On July 2 Sherman succeeded in turning the southern end of Johnston’s defensive line and forcing the evacuation of Kennesaw Mountain and Marietta. By July 5 Johnston had withdrawn to a fortified position extending for several miles along the west bank of the Chattahoochee River about six miles from Atlanta. A lawyer from Pennsylvania who had fought at Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Chattanooga, Brigadier General John White Geary commanded the Second Division, Twentieth Corps, in the Army of the Cumberland. Geary wrote to his wife about the campaign in northern Georgia.
Hd. Qrs. 2nd Div. 20th Army Corps
Near Chattahoochie River, Ga. July 8th 1864
My Dearest Mary
I am the recipient of three letters from you bearing date at Germantown, and I assure you it afford me no ordinary pleasure to know that you have had the enjoyment of a congenial visit among friends and true hearted people. I sincerely trust that you will also enjoy your return home among the household jewels. I exceedingly regret that I have not yet been paid, (no paymaster having arrived) or I would have furnished sufficient funds for procuring furniture sufficient for the house. This was my intention had the P.M. done his duty. I am astonished to find there is nine hundred dollars to my credit in the Harrisburg Bank. Either Snodgrass or Mrs Brown has not collected the money due them and it still remains there on deposit, subject to my drafts which they hold. This is the only way in which I can account for that at present. If I could remit to you I would do so at once in sufficient amount to pay all our debts and furnish the house. I wish it was done.
We have had much hard fighting in Northern Georgia. The enemy has stubbornly contested every inch of ground. As fast as we drive him from one fortified position he simply falls back to another perhaps stronger, better, and more easy of defence aided by natural as well as artificial defences. The surface of the country is broken into an infinity of hills of the most irregular shapes and running in every possible direction. No two of them parallel. The valleys are deep ravines, and very marshy, being difficult to pass our artillery & waggons across them. It is almost universally covered with heavy timber with a dense undergrowth, and here and there only a field forms the exception. The country is well watered, and here in the vicinity of the river we find some cool springs which afford most delicious beverage. The inhabitants with but few exceptions have fled from before us as we have advanced in our victorious career. There is scarcely a man, woman, or child, or negro to be seen, not a horse (except the dead ones our cannon forced the enemy to leave behind) nor a cow, hog, or sheep is to be seen, even the very chickens, geese, and turkeys are driven before us as the enemy recedes, and not a living thing is left to tell the tale. Talking of turkeys reminds me of an incident a day or two ago. We were driving the enemy before us at a furious rate when near the head of my column a fine turkey mounted into the top of a hickory tree. It was very tempting, to think of the delicious meal it would make, so I drew my trusty revolver, and fired with deadly aim, down came the bird, and subsequently our agreeable anticipations were fully realized with a sumptuous repast.
The enemy are encamped partly on this side and partly on the south side. They are very strongly fortified and have an immense amount of artillery in position. They will undoubtedly make a stubborn resistance in this position. This Camp is about 11/2 miles from the river, with the enemy between us and them. The only way to beat them here will be to outflank them as we have done heretofore.
The weather is excruciatingly warm, and it is almost impossible to perform more than half a day’s labor in 24 hours. There is much remittant fever among the soldiers in consequence of the malarious influences arising from the decaying vegetable matter around us.
My own health, admist all my exposures, wettings, burnings, and dangers, is unusually good, and although death and sickness and every evil to which humanity is heir dwells around me, I am still by the mercy and goodness of Our Heavenly Father, a spared monument of His mercy. Let us devoutly and sincerely thank and praise Him for His manifold mercy to us.
We are now in full view of Atlanta (8 miles). Like Moses, we can find a high toped Pisgah, and from it view the promised land. Geographically speaking it is only 8 miles from us, but militarily it may be much further.
Kenesaw Mountain and the city of Marietta were taken on the 3rd inst. and since then we have fought our way here.
I am pleased that the Philadelphia fair was so grand a success, and that you and Willie Geary had the satisfaction of visiting it. Such an occurrence may never happen again in a lifetime.
I long to see you and our dear ones at home once more. May God bless us and preserve us from every evil and soon restore our country to peace. Ever your true & loving husband
Jno W Geary