Noon Under the Trees

On July 22, 1864, (U.S.) General James B. McPherson and his staff spent the morning in conference at Sherman’s headquarters at the nearby Augustus Hurt Plantation, inspecting the Army of the Tennessee troops. Noon found them in an oak grove just south of the railroad where they were joined at luncheon by General John A. Logan and Major General Francis Preston Blair, Jr., each with his staff. While here, McPherson wrote and dispatched an order to General Grenville Dodge regarding the destruction of the Georgia railroad. This discussion was broken by volley firing from the southeast. The battle of Atlanta had begun. All mounted & rode away. McPherson, sending most of his staff on various missions, galloped toward the sound of the guns. He was killed later that day.