly and ac-
cordingly adjusted his forces Batteries with
the heaviest guns he could command were placed
in the front of the federal lines They were
almost completely around the city. Their range
was four or five miles. and they had oaly mile
or a mile and half to cover Shells poured
thick into the city and reign of terror began
Then came the bomb proof. 1t was the only
| refuge from the shells of the besiegers Every
household soon had its place of refuge The
bomb-proof consisted of perpendicular hole in
the ground about four feet square, and tunnel
of six feet which led into a vault of various di-
mensions. The average size of the bomb proof
was l0xl2 feet but many of them were larger
Some of them were luxuriantly furnished. and
offered all the comforts Of home in the retreat
under ground from the sizzing and popping
shells.
So far as protection to life was concerned they
were perfect. No shell could penetrate through
the roof of SOIL and there was not a chance in a
million that any of the enemys missiles would
fall in the narrow entrance. The bomb-proof
was complete protection from the ene-
mys fiery missiles and saved many life
in Atlanta. Thousands of shells fell in the city
during the six weeks of terror, and not half
dozen lives were lost. The most fatal she'll fell
just in front of where James's bank now is. It
exploded in the streets. One piece killed shoe
maker In his cellar. Another fragment muir
dered mule on the street. Another piece broke
the stone post at the corner, which still bears
the mark as Goes tho gas post few feet away,
which was almost cut away by the furious shell.
The bornb-proofs remained long after the siege.
They were objects of great curiosity to the cap
tors of the city When Sherman drove the peo
pie out of Atlanta and burned their houses, the
boom proofs escaped his vengeance. Many Of
them remained until the new city began to rise.
and there are still. in many gardens of this city
traces Of these improvsed defenses of thewomen
and children of Atlanta.