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Description
Letter written by J. Edward James, 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, on September 10, 1864, camped near Atlanta, Georgia, to his sister Lizzie James Lamberson, Galena, Illinois.
Gives an account of the activity since August 25 that led to the capture of Atlanta. Six corps moved around the city and his corps was amongst those that tore up the Mobile to Montgomery railroad. Then marched towards Macon and destroyed more of the railroad. This destruction continued towards Jonesboro, heating the rails to bend them double, twisting them around trees or laying them out in the shape of U.S. Fighting ensued near Jonesboro but the enemy was overcome and 18 pieces of artillery were captured along with some 2000 prisoners. With the defeat of the rebel force guarding Atlanta, the army occupied Jonesboro and then learned Atlanta had fallen. The regiment then marched into Atlanta and returned to their former position. Noted that when the corps left their position on the 25th, the rebel army and Atlanta residents assumed the Union forces had gone and celebrated, prematurely. “I have been so busy since coming into Camp that I have not had time to go to the city but from what I saw of the place while marching through, I should think it had been a nice place, it is in great disorder now and pretty well deserted of citizens….It is comical to see the protections the citizens had built in their yards to shield them from our shot and shell. Every yard had a regular root houses built, or as we call them “gofur holes” (go for holes).” The 96 Regiment lost 3 killed and 3 wounded. Andrew Disch of Co. A was killed, the only one from the company that was hurt. He expects to stay in camp for a month or more before moving on to Macon.
Identifier
sc.0069.001_004.001
Date
1864 September 10
Keywords
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondents.
Recommended Citation
"1864 September 10, J. Edward James to Lizzie James Lamberson" (2023). Documents. 17.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-mss-jamesje1/17
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