William Boynton, Sherman's Historical Raid

three and A half miles East of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864.
Major-General John A. Logan, Commanding Fifteenth Army Corps:

The enemy having evacuated their works in front of our lines, the supposition of Major-General Sherman is that they have given up Atlanta, and are retreating in the direction of East Point.

You will immediately put your command in pursuit to the south and east of Atlanta, without entering the town. You will keep a route to the left of that taken by the enemy, and try to cut off a portion of them while they are pressed in the rear and on our right by Generals Schofield and Thomas.

Major-General Sherman desires and expects a vigorous pursuit.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

James B. McPHERSON, Major-General.

The following telegram also furnishes testimony to the same end:

camp on railroad, four miles from Atlanta, 9 P. M., July 22, 1864.
Major Thomas T. Eckert, Washington.

At daylight to-day it was found that the rebels had gone from our entire front, and General Sherman announced the occupation of Atlanta by Schofield, and ordered pursuit by Thomas and McPherson. Vigorous pursuit was made, and the enemy found in the fortifications of Atlanta, and not Schofield. We hold the railroad to within two and a half miles of the center of the place; that is about the average distance of the whole line, though Schofield and Dodge are nearer. The fighting has been severe, and we lose McPherson, killed by a shot through the lungs while on a reconnoissance. It is thought that the enemy will be gone in the morning, as they have attacked and been repulsed since dark. Hood fights his graybacks desperately.

J. C. Van Duzen, Cipher Operator, U. S. M. T.

One of the political generals however had informed himself very early in the morning that the rebels had not evacuated Atlanta, as General Sherman supposed; but instead, held the inner lines, near the city, in force. This appears from General Dodge's report of the operations of the Sixteenth Corps on the Atlanta campaign, in which he says:

‘At 4 o'clock A. M. of the 22d of July, General Sweeney, commanding the ’