Atlanta Ga. Sep 6^th

1864

           

My Dear Parients,

Atlanta's taken

Since I wrote you last we have "changed base" again—on the 2^nd inst a detail of men from our Div started out from our position near the river to see if they could find the Rebs they took the main road to the city and advanced up to the line of defenses and found the enemy had just left them. The Mayor of the city came out and surrendered the city to the commander of our party. So the 3^d Div 20^th A.C. has the honor of first entering the city. The citizens, most of them were glad to see us, and waved hats and handkerchiefs to the boys as they marched along On the 4^th the whole Div left the ford and marched into the city. I wish you could have seen us as we marched in. We entered the city with bands playing and colors flying. The inhabitants were out on the walks or stood in their doors. The bands played "Rally round the flag boys". Red, white and blue, and other patriotic pieces. Many of the / citizens left with the Army but the most sensible remained. The destruction of property private and public was immense. They loaded up several large trains with arms and ammunition and started off with them but Gen. Sherman had got across the railroad and they could not get away with them. they run the trains back and burnt them, also burnt several large manufactories filled with guns and equipments. I have not yet learned the amount to several millions. The Rebs must have lost a great deal by desertion about 200 men captured in the city and they come in every day squads of 10 or 12 were coming every hour yesterday. The Reb Army are terribly defeated and are tired and sick of the war, as are nearly all of the citizens of this State. I wish you see the effects of our shells on the houses and trees in that portion of the city exposed to our fire. Chimneys were knocked down, in some places shell went into one end of a house and out at the other or burnt inside tearing everything all to pieces, or setting it on fire. citizens lived in the cellars or dug holes in the ground outside of their houses to crawl in and protect them from the shell. last Sunday religious services were held in / two of the churches. the citizens met and shook hands as though they had not seen each other for years, for twas not safe to go visiting while the Yankee Army was lying outside. you can not imagine how queer and yet how pleasant those church-bells sounded. it has been so long since we have heard anything of the kind. We are now lying in the defenses of the city on the south side. We have not gone into camp yet just halted here for the night where we will be put I cannot tell but think we will go back on the railroad some where between here and Chattanooga. Maj Gen. Slocum is in command of our Corps of course we are all very glad. Your letter of the 23^d Aug I recieved yesterday and was glad to get it no signs of the Paymaster yet, though we expected to get paid off after the city was taken. Genl. Shermans main Army is about 25 miles from here and has had several hard fights but the particulars we have not yet learned. I think the Reb Army is pretty well whipped in this department I think we have got ahead of the Army of the Potomac. We have got our job done first the whole Army will have a rest now and they need it. ever since the first of May they have been marching and fighting. This is the longest / campaign of the war and I think it has acomplished the most. I hope Grant will get Richmond and Petersburg and then perhaps the Rebs will begin to talk about peace. I suppose the draft came off yesterday tell me in your next who was drafted in Portland. I hope the 500,000 will have to come and that speedily and we will put the rebellion down in a hurry only give us the men. We have lost a great many on the campaign and the regiments need filling up. But I cannot write more now Write often and I will answer soon as recieved

                                                                                   

Your Affectionate son

Henry

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