Thursday, 9th–The weather is fine—warm and pleasant. Our corps remained quiet and in its position all day. But orders have been given for the whole army to move forward in the morning. We commenced drawing full rations again today. I went out on picket this evening.
General Sherman is in command of all of our forces, with General Thomas in command of the right wing, General Hooker of the center, and General McPherson of the left. We have a large force of cavalry on each of the flanks. The country about Atlanta being so hilly and rough, it is exceedingly difficult to advance in front of the rebels, they having by far the better position.[1] They have a great deal better chance to kill our men than we have to kill them.
[1] Sherman’s plan was to get up as close as possible to the Confederates’ works, build forts and rifle pits, and then move our right around their left, or our left around their right, thus flanking them and threatening their rear. By that means they would be compelled to evacuate their strong works without having the opportunity of fighting from behind them.—A. G. D.