Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-04-28
THROUGH GEORGIA.
At Atlanta, The Gate City of The
South.
The Atlanta of the War-The Brave Death
OF General Mcpherson
Monument.
ATLANTA. GA April 21. Is99.

ATLANTA, GA, April 21, 1892.
This place has been our headquarters
for about four weeks, having come up
from Florida by way of Pensacola and
Montgomery, arriving here at noon,
March "a. Atlanta is sometimes called
by way of eminence, The Gate City.
through which eight railroads center, be-
ing more than has any other city of the
the South. 1t was considered by General
Sherman also the key to the entire re-
gion lying east and south, at the time
when on July %, 1864, the series of bat
ties was fought around it for its posses
sion, VIII ch resulted in the city's being
placed by him in state of siege, which
continued for forty days. at the end of
which time Hood, who was then in com
mand of the rebel forces, evacuated the
place -whereupon Sherman, after re-
cruiting his army, and for time watch
ing and heading off the movements of
Hood, until he concluded it was safe to
leave him in the hands of, and to the ten
der mercies of General Thomas, whom he
left behind to take care of Hood, which
he did. And in farther preparing to
make his contemplated trip farther South,
he burned the town and started in No
vember on his memorable march to the
Sea. The city at that time was in itself of
but little importance, having but few
thousand inhabitants perhaps six or
eight thousand 1t was only on account
of its being the railroad center that it is,
and strategic point, that constituted its
Importance, and caused Hood to strive
with such tenacity, in pursuit of the ag-
gressive policy adopted by him, to hold
on as long as he did, which only resulted |
in a great loss of his men. The pickets
of both armies who were often in close
to each other, and would fire.
quently carry on dialogue like this:
"Well, Johnny, how many of you are left |
now ?"-the reply would come, "Oh, about
enough for another killing 1t was
the 22d of July, during the series of bat
ties fought that day around Atlanta that
resulted in the death of General McPher-
son.
Of the particulars of the tragedy ]
gather the following: He had been max
ing disposition of his forces to repel an
attack that had Unexpectedly developed
in his rear, made by Hardee; had also
sent to Logan for his reserve brigade,
and when satisfied that his troops under
Dodge could hold their ground, he start
ed at speed to reach Blair's line, by the
road which that moment had been clear.
He had hardly gone hundred yards
when he ran full into the skirmish line
Of Cleborne. advancing through gap.
they called to him to surrender, but
raising his hat as if for salute, he
wheeled to gallop away, when a volley
was fired, and he fell mOrtally wounded
His staff had been scattered carrying or
lers, and he was alone with an orderly,
who was shot and captured; but wound
ID soldier near by, managed to get away
md give information of the great loss
nents the shifting tide of battle had
the enemy a little, and the
Generals body was recovered before it
vas yet cold. Cleborne'S skirmishers
we're soon checked with considerable loss,
! flag and some forty men being cap
ured Upon the prisoners were found
equipments, together with
dispatch to him from Sherman, detail
ng the plans for the day, which there
lad not been time to send to the COnfed l
rate commanders.
rode out the other day to see the Nc 5
,herson monument, erected by the G. A
2. to his memory over the exact spot {
where he fell 1t is about 21s miles east
# the city, in thiokly wooded growth of
oung oak trees, the original growth of
arger pine, and other trees having been
ut away except few near by the mon
lment upon which the scars made by
'ullets are yet plainly seen, and the
made by the ak of relic hunt
rs for balls, are still more plainly seen. e
The monument consists of large can 7
ION placed perpendicularly in square +
ressed stone, on one side of which is T
arved the name Mcpherson. 1t is en- b
losed in an iron fence about ten feet e
quare. An old darkey potters around t
here, claiming he is taking care of
hings; has a registry book under his
rm, in which visitors are requested to
nter their names. The old fellow is
cry voluble-can tell you all about eve
ything-can sell you minnie balls he
q picked up around there (Or somewhere e
lse). Any little change given him is re- {
eived with gushing manifestations of d
hanks. | retired from the lonely spot Y
nth a degree of sadness, thinking of +
oor brave Mcpherson who gave his life
or the sacred cause of the Union.
The hill on which the house stood a
Ihere was Sherman's headquarters, was
uly visited, as was also the hill near by,
pom which hiGbatteries were planted with
7hich he bombarded the town. They are 4
bout 21s miles northeast of the city. i,
III around in that region, as in many 9
ther places, the Notifications, trenches, G
nd rifle pits are still plainly to be seen. h
had not intended to say this much
bout matters pertaining to the war, and
erhaps ought not to have done so; but D
he fact is, l never could even think of 7
atlanta without in soms way associating |
; in my mind with the operations of
hermaR's army around it, and also the
ames of Generals Thomas, Howard,
locker, Slocum, McPherson, Cox, Lo- 4
an, Sohotield, and the rest, the splendid
nd brave officers of his command. whose
kill, bravery and valorous achieve
nents constituted the campaign from
to Atlanta one of the grand
at and most brilliant of any fought dur