corps to cover his bridges; but in fact he had only sent across his cavalry and trains.  Between Howard’s corps at Paice’s Ferry and the rest of Thomas’s army pressing up against this tete-du-pont, was a space concealed by dense woods, in crossing which I came near riding into a detachment of the enemy’s cavalry; and later in the same day Colonel Frank Sherman, of Chicago, then on General Howard’s staff, did actually ride straight into the enemy’s camp, supposing that our lines were continuous.  He was carried to Atlanta, and for some time the enemy supposed they were in possession of the commander-in-chief of the opposing army.

I knew that Johnston would not remain long on the west bank of the Chattahoochee, for I could easily practise on that ground to better advantage our former tactics of intrenching a moiety in his front, and with the rest of our army cross the river and threaten either his rear or the city of Atlanta itself, which city was of vital importance to the existence not only of his own army, but of the Confederacy itself.  In my dispatch of July 6th to General Halleck, at Washington, I state that: 

Johnston (in his retreat from Kenesaw) has left two breaks in the railroad—­one above Marietta and one near Mining’s Station.  The former is already repaired, and Johnston’s army has heard the sound of our locomotives.  The telegraph is finished to Mining’s Station, and the field-wire has just reached my bivouac, and will be ready to convey this message as soon as it is written and translated into cipher.

I propose to study the crossings of the Chattahoochee, and, when all is ready, to move quickly.  As a beginning, I will keep the troops and wagons well back from the river, and only display to the enemy our picket-line, with a few field-batteries along at random.  I have already shifted Schofield to a point in our left rear, whence he can in a single move reach the Chattahoochee at a point above the railroad-bridge, where there is a ford.  At present the waters are turbid and swollen from recent rains; but if the present hot weather lasts, the water will run down very fast.  We have pontoons enough for four bridges, but, as our crossing will be resisted, we must manoeuvre some.  All the regular crossing-places are covered by forts, apparently of long construction; but we shall cross in due time, and, instead of attacking Atlanta direct, or any of its forts, I propose to make a circuit, destroying all its railroads.  This is a delicate movement, and must be done with caution.  Our army is in good condition and full of confidence; but the weather is intensely hot, and a good many men have fallen with sunstroke.  The country is high and healthy, and the sanitary condition of the army is good.