Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Stanley's Corps - Newton's Division - Wagner's Brigade
The evacuation of the city of Atlanta continues as ordered by Sherman, under the agreed truce.
The exchange agreed by General Sherman and General Hood is being carried out. The exchange is for 2000 troops, and Sherman insists that the Union troops exchanged must be ready for field duty. Prisoners from Andersonville are part of the exchange as described by John below.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Baer Diary Entries - text in white, comments in blue. - September 16th to September 19th.
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DIARY ENTRY - Friday, September 16th, 1864
Summary of events 2nd week of September 1864
Removal of prisoners still going on. Railroad accident stops the transfer for a couple of days. 900 sick taken out, call for two thousand to go through to Sherman’s line for exchange. Rolls made out and volunteers called for. A good deal of doubt existed in the minds of some as to whether it is really for exchange. Thought I would go on blind in it anyway as one more chance to get out of this hole at a venture for a worse one. All the 40th squad takes a chance in thinking they will not be losers thereby, 695 start on their way rejoicing.
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John has found a little luck here as he is still relatively healthy, all things considered, and meets Sherman's requirements of a soldier that can immediately go back into the field. The exchange is unique and is carried out despite the Union's current exchange policy. Over the next few days, John and the others will move to Rough and Ready station to be exchanged and join their regiments.
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DIARY ENTRY - Saturday, September 17th, 1864
No entry.
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DIARY ENTRY - Sunday, September 18th, 1864
No entry.
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DIARY ENTRY - Monday, September 19th, 1864.
No entry.
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More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXIX, Chapter LI, Part II, Correspondence, pp. 390-410.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 177-178.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, pp. 601-604.
- Decision In The West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, Albert Castel, pp, 548-550.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 625-636.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 583-591.
- Events: 1864
NEXT POST: SEPTEMBER 23RD
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