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Chapter 17

           Whatwouldbetheendofthisretreat,theydidnotknow.ButOldJoeknewwhathewasdoingandthatwasenoughforthem.Hehadconductedtheretreatinmasterlyfashion,fortheyhadlostfewmenandtheYankeeskilledandcapturedranhigh.Theyhadn’tlostasinglewagonandonlyfourguns.Andtheyhadn’tlosttherailroadattheirback,either.Shermanhadn’tlaidafingeronitforallhisfrontalattacks,cavalrydashesandflankmovements.

           Therailroad.Itwasstilltheirs,thatslenderironlinewindingthroughthesunnyvalleytowardAtlanta.Menlaydowntosleepwheretheycouldseetherailsgleamingfaintlyinthestarlight.Menlaydowntodie,andthelastsightthatmettheirpuzzledeyeswastherailsshininginthemercilesssun,heatshimmeringalongthem.

           Astheyfellbackdownthevalley,anarmyofrefugeesfellbackbeforethem.PlantersandCrackers,richandpoor,blackandwhite,womenandchildren,theold,thedying,thecrippled,thewounded,thewomenfargoneinpregnancy,crowdedtheroadtoAtlantaontrains,afoot,onhorseback,incarriagesandwagonspiledhighwithtrunksandhouseholdgoods.Fivemilesaheadoftheretreatingarmywenttherefugees,haltingatResaca,atCalhoun,atKingston,hopingateachstoptohearthattheYankeeshadbeendrivenbacksotheycouldreturntotheirhomes.Buttherewasnoretracingthatsunnyroad.Thegraytroopspassedbyemptymansions,desertedfarms,lonelycabinswithdoorsajar.

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