Page:Journal history of the Twenty-ninth Ohio veteran volunteers, 1861-1865.djvu/127

 November 5th, orders having been received for the troops to move, the Twenty-ninth struck tents and marched from Atlanta at 3:30 in the direction of Stone Mountain, some three miles, and camped for the night. At 1 o'clock on the following day, the regiment marched back to Atlanta, and again occupied its old camp.

During the afternoon of the 1st of September specific orders for the withdrawal of Stewart's rebel corps de armee and the militia were issued, and about sunset the latter were withdrawn from the trenches. When they were fairly on the road Stewart's corps followed, all being en route by midnight, except the cavalry, a brigade or two of infantry, and the pickets. These latter remained until the advance of the Twentieth corps neared the city on the morning of the 2d. The explosion of ammunition was of course heard at the position of the Twentieth corps, and though General Slocum (who it appears was in command of the Twentieth corps at the time) had received no intelligence of Sherman's great success at Jonesboro, he was not unprepared to find Hood gone any morning, and the explosions convinced him that the withdrawal was taking place. He instantly issued orders to his division commanders, Generals Ward, Williams, and Geary, to send out each a heavy reconnoissance at daybreak on the morning of the 2d.

About 1,000 men were detailed from each division, and at 5 pushed forward on neighboring roads into Atlanta on the north and northwest, encountering no opposition. They pushed rapidly forward, and at 8 o'clock came in sight of the rebel intrenchments, so lately occupied with enemies but now silent and deserted.

Advancing rapidly, Colonel Coburn, commanding General Ward's reconnoissance, entered the enemy's