Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) to James B. McPherson or John A. Logan
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00607 Author/Creator: Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) Place Written: Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 July 1864 Pagination: 2 p. ; 20 x 13 cm. Order a Copy
Also addressed to John A. Logan, commander of the 15th corps, Army of the Tennessee. Sherman explains his own position and the positions and plans of the divisions under the command of John McAllister Schofield, Oliver O. Howard, and George H. Thomas, as well as the location of the enemy. He instructs McPherson to attack Atlanta with 20-pound Parrotts. Written in pencil on stationery: "Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi." Written two days before McPherson's death.
Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the field July 20, 1 pm 1864
Gen. McPherson
or Logan
Genl,
I am personally across Raines in Lot 241. Schofield, Head of Column is in a road that leads Unit to Atlanta about 1 mile ahead. about 2 1/2 or 3 m for Atlanta. Near the Distillery which is near the Place Marked Col Howard Howard has reached a part in Lot 16 on another Road that leads into Atlanta and is also moving ahead. I will let them rest an hour or so in the Middle of the day & push ahead I think the Enemy has more outworks to the North facing Peach Tree than to the East. Thomas is also pressing down, so you can safely press ahead. You & Schofield & Howard are all in Easy [2] communicating distance, and Thomas is pressing down steadily from the North. The Enemy has a battery on the Hill between Schofield & Howard
The probabilities are that you have breast works before you - In one den are Wooded Ridges with intervening hollows densely wooded.
Atlanta is surrounded by a Rifle trench close in, too small to hold Hoods Army. And when you reach it open on the town with your 20s
There is a Cross Road from the distillery to the Railroad. I will instruct Schofield to Communicate with you at that point.
Yrs
W.T. Sherman
Maj. Genl.
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