THE STRUGGLE FOR ATLANTA.

3*7

Fuller’s division was nearest Blair’s left, and Sweeny’s not far from theAugusta railroad, farther to the north. McPherson spent the night withSweeny. His hospitals and main supply trains were between Sweeny andthe front. About midday McPherson, having determined to make a stronger^ft, had set Dodge’s men in motion. They marched, as usual, by fours, and'Were in long column pursuing their way nearly parallel to Hardee’s battlefront, which was hidden by the thick trees. Now danger threatened: at thefirst skirmish shots Dodge’s troops halted and faced to the left and were ingood line of battle. The Confederate divisions were advancing; fortunately forBodge, after the tiring began Hardee’s approaching lines nearing him had tocross some open fields. McPherson was then paying a brief visit to Sherman1:1 ear the Howard house. The attack was sudden, but Dodge’s veterans, notiiiieh disturbed, went bravely to their work. It is easy to imagine the loudroar of artillery and the angry sounds of musketry that came to Shermanand McPherson when the sudden assault culminated and extended fromBodge to Blair’s left. McPherson mounted, and galloped off toward the firing.Be fi rs t met Logan and Blair near the railway; then the three separated, eachto hasten to his place on the battle-line. McPherson went at once to Dodge ;saw matters going well there; sent off aides and orderlies with dispatches,fr" he had but a couple of men left with him. He then rode forward to passto Blair’s left through the thick forest interval. Cheatham’s division was justApproaching. The call was made, “ Surrender ! ” But McPherson, probablyWithout a thought save to escape from such a trap, turned his horse towardfifr command. He was instantly slain, and fell from his horse. One of his0r derlies was wounded and captured; the other escaped to tell the sad news.Bur reenforcements were on the way, so that Cheatham was beaten back.

the battle raged, McPherson’s body was brought to Sherman at theB-OWard house. I wrote next day: “We were all made sad yesterday by thefieath of General McPherson,—so young, so noble, so promising, already com-manding a department! ” I closed my report concerning him thus: “ His

fi e ath occasioned a profound sense of loss, a feeling that his place can neverbe

ha

completely filled. How valuable, how precious the country to us all, who

* aV( ' paid for its preservation such a price ! ” Logan immediately took theAn

Be

l !u y of the Tennessee , giving his corps to Morgan L. Smith. As soon as

° 0( b from a prominent point in front of Atlanta , beheld Hardee’s linesCQiergmg from the thickets of Bald Hill, and knew by the smoke and sound^at the battle was fully joined, he hurried forward Cheatham’s division^ attack Logan all along the east front of Atlanta . At the time, I sat6si de Schofield and Sherman near the Howard house, and we looked uponh partg of the battle as our glasses could compass. Before long we^ tile line of Logan broken, with parts of two batteries in the enemy’sjAiids. Sherman put in a cross-fire of cannon, a dozen or more, and^ San organized an attacking force that swept away the bold Confederatesa charge in double-time. Blair’s soldiers repulsed the front attack ofj e atham’s and Maney’s divisions, and then, springing over their parapets,'frht Bate’s and Maney’s men from the other side.

The battle continued