Atlanta - Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow. John R. Hornady
assumed his duties by the tenth, as had Marshal O. H. Jones. Other prominent citizens who returned at once included Dr. J. F. Alexander, Col. J. W. Duncan, Col. Cowart, Judge
Butt, Perino Brown, Dr. Simmons, Major Thompson, Major Bacon, Dr. Lawshee, L. C. Salmon, J. T. Porter, Messrs. Peck and Purtell, Col. N. J. Hammond, Col. J. I. Whitaker, Rev. Henry Carr Hornady, Col. G. W. Lee, Judge C. H. Strong, W. W. Roark, Captain Hubbard, W. P. Howard, and others.
This little handful of pioneers began at once the work of rehabilitation, being joined daily by others who also applied themselves to the task. J. G. Pounds opened a store at the corner of Whitehall and Mitchell Streets, and other enterprises began to appear. On Christmas Day religious services were resumed, the first sermon delivered in the City after its destruction being preached by Dr. Hornady, pastor of the First Baptist Church. It was a sermon of hope, and of prophecy, and it is interesting to record that the speaker on that memorable occasion lived to see his vision of a new-born city, peopled by a happy and contented citizenship, realized to the full. At the time of his death, thirty-two years later, Atlanta had become one of the great cities of the South.
With the repair of the railroads and the opening of avenues of transportation, the influx of returning exiles grew in volume, and before the winter of 1864-65 was over, the population had again attained considerable proportions. But it was a time of great trial to the people. In many instances every vestige of homes and places of business had been wiped out, and the people literally began to build for the future amid the ashes of what had been. Atlanta at this time was no place for the adventurer and the neer-do-well. The situation here challenged the strongest and the most purposeful, and it was this type of men and women who applied themselves to the work of rehabilitation. Imbued with a passionate love for the community, and inspired by unfaltering faith in its future, they wrought miracles of restoration, in spite of the derth of materials.
The work of destruction in Atlanta had not stopped with the burning of thousands of buildings. Every piece of machinery that might have been useful in the work of restoration, had been damaged beyond repair. Lathes and engines had been broken up, boilers had exploded, saw-mills had been reduced to junk, and there remained practically nothing with which to work save the bare hands. As a result, the early structures were of a temporary character, but as soon as the machinery and materials could be brought in, permanency became the key-note of endeavor, as is shown by the presence today of numerous substantial structures, reared during the period of reconstruction, and still rendering useful service.
With the celebration of Resurrection Day in the churches of Atlanta in the Spring of 1865, the City was virile with life. Easter services were held throughout the community and it was a day of renewed hope and kindling faith. Services at this time were being held at the First Baptist Church, Rev. H. C. Hornady; Central Presbyterian Church, Rev. John S. Wilson; Wesley Chapel, Rev. W. W. Wightman, and Trinity Church, Rev. R. A. Holland.
Meanwhile the fearful tragedy of the war was hastening to its close, and all the dreams that had clustered about the establishment of a separate government to be composed of those States among which existed a common sympathy and a common purpose, vanished into thin air. Four years of superhuman struggle and sacrifice ended on April 9th, 1865, when General Robert E. Lee, the idol of the South, handed his sword to General Grant at Appomattox.
Under an order issued at Macon on May 3, Col. E. B. Eggleston, of the First Ohio Cavalry, was designated to receive the surrender of the Confederate troops at Atlanta. He came to this City at once and took command on May 4, one of his first official acts being to issue an order reading "All persons in and about Atlanta, Ga., in possession of intoxicating liquors of any kind, are hereby prohibited from selling or giving the same to any soldier, whatever, under penalty of forfeiture of all liquors found in their possession."
This order was reassuring, in that it indicated to the people that drunkenness and disorder would not be permitted, but no act of consideration could have lifted the pall of gloom which overhung the City when it became known finally that the cause of the Confederacy had been irreversibly lost. The sacrifices had been too great and the suffering too intense for ready forgetfulness.
Atlanta now became a scene of great activity, but it was of a most pathetic character to the people of the city. Soldiers in garments of worn and ragged gray, came in large numbers, and the problem of caring for them would have been acute but for the broad humanitarianism displayed by Colonel Eggleston. The readiness with which the needs of these war-worn men were supplied from the post commissary brought words of highest commendation from the ''Daily Intelligencer," the publication of which had been resumed.
The formal raising of the United States flag above Atlanta came at a moment unforgettable in the history of America. On May, 1864, President Lincoln, had been assassinated, and when the Stars and Stripes were raised in Atlanta on May 16, in front of the headquarters of Colonel Eggleston, the banner stopped at half mast, and remained there, rippling to the soft May breeze. Thus tribute was paid to the dead War President in a city where war had left so many cruel scars.
CHAPTER V. With Faces to the Future.
IT is typical of the spirit of Atlanta that little time was lost in lamenting over the losses and hardships of the past. With their zeal for the
cause of the Confederacy evidenced by such devotion and such sacrifices as few people are called upon to display, they turned their faces to the future with a supreme purpose to push on to better things, however discouraging the circumstances. As they had been loyal to the Stars and Bars, they would be loyal to the Stars and Stripes. As they had wrought in war, they would labor in peace, confident that the years would crown their efforts with a goodly heritage.
This attitude found expression on June 24, 1865, in a meeting held at the call of Mayor Calhoun, John M. Clarke, John Silvey, J. L. Dunning, J. W. Manning and W. R. Venable. This gathering was attended by many representative citizens, and following formal organization with Mayor Calhoun as chairman, a committee on resolutions was appointed, consisting of John M. Clarke, J. I. Whittaker, A. Austell, J. L. Dunning and G. W. Adair. This committee reported resolutions, the preamble of which read:
"Whereas, the Constitution of the United States makes ample provision for the freedom of speech, the power of the press, and the unalienable right of the people to peacefully assemble, and to counsel with each other on all matters of public concernment and national interest, and
"Whereas, the late war has left the State of Georgia in a most deplorable, disorganized and unsettled condition, we, therefore, as a portion of the people, have assembled this day to express our anxious solicitude for a speedy restoration to our original status in the Union, and hopefully anticipate that the day is near at hand when the sun of our former prosperity and happiness will again shine upon us with undiminished and even increased splendor, when each one may sit under his own ' vine and fig tree, with none to molest him or make him afraid.' "
The resolutions which followed, and which were adopted as expressing the views and purposes of those assembled, voiced a lofty sentiment, saying among other things:
"That we most earnestly desire a speedy restoration of all political and national relations, the restoration of mutual confidence and friendship, the uninterrupted intercourse of trade and commerce with every section; in fine, to hold and occupy our old position in the list of States, the sovereign and sole conservators of an unbroken and imperishable union.
"That we counsel a ready and willing obedience to the laws of our country, and with cheerfulness and patient industry the fulfillment of our mission."
Profound regret was expressed concerning the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and confidence in the administration of President Andrew Johnson, was voted, together with an endorsement of James Johnson as provisional governor of Georgia.
Appointment of provisional officers for Georgia were of a character to create confidence on the part of the people. John Erskine, appointed Judge of the United District Court, had been a citizen of Atlanta before the war. He was well known to the citizens of the community and enjoyed their confidence. James L. Dunning was made United States