The 20th Corps Moves Below Atlanta While Slocum Assumes Command.

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A good war-date Union officer's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on "Office Commissary of Musters, Twentieth Army Corps," by Lt. William H. Mickle [WIA Gettysburg, 7/01/63], 134th New York (as staff officer to the chief of artillery 20th Corps), Chattahoochie River, Aug. 27, 1864, to his wife, in part: "…I will…enclose a printed order detailing me as Ordnance officer of the 20th Corps by Genl. Hooker. Wow, I am a. a. a. g. for the Arty…our Hd. Qrs. are on the Chattahoochie river instead of before Atlanta. It is not the cause of disaster…but Sherman is making one of the most important movements of the campaign. Our Corps is sent here to guard the R. R. Bridges & the various ferries & bridges…while the rest of the army moves around Atlanta to our right thus compelling the enemy to evacuate the town…if we get onto their communications we'll soon starve them out…they'll move out of the city rather than to run the risk of capture…we have had some very tedious work getting away from the entrenchments around Atlanta…and preparing for any aggressive movement on the part of the Rebs…as we are away from the rest of the army for many miles & must rely on the superior merit of our Corps in case of a combined attack on the port of the enemy. We are not at all fearful of their army if they don't attack us…Genl. Slocum has assumed command of the 20th Corps…& I hope will prove a good & worthy successor of our hero "Fighting Joe". Major [Thomas Ward] Osborn made application to Genl. Thomas commanding the Army of the Cumberland to have me transferred to the Army of the Tennessee…but Genl. Thomas would not let me go. He said he wanted me to remain where I was as they couldn't spare me. I was disappointed…Genl. Howard expressed he's regret that he couldn't get me at his Hd. Qrs but I will endeavor to do my duty where I now am…William." An original stamped transmittal cover is included. VG

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