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crept forward until we could see the main road leading south from the
City filled with marching men； artillery and teams。 We could hear the
commands of the officers and see the flags and banners of regiment after
regiment as they passed us。 We got back quietly and quickly； passed
through our picket line all right； and found the General and our Colonel
sitting on a log where we had left them； waiting for us。 We reported
what we had seen and heard； and gave it as our opinion that the Johnnies
were evacuating Atlanta。 The General shook his head； and the Colonel
says： 'You may re turn to your company。' Bob says to me：
〃'The old General shakes his head as though he thought them d…d Rebs
ain't evacuating Atlanta so mighty sudden； but are up to some devilment
again。 I ain't sure but he's right。 They ain't going to keep falling
back and falling back to all eternity； but are just agoin' to give us a
rip…roaring great big fight one o' these dayswhen they get a good
ready。 You hear me！'
〃Saying which we both went to our companies； and laid down to get a
little sleep。 It was about daylight then； and I must have snoozed away
until near noon； when I heard the order 'fall in！' and found the regiment
getting into line； and the boys all tallying about going right into
Atlanta； that the Rebels had evacuated the City during the night； and
that we were going to have a race with the Fifteenth Corps as to which
would get into the City first。 We could look away out across a large
field in front of our works； and see the skirmish line advancing steadily
towards the main works around the City。 Not a shot was being； fired on
either side。
〃To our surprise； instead of marching to the front and toward the City；
we filed off into a small road cut through the woods and marched rapidly
to the rear。 We could not understand what it meant。 We marched at quick
time； feeling pretty mad that we had to go to the rear； when the rest of
our Division were going into Atlanta。
〃We passed the Sixteenth Corps lying on their arms； back in some open
fields； and the wagon trains of our Corps all comfortably corralled； and
finally found ourselves out by the Seventeenth Corps headquarters。 Two
or three companies were sent out to picket several roads that seemed to
cross at that point； as it was reported 'Rebel Cavalry' had been seen on
these roads but a short time before； and this accounted for our being
rushed out in such a great hurry。
〃We had just stacked arms and were going to take a little rest after our
rapid march； when several Rebel prisoners were brought in by some of the
boys who had straggled a little。 They found the Rebels on the road we
had just marched out on。 Up to this time not a shot had been fired。
All was quiet back at the main works we had just left； when suddenly we
saw several staff officers come tearing up to the Colonel； who ordered us
to 'fall in！' 'Take aims！' 'about； face！' The Lieutenant Colonel dashed
down one of the roads where one of the companies had gone out on picket。
The Major and Adjutant galloped down the others。 We did not wait for
them to come back； though； but moved right back on the road we had just
come out； in line of battle； our colors in the road； and our flanks in
open timber。 We soon reached a fence enclosing a large field； and there
could see a line of Rebels moving by the flank； and forming； facing
toward Atlanta； but to the left and in the rear of the position occupied
by our Corps。 As soon as we reached the fence we fired a round or two
into the backs of these gray coats； who broke into confusion。
〃Just then the other companies joined us； and we moved off on 'double
quick by the right flank；' for you see we were completely cut off from
the troops up at the front； and we had to get well over to the right to
get around the flank of the Rebels。 Just about the time we fired on the
rebels the Sixteenth Corps opened up a hot fire of musketry and artillery
on them； some of their shot coming over mighty close to where we were。
We marched pretty fast； and finally turned in through some open fields to
the left； and came out just in the rear of the Sixteenth Corps； who were
fighting like devils along their whole line。
〃Just as we came out into the open field we saw General R。 K。 Scott；
who used to be our Colonel； and who commanded our brigade； come tearing
toward us with one or two aids or orderlies。 He was on his big clay…bank
horse； 'Old Hatchie；' as we called him； as we captured him on the
battlefield at the battle of 'Matamora；' or 'Hell on the Hatchie；' as our
boys always called it。 He rode up to the Colonel； said something
hastily； when all at once we heard the all…firedest crash of musketry and
artillery way up at the front where we had built the works the night
before and left the rest of our brigade and Division getting ready to
prance into Atlanta when we were sent off to the rear。 Scott put spurs
to his old horse； who was one of the fastest runners in our Division；
and away he went back towards the position where his brigade and the
troops immediately to their left were now hotly engaged。 He rode right
along in rear of the Sixteenth Corps； paying no attention apparently to
the shot and shell and bullets that were tearing up the earth and
exploding and striking all around him。 His aids and orderlies vainly
tried to keep up with him。 We could plainly see the Rebel lines as they
came out of the woods into the open grounds to attack the Sixteenth
Corps； which had hastily formed in the open field； without any signs of
works； and were standing up like men； having a hand…to…hand fight。
We were just far enough in the rear so that every blasted shot or shell
that was fired too high to hit the ranks of the Sixteenth Corps came
rattling over amongst us。 All this time we were marching fast； following
in the direction General Scott had taken； who evidently had ordered the
Colonel to join his brigade up at the front。 We were down under the
crest of a little hill； following along the bank of a little creek；
keeping under cover of the bank as much as possible to protect us from
the shots of the enemy。 We suddenly saw General Logan and one or two of
his staff upon the right bank of the ravine riding rapidly toward us。
As he neared the head of the regiment he shouted：
〃'Halt！ What regiment is that； and where are you going？' 〃The Colonel；
in a loud voice； that all could hear； told him： 〃The Sixty…Eighth Ohio；
going to join our brigade of the Third Divisionyour old Division；
General； of the Seventeenth Corps。〃
〃Logan says； 'you had better go right in here on the left of Dodge。
The Third Division have hardly ground enough left now to bury their dead。
God knows they need you。 But try it on； if you think you can get to
them。'
〃Just at this moment a staff officer came riding up on the opposite side
of the ravine from where Logan was and interrupted Logan； who was about
telling the Colonel not to try to go to the position held by the Third
Division by the road cut through the woods whence we had come out； but to
keep off to the right towards the Fifteenth Corps； as the woods referred
to were full of Re