The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-11
New Campaign by Gen. Sherman
in Georgia..


In this moment of quiet succeeding the
tug of marching (for fighting there has
been rone) after the elusive Hood, who is
now attempting in another quarter the
rather jocular performance of flanking an
army too large to fight, propose to give
a brief resume of the movements of Sher-
man, in pursuit up to this time; and pos
sibly to indicate that Sherman is not only
master of the situation, but preparing to
give the rebel commander a robust Roland
for his enfeebled Oliver. The events in
this direction that will expire within the
next six weeks, ought to be quite unique.
A SKETCH OF sHKRMAN's PURSUIT OF HOOD.
During the last week in September it
became known, through General Garrard,
whose cavalry was scouting in the vicinity
of Sandtown, that the rebels had moved
in considerable force from Loveioys, on
the Macon road, through Palmetto, on the
Atlanta and Montgomery road, to the
Chattahoochie River, and were laying
pontoon bridge near Campbelltown, and
crossing the river. The presumption was
that it was move to facilitate and cover
the return of the cavalry under Wheeler
and Forrest, who were at. that time operat-
ing in the vicinity of Athens, Alabama
But the weight of the enemy soon indi-
Gated something of greater moment, and it
was suspected that bold and formidable
attack was to be made on our commune
cations
On Tuesday, September 81, three divis-
ions of the army were sent to the rear, it
being understood that they were des lined
railroad was increased.
On Saturday afternoon, October l, the
LIST and 4th division of the army corps
Gen. Fuller's and Gen. Belknaps, under
command of Gen. Ransam-started on a
reconnaissance toward Fairburn Station.
The enemy was found at and beyond Fair
burn in force. Our men retired and reach
ed camp early on Monday morning. The
result was, that before the troops returned
to camp, the Army of the Tennessee had
orders to store all surplus baggage in At
lanta, and be ready to march on Tuesday
morning
We we were all excited, for the rebels
had possession of the road north of Big
Shanty Station, and we,e destroying it.
Those who came from Marietta reported
clouds of smoke could be seen from
Mount Kenesaw for miles on the road; that
the rebels had their two best corps, COM
manded by Beauregard, and they would be
compelled to give up Atlanta, the prize of
| our summers campaign. But the army
was remarkably free from excitement
As we marched from East Point, on
Tuesday, passing along the outskirts of
Atlanta, and saw the heavy works which
the rebels had constructed for the defence
of the city, and our men, as busy as ants,
constructing shorter line of earthwOrks
within them, we felt that Atlanta would
be safe in the keeping of the goth corps
The 23d corps, and the 4th and 18th
corps, of the Army of the Cumberland, had
preceded the Army of the Tennessee. Nor
did we fear because Thomas, Schofield,
Logan and Blair were away, for Gers.
Cox, Stanley, Osterhaus and Ransom
were tried leaders. We heard that the
railroad bridge at the Chattahooche River
had been swept out by the food, but We
had forded it once, and were ready to do
so sgain. The rain poured down upon us;
the horses and mules groaned under their
burdens, for they were without corn and
oats, and numbers of them died from over
work; but we toIed along, catching few
moments rest, as the columns halted, by
the wayside. So, after nearly as hard a
march as We made during the summer
campaign, we found ourselves resting, but
waiting orders, along the roads leading out
of Marietta.
On the 9TH and 9Th of October our ar
my came up the Kenesaw Mountain, and
finding the rebels in force, orders were is
sued to attack them early on the 9th.
But, repulsed at Altoona, they had hasti-
ly withdrawn during the preceding night /;
and on the afternoon Of the 9th Sherman
moved from the Kenesaw to Big Shanty,
distance of seven or eight miles. 1t
seems to have been the design to remain
here three or four days and relay the
track destroyed but on the afternoon of
Monday, October 10, the whole army was
on the march again, following the roads
running near and parallel with the rail-
road through Altoona and over the Etowa
River. On the morning of the 18th of
| October Sherman passed through Kings