Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-23
STORY THAT IS PERPErUArED.

The Way the Black Eagle of Illinois
Brought victary at Atlanta.
And this is the way he won his re-
nown on that day, and gave the artist
the inspiration that has been perpetu-
ated in bronze: The whole army Of
Sherman was just east of Atlanta. Sher-
man was at the center. Thomas and
Schofeld were the right wings-to the
north. Mcpherson, with Logan Just be-
low him in command. was at the left
to the south. Decatur, northeast ten
miles, was full Of Confederates-Wheel
er's cavalry and strong artillery force.
Southwest ten miles was Sprague's bril-
gade, marching forward-to the west
over the road which the rest of Sher-
mans army had SO lately taken. Hardee
commanded a brigade on the rebel left
to the north of Atlanta. There was no
strong force opposed to Mcpherson, but
he was not yet ready to move forward
Just at this time the Confederate rul-
ers removed Johnston from the COM
mand of the rebel army and gave the
place to Hood. Mcpherson had known
him at West Point and knew he was a
fighter. Sherman knew him and gave
warning that the Union army must be
on its guard. And two days later the
warning was verified. Hardee-"Old
Tactics"-swept suddenly around from
his position in front Of Schofield.
marched down to the west of Atlanta
and suddenly struck at McPherson's
command. That was July %. 1864. Nc
Pherson at the moment was up at head
quarters, to the east of Atlanta, chat
ting with Sherman. Sherman had Just
9 hot in
field was withdrawn. His men had felt
the country to the west of them for three
miles and found nothing but abandoned
camps ard empty earthworks. For one
brief while the dream that Hood had
evacuated Atlanta came to him. Then
he heard the roar of guns to the south.
Hardee had struck at McPherson's
corps.
Instantly Mcpherson was in his sad
die. He dashed away to the south with
single orderly. Hardee had passed his
farthest flank and was cutting into the
Union army 1t meant disaster. But
there came the chance of war. Sprague's
brigade, just arriving. filled by accident
the space which protected the Seventh
corps, and the rebel advance was
checked. Mcpherson turned his horse
and dashed down a wood path across
timber in which not soldier had APP
peared minute before. He ran straight
into a detail of rebel skirmishers ard
they commanded him to surrender. Gen.
eral Mcpherson simply replied with the
| military salute and turned to ride north,
toward Sherman's army. The skirmish-
ers fired a volley and the gallant COM
mander fell dead from his horse
His orderly galloped swiftly to Sher-
man with the news, and the grim chief
| tain flashed thought along the line OF
| men who might succeed to that la
| mented vacancy. There were Blair and
Hooker and Howard. There was Lo-
gan. And to him fell the temporary
communicative the obligation to turn
the tide Of defeat and win the battle OF
Atlanta. 1t was a crisis. The mer
knew McPherson-loved and trusted as
| the rebels loved and followed Jackson
had fallen. The bravest men the wal
had produced wavered and wondered
| They needed a leader. There came Har-
dee like hurricane. A mile away the
legions of Cheatham were fronting into
line of battle. Between the rebels and
the Union lines lay the body Of Nc
Pherson, his pockets rified, his paper.
| gone