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ay before； containing Johnston's order relinquishing the command of the Confederate forces in Atlanta； and Hood's order assuming the command。 I immediately inquired of General Schofield； who was his classmate at West Point； about Hood； as to his general character； etc。； and learned that he was bold even to rashness； and courageous in the extreme； I inferred that the change of commanders meant 〃fight。〃 Notice of this important change was at once sent to all parts of the army； and every division commander was cautioned to be always prepared for battle in any shape。 This was just what we wanted； viz。； to fight in open ground； on any thing like equal terms； instead of being forced to run up against prepared intrenchments； but； at the same time； the enemy having Atlanta behind him； could choose the time and place of attack； and could at pleasure mass a superior force on our weakest points。 Therefore； we had to be constantly ready for sallies。
On the 19th the three armies were converging toward Atlanta； meeting such feeble resistance that I really thought the enemy intended to evacuate the place。 McPherson was moving astride of the railroad； near Decatur； Schofield along a road leading toward Atlanta； by Colonel Howard's house and the distillery； and Thomas was crossing 〃Peach…Tree〃 in line of battle； building bridges for nearly every division as deployed。 There was quite a gap between Thomas and Schofield； which I endeavored to close by drawing two of Howard's divisions nearer Schofield。 On the 20th I was with General Schofield near the centre； and soon after noon heard heavy firing in front of Thomas's right； which lasted an hour or so； and then ceased。
I soon learned that the enemy had made a furious sally； the blow falling on Hooker's corps （the Twentieth）； and partially on Johnson's division of the Fourteenth； and Newton's of the Fourth。 The troops had crossed Peach…Tree Creek； were deployed； but at the time were resting for noon； when； without notice； the enemy came pouring out of their trenches down upon them； they became commingled； and fought in many places hand to hand。 General Thomas happened to be near the rear of Newton's division； and got some field…batteries in a good position； on the north side of Peach…Tree Creek； from which he directed a furious fire on a mass of the enemy； which was passing around Newton's left and exposed flank。 After a couple of hours of hard and close conflict； the enemy retired slowly within his trenches； leaving his dead and many wounded on the field。 Johnson's and Newton's losses were light； for they had partially covered their fronts with light parapet； but Hooker's whole corps fought in open ground； and lost about fifteen hundred men。 He reported four hundred rebel dead left on the ground； and that the rebel wounded would number four thousand； but this was conjectural； for most of them got back within their own lines。 We had； however； met successfully a bold sally； had repelled it handsomely； and were also put on our guard； and the event illustrated the future tactics of our enemy。 This sally came from the Peach…Tree line； which General Johnston had carefully prepared in advance； from which to fight us outside of Atlanta。 We then advanced our lines in compact order； close up to these finished intrenchments； overlapping them on our left。 From various parts of our lines the houses inside of Atlanta were plainly visible； though between us were the strong parapets； with ditch； fraise； chevaux…de…frise； and abatis； prepared long in advance by Colonel Jeremy F。 Gilmer； formerly of the United States Engineers。 McPherson had the Fifteenth Corps astride the Augusta Railroad； and the Seventeenth deployed on its left。 Schofield was next on his right； then came Howard's； Hooker's； and Palmer's corps； on the extreme right。 Each corps was deployed with strong reserves； and their trains were parked to their rear。 McPherson's trains were in Decatur； guarded by a brigade commanded by Colonel Sprague of the Sixty…third Ohio。 The Sixteenth Corps （Dodge's） was crowded out of position on the right of McPherson's line； by the contraction of the circle of investment； and； during the previous afternoon； the Seventeenth Corps （Blair's） had pushed its operations on the farther side of the Augusta Railroad； so as to secure possession of a hill； known as Leggett's Hill； which Leggett's and Force's divisions had carried by assault。 Giles A。 Smith's division was on Leggett's left； deployed with a weak left flank 〃in air；〃 in military phraseology。 The evening before General Gresham； a great favorite； was badly wounded； and there also Colonel Tom Reynolds； now of Madison； Wisconsin； was shot through the leg。 When the surgeons were debating the propriety of amputating it in his hearing； he begged them to spare the leg； as it was very valuable； being an 〃imported leg。〃 He was of Irish birth； and this well…timed piece of wit saved his leg； for the surgeons thought； if he could perpetrate a joke at such a time； they would trust to his vitality to save his limb。
During the night； I had full reports from all parts of our line； most of which was partially intrenched as against a sally； and finding that McPherson was stretching out too much on his left flank； I wrote him a note early in the morning not to extend so much by his left； for we had not troops enough to completely invest the place； and I intended to destroy utterly all parts of the Augusta Railroad to the east of Atlanta； then to withdraw from the left flank and add to the right。 In that letter I ordered McPherson not to extend any farther to the left； but to employ General Dodge's corps （Sixteenth）； then forced out of position； to destroy every rail and tie of the railroad； from Decatur up to his skirmish…line； and I wanted him （McPherson） to be ready； as soon as General Garrard returned from Covington （whither I had sent him）； to move to the extreme right of Thomas； so as to reach if possible the railroad below Atlanta； viz。； the Macon road。 In the morning we found the strong line of parapet； 〃Peach…Tree line；〃 to the front of Schofield and Thomas； abandoned； and our lines were advanced rapidly close up to Atlanta。 For some moments I supposed the enemy intended to evacuate； and in person was on horseback at the head of Schofield's troops； who had advanced in front of the Howard House to some open ground； from which we could plainly see the whole rebel line of parapets； and I saw their men dragging up from the intervening valley； by the distillery； trees and saplings for abatis。 Our skirmishers found the enemy down in this valley； and we could see the rebel main line strongly manned； with guns in position at intervals。 Schofield was dressing forward his lines； and I could hear Thomas farther to the right engaged； when General McPherson and his staff rode up。 We went back to the Howard House； a double frame…building with a porch； and sat on the steps； discussing the chances of battle； and of Hood's general character。 McPherson had also been of the same class at West Point with Hood； Schofield； and Sheridan。 We agreed that we ought to be unusually cautious and prepared at all times for sallies and for hard fighting； because Hood； though