The boom of cannon, and the rattle of musketry was our reveille and retreat, and Sherman knew that it was no child's play.
Today, April 14, 1882, I say, and honestly say, that I sincerely believe the combined forces of the whole Yankee nation could never have broken General Joseph E.Johnston's line of battle, beginning at Rocky Face Ridge, and ending on the banks of the Chattahoochee.
ADAIRSVILLE--OCTAGON HOUSE--THE FIRST TENNESSEE ALWAYS OCCUPIES TIGHT PLACES We had stacked our arms and gone into camp, and had started to build fires to cook supper.

I saw our cavalry falling back, I thought, rather hurriedly.

I ran to the road and asked them what was the matter?
They answered, "Matter enough; yonder are the Yankees, are you infantry fellows going to make a stand here ?" I told Colonel Field what had been told to me, and he hooted at the idea; but balls that had shucks tied to their tails were passing over, and our regiment was in the rear of the whole army.

I could hardly draw anyone's attention to the fact that the cavalry had passed us, and that we were on the outpost of the whole army, when an order came for our regiment to go forward as rapidly as possible and occupy an octagon house in our immediate front.

The Yankees were about a hundred yards from the house on one side and we about a hundred yards on the other.