The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-14
AFTER The SIEGE.
How Mayor Calhoun Surren-
dered Atlanta to Sherman.
A Blue Wave Rolls Over the
Gate City.
BY WALLACE p. REED.
For the Constitution.

Inc evacuation OF Atlanta Dy dOou' S army
left the city without police protection, without
municipal government, and practically with
out any law, except the mobilize rule of the
majority.
Under the circumstances, however, this state
of anarchy could last only few hours. The
citizens knew that when the federals entered
the place they would be compelled in their
own interest to restore order, and they felt
that even an oppressive government would be
better than no government But it was feared
that the first day of the enemy's occupation
of the city would be marked by lawlessnesS and
violence.
The mob continued to plumber the stores and
vacant dwellings. They did not find many
articles of value, but for several hours the
streets were filled with q ragged crowd of men,
women and children, who were helping them
selves to everything in sight. They picked up
buckets, tinware, canteens, pieces OF furniture,
old tents, and all kinds of rubbish. OF course
they found little or nothing in the shape of
provisions. The confederates had carried off
everything that could be eaten. In the midst
of all this confusion there was no drunkenness,
and no violence. Men forgot their old quarrels
and differences, and met in a friendly way.
The unionists suddenly doomed up into inn
portance, and not a few of their confederate
neighbors hunted them up, and requested them
to use their influence to secure the protection
of their property. In no instance was this re-
fused. The union people felt as uneasy as
anybody, and showed q disposition to keep on
the best possible terms with their fellow
townsmen.
The hours slipped by, and still there was no
sign of the enemy's approach. Among the
prominent citizens who bad remained was the
Hon. James M. Calhoun, the mayor of the
city. Mr.. Calhoun was man of cool judg-
ment and indomitable courage, and he was de-
such perious times to abandon
Atlanta until the worst dam
gers were over, and he therefore remained at
his post, regardless of his personal interests.
AS the confederates had made no formal sur
render OF the town, Mayor Calhoun decided
that it was necessary for the civil authorities
to act in the matter. Without such action the
tederals would be in ignorance of the real con-
dition of affairs, and it would be natural for
them to march in prepared for a hostile recep-
ton. 1t was the paramount duty of the hour
to avert bloodshed, if possible, and with this
object in view the mayor and his friends agreed
that it would be best to meet the invaders be-
fore they swarmed over the breastworks.
During the morning Mayor Calhoun held q
conference with several members of the coun-
Gil and other prominent men. They met near
the site of the present artesian WELL Besides
the mayor, Messrs. j. j.. Williams, e. e. Raw
Thomas Kile, Julius Hayden and a number of
others were present. They were all mounted
on horses, and were prepared for a rough
ride.
The members of tho committee could not
disguise the fact that they were about to
undertake dangerous trip. They did not
know exactly where to find General Sherman,
but it was thought that his camp was only a
| few miles out on the Marietta road.
'Shall we go armed?'
NJ iI,an bad s,
| ton it created genuine sensation.
'It will never do" said Mayor Calhoun,
| "for us to go with q white flag into the enc
my's lines carrying weapons with u.s. Tt would
be violating the customs of war. Before an
explanation could be made serious trouble
might occur and our mission would be fail
ure."
"But we may be bushwhacked," suggested
several "Are We to run the risk Of being
shot down without having single pistol in
the crowd for our defense?"
81 admit there is danger" replied the MAYOR
"but we must face it, The trees have all been
cut down for miles, and our ride viii be through
the open country in broad daylight. Our white
flag will be our best protection. If we are
fred unon we must take our chances.''
After this talk several gentlemen produced
their pistols and turned them over to their
friends to keep until their return. One man
reluctantly turned over four six-shooters, and
his companions felt relieved. With such an
arsenal in the party battle could hardly have
been avoided.
The citizens with the mayor at their head
rode out Marietta street. Nearly every resi-
dcnce had been abandoned and MANY of the
houses had been knocked into piles Of splin-
tered timber by the shells. The sidewalk.and
the street were badly torn up, and even in
daylight the riders sometimes found it difficult
to thread their way through the scattered
debris.
In a short time the dismantled breastworks
were reached. They were entirely deserted.
and with the exception of a spiked cannon
here and there 10 traces of recent occupation
were left. A peaceful quiet brooded over the
red redoubts and the empty trenches and
bird perched upon one of the big siege guns
looked inquisitiyely at the horsemen and after
q few predatory hirts and twtters poured forth
food OF silver Dotes-a song of welcome---a
jubilee carol of peace.
Beyond the red clay forresses-over the
fragments OF army wagons and caissons, with
eyes averted from the skulls and bones that
cleaned like so many white horrors in the
fierce sunlight, the little band rode on. They
passed the rifle pits and entertainments Of the
enemy. Not human being, not living
thing was in sight. Two, three,
four miles, and not sign
of the enemy. A sudden turn in the road
brought them face to face with marching de-
tachment of men III blue. a brief halt, hur-
ried explanation. A federal colonel rode up TO
the spot and asked a few questions. The white
flag, the appearance of the strangers in citi-
ZenS BafD, ana the CALM measured words OF
Mayor Calhoun satisfied the officer, and an
orderly was at once detailed TO guide the vsi-
tors to the commanders camp.
When the mayor and his friends were intro
duced to General Sherman, they saw before
them man of forty-ive who looked fully ten
years older His bronzed face was 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 holiday soldier. and
his appearance contYasted strikingly with the
glitter and Aaring colors Of the imposing staff
around him.
Still, there was an air Of leadership and COM
mand about this man, and the messengers
from Atlanta would have picked him out
among n million There was nothing stately
or dignfed about him. His face showed that
it had never been n handsome one and his
head, phenomenally large and bulging at the
top, sloped precptately down 10 the neck at
its back. The peculiar shape Of this remark
able head had caused many officers OF the be-
ginning of the war to insist that its owner was
mentally unbalanced, but our followers Of the
white flag did not waste any time in such idle
speculations. They saw Socum's corps NOV
ing rapidly onward, and not a moment was TO
be lost in stating their business
The stem commander. after a searching