ection of the day previous, but not stopping
so soon as before. This time, we passed the right wing of the army
entirely, and bearing south-east struck the Atlanta and Montgomery
railroad not far distant from East Point. After injuring the railroad
all that lay in its power, the division returned to camp, having
enjoyed a drenching rain. Nothing more of interest passed off except
the hum-drum picket firing, until the siege of the doomed Atlanta was
raised.

It was on the memorable 27th of August, that Sherman's entire force was
withdrawn from about the beleaguered city, and the whole of it, except
the 20th Army Corps, which moved to the fortifications at the railroad
on the Chattahoochie, marched in the direction of the Macon railway for
the purpose of severing the enemy's communications. Early on the
morning of the 27th, all the troops on the left of our division having
changed front the day previous, it moved from the breastworks, and
during the day took its position on the new line.

On the evening of this same day, the Eighty-sixth regiment held its
second anniversary. It had been the intention had not the movement of
the army interfered, to appropriate a part of the day for this purpose,
but as the regiment was on the move all day it was under the necessity
of taking the night.

Accordingly, in the evening, the men were assembled on the color line
and the objects of the meeting announced. A committee of three: Major
Thomas, Captains Bogardus and French, were appointed to draft
resolutions.

The committee having retired, Chaplain Millsaps made a speech
appropriate to the occasion, when the resolutions were called for and
read. They were strong in favor of the administration and bitter
against the copperheads. Though the regiment was not permitted to vote,
it could, nevertheless, express its sentiments to its friends, and in
behalf of the country. These resolutions were unanimously adopted,
there being no dissenting voice, and ordered to be sent to the Chicago
Tribune, Peoria Transcript and Peoria Mail. Speeches were then made by
Surgeon Hooton, Colonel Dillworth, Major Thomas, Captain Bogardus and
others, of a stirring and patriotic nature. This anniversary was, under
the circumstances, highly interesting indeed, and all the surviving
members who were there, will be duly wont to review it with feelings of
pride.

When Sherman's army had withdrawn from the siege of Atlanta, the enemy
supposed he had taken up h