Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-02-13

Ren1iniscenc Of Shern1an's S
March to the Sea.
How Georgia's Capital was Beleagured
and Defended.

UOnloSitll DE al Atlanta "eII-IlTStT. Z
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 stilIed thousand
hearts in 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 Sherman had over 100000 men
elated with 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 a regular pop
ulation of about 10000, but the con-
centration of war supplies and the i'm
portance attached to it as a base Of
supplies had run the population up to
10000 or $4,000. 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 the next
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. z. 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, d
mile beyond the cemetery, and like the
bloody onslaught on Peachtree Creek,
a 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
terminel defenders of the city. II
must be slow seige to win.
sherman realized this fact quickly
and accordingly adjusted his forces
Batteries with the heaviest guns ht
could command were PLACED in from
OF the Federal lines. They were al
most completely around<the city
Their range was four or I've miles, ane
they had only P mile or mile and ;
half to cover Shells poured thici
into the 'elty, and reign Of terror. be
gan.
Then ca me the bomb proof. It wa
the only r kfuge from the shells Of tn
l.eseigeril Every household soon had it
place Of refuge. The bomb proof con
sisted OF a perpendicular hole in tn
ground about four feet square, and
,unn-l Of six feet which led into
vault Of various dimensions. Tie az