177                                HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.

KILLING BLOOD-HOUNDS.

           A significant feature of this campaign which was not before mentioned in this diary, received a marked illustration yesterday. Except in a few instances, private residences have not been destroyed. Yesterday we passed the plantation of Mr. Stubbs. The house, cotton gin, press, corn ricks, stable, everything that could burn, was in flames, and in the door-yard lay the dead bodies of several blood-hounds that had been used to track and pull down negroes and our escaped prisoners. And wherever our army has passed, everything in the shape of a dog has been killed. The soldiers and officers are determined that no flying fugitives, white men or negroes, shall be followed by track-hounds that come within reach of their powder and ball.

REVIEW OF SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH GEORGIA – FROM THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH
REGIMENT – BY MAJOR JAMES S. REEVES. SAVANNAH, GA.,

December 21, 1864.

T. M. STEVENSON:

           Dear Sir — Thus ends our third campaign since the Seventy-Eighth Regiment O. V. V. I. left Ohio, in May last. Our march from Clifton, Tennessee, to Big Shanty, Georgia, was without opposition, for the rebel army had been beaten back, and we found it at a stand upon Kenesaw Mountain. Then commenced a series of flank movements which baffled the rebel Generals, and forced them back to Atlanta, where for a time they held their position. Again General Sherman cut loose from his base, and drew General Hood into a battle, and defeated him at Jonesboro, and captured Atlanta.

           It was now the turn of the rebels to play the same game, and cut Sherman off and force him to leave Atlanta, and by a rapid movement Hood crossed the Chattahoochie, struck the railroad in Sherman's rear, and cut it at Big Shanty, then moving north along the road, they tore up the track, sweeping everything as they went, until they came to Altoona, where General Corse made a gallant defense, and they met with a signal and bloody repulse. Our army was put in motion, and moved rapidly after them through Altoona, Etowah, Kingston and toward Rome.

           Then we crossed over by a tedious night march to Adairsville, and pushed on to Resaca, and sending our Corps over the mountain, turned the rebels from the railroad, drove them through Snake Creek Gap, then through Ship Gap, past Summerville, and over into Alabama. We rested on Little river, near Gaylesville, then moved southward, crossed the Coosa, and passing by Cave spring, Adairsville, Dallas, and Lost Mountain, reached Smyrna Church, near Marietta.

           While marching up the road we repaired it, and while we rested at Smyrna trains ran from Louisville to Atlanta. Our army was paid, clothed, supplied with rations and rested; the teams and wagons made good, and everything prepared for another movement. Our sick had been sent North, reinforcements received, transportation cut down, citizens, State, Sanitary and Christian Commission agents, refugees and contrabands were ordered North, condemned property was destroyed, and the last mail received.

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