I have before me a book of nearly five hundred pages, written by F. Y. Hedley, adjutant of the Thirty-Second Illinois Regiment, which is entitled "Pen Pictures of Everyday Life in Gen. Sherman's Army, from Atlanta to the Close of the War." This includes the battle of Allatoona, and as he makes the story to be palatable to the tastes of those who enjoy the marvelous, at the expense of the Confederate soldiers and myself, I feel obliged to expose more of the legerdemain used to deceive the public by juggling tricks.
I will state that on page 219 there is a facsimile of my summons to the commanding officer of the garrison to surrender. It was sent, as I have stated, because it was then supposed that the garrison was small in numbers. It reads:
Around Allatoona, October 5, 8:15 A.M., 1864.
Commanding Officer U. S. Forces, Allatoona:
Sir: I have placed the forces under my command in such positions that you are surrounded; and to avoid a needless effusion of blood, I call on you to surrender your forces at once, and unconditionally. Five minutes will be allowed you to decide. Should you accede to this, you will be treated in the most honorable manner as prisoners of war.
I have the honor to be very respectfully yours,
S. G. French,
Major General Commanding Forces C. S.
On the same leaf is a facsimile of Gen. Corse's reply to my note, and it reads:
Headquarters Fourth Division, }
Fifteenth Army Corps, 8:30 A.M., October 5, 1864. }
Maj. Gen. G. S. French, C. S. A.: