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[1864]

In the Trenches: Saturday, July 23. 2 miles north of Atlanta. Beloved friends: I wrote you the day after our terrible and successful fight of the 20th. The enemy did not that day renew his assault on our portion of the line, but moved his forces to the left, massing them in front of McPherson, who yesterday was driven back somewhat, losing many men and 10 guns. The lost ground was, however, afterwards regained and 6 of the 10 pieces recovered. McPherson was killed, as was Gen. Smith, and our casualties must have been heavy. At night, however, the position of our lines was all right, the enemy having failed in his desperate effort to turn our flank. We advanced our right and centre a mile, meeting with but little musketry opposition, tho subjected all day to an unintermittent and accurate artillery fire, the effect of which upon