Joseph T. Derry , A. M. , Author of School History of the United States; Story of the Confederate War, etc., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 6, Georgia
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[328] and Cheatham's corps to take position and construct works to defend the city, the former on the left, the latter on the right. The artillery, under the command of Brigadier-General Shoup, was massed on the extreme right (east). Hardee was ordered to move with his corps during the night of the 21st south on the McDonough road, crossing Intrenchment creek at Cobb's mills, and to completely turn the left of McPherson's army. This he was to do, even if it became necessary to go to or beyond Decatur. Wheeler with his cavalry was ordered to move on Hardee's right, both to attack at daylight or as soon thereafter as possible. As soon as Hardee succeeded in forcing back the enemy's left, Cheatham was to take up the movement from his right, and continue to force the whole from right to left down Peachtree creek, Stewart in like manner to engage the enemy as soon as the movement became general.

Accordingly, on the morning of the 22d, the Federal army found the intrenchments in their immediate front empty and they advanced to occupy them.

Of McPherson's army of the Tennessee, the Federal force mainly engaged in the battle of the 22d, Logan's corps, stretched across the railroad, advanced into the Confederate works, and began reversing them and planting batteries. Blair held his position on and beyond Bald hill, only advancing skirmishers and working parties. One brigade of Dodge's corps had been sent to his rear, and in the morning Sweeny's division of Dodge's corps had moved from the north of the railroad toward his rear, for the purpose of relieving him on Bald hill, and extending the line further south. This move was made by a road nearly a mile in the rear of Blair, and about noon Sweeny .was to the right and left of a bend in the road, the head of his column toward Blair. Blair's south flank was refused a little as if to connect with Sweeny, but there was a great gap open. Thus it happened that when Hardee arrived to make his attack in the rear, he found himself faced by a Federal line entirely unconsidered in Hood's plan, with only a gap in the line to his