village, having formed the idea that
the Yankees would extend them no mercy. They told us that they had
heard much of Yankee inhumanity, and death was the most clement act
they had expected--thus wagged the world with them.

In the possession of Rome, General Jeff. C. Davis' division met with
the most gratifying success, capturing its forts, with eight or ten
heavy guns, valuable mills, foundries, and various railroad
communications. Our brigade remained in Rome six days, the other two
brigades of the division not yet having crossed the Oostanaula. During
this time, Sherman had halted his whole army along the north side of
the Etowah river, in order to rest his troops and complete
communications as far as Kingston. This being accomplished, he supplied
his wagons with twenty days' rations, and again set his army in motion
toward Dallas, nearly south from Kingston, and fifteen miles west from
Marietta.

On the 24th day of May, General Davis' command took up the line of
march from Rome, crossing the Oostanaula near its mouth, and marching
in a southerly direction about twenty miles, camped in a heavy rain
storm, the Sixteenth Corps passing it during the night. The next day
the division made a forced march over rough and disagreeable roads
without gaining much distance, when, late in the evening, distant
cannonading could be heard at Dallas. On the 26th the command advanced
a short distance beyond Dallas, and drawing up in battle line, built
log breastworks, as the Confederate army was lying entrenched in a
strong position near this place.

Our lines were advanced still further on the 27th, throwing them into a
gap, far in advance of the main line of the battle, and built
breastworks, with the appearance of staying awhile.

The enemy about this time made repeated charges on our lines, both to
the right and left of us, and several on the lines of the First
Brigade, but only one on the Third Brigade. These charges proved very
disastrous to the enemy.

The command remained in this position nearly six days without rest,
being compelled to lie on its arms, not knowing what moment the enemy
might come. This detour of the whole army from the Etowah in its
circuit to the right, on Dallas, was made for the purpose of turning
Altoona Pass which the rebels determined to hold at all hazards, and
proved eminently successful.

On the first of June, our forces began their move from Dallas to the
left, in order to contract the lin