The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-22
ATLANTA'S SURRENDER.
A GLIMPSE OF SHERMAN AS HE AP-
FEARED TO SOUTHERN EYES.

A Bron,ed Face. Scanned with Lines of
Care-PecuIiar shape Of n Remarkable
Hesd-A Curt. Business Like Interview.
Occupying tho City.
Ceyoud the red clay fortress-over the
fragments of army wagons and caissons, with
eyes ayerted from the skulls and bones that
CLEANED like SO many white horrors in the
fierce sunlight, the little band with the flag
Of truce rode on, the mayor at the head.
They passed tho rifle pits aad entrenchmcuts
Of the enemy. Not q human being. not a
living thing was IN sight. Two, three, four
miles, and not a sIgu of the enemy. A sud
den turn in the road brought them face 10
face with a marching detachment OF men in
blue. A brief halt, hurried explanation.
A Federal colonel rode up 10 the spot and
asked a few questions. The white flag, the
appearance of the strangers in citizens garb,
and the calm, measured words Of Mayor Cal
houn satisfied the officer and an orderly was
at once detailed to guide the visitors 20 the
commanders camp.
When the mayor and his friends were in
troduced 10 Gen. Sherman they saw before
them a man Of 45, who looked fully ten years
older His bronzed 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
weatherbeaten field uniform. made him look
like anything but a holiday soldier, and his
appearance contrasted strisingly with the
glitter and haring colors Of the imposing
staff around him.
Az AIR Of LEADERSHIP.
Still there was an air of leadership and
command about this man. and the messen-
gers from Atlanta would have picked hirl
ont among a million. There was nothing
stately or dignified about him. His face
showed that it had never been q handsome
one, and his head, phenomenally large and
bullying at the top, sloped precipitately down
to the neck at its back The peculiar shape
o. this remarkable head had caused many
officers at the beginning of the war 10 insist
that It's owner was mentally unbalanced, but
our followers Of the white dag did not waste
any time in such idle specglations. They saw
S.ocums corps move rapidly onward, and
not a moment was to be lost in stating their
business
TIE stern commander, after a searching
scrutiny of tho faces before him, looked
down at the ground, while Mayor Calhoun
quietly informed him of The helpless c0ndl-
ton Of the city. and briefly surrendered 10
upon the condition that l.fe liberty and
private property should ba protected.
Then tho general looked up again, and in
a curt. business like way said that be would
grant tine conditions requested He said that
the civil authorities hai taken the proper
course in seeking him, and expressed tle
hope that their relations would be pleasant
and satisfactory
But this Is war, You know he sait IN
his abrupt way, ''yes, -- - 10, this Is
war, and must place your town under mar
tial law That won't bur. good citizens, but
it VIII play the devil with tha bad 0nes'
TAKING POSSESSION
Now that we have surrendered" re-
marked one Of tue citizens, 'you will pro5a-
big come in at oncef
The general darted quick glance at him.
"Come inn he answered. IL. th.nk some Of
my men are already there-thoy are maj ca'
ing in that direction as fast as they can
walk
With q few words Of parting the commit
tee started 10 return.
"One word more said Sherman 81 sup
pose il is understood tia. nome of your people
will fire upon my soldiers.
He was assured that nothing ot the kind
would occur, and the mayor and the others
then rode back TO the city, entering 10 with
the advance guard Of tho Fedarals oulya few
hundred yards behind them
Shortly after midday the streets were blue
with companies and regiments of Federab.
All night the wagons and troops were NOV
inc into the city, and tue next day the place
was crowded. There were billiard rooms
and drinking saloons over some OF the stores,
and bills wero out advertising a minstrel
show for that night on Decatur street.
a dozen generals occupied the best houses,
in some cases compelling the original occu-
pants 10 move into other quarters. Cen
Sherman established himself very comfort
ably in the present high school building on
the corner of Mitchell and Washington
streets. and engaged for a house1eeper an old
lady who two days before had been donounc-
ing him as a savage for whom even the worst
fate was too good. The two got along very
agreoably. and IN less than week the house
keeper told her friends chat the general was
the incest mau in the world, aud had been
shamefully slandered Atlanta Constitution