The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-03

Sim and ordered to 60 to Mcpherson
;ome six miles distant on our left, and
inform him that the enemy had evacu-
ated his works in front of our center
md with directions for him to pursue
by certain roads, in case the enemy had
abandoned his whole line and Atlanta.
al found him at daylight i'll bed.
Waking him up, he gave instantly the
necessary orders for reconnaissance to
ascertain the movements of the enemy.
I'VE ate breakfast together, mounted our
horses, rode to the front, and found the
enemy had only retired about mile to
an inner and shorter line. We rode to
his skirmish-line and outside of it, and a
mile in front of the line on which the
great battle was fought later in the day,
passing twice over the spot on which he
fell few hours later. Very near this
spot we met Gen. g. NJ. Dodge. and then
Gen. Mcpherson gave him the order to
halt his two divisions of the Sixteenth
Corps, which were then marching by
the flank in direction at right angles
to our line, the head Of the column be-
ing less than mile from our extreme
left
Neither McPhersen nor Dodge nor
Gen Frank p Blair, who was With rs,
then comprehended the mighty and
happy influence, which this order, given
only to await the mtrenching by work
ing parties of the extended and advanced
line on our left, which Dodge was to
occupy, was to have OH the days battle,
whose stiffness was even then upon US
HOODS PLAN OF ACTION.
"One may well regard it as providen-
tial. No one then knew or thought
that Hood had, during the night before,
contracted his line SD as to be able to
spare Hardee with corps Of ten TO
fifteen thousand men, to make bya night
march Of ID miles a circuit round our
left 10 attack us in flank and rear, and
who was then, just out of sight, forming
his troops for the attack.
We left the field on our left and
rode rapidly to the center TO Gen. Sher
man, at the Howard House, an aban
doned private dwelling near the center
of our line, and within easy reach of tho
enemy's rifles. On our way we halted
for few moments at the tent Of Maj.
Gen. Frank 2. Blair While there,
Blair's Surgeon reported that rebel cav
airy had been seen Lear the hospital OF
the Seventeenth Corps, which held our
left. 1t was also reported to Mcpherson
that rebel cavalry had been seen near
his Headquarters, located in the rear OF
our left, on Decatur road.
The necessary orders were given by
Mcpherson and Blair 10 guard against
dashes Of bands OF cavalry, but no i'm
portance was attached by any one 10 the
fact of their appearance, as it was SO
common, though, in tact, it was the frs
pattering OF the great storm Of battle
which WAS soon to burst upon the two
armies, and PROSTATE in wounds and
death 10000 brave men.
\ few moments after dismountina
at Gen. Sherman's Headquarters. the
sharp, rafting fire Of musketry was
heard in the direction of our lett rear.
Sherman and Mcpherson listened to ii
atteDtively for a few moments, both dc
fecting in it the decisive sound Of COM
ing battle, when Mcpherson quickly
mounted his horse and rode rapidly to-
ward if.
/" In less than two hours his dead BODY
was laid at Sherman's feet on the porch
Of the Howard House. In riding from
the right of Gen. Dodge's line through
the interval that separated it from the LETT
of Leggett's Division OF the Seventeenth
Corps by bind road through the woods,
attended only by an Orderly, his staff
having all been sent away with orders
for the conduct OF the battle, he was
halted by squad OF rebel infantry and
ordered to surrender. Raising his hat
as if in token Of surrender, he essayed
10 rein his horse quickly away and
plunge into the woods and escape. The
rebels, instantly detecting his purpose,
fired volley, and the brave and chiyal-
rous McPherson fell to rise 10 more.
TOUCHING SCENE
cannot forget the touching scene
ct tie Howard House as his body Law
there, still and beautiful in death. Me-
Pherson was betrothrd TO a girl of rare
beauty and worth IN Baltimore, and had
the promise OF leave of absence in the
Spring OF 1864 to 90 to Baltimore and
be married. The eXisencies Of the mill
tary service, in connection with the
grand movements Of the Atlanta and
Wilderness Campaigns, which Gen.
Grant directed should be begun stimuli
taneously, compelled Gen. Sherman to
the painful necessity Of denying this
leave. He wrote kind and touching
letter to the girl, taking the whole
responsibility, and begging her to con
sider that Gen. McPherson had no option
but obedience or soldierly dishonor, and
promising him leave the earliest time the
service would allow.
As we Looked on his face. pale and
Il Il I.