The National tribune., 1900-09-20
An Incident of Atlanta.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: After the
battle OF July 81 and %, 1863, we left
our position and moved around to the west
side, of Atlanta. When we left that po-
sition on the 2Sth Hood thought we We're
leaving Atlanta and going to Chattanooga.
The citizens around Atlanta, thinking We
had left, came rushing in on the trains
and were preparing to have a great jubi-
lee, and while they WEI doing this we
kept going until we reached the south
side, where we destroyed the Montgomery
Railroad and then pressed forward until
we reached the Macon Railroad, which
we also destroyed, and which cut off Gen.
Hoods communication by railroad and
stopped the citizens return to their homes.
+ When Hood found out that we had cut
his last railroad communication it is said
he jumped on his horse and rode around
the city b;Ireheaded and acting like 4
mailman. He then had 40 trains of cars
N his large arsenal, which he Add loaded
with shells and war munitions, md was
preparing 10 send out on the ROAD, gotten
i'll az compact form as possible and then
set attire. Then he eracuated Atlanta and
we marched in and took possession.
| will relate cerain incident that hap
pened just before Hood eva cuated Allan
II. ] was detailed to take a squad of men
and build a small fort about eight mic
on he south side of Atlanta, and was
obliged to build it ii. the night, but as it
was a dark night we did mol get the en-
brasures built solid, as w. had TO go to
the woods and get small poles TO hold the
dirt, so that when the cannon was fired
it would not be in the way. The object
i'll building that fort was to shell Il GER
tain house about half Il mile away, on
the top OF which was a sharpshooter. who
Tr.In - OIrr tIpn hn
cannon. but the dir ratified down so that
the work hnd To be rcraiIcd So in the
morning they sent for me and men to come
and repair it 50 they conld fire the gun.
AS it was 4 foggy morning the command
er thought there was no danger in our
working on it next to the sharpshoOter.
| had eight men with me; four had
picks aud the others had shovels. | told
them to dig hole as soon as they could,
So the bank would protect them from the
sharpshootcr.
l stood on the bank n fair mark for the
sharpshOoter, but my men We're protected
somewhat The men could not all work
at once, as they hadn't room enough; out
while those with the picks Were at work
digging the dirt loose the men with SHOW
els would rest and then the others would
rest while the dirt was being shoyeled
out
There was certain young man will
nc Wi IDlu ne udu Il VIE TWO
children, who lived in Wisconsin. y mo"e
noble or beautiful young man never saw.
He had dark hair and whiskers. Those
who shoveled out the loose dirt were
through, ard he had taken up his pick
to loosen some more dirt. wher as he
was raising his pick, the sharpshooter hit
him, and he fell over in the pit. He only
spoke once, and that was requesting me
to get him out OF there Gnd on the other
side of the fort. l told the boys to get
a blanket and carry him out on the other
side, where there was no more danger
They did as l babe them and / sent enc
of the boys for the Surgeon, but he died
before the Surgeon arrived. At that time
! knew the regiment h. belonged to, but
l have forgotten it now. Near sundywn
we wrapped him in his blankets and
buried him. Perhaps some comrade could
give ME son'e information in regarA TO it,
and where his wife and children are
F. j. GRoAT, Sergeant, Ironton, Wis.