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rted good friends when their work was done。 In the mean time I also had reconnoitred the entire rebel lines about Atlanta； which were well built； but were entirely too extensive to be held by a single corps or division of troops； so I instructed Colonel Poe； United States Engineers； on my staff； to lay off an inner and shorter line； susceptible of defense by a smaller garrison。
By the middle of September all these matters were in progress； the reports of the past campaign were written up and dispatched to Washington； and our thoughts began to turn toward the future。 Admiral Farragut had boldly and successfully run the forts at the entrance to Mobile Bay； which resulted in the capture of Fort Morgan； so that General Canby was enabled to begin his regular operations against Mobile City； with a view to open the Alabama River to navigation。 My first thoughts were to concert operations with him； either by way of Montgomery； Alabama； or by the Appalachicula； but so long a line； to be used as a base for further operations eastward； was not advisable； and I concluded to await the initiative of the enemy； supposing that he would be forced to resort to some desperate campaign by the clamor raised at the South on account of the great loss to them of the city of Atlanta。
General Thomas occupied a house on Marietta Streets which had a veranda with high pillars。 We were sitting there one evening； talking about things generally； when General Thomas asked leave to send his trains back to Chattanooga； for the convenience and economy of forage。 I inquired of him if he supposed we would be allowed much rest at Atlanta； and he said he thought we would； or that at all events it would not be prudent for us to go much farther into Georgia because of our already long line of communication； viz。； three hundred miles from Nashville。 This was true； but there we were； and we could not afford to remain on the defensive； simply holding Atlanta and fighting for the safety of its railroad。 I insisted on his retaining all trains； and on keeping all his divisions ready to move at a moment's warning。 All the army； officers and men； seemed to relax more or less； and sink into a condition of idleness。 General Schofield was permitted to go to Knoxville； to look after matters in his Department of the Ohio； and Generals Blair and Logan went home to look after politics。 Many of the regiments were entitled to； and claimed； their discharge； by reason of the expiration of their term of service； so that with victory and success came also many causes of disintegration。
The rebel General Wheeler was still in Middle Tennessee； threatening our railroads； and rumors came that Forrest was on his way from Mississippi to the same theatre； for the avowed purpose of breaking up our railroads and compelling us to fall back from our conqueSt。 To prepare for this； or any other emergency； I ordered Newton's division of the Fourth Corps back to Chattanooga； and Corse's division of the Seventeenth Corps to Rome； and instructed General Rousseau at Nashville； Granger at Decatur； and Steadman at Chattanooga； to adopt the most active measures to protect and insure the safety of our roads。
Hood still remained about Lovejoy's Station； and； up to the 15th of September； had given no signs of his future plans； so that with this date I close the campaign of Atlanta； with the following review of our relative losses during the months of August and September； with a summary of those for the whole campaign； beginning May 6 and ending September 15； 1864。 The losses for August and September are added together； so as to include those about Jonesboro：
Killed and Missing Wounded Total Grand Aggregate。。。。。 1；408 3；731 5；139
Hood's losses； as reported for the same period； page 577； Johnston's 〃Narrative：〃
Killed Wounded Total 482 3；223 3；705
To which should be added：
Prisoners captured by us：。。。。。。。。。。。。 3；738
Giving his total loss 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 7；44
On recapitulating the entire losses of each army during the entire campaign； from May to September； inclusive； we have； in the Union army； as per table appended：
Killed 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 4；423 Wounded 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 22；822 Missing。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 4；442 Aggregate Loss 。。。。。。。。。 31；627
In the Southern army； according to the reports of Surgeon Foard （pp。 576； 577； Johnston's 〃Narrative 〃）
Total killed 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 3；044 Total killed and wounded。。。。。 21；996 Prisoners captured by us 。。。。 12；983
Aggregate loss to the Southern Army 。。。。。。。。。。 34；979
The foregoing figures are official； and are very nearly correct。 I see no room for error save in the cavalry； which was very much scattered； and whose reports are much less reliable than of the infantry and artillery； but as Surgeon Foard's tables do not embrace Wheeler's； Jackson's； and Martin's divisions of cavalry； I infer that the comparison； as to cavalry losses； is a 〃stand…off。〃
I have no doubt that the Southern officers flattered themselves that they had filled and crippled of us two and even six to one； as stated by Johnston； but they were simply mistaken； and I herewith submit official tabular statements made up from the archives of the War Department； in proof thereof。 United States Army commanding。
I have also had a careful tabular statement compiled from official records in the adjutant…general's office； giving the 〃effective strength〃 of the army under my command for each of the months of May； June； July； August； and September； 1864； which enumerate every man （infantry； artillery； and cavalry） for duty。 The recapitulation clearly exhibits the actual truth。 We opened the campaign with 98；797 （ninety…eight thousand seven hundred and ninety…seven） men。 Blair's two divisions joined us early in June； giving 112；819 （one hundred and twelve thousand eight hundred and nineteen）； which number gradually became reduced to 106；070 （one hundred and six thousand and seventy men）； 91；675 （ninety…one thousand six hundred and seventy…five）； and 81；758 （eighty…one thousand seven hundred and fifty…eight） at the end of the campaign。 This gradual reduction was not altogether owing to death and wounds； but to the expiration of service； or by detachments sent to points at the rear。
CHAPTER XX
ATLANTA AND AFTERPURSUIT OF HOOD。
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER； 1864。
By the middle of September； matters and things had settled down in Atlanta； so that we felt perfectly at home。 The telegraph and railroads were repaired； and we had uninterrupted communication to the rear。 The trains arrived with regularity and dispatch； and brought us ample supplies。 General Wheeler had been driven out of Middle Tennessee； escaping south across the Tennessee River at Bainbridge； and things looked as though we were to have a period of repose。
One day； two citizens； Messrs。 Hill and Foster； came into our lines at Decatur； and were sent to my headquarters。 They represented themselves as former members of Congress； and particular