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n； of the same special pattern； and served them with splendid effect till the very close of the war。 This battery had also been with me from Shiloh till that time。
The battle of July 22d is usually called the battle of Atlanta。 It extended from the Howard House to General Giles A。 Smith's position； about a mile beyond the Augusta Railroad； and then back toward Decatur； the whole extent of ground being fully seven miles。 In part the ground was clear and in part densely wooded。 I rode over the whole of it the next day； and it bore the marks of a bloody conflict。 The enemy had retired during the night inside of Atlanta； and we remained masters of the situation outside。 I purposely allowed the Army of the Tennessee to fight this battle almost unaided； save by demonstrations on the part of General Schofield and Thomas against the fortified lines to their immediate fronts； and by detaching； as described； one of Schofield's brigades to Decatur； because I knew that the attacking force could only be a part of Hood's army； and that； if any assistance were rendered by either of the other armies； the Army of the Tennessee would be jealous。 Nobly did they do their work that day； and terrible was the slaughter done to our enemy； though at sad cost to ourselves； as shown by the following reports：
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD NEAR ATLANTA； July 23；1864。
General HALLECK； Washington； D。 C。
Yesterday morning the enemy fell back to the intrenchments proper of the city of Atlanta； which are in a general circle； with a radius of one and a half miles； and we closed in。 While we were forming our lines； and selecting positions for our batteries； the enemy appeared suddenly out of the dense woods in heavy masses on our extreme left； and struck the Seventeenth Corps （General Blair） in flank； and was forcing it back； when the Sixteenth Corps （General Dodge） came up and checked the movement； but the enemy's cavalry got well to our rear； and into Decatur； and for some hours our left flank was completely enveloped。 The fight that resulted was continuous until night； with heavy loss on both sides。 The enemy took one of our batteries （Murray's； of the Regular Army） that was marching in its place in column in the road； unconscious of danger。 About p。m。 the enemy sallied against the division of General Morgan L。 Smith； of the Fifteenth Corps； which occupied an abandoned line of rifle…trench near the railroad east of the city； and forced it back some four hundred yards； leaving in his hands for the time two batteries； but the ground and batteries were immediately after recovered by the same troops reenforced。 I cannot well approximate our loss； which fell heavily on the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps； but count it as three thousand； I know that； being on the defensive； we have inflicted equally heavy loss on the enemy。
General McPherson； when arranging his troops about 11。00 A。M。； and passing from one column to another； incautiously rode upon an ambuscade without apprehension； at some distance ahead of his staff and orderlies； and was shot dead。
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD NEAR ATLANTA； July 26；1864。
Major…General HALLECK； Washington； D。 C。
GENERAL： I find it difficult to make prompt report of results； coupled with some data or information； without occasionally making mistakes。 McPherson's sudden death； and Logan succeeding to the command as it were in the midst of battle； made some confusion on our extreme left； but it soon recovered and made sad havoc with the enemy； who had practised one of his favorite games of attacking our left when in motion； and before it had time to cover its weak flank。 After riding over the ground and hearing the varying statements of the actors； I directed General Logan to make an official report of the actual result； and I herewith inclose it。
Though the number of dead rebels seems excessive； I am disposed to give full credit to the report that our loss； though only thirty… five hundred and twenty…one killed； wounded； and missing； the enemy's dead alone on the field nearly equaled that number； viz。； thirty…two hundred and twenty。 Happening at that point of the line when a flag of truce was sent in to ask permission for each party to bury its dead； I gave General Logan authority to permit a temporary truce on that flank alone； while our labors and fighting proceeded at all others。
I also send you a copy of General Garrard's report of the breaking of the railroad toward Augusta。 I am now grouping my command to attack the Macon road； and with that view will intrench a strong line of circumvallation with flanks； so as to have as large an infantry column as possible； with all the cavalry to swing round to the south and east； to strike that road at or below East Point。
I have the honor to be； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE BEFORE ATLANTA GEORGIA； July 24； 1864
Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN； commanding Military Division of the Mississippi。
GENERAL： I have the honor to report the following general summary of the result of the attack of the enemy on this army on the 22d inst。
Total loss； killed； wounded； and missing； thirty…five hundred and twenty…one； and ten pieces of artillery。
We have buried and delivered to the enemy； under a flag of trace sent in by them； in front of the Third Division； Seventeenth Corps； one thousand of their killed。
The number of their dead in front of the Fourth Division of the same corps； including those on the ground not now occupied by our troops； General Blair reports； will swell the number of their dead on his front to two thousand。
The number of their dead buried in front of the Fifteenth Corps； up to this hour； is three hundred and sixty； and the commanding officer reports that at least as many more are yet unburied； burying…parties being still at work。
The number of dead buried in front of the Sixteenth Corps is four hundred and twenty…two。 We have over one thousand of their wounded in our hands； the larger number of the wounded being carried off during the night； after the engagement； by them。
We captured eighteen stands of colors； and have them now。 We also captured five thousand stands of arms。
The attack was made on our lines seven times； and was seven times repulsed。 Hood's and Hardee's corps and Wheeler's cavalry engaged us。
We have sent to the rear one thousand prisoners； including thirty…three commissioned officers of high rank。
We still occupy the field； and the troops are in fine spirits。 A detailed and full report will be furnished as soon as completed。
Recapitulation。
Our total loss。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 3；521 Enemy's dead； thus far reported； buried； and delivered to them。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 3；220 Total prisoners sent North。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 1；017 Total prisoners； wounded； in our hands。。。。 1；000 Estimated loss of the enemy； at least。。。。 10；000
Very respectfully； your obedient servant； Joan A。 Logan； Major…General。
On the 22d of July General Rousseau reached Marietta； having returned from hi