Pilot Knob, GA
Friday, Oct 7, 1864
 
Dear Diary,
 
Well, it's a sad day for the old 40th Regiment, 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  Today, Companies "A",
"B", "C", and "D" were mustered out of service, 
and sent back to Ohio.  Before that was done, 
all the sick, wounded, and otherwise unfit for 
service were transferred into one of those 
companies, so all we're really losing are those 
not fit to fight. But,they're going home - Gosh 
I wish I was going with them!  
 
While I'm at it, I guess I'd better bring this 
little book up to date.  Atlanta is ours, what 
little is left of it - the whole town burned.
But, first things first.         

The Rebs got themselves another new commander 
in mid July - a real firebreather from the East 
by the name of John Bell Hood.  He's already
lost an arm and a leg, but it seems that ole 
Jeff thought he was just the man to break the 
seige of Atlanta.  Gosh knows he and his boys
tried - they attacked in an attempt to break 
our lines at Peach Tree Creek on the 19th of 
July, but we held them.  We just kept tightening 
that noose around Atlanta, while moving against 
her rail connections with the rest of the 
Confederacy.  Finally, on the 1st of September, 
we took Jonesborough.  Hood had no choice but to 
evacuate the city, which he did on the 8th.  We 
marched in right behind him.
         
There wasn't much left of the city, what with our 
two month seige, but there were still civilians 
in what used to be one of the most beautiful 
cities in the entire South.  I guess what happened 
next gives you an idea of how this War has changed
- Sherman ordered the entire city evacuated!  Men, 
women, and children were ordered to leave town 
with  just what they could carry.  Sherman said 
they  could go North or South, he didn't care, but 
they  couldn't stay in Atlanta!  The scenes of 
misery  that followed over the next couple of days, 
you can imagine.
         
In the long run, though, it was in their best 
interest.  I don't know how it happened, but 
either from Reb sympathizers or our own troops, 
somehow a fire got started.  Atlanta, what hadn't 
already been destroyed by the fighting, is totally 
destroyed - nothing left but burned out buildings, 
wrecked railways, and fugitives.  I doubt the place 
will ever be a city again!

As for us, the entire Army of the Ohio is heading 
back to Tennessee after Hood and his boys, while 
the rest of Sherman's Army continues its march 
into  Georgia.  No idea where he is headed, but 
I would hate to be in his path!

I guess Hood figures that if he can move against 
Tennessee, he'll draw all of Sherman's Army after 
him, since any move threatens our railroad 
connections with our supply base up in Nashville.  
We know for sure that he is tearing up the 
railroad  as he goes - reckon Sherman's boys 
could give him a little lesson in how to do 
"railroadin'" up proper!  

What Hood doesn't figure on is the pure size 
of this Army, and Sherman.  Sherman's got his 
sights set on something, and he isn't worried 
one bit about supply lines.  And, we can afford 
to split up - we've got over 120,000 men all 
told - sending some after Hood, while the rest 
head wherever "Uncle Billy" decides to lead!

And here I thought I'd seen the last of 
Tennessee!