THE DEFENSE OF ATLANTA.
339
I Was convinced that McPherson and Schofieldintended to destroy not only the Georgia railroad,but likewise our main line of communication, thei'ailroad to Macon . It is now evident the blow ontile 20th checked the reckless manner of moving,w hieh had so long been practiced by the enemy,without fear of molestation, during the Dalton-Atlanta campaign. The rap of warning receivedby Thomas, on Peach Tree Creek, must have in-duced the Federal commander to alter liis plan.
Thus was situated the Federal army at the close°f night, on the 21st: it was but partially in-trenched ; Schofield and McPherson were still sepa-rated from Thomas, and at such distance as toc °nrpel them to make a d6tour of about twelve'rules, in order to reach the latter in time of need.
The Confederate army occupied the same posi-tion, at dark, as prior to the attack of the 20tli.The new line around the city, however, had beenohosen; each corps commander fully advised ofhe gronnd assigned to him, and the special dutyevolving upon him; working parties had been de-uiled in advance from the corps of Stewart andT'heatham, and from the Georgia State troops;rations and ammunition had been issued, andTTardee’s corps instructed to be in readiness to"rove at a moment’s warning.
The demonstrations of the enemy upon our right,a nd which threatened to destroy the Macon rail-r ° a d,— our main line for receiving supplies,—re hdered it imperative that I should check, im-mediately, his operations in that direction ; other-T 1Se Atlanta was doomed to fall at a very earlya y. Although the attack of the 20th had causedhernian to pause and reflect, I do not think he°uld have desisted extending his left toward ourai n lin e of communication had not the eventsfurred which I am about to narrate.
TTs already stated, every preparation had been^urefwUy made during the day of the 21st. I haduunoned, Moreover, to my headquarters the three^ r Ps commanders, Hardee, Stewart, and Cheat-a, together with Major-General Wheeler, com-g an| iing cavalry corps, and Major-General G. W.l o 'Th, commanding Georgia State troops. The. °wing minute instructions were given in theUnrf 61106 0:f: 'assembled, in order that each mightth , eis Tand not only his own duty, but likewise°f his brother corps commanders. By thisbo f 51S ^ ^ 10 P e< T each officer would know what sup-battl^ 0 ex T >eo ^' f rom bis neighbor in the hour of
fl „ St6 ^art, Cheatham, and G. W. Smith were or-a . t0 occupy soon after dark the positionsto • e< ^ Them in the new line round the city, and
Sfi as thoroughly as possible. General
arFll^’ e b' e f-°f-artillery, was ordered to massl ’ect d l ' V 011 our '''Sbt. General Hardee was di-t 0 To put his corps in motion soon after dusk;Ti'en *l Ve sou ^t on The McDonough road, across En-To t° llnent Creek at Cobb’s Mills, and completelyat da r p ^ l6 McPherson’s army and attack
W ag f yll ght, or as soon thereafter as possible. HeWere guides from Wheeler’s cavalry, who
Tccti am 'bar with the various roads in that di-011 > was given clear and positive orders to
detach his corps, to swing away from the mainbody of the army, and to march entirely aroundand to the rear of McPherson’s left flank, even ifhe was forced to go to or beyond Decatur, whichis only about six miles from Atlanta .
Major-General Wheeler was ordered to move onHardee’s right with all the cavalry at his disposal,and to attack with Hardee at daylight. GeneralCheatham, who was in line of battle on the rightand around the city, was instructed to take up themovement from his right as soon as Hardee suc-ceeded in forcing back, or throwing into confusion,
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the Federal left, and to assist in driving the enemydown and back upon Peach Tree Creek, from rightto left. General G. W. Smith would, thereupon,join in the attack. General Stewart, posted onthe left, was instructed not only to occupy andkeep a strict watch upon Thomas, in order toprevent him from giving aid to Schofield and Mc-Pherson, but to engage the enemy the instant themovement became general, i. e., as soon as Hardeeand Cheatham succeeded in driving the Federalsdown Peach Tree Creek and near his right.
Thus orders were given to attack from right toleft, and to press the Federal army down andagainst the deep and muddy stream in their rear.These orders were carefully explained again andagain, till each officer present gave assurance thathe fully comprehended his duties.
At dawn on the morning of the 22d, Cheatham,Stewart, and G. W. Smith had, by alternatingworking parties during the night previous, not