Connecticut western news., 1885-11-18
THE SIEGE OF ATLANTA.
"Reminiscences of Sherman's
 March to the Sea.
How Georgia's Capital was Beleagured .. ...- and Defended.

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 vail 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 stilIed a 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,- 900 men in grey, who had been fight ing slow and desperate retreat.
 After the river was crossed the Federal army swept with little ob- struction to the very outskirts of the city. Atlanta then had a regular pop ulation of about 10000, but the con- centration of war supplies and the im- 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 henext question. It 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. F. Grant the present president. of the Atlanta and 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 thickly set tied districts, while the third was to 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 to Colonel Grants plans, and the defences of Atlanta, were famous for their ingenuity and strength. But the Federal forces fought their way on until they were within cannon shot of the city. They tried by several des- perate assaults like that of July 22d, a mile beyond the cemetery, and like the bloody onslaught on Peaehtree Creek, 8 few days later, to sweep right into the city. In all these efforts they were checked by force hardly half as great as that of the invaders. McPher- son fell in sight of the city. Many officers of minor rank fell. Men were moved down like wheat by the de- termined defenders of the city. It must be slow seige to win.
 Sherman realized this fact quickly, and accordingly adjusted his forces. Batteries with the heaviest guns he could command were placed in front of the Federal lines. They were al- most completely around the city. Their range was four or five miles, and they had only mile or mile and a half to cover. Shells poured thick into the city, and reign of terror be- gan. ...... --.....
 Then came the bomb proof. It was the only refuge from the shells of the beseigers. Every household soon had its place of refuge. The bomb proof con. sisted of perpendicular hole in the ground about four feet square, and 8 tunnel of six feet which led into 8 vault of various dimensions. The av. craze size of the bomb proof was 10x12 feet, but many of them were larger Some of them were luxuriously fur. nished, and offered all the comforts oi home in the retreat under ground 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 oi soil, and there was not a 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 a 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 shell fell just in front ot where James's bank now is. It ex ploded in the street. One piece killed a shoemaker in cellar. Another frag ment murdered mule on the street Another piece broke the stone post al the corner which still bears the mark as does the gas post few feet away which was almost cut away by tht furious shell.
 The bomb proofs remained long af ter the seige they were objects oi great curiosity to the captors of ths city. When Shermsn drove the peo pie out of Atlanta and burned theil houses, tho bomb preofa escaped hil