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Summary: Historic telegraphs, featuring Sherman’s famous announcement that “Atlanta is ours and fairly won.” Two telegraphs from Grant both react to and relay news of “the occupation of Atlanta.” Seth Williams relays orders for Union forces to “fire a salute in honor of Sherman’s victory.” And less than a week later, Grant offers a prelude to the March to the Sea, telegraphing his Corps commanders that Sherman is impatient to leave Atlanta “to again sally forth in search of the enemy.” All five are official copies written at the time, and signed by John C. Youngman, Assistant Adjutant General. William T. Sherman’s Historic Telegraph:
“Atlanta is ours and fairly won”
Inventory# 21071 $35,000
Transcript:
By Telegraph To Maj. Genl. Meade and all Corps Commanders
From near Lovejoy’s Station 26 miles south of Atlanta Sept. 3d 6 AM Via Washington, 2 40 PM, 4th, Maj. Gen. Halleck.
As already reported the Army drew from about Atlanta and on the 30th had made a good break of the West Point road and reached a good position from which to strike the Macon Road. The right (Howard near Jonesboro, the left Schofield) near Rough and Ready and Center (Thomas) at Couche. Howard found the enemy in force at Jonesboro and entrenched his troops, the salient within half a mile of the Rail Road. The enemy attacked him at 3 PM and was easily repulsed leaving his dead and wounded. Finding strong opposition on the right, I advanced the left and center rapidly to the Rail Road, made a good lodgment and broke it all the way from Rough and Ready down to Howard’s left near Jonesboro and by the same movement interposed my whole army between Atlanta and the party of the enemy entrenched in and around Jonesboro. We made a general attack at Jonesboro on the enemy on the 1st Sept. 14th Corps. (Genl. Jeff. Davis) carried the works handsomely with ten guns and about a thousand prisoners. In the night the enemy retreated south and we have followed him to another of his well chosen and hastily constructed lines near Lovejoy’s Station. Hood at Atlanta finding me on his road, the only one that could supply him and between him and a considerable part of his army, blew up his Magazine in Atlanta and left in the night time, when the 20th Corps. (Slocum) took possession of the place. So Atlanta is ours and fairly won, our losses will not exceed 1200 and we have possession of over 300 rebel dead and 2150 wounded and over 1500 well.
sgd. W. T. Sherman
Maj. Gen. Comdg. Official
Jno. Youngman, Asst. Adjt. Genl. Historical Background:
In late August of 1864, Sherman determined that if he could cut General John B. Hood’s railroad supply lines, the Confederates would have to evacuate Atlanta. Moving six of his seven infantry corps, Sherman began pulling his men out of their positions on August 25th to hit the Macon & Western Railroad between Rough and Ready and Jonesborough. To counter the move, Hood sent Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee with two corps to halt and possibly rout the Union troops, not realizing Sherman’s army was there in force. On August 31st, Hardee attacked two Union corps west of Jonesborough but was easily repulsed. Fearing an attack on Atlanta, Hood withdrew one corps from Hardee’s force that night. The next day, a Union corps broke through Hardee’s line, and his troops retreated to Lovejoy’s Station. On the night of September 1st, Hood evacuated Atlanta, burning military supplies and installations, causing a great conflagration in the city. Union troops occupied Atlanta on September 2nd. Sherman cut Hood’s supply line but failed to destroy Hardee’s command. Sherman was victorious, and Hood established a reputation as one of the most recklessly aggressive generals in the Confederate Army. The capture of Atlanta made an enormous contribution to Northern morale and was an important factor in the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln. John C. Youngman was made an Assistant Adjutant General with a rank of Captain on July 25th, 1864. Attached to the staff of Major General John G. Parke, commander of the IX Army Corps after Burnside’s disastrous handling of the Battle of the Crater, Youngman served at the Siege of Petersburg carrying official dispatches from Parke to his subordinates, including Brigadier General Edward Ferrero. Before his service at Petersburg, Youngman fought with the 51st Pennsylvania; that regiment, along with Ferrero’s 51st New York, led the decisive charge to take Burnside’s Bridge at Antietam. Youngman also saw action at the Second Battle of Bull Run and Vicksburg, as well as in Mississippi and Tennessee. The following are in chronological order: Grant Forwards Telegraph From the Front Lines:
“Our advance entered Atlanta two hours since” Ulysses S Grant. Manuscript Document. Official contemporary copy of telegraph sent by Grant forwarding news of Atlanta’s capture from John Vanduser, Capt., 10th Michigan Infantry, City Point, VA., Sep. 2, 1864. Signed by John C. Youngman, Assistant Adjutant General. 1 p. Transcript:
(Copy) By Telegraph from City Point, Sept. 2 1864. The following just received
(sgd) U.S. Grant / Lieut. Genl.
Marietta Ga. Sept. 2nd
To Maj. Eckert, Washington
Copy to Lieut. Genl. Grant.
Our advance entered Atlanta two hours since – I will have line in there before we stop.
(sgd) J. Vanduser
Capt. & c Official: / Jno. C. Youngman/ Asst. Adjt. Genl. Grant Announces News of the Capture of Atlanta Ulysses S Grant. Manuscript Document, to All Corps Commanders. Official contemporary copy of telegraph sent by Grant, City Point, VA., Sep. 2, 1864. Signed by John C. Youngman, Assistant Adjutant General. 1 p. Transcript:
By Telegraph from City Point, Sept. 2 1864
To Corps Commanders
Despatch just received from Supt. of telegraph in Dept. of Cumberland, of this date, announces the occupation of Atlanta by our troops. This must be by the 20th Corps which was left by Sherman on the Chattahoochee whilst with the balance of his Army he marched to the South of the City.
(Sgd) U.S. Grant/ Lieut. Genl. Official: / Jno. C. Youngman / Asst. Adjt. Genl. Historical Background:
In March, 1864, when Sherman had been given command of all the Western armies, Grant instructed him to strike at the heart of the confederacy. By late August, Grant was bogged down in trench warfare outside Petersburg. But with the capture of Atlanta, Sherman vindicated Grant’s overall strategy to wage a total war with coordinated efforts to defeat the Army of Northern Virginia. Ordering a Salute to Celebrate the Capture of Atlanta Seth Williams. Manuscript Document. Official contemporary copy of telegraph sent by General Seth Williams to Brig. General Willcox, Headquarters Army of the Potomac, 9:40 p.m., Sep. 4, 1864. Signed by John C. Youngman, Assistant Adjutant General. 1 p. “In compliance with instructions which have been received from Lieut. Gen. Grant, Genls. Hancock and Birney have been directed to cause all their Batteries bearing upon the enemy and within reach of his lines to fire a salute in honor of Sherman’s victory in capturing Atlanta. The salute is to be fired tonight as soon as word can be got to the different commanders.” Prelude to the March to the Sea: Grant Telegraphs His Corps Commanders Re: Sherman’s Impatience to Leave Atlanta
“to again sally forth in search of the enemy” Ulysses S Grant. Manuscript Document, to All Corps Commanders. Official contemporary copy of telegraph sent by T.S. Bowers, by command of Ulysses S. Grant, City Point, VA., Sep. 9, 1864. Signed by John C. Youngman, Assistant Adjutant General. 1 p. KS 21071.02 Transcript:
(Copy) By Telegraph from City Point, Va.
September 9, 1864 To All Corps Commanders.
Sherman telegraphs from Atlanta under date of the 8th, that his army is grouping about Atlanta, that his troops are well and in fine spirits and that after a few days rest they will be impatient to again sally forth in search of the enemy. He says his army has been feeding high on the Cornfields of the Confederacy, and that he has a months stores on hand and feels no anxiety on account of supplies.
Wheeler is supposed to be trying to cross the Tennessee River at Lambs Ferry, closely pursued, Rosseau, Granger and Steadman have sufficient force to drive Wheeler out of the country, or whip him if they can get a fight out of him.
The Rail Road to Atlanta will be repaired in a few days.
By Command of
Lieut. Genl.Grant
(signed) T. S. Bowers
Asst. Adjt. Genl.
Official
Jno. C. Youngman/ Asst. Adjt. Genl. Reporting for Sherman in the aftermath of the capture of Atlanta.
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