The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-08-25
THE SURRENDER OF ATLANTA.
A Glimpse of General Sherman as
lie Appeared to Southern Eyes.

NE appeared to Southern Eyes.
Beyond the red clay fortress-oyer
the fragments of army wagons and
calssons, with eyes averted from the
skulls and bones that cleaned like so
many white horrors in the fierce sun
lights, the little band with the flag of
truce rode on, the Major at the head.
They passed the ri1e-pits and entrench-
ments of the enemy. Not human
being, not living thing was in sight.
Two. three, four miles, and not a sign
OF the enemy. A sudden turn in the
read brought them face to face with
marching detachment OF men in blue.
A brief halt, hurri, d explanation. A
Federal colonel rode up to the spot and
asked few questions. The white flag,
the appearance of the strangers in citi-
zens' garb, and the calm, measured
words of Mayor Calhoun satisfied the
officer, and an officer was at once de-
tailed to guide the visitors to the COM
mander's camp.
| Whsn the mayor and his friends were
| introduced 10 General sherman they
s w before them man of 45, who
!)oked fully ten years older. His
'onz9 face. scanned with lines of care,
and his eyes told a tale of sleepless
| nights. His wrinkled brow and his
| rough, closely trimmed beard, together
| with his weather beaten field uniform.
made him look like anything but a
holiday soldier, and his appearance
c9ntrasted strikingly with the glitter
aud Aaring colors Of The imposing staff
around him.
Still there was an air of leader hip
| and command about this man. and the
| messengers from Atlanta would have
| picked him out among a million. There
was nothing stately or dignifed about
him. His face showed that it had never
been a handsome one, and his head,
phenomenally large and bullying at the
top, sioped precipltately down TO the
| neck at its back. The peculiar shape
| of this remarkable head had caused
many officers at the beginning OF the
war to insist that its owner was men
tally unbalanced, but our followers OF
| the white flag did not waste any time
IN such idle speculations. They saw
| Slocum's corps moving rapidly onward
and not moment was to be lost II
stating their business.
| The stern commander, after search
ing scrutiny of the faces before him,
looked down at the ground, while
Mayor Calhoun quietly Informed him
OF the helpless condition of the city,
| nd briefly surrendered it upon the con-
alton that life, liberty and private
| property should be protected.
Then the General looked up again,
and in curt, business-like way said he
would grant the.conditions requested.
| He said that the civil authorities had
taken the proper course in seeking him
and expressed the hope that their rela-
tions would be pleasant and salts
| factory.
But this is war, you know" he said
| IN his abrupt way, yes. - - il,
J this is war, and | mus place your town
under martial law. That won't hurt
good citizens, but it will play the devil
with the bad ones"
Now that We have surrendered" re-
marked one Of the citizens, ''you will
| probably come in at onGe?"
Ine General darted quick glance ct
him.
Come inn he answered, 81 think
some OF my men are already there
they are marching in that direction as
fast as they can walk"
With few more words of parting the
| committee started to return.
"One more word" said Sherman, 81
suppose it is understood that none OF
your people will ire upon my soIdiers?
He Was assured that nothing of the
kind wonld occur, and the mayor ana
the others then rode back to the CITY.
entering il with the advance guard of
the Federals only a few hundred yards
behind them.
Shortly after midday the streets were
blue with companies and regiments Of
OF Federal.
All night the wagons and troops were
moving into the city, and the place was
crowded. There were bilIiard-rooms
and drinking saloons over some of the
stores, and bills We're out advertising q
minstrel show for that night on Deca-
tur Street.
A dozen generals occupied the best
houses, in some cases com polling the
original occupants TO move into other
guar ers. General Sherman estab-
llshed himself very comfortably in the
present high school build ing On the
corner Of Mitchell anu Washington |
Streets. and engaged for a hOusekeeper |
an old lady who two days before had |
been denouncing him as savage for |
whom even the worst fate was too
good. The two got along very agree
ably, and in less than a week the |
housekeeper told her friends that tie
General was the incest man in the
world, and had besn shamefuIly Sian
dered.-CO@s titttjo n.