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sonal staff to go on and escort the body to his home； in Clyde； Ohio； where it was received with great honor； and it is now buried in a small cemetery； close by his mother's house； which cemetery is composed in part of the family orchard； in which he used to play when a boy。 The foundation is ready laid for the equestrian monument now in progress； under the auspices of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee。
The reports that came to me from all parts of the field revealed clearly what was the game of my antagonist； and the ground somewhat favored him。 The railroad and wagon…road from Decatur to Atlanta lie along the summit； from which the waters flow； by short； steep valleys； into the 〃Peach…Tree〃 and Chattahoochee； to the west； and by other valleys； of gentler declivity； toward the east （Ocmulgee）。 The ridges and level ground were mostly cleared； and had been cultivated as corn or cotton fields； but where the valleys were broken； they were left in a state of naturewooded； and fall of undergrowth。 McPherson's line of battle was across this railroad； along a general ridge； with a gentle but cleared valley to his front； between him and the defenses of Atlanta； and another valley； behind him； was clear of timber in part； but to his left rear the country was heavily wooded。 Hood； during the night of July 21st； had withdrawn from his Peach…Tree line； had occupied the fortified line of Atlanta； facing north and east； with Stewart'sformerly Polk'scorps and part of Hardee's； and with G。 W。 Smith's division of militia。 His own corps； and part of Hardee's； had marched out to the road leading from McDonough to Decatur； and had turned so as to strike the left and； rear of McPherson's line 〃in air。〃 At the same time he had sent Wheeler's division of cavalry against the trains parked in Decatur。 Unluckily for us； I had sent away the whole of Garrard's division of cavalry during the night of the 20th； with orders to proceed to Covington； thirty miles east； to burn two important bridges across the Ulcofauhatchee and Yellow Rivers； to tear up the railroad； to damage it as much as possible from Stone Mountain eastward； and to be gone four days； so that McPherson had no cavalry in hand to guard that flank。
The enemy was therefore enabled； under cover or the forest； to approach quite near before he was discovered； indeed； his skirmish… line had worked through the timber and got into the field to the rear of Giles A。 Smith's division of the Seventeenth Corps unseen； had captured Murray's battery of regular artillery； moving through these woods entirely unguarded； and had got possession of several of the hospital camps。 The right of this rebel line struck Dodge's troops in motion； but； fortunately； this corps （Sixteenth） had only to halt； face to the left； and was in line of battle； and this corps not only held in check the enemy； but drove him back through the woods。 About the same time this same force had struck General Giles A。 Smith's left flank； doubled it back； captured four guns in position and the party engaged in building the very battery which was the special object of McPherson's visit to me； and almost enveloped the entire left flank。 The men； however； were skillful and brave； and fought for a time with their backs to Atlanta。 They gradually fell back； compressing their own line； and gaining strength by making junction with Leggett's division of the Seven… teenth Corps； well and strongly posted on the hill。 One or two brigades of the Fifteenth Corps； ordered by McPherson； came rapidly across the open field to the rear； from the direction of the railroad； filled up the gap from Blair's new left to the head of Dodge's column…now facing to the general leftthus forming a strong left flank； at right angles to the original line of battle。 The enemy attacked； boldly and repeatedly； the whole of this flank； but met an equally fierce resistance； and on that ground a bloody battle raged from little after noon till into the night。 A part of Hood's plan of action was to sally from Atlanta at the same moment； but this sally was not； for some reason； simultaneous； for the first attack on our extreme left flank had been checked and repulsed before the sally came from the direction of Atlanta。 Meantime； Colonel Sprague； in Decatur； had got his teams harnessed up； and safely conducted his train to the rear of Schofield's position； holding in check Wheeler's cavalry till he had got off all his trains； with the exception of three or four wagons。 I remained near the Howard House； receiving reports and sending orders； urging Generals Thomas and Schofield to take advantage of the absence from their front of so considerable a body as was evidently engaged on our left； and； if possible； to make a lodgment in Atlanta itself； but they reported that the lines to their front； at all accessible points； were strong； by nature and by art； and were fully manned。 About 4 p。m。 the expected； sally came from Atlanta； directed mainly against Leggett's Hill and along the Decatur road。 At Leggett's Hill they were met and bloodily repulsed。 Along the railroad they were more successful。 Sweeping over a small force with two guns； they reached our main line； broke through it； and got possession of De Gress's battery of four twenty…pound Parrotts； killing every horse； and turning the guns against us。 General Charles R。 Wood's division of the Fifteenth Corps was on the extreme right of the Army of the Tennessee； between the railroad and the Howard House； where he connected with Schofield's troops。 He reported to me in person that the line on his left had been swept back； and that his connection with General Logan； on Leggett's Hill； was broken。 I ordered him to wheel his brigades to the left； to advance in echelon； and to catch the enemy in flank。 General Schofield brought forward all his available batteries； to the number of twenty guns； to a position to the left front of the Howard House； whence we could overlook the field of action； and directed a heavy fire over the heads of General Wood's men against the enemy； and we saw Wood's troops advance and encounter the enemy； who had secured possession of the old line of parapet which had been held by our men。 His right crossed this parapet； which he swept back； taking it in flank； and； at the same time； the division which had been driven back along the railroad was rallied by General Logan in person； and fought for their former ground。 These combined forces drove the enemy into Atlanta； recovering the twenty pound Parrott guns but one of them was found 〃bursted〃 while in the possession of the enemy。 The two six…pounders farther in advance were； however； lost； and had been hauled back by the enemy into Atlanta。 Poor Captain de Gress came to me in tears； lamenting the loss of his favorite guns； when they were regained he had only a few men left； and not a single horse。 He asked an order for a reequipment； but I told him he must beg and borrow of others till he could restore his battery； now reduced to three guns。 How he did so I do not know； but in a short time he did get horses； men； and finally another gun； of the same special pattern； and served them with splendid effect till the very close of the war。