Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
THE SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
"Reminiscences Of Sherman S
March to the Sea.
Flow Georgia's Capital was Beleagured
and Defended.

and Defended,
Noting the discovery of an old
bombshell by an Atlanta well-digger,
the Constitution of that city says
During the seige of Atlanta in 1864
It was practical question and one OF
vital interest how to dodge them.
Gradually the Confederate lines drew
nearer the city. The faint echo of
their guns was heard ten miles away.
When the lines fell back to the river
there was a universal wall in Atlanta.
The river had been regarded as bar
rier beyond which the invader could
not come, and there was constant
expectation that Johnston would do
something to paralize 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 thousand
hearts in the beleaguered city. There
was then no alternative but capture.
The people knew the relative force OF
the armies. They were well aware
that Sherman had over 100000 men
elated with a successful march into
the heart of their enemy's country,
while opposing them were about 40
600 men in grey, who had been fight
ing slow and desperate retreat.
After the river was crossed the
Federal army swept with little OBJ
struction to the very outskirts of the
city. Atlanta then had irregular pop
ulation of about 10000, but the con-
centration of war supplies and the i'm
portance attached to it as base of
supplies had run the population up to
10000 or 25,000 The city was teem-
ing with people, all in great agitation
when they heard that the invader had
set his foot on the eastern bank Of the
Chattahoochee.
How to defend the city was thenext
question. 1t was answered by some
very practical and intelligent men
whose duty to the Southern Confeder-
acy had kept them in or around At
lanta. Chief among these was Colonel
L. P. Grant the present president of
the Atlanta and West Point Railroad.
Colonel Grant planned three complete
lines of fortifcations. One was to
skirt the boundary of the city. The
other was to surround the thickly set
tied districts, while the third was tC
encircle the very heart of the city, with
the Courthouse as a sort of final ram
part and stronghold. All these works
were duly constructed according tc
Colonel Grants plans, and the defences
of Atlanta, were famous for theil
ingenuity and strength. But tht
Federal forces fought their way or
until they were within cannon shot of
the city. They tried by several des
perate assaults like that of July 22d,
mile beyond the cemetery, and like tht
bloody onslaught on Peachtree Creek
few days later, to sweep right into
the city. In all these efforts they
were checked by force hardly half a:
great as that of the invaders. McPher
son fell in sight of the city. Many
officers of minor rank fell. Men wer,
moved down like wheat by the de
termined defenders of the city. i
must be slow seige to win.
Sherman realized this fact quickly
and accordingly adjusted his forces
Batteries with the heaviest guns hi
could command were placed in from
of the Federal lines. They were al
most completely around the city
Their range was four or five miles, anC
they had only mile or a mile and ;
half to cover. Shells poured thicl
into the city, and reign of terror be
gan.
Then came the bomb proof. 1t wa
the only refuge from the shells OF th'
beseigers Every household soon had it
place of refuge The bomb proof con
sisted of perpendicular hole in th
ground about four feet square, and
tunnel of six feet which led into
vault of various dimensions. The av
erage size Of the bomb proof WAS l0xl:
feet, but many of them were larger
Some of them were luxuriously fnr
nished, and offered all the comforts o
home in the retreat under groun,
from the sizzling and popping shells
So far as protection to life was con
cerned they were perfect. No shel
could penetrate through the roof o
soil, and there was not chance in
million that any of the enemy's mis-
siles would fall in the narrow entrance
The bomb proof was complete pro
lection from the enemy's fiery missiles
and saved many life in Atlanta
Thousands of shells fell in the cit
during the six weeks of terror. an
not half dozen lives were lost. TIL
most fatal shell fell just in front o
where James's bank now Is. 1t ex
ploded in the street. One piece kille,
a shoemaker in a cellar. Another frag
ment murdered mule on the street
Another piece broke the stone post a
the corner Which still bears the mark
as does the gas post few feet away
which was almost cut away by tn
furious shell.
The bomb proofs remained long at
Ter the seige. they were objects o