History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

434 TWENTY-EIGHT1H ZEGIENTG, 18&64
ferry resulted in another victory, and from that day to their victorious entry
into Atlanta, the troops lay before that town, strengenthing their defences, extending and advancing their pickets, receiving and returning the fire of the
enemy's artillery, and punishing him severely in numerous battles and skirmishes, On September 2d, completely exhausted and thoroughly beaten and
disheartened1 the enemy sullenly evacuated Atlanta, and the conquering forces
took possession, marching joyfully in, with colors flying, to the inspiriting
strains of patriotic music, the White Star Division having the advance. A
brilliant summary of the " hundred days' fight" of this eventful campaign is
given in the following extract from General Geary's official report: —" Thus
gloriously ended the campaign, unequalled for brilliant victories, over seemingly insurmountable difficulties, and unsurpassed in history-a campaign
which will stand forever a monument of the valor, endurance and patriotism of
the American soldier; four months of hard, constant labor, under the hot sun
of a southern summer, scarce a day of which was passed out of the sound of
the crash of musketry and roar of artillery; two hundred miles travelled through
a country, in every mile of which nature and art seemed leagued for defence —
mountains, rivers, lines of works-a campaign in which every march was a
fight, in which battles followed in such rapid succession, and were so intimately connected by an unremitting series of skirmishes, that it may properly
be regarded as one grand battle, which crowned with grander victory, attests
the skill and patience of the hero who matured its plans and directed their
execution."
From the date of its occupation until the 15th of November, the regiment
remained at Atlanta, performing guard and fatigue duty, assisting to make
reconnoissances, and taking part in foraging expeditions, the latter, not only
feeding the garrison of Atlanta, but demonstrating the important fact that an
army could move and subsist upon the resources of the country. On the 14th
of November the troops under General Iverson, supposing Atlanta to have
been evacuated, made an attack upon the Union lines, near the Whitehall road,
(where the Twenty-eighth was stationed,) and was repulsed with severe loss in
killed and wounded and some prisoners.
November 15th, the camp was broken up and Sherman's famous "March to
the Sea' commenced. This bold undertaking was of such stupendous magnitude, and encircled with so many and such tremendous obstacles, as to astonish
the entire country and to strike terror into the heart of the confederacy. Many
regarded it as an act of madness, whilst few dared contemplate its successful
termination. Unincumbered with any superfluity of tents, baggage or provision trains, the brave and well-tried army marched day after day, scarcely
halting for needed rest and nutriment, through sunshine and storm, heat and
cold, over hills, streams, swamps and morasses, bivouacking at night along the
roads, and subsisting man and beast from the lands over which they passed,
laying waste plantations of notorious rebel leaders and destroying immense
depots of provisions intended for Lee's army, cotton, grain, cotton gins and
mills and other rebel property, together with numerous bridges and many miles
of railroad. Guerrilla bands and detachments of rebel cavalry that hovered
about, were attacked and if not driven off, either captured or killed. The
troops pushed forward with the utmost alacrity, enjoying the march as a grand
triumphant passage through an enemy's country, rather than a severe and toilsome journey, full of privations, dangers and disasters. Onward they pressed