The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-01-23
GEN. McPHERsON's DEATH.
Was He Shot and Killed by Maj. MCPHERSON,
Rebel Officer?

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The story Of
Comrade Reynolds in relation to the death Of
Gen. J. b. Mcpherson is very interesting, but
leaves out some details that would, if added
to his story, make it more complete In
+" Lossing's Field Book of the Civil War;
find the following account of the way Gen.
Mcpherson met his death:
''On the Goth of july 1864, the armies
had all closed in, converging toward Atlanta.
At about o'clock that day the Contederates,
under Hood, sailed swiftly from their works
in heavy force, and struck Hooker's Corps,
Newton's Division of Towards Corps and
Iohnson's Division of Palmer's Corps The
blow was so gallantly received and vigorously
returned that the assailants were repulsed and
driven back into their intrenchmentS. Hook
er's Corps, being uncovered and mostly on
open ground. suffered most severely The en-
tire National loss in the combat was 1, 500
men, Sherman estimated Hoods loss at not
less than 5, ZOO men. He left 500 dead on the
field, ] 900 severely wounded, many prison.
ers and several battle flags.
"The 2lst was spent by Sherman in recon-
noitering the Conlederates' intrenched posi-
ton on the north side of Peach-Tree Creek,
during which Brig Gen. l.. Greathouse
formerly Colonel of the 49th Ill. J, was killed.
On the following morning it was found that
the Confederates had abandoned those nights,
and Sherman supposed that movement to be
preliminary to the evacuation of Atlanta
With that impression the troops pressed
eagerly toward the town in lines forming a
narrowing semcircle. When at an average
distance of two miles from the Court House
they were confronted by an inner line of in
trenchments much stronger than the first be-
hind which were swarming the Confederate
hosts. This line consisted of well-armed
redoubts, connecting intrenchments, rifle
trenches abatis and chevaux-de-frese, cover
ing every road connecting with Atlanta.
"Hood's policy was to fight for positions,
not to abandon them, as Sherman had dis
covered, when, on July %, the Army of the
Tennessee with Mcpherson at its head, was
preparing to move against the Confederate
works. That army, describing in its line of
march the are of circle rapidly diminishing
in radius, moved from Decatur on the direct
road to Atlanta. Logan's Corps formed the
center, Dodge's the right and Blair's the left.
On the previous night Blair, after severe
struggle, had driven the Confederates from a
hill that overlooked the heart of the city, and
Mcpherson now made preparations for plant
ing heavy batteries upon it, to be supported
ny OouSe NoiPS, which was oiueIeu from
the right to the left, to make that point q
strong general left flank.
while at near noon Dodge's troops were
making their way along an obscure road in
the rear of Logan, Sherman, who was at the
Howard House, with Gen. Schofeld, some
distance of, heard the sound of battle ON the
left and rear of McPherson's troops, first as
mere sputter Of muskerty, then as volleys,
and then as the thunder of artillery. Nc
Pherson had left Sherman only little while
before for that part of his line, and the latter,
who quickly comprehended the situation, felt
sure that the commander of the Army of
the Tennessee would do all that man could do
to avert calamity. Hood had made bold
movement and this was the first revelation of
it. He had left sufficient number of troops
within his intrenchments ON the front of Sher-