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raise the siege if our garrison could hold out three weeks.’
On July 3d Johnston sent a messenger to advise Pemberton that he was about to make an attack, and he was making preparations to reconnoiter south of the railroad when he was advised of the capitulation.
He then fell back to Jackson, reaching thereon the 7th; and on the 9th Sherman, with three corps of the Federal army, appeared in strong force before his works.
Johnston expected an immediate assault and posted his forces on the intrenched line: Loring on the right, then Walker, French and Breckinridge to the left, while the cavalry under Jackson observed the fords of Pearl river above and below the town.
Sherman, instead of attacking at once, began intrenching and constructing batteries, finding hills from which he could throw a cross fire of shot and shell into all parts of the town.
There was spirited skirmishing with light cannonading on the 11th, and Johnston telegraphed President Davis that if the position and works were not bad, want of stores would make it impossible to stand a siege.
‘If the enemy will not attack, we must, or at the last moment withdraw.
We cannot attack seriously without risking the army.’
On the 12th there was a heavy cannonade from the Federal batteries, and a feeble assault was made on Breckinridge's line, which was vigorously repulsed, the Federals losing about 500 men, including 200 captured, and the colors of three Illinois regiments.
The bombardment was kept up during the following days, the Federals meanwhile extending their lines to Pearl river north and south of the town, and destroying the railroad.
On the night of the 16th Johnston withdrew his army toward Meridian, where he subsequently made his headquarters.
His loss during the siege was 71 killed, 504 wounded, 25 missing. The Federal loss, 130 killed, 762 wounded, and 231 missing.
According to Sherman's account he captured the heavy guns and 400 prisoners. He immediately set to work destroying
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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