They  derive  their  name  from  Lake  Athabasca,
in  British  North  America,  in  latitude  59°  north,
and  half-  way  between  Hudson's  Bay  and  the
Rocky  Mountains.  They  claim  to  have  come
from  the  West,  over  a  series  of  islands,  and  from
a  laud  covered  with  snow.  Some
observers  trace  in  their  language  and
features  a  resemblance  to  the  Tartar


Atlanta,  Evacuation  of.  Hood,
flanked  out  of  Atlanta,  was  joined  by
HardeenearJonesborongh.  Heleftthe
city  half  in  ruins  by  incendiary  fires.
The  Nationals  marched  in  (Sept.  2,
1864)  with  drums  beating  and  flags
flying.  Two  days  afterwards,  Slier-
man  issued  an  order  for  the  inhal>it-
ants  to  leave  the  town  within  five
days,  that  the  place  might  be  ap-
propriated to  military  purposes.  He
deemed  the  measure  humane,  under
the  circumstances,  for  he  expected
the  Confederates  to  attack  him  there.
To  a  remonstrance  by  Hood,  he  re-
plied, "  God  will  judge  me  in  good
time,  and  he  will  pronounce  whether
it  be  more  humane  to  fight  with  a,
town  full  of  women  and  the  families
of  a  brave  people  at  our  backs,  or  to
remove  them  in  time  to  places  of
safety  among  their  own  friends."  In
a  few  days  Atlanta  was  thoroughly
evacuated  by  the  civilians.
Atlanta  (Georgia),  Siege  and
Capture  or(1864).Themain  National
and  Confederate  armies  remained
quiet  in  their  camps  after  their  ar-


76     ATLANTA,  SIEGE  AND  CAPTURE  OF

rival  at  the  Chattahoochee  (which  see)  nntil  the
middle  of  July.  Shermau  was  eight  miles  from
the  city.  On  the  17th  he  resumed  offensive
and  active  operations,  by  throwing  Thomas's
army  across  the  Chattahoochee,  close  to  Scho-
field's  right,  with  directions  to  move  forward.
