The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1864-11-09
Hoods Army on the March. !.

/ = A1S0A o ht IL y Ou tllS I1AfCus n,
We take the following from the Montgone-
ry Maitof Wednesday z
3 The FIRST intelligent account we haye receiy-
ed. Of the whereabouts and situation of the
Army of Tennessee, reaches US through pri:
vate letter to we'll known gentleman Of this
city. On the 23d ultimo, Hood Is army pissed
Brooksyille in North Alabama. AT this boints
it separated in. three columns, all making for
the Tennessee river at three different points,
Decatur, Whitesburg, and Gunter's Landing. {
Sherman's army followed nearly up to The
Coosa river. jis advance skirmished with
Wheelers cavalry up to the vicinity Of Gadsr.
den Here the Federal commander halted, and
] then went back apparently noDplussed at the
movements Of our army. By this time Il II
sppposeds that the three columns Of our army
are safely over the river, and that they have, !,
converged somewhere in tie vicinity Of Hunts
vile. The general impression is that its ifu.
ture course will bsin thesdirection Of Tuscums
bia. Everything was progressing fayorably
| and all were in confident spirits.
T Our cavalry officers appear to be in doubt
themselves as to she force and designs Of the
enemy on the Coosa. There is no doubt, how.
ever, but thar they are in, the ieighborhood of
Cedar Bluff with infantry, cavalry and artilss
lery. sOnla Thursday q, force Of '6fteen hun
sdred cavalry, under Fitzpatrick, advanced 10 (
Eadiga, thirteen miles northeast Of this place,
and in this county. They were met By Gen. -
Fergdscn's brigade, and hard fgbt Of ten {
hours duration followed Ferguson fuallys
drove the enemy from every point Of the field
and captured his dead, mortally wounded and
three prisohers.f They left twelve Of the form
er on the ground In theiriretrea the enemy
took the Bone road Subsequent tscouting
parties failed to discover any force this side Of
the Coosa. 80. ~ s 81 ~ 3
Many offEcers of Gen! Wheelerss cavalry are
of the oPi1ioR that Sherman viii @ SEND q strong
forco down she Selma, and Blue Mouatain
Railroad, and that he under the impression,
that Hood Is drawing bis supplies over that
way. Gen. Wheeler has received instructions.
to fall back in front ,of sach column shonld
it advance. Nothing would crafty Gen. Hood
more than for Sherman to make such dispo-
sition of any of his. army corps, while he is re-
deeming Tesuesse.. My own impression Isl
that no such expedition will be made. There.
is nothing along that line upon which to sub
sista force strong enough to make the move,
ment successful.
1t is further hoped thatthe Yankee General
will hold on to Atlanta and all other captured
points between there and Chattanooga until
the grand battle for Tennessee is fought. If
that is done our success il assured. There
was rumor at General Bsauregard' shead- :
quarters the otherfday that Atlanta had been
captured by General Iyerson. "I hope, said
the General, "that it is not true expect it,
to be captured but not now"
Thstheory advanced bSone Of your city CO.
temporares that Corinth and Shiloh are again
to be occupied, is wholly untrue. For that
matter these historic places are already in our
possession. But now, as three years ago, they
are of no strategic Importance. The present
grand advance has far deeper meaning than
that. -
T