Chapter 18

           Forthefirsttimesincethewarbegan,Atlantacouldhearthesoundofbattle.Intheearlymorninghoursbeforethenoisesofthetownawoke,thecannonatKennesawMountaincouldbeheardfaintly,faraway,alowdimboomingthatmighthavepassedforsummerthunder.Occasionallyitwasloudenoughtobeheardevenabovetherattleoftrafficatnoon.Peopletriednottolistentoit,triedtotalk,tolaugh,tocarryontheirbusiness,justasthoughtheYankeeswerenotthere,twenty-twomilesaway,butalwaysearswerestrainedforthesound.Thetownworeapreoccupiedlook,fornomatterwhatoccupiedtheirhands,allwerelistening,listening,theirheartsleapingsuddenlyahundredtimesaday.Wastheboominglouder?Ordidtheyonlythinkitwaslouder?WouldGeneralJohnstonholdthemthistime?Wouldhe?

           Paniclayjustbeneaththesurface.Nerveswhichhadbeenstretchedtighterandtightereachdayoftheretreatbegantoreachthebreakingpoint.Noonespokeoffears.Thatsubjectwastaboo,butstrainednervesfoundexpressioninloudcriticismoftheGeneral.Publicfeelingwasatfeverheat.ShermanwasattheverydoorsofAtlanta.AnotherretreatmightbringtheConfederatesintothetown.

           Giveusageneralwhowon’tretreat!Giveusamanwhowillstandandfight!

           Withthefar-offrumblingofcannonintheirears,thestatemilitia,"JoeBrown’sPets,"andtheHomeGuardmarchedoutofAtlanta,todefendthebridgesandferriesoftheChattahoocheeRiveratJohnston’sback.

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