The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-05-14
BLUE AND THE GRAY
BRAVE MEN WHO MET ON THE
FIELD OF BATTLE.
Thrilling Stories of the Rebellion
Old Soldiers and Sailors Relate Re1ni.
niscences of Life in Camp and on
the Fie1d-Incidcnts of the War.
Sherman in Atlanta.


l am the only living Atlanta journal
ist who happened to be in the city when
General Sherman made it his tempo
rary headquarters after the siege. AT
that time l was beardlesS boy, but
the scribbling habit had fastened itself
upon me, and in point of fact my jour
nalistic career had then commenced,
though was unaware Of it.
When the Federals entered Atlanta,
a day or two after the battle of Jones
boro, my nexperience in such matters
led me to expect to see q grand parade.
l supposed that about 10000 conquer
ing heroes. with brass bands and ban
ners, would march through the princi-
| pal streets. and l took it for granted
that the occasion would be one of tre-
mendous magnificence My memory
recalled Abbott's tiim-ham descriptions
of Napoleons triumphal entries into
various captured cities, and l was on
the alert and anxious to see everything
of interest. There was a badly disap-
pointed boy journalist on that memora-
bic day. and yet there was much to see
that would have interested the most ac-
complished war correspondent and his
torian.
Gently as a shadow the blue wave
rolled over the town, and by high noon
wonderful change had taken place in
the outward appearance of things.
The business streets We're filled with
wagons delivering commissary supplies
and suffers goods at the big stores
which had been left vacant by the Con-
federates Hundreds of newsboys were
on the streets crying the Northern and
Western papers. Dashing officers in
handsome uniforms rode up and down,
and thousands of soldiers came march
ing in every few moments.
Some $1,000 citizens still remained.
and they watched the busy scene with
intense interest What was going to
become of them? Would Sherman hold
the place, and would it undergo siege
by the Confederates? These questions
worried the inhabitants not little. and
they wondered what their fate would
be. In their distress and uncertainty
everybody asked for Sherman.
But the conQueror was in no hurry to
enter the city. He had various details
to arrange after the Jonesboro fight.
and it was two or three days before he
was ready to take a little needed rest
in Atlanta.
One afternoon in the first week in
September. '64. I CHANGED to pass the
fine brick residence on the corner of
Washington and Mitchell streets.
which, in its present enlarged shape.
is used for the girls high school. 1t
was then the handSomeSt dwelling in
the place. and its wealthy owner had
fed southwark to place himself beyond
tie reach of the invaders.
The house was landmark, and a ia
miliar one in my eyes. l knew its for
mer inmates Well and was accustomed
to see everything about the premises
arranged in Il certain systematic way.
When l came in sight OF this stately
on the afternoon in question.
a glance showed that it was practically
unchanged. The shrubbery in the
had been spared and the same
familiar curtains We're at the windows.
Possibly some member of the family
had remained 10 take care of the place:
Was within a few PAGES of the front
gate when this idea occurred to me.
and was almost in the act of pausins to
make inquiries, when an upward
glance all but froZe my blood. Seated
in chair on the front porth was an
officer. whose rather shabby uniform
made it evident that he was a man of
high rank. \ slouch hat was drawn
down over his eyes. and only the lower
part OF his bearded face and cigar
could be seen.
The officer was General Sherman, No
ioubt about that. l had seen his pic
-ure too often to be mistaken.
He was apparently man of 80. and
ret he was at that time just A years
I'D. Exposure in the field. long nights
'f wakeful planning and the weighty
cares of his position had prematurely
aged him.
AS he sat there thar sultry September
afternoon he seemed 70 desire no other
company than his own thoughts. Sol
liers We're drilling hundred yards
AWAY. OH one side. and on the other. a
'hort distance off. several pretty wom-
II We're clattering in a balcony.
But the stern soldier looked neither
o the right nor to the left. His ewes
were fastened upon his cigar. Citizens
)aSSed 10 and fro. but the man on rhe |
porch looked 1T none of them, no mat
er how loudly they talked. Occasion
lily he carelessly tilted back his hat
md then the passers-by saw a scovl. |
ng. Wrinkled brow. and a pair of cold
'teel-gray eyes. II was not an Inviting |
picture. and the citizens who caughr a |
glimpse of ii did not stop TO prolonc
heir gaze.
That was the Sherman of war times. |
he commander who wrote to Hood
War is the science of barbarism
1t would be impossible TO describe rhf
fleet OF that brief sentence upon the
,eople who We're shut up in Atlanta
turing the siege. 1t furnished the reyt /
or volumes of comment. and the South
las nor forgiven it 70 this day. But the
general did NOT mean that he proroSed |
o wage War il an unnecessarily har-
'arouS manner. His methods were co