Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-20

before Atlanta ''is ours" where our
courage was met by just as much and |
our numbers were offset by skillfully |
constructed and we'll defended works. |
We cross the Chattahoochee at Bolton
and from one side or the other OF train,
for the next eight miles leading into
Atlanta, we see remnants of rifle pit or
fort. Alighted from train at IL 40 a. m.
and find an elegant dinner at Folsom's
restaurant, where the quantity OF food
placed on the table furnished pleasing
contrast to the hungry sample dishes
placed before you at hrst-class north
ern hotel. After dinner we went to
visit H. w Grady's monument, that
stands right in the middle of one OF the
busiest streets, Marietta | think. from
thence to Grant Park on the eastern
side of the city, and incloses among
other relics of the past the confederate
Fort Walker, named after the man who
was killed on the same day and field as
was Gen. Mcpherson. There was also
a fair reproduction by the cyclorama OF
the battle of Atlanta, which we entered
and heard the lecturer, an ex-confeder-
ate, explain to a group of school chill
dren in a very kind and simple man
ner. His statements may have been
near the truth but were very mislead-
ing. Said cavalry only attacked from
rear, federals had 100000 men, confed-
crates AZ 900, losses on both sides $1,000
and about equal; was given some point
ers by Lang at close of lecture and very
gracefully admitted, II used to tell it
that way but l tell it this way now,"
and with cordial grip of hand we part
ed. Retracing our steps We took car
for Bell street. which is d street only in
name, situated in rear of and parallel to
our line of battle July 81, 81. Follow
ing the bushy trail (street) to the south,
we inquire of colored man who lives
on the old battlefield and are directed
to follow same street further south to
McPherson's monument, which We find
to consist of large siege gun set up on
its breech, presenting simple shaft
without inscription, standing at the in
| tersection of two avenues cut through
the bushy second growth timber and
surrounded by an ornamental IRON
fence. We found a 64-pound shot lying
at foot of shaft which belonged on top
of cannon, and after vainly trying to
restore it to its place we left that task
| for the morrow.
Taking our bearings we had no trou-
BILE in finding the little brook along
which so many of our comrades took
their last sleep on earth on July %, "a.
AS it was getting dusk we left further
inspection for the future and took street
car at County Line, street which di-
vides Fulton county and Atlanta from
DeKalb county to the east. Again Fol-
som filled us up and to spare. Took
car for southwest corner of the city to
keep an appointment which Lang made
| to visit his sister, wife Of DR.. M. B.
years. Time may have paled little
the rosy checked Olive Lang of Sc years
ago but otherwise has left no trace of
age. | was introduced to Mr.. and Mrs.
Whitehead and learned that the tall,
manly looking Georgian had been cap
tured by the petite little Yankee lady
seemed to be enjoying his captivity,
too, thus typifying the inscription on
H. w. Gradys monument, "Loving a
nation into peace" During the even
ing the doctor informed us we were in
vicinity of battlefield of Ezra Church,
July %, '65, and that confederate works
were within few rods Of residence,
reused Lang early in the morning and
we went for stroll along the lines of
defense near by and, though streets had
cut through and pillow had leveled them
in places, by following the contour of
the ridges we had no difficulty in trac-
ing the rifle pits from fort to fort. On
our return trip we met an aged contra
band and l asked him if be lived here
during the war. Taking his hat in his
left hand he planted his cane in front of
him and gave his nativity, birth, own
ership, and all changes. including
Massa Lincoln. Here he ran out of
breath and [ asked him another ques-
have been glad to have stayed and
heard the second round to finish, but
Lang said his solar picks was calling
for breakfast. We had Lard work to
get away from our kind entertainers,
but we managed to reach Bell street
again about a. m, secured the assist
ance of the colored man and restored
the 64-pound shot to its place. In fall
ing from top of shaft the ball struck and
and clipped the granite base, furnishing
Lang and myself some small memen-
toes of our beloved chief The vandal
had also been here and broken orna-
ments from IRON picket and gate post,
which showed that nothing is too sacred
for relic hunters.
While restoring the cannon shot to its
place man made his appearance who
introduced himself as r. F. Dahleren,
nephew of our great admiral and son of
an ex-confederate. He owned 100 acres
of the battlefield and proved a compe-
tent guide having now in his possession
many mementoes of the hurried man
ner in which the 18th Wisconsin left