The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-14
GA TUESDAY AUGUST H. 1885,

must place your town under martial law.
That won't hurt good citizens, but it will play
the devil with the bed ones"
NOW that we have surrendered" remarked
one OF the citizens, ''you will probably come in
at once?"
The general darted quick glance at him.
come in! he answered, 81 think some of
my men are already there-they are marching
III that direction rs fast as they can walk"
WITH few words of parting the committee
started to return,
"One word more" said Sherman, 81 suppose
1t is understood that none of your people will
fire upon mysoldiers 2"
He was assured that nothing of the kind
would occur, and the mayor and the others
then rode back to the city, entering it with
the advance guard of the federals only o few
hundred yards behind them.
Shortly after midday tho streets were blue
WITH companies and regiments of federals
Ihey had marched down Marietta street, and
mad scattered after reaching the center of the
CITY. WITH the exception of few stray shots
on Decatur street, fired by half a dozen confed-
crate cavalrymen who Immediately dashed off
at gallop, they encountered no opposition.
BY three o'clock the army wagons began to
roll in, and with them came the suffers, bring
ing immense stocks of goods In another hour
the streets were enlivened by the cries of the
army newsboys who were shouting: Here's
your New York Herald" "Here's your IIar-
per's Weekly" Before the sun went down
the quartermasters and suffers had occupied
most OF the stores. a news agent filled the
Old postofice on Whitehall with novels and
newspapers A sutler opened a store just be-
low Trinity church and exhibited a tempting
stock OF canned goods. There were several
clothing stores, Tho United States sanitary
commission opened a big depot of supplies on
Whitehall The Mcknight & Ormond build
ing was filled with quartermaster's stores, and
MIR. IL. E. Rawson'S fine building was similarly
utilized.
All night the wagons and troops were NOV
ing INTO the city, and the next day the place
was crowded There were billiard rooms and
drinking saloons over some of the stores, and
bills were out advertising n minstrel show for
that night on Decatur street.
A dozen generals occupied the best houses,
in some cases compelling the original occu-
pants to move into other quarters.
General Sherman established himself
very = comfortably in the present
high school building on the corner of Mitchell
and Washington streets, and engaged for
housekeeper an old lady who two days before
had been denouncing him as q savage for
whom even the worst fate was too good, Tho
two got along very agreeably, and in less than
a week the housekeeper told her friends that
the general was the incest man in the world,
and had been shamefully slandered
AT first the soldiers took what they wanted.
but in the main they behaved tolerably well.
They did not insult women, and they were
courteous to the citizens generally. Families
In need OF rations were promptly supplied, but
the people were made to feel that they were
under the iron rule of a conqueror There was
no certainty about anything. 1t was not known
whether the army would stop in Atlanta or
move on. Some thought that the confederates
would besiege the city, brt the general opinion
was that Hood would tear up the State road
and force Sherman to return to north Georgia
or Tennessee.
In the course of a few days many important
that they must leave, and either go south or
north. Thousands lett everything behind
them and went into the confederate lines.
Thousands also, went north, beng provided
with transportation to Nashville or Louisville.
Only few hundred remained. AS the dwell
ings were vacated they were quickly occupied
by officers, but Judge Erskines residence and
other fine houses were torn down and the
lumber was used in building cabins for the
troops.
Thus were the people of Atlanta driven
from their homes into exile. Their city was
turned into vast camp occupied by $4,000
soldiers, and new line of Notifications was
erected to defend it from possible confederate
siege.
Atlantas fame as one of the historic cities
of the continent will grow as time rolls on,
and future generations will pronounce her
heroic defense in siege of forty days, one of
the most glorious chapters in the history of
the war. To those generations must be left
the task Of raising monuments on our battle
and to their historians must be left the work
of writing the complete story of the bloody
struggle for the Gate City.