The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-01
FROM GEN. HOODS ARMY.
Correspondence of the Columbia Carol
JACKSONVILLE, Ala, October l6.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala, October l6.
do not now precisely remember at what point
my last letter left the army of Gen. Hood, but the
story of his extraordinary flank movement is SO
interesting that portions of it repeated will be read
with avidity by your readers.
After tho unfortunate attack upon Altoona by
French's division, of Stewards corps, in which
that rash and precipitate but gallant General had
900 men killed wounded and captured, the army
ebliqued TO the left; left Rome to the right, and
did not again strike the railroad until it reached
the vicinity of Dalton. Here Gen. Hood attacked
and carried the enemys works, the town, garrison,
and stores. The first impressions of this battle
only are at hand, and no effort at details would
now be correct. From thence our army appears
to have marched back to Resaca, ten miles, de-
stroying the railroad aud, at the time wrie that
place is either in our hands or closely invested.
There were two cavalry engagements near Rome
on Wednesday and Thursday, In which Armis-
tead's and Harrison's brgades were engaged and
defeated by superior force of the enemy. For
the number of men engaged, our loss was very Sc
we're; but we inflicted heavy loss upon the enemy.
And this comprises all the fighting that has taken
place recently. Our reverses at Altoona and Rome
are two-fold more than made up by the success of
the main army at Dalton, and the effectual cutting
Of the cnemys communications between Atlanta
and Chattanooga We must have destroyed all of
fifty miles of that railroad.
The march of Gen. Hoods army from Palmetto
to Dalton has been very rapid The distance is
all Of 40 miles, which was passed over in thirteen
days Il was the intention Of Gen. Sherman to SO
strongly forfy Atlanta that small garrison could
successfully resist legion of assailants, to
ganize aud recruit his army from the draft Of $780,
900, and when autumn leaves were falling, march
down the Macon and Western Railroad and force
Il Z
impression among all his subaltoGnS that be would
winter in Macon, and there either dictate peace;
or in the spring take the field for further agrees
i've movements. His plans were not all matfred,
however, else there was some difference betwixt
him and Lincoln; for he left his army and went to
Washington for the purpose Of consultation He
was either there or on the read when Gen. Hood
struck his rear just above Marietta.
Whether Sherman has the transportation and
the rations to make move to the rear of Hood,
will be determined in the future. Of thing
for certainty, Gen. Hood has thrown rything
upon the turn of single die. II he is successful,
all Northern Georgia will be cleared OF the enemy,
and the situation reversed back to what it
when Johnston retreated from Dalton. If other
wise, let conjecture say the rest
October 17tA.-Events crowd so thick and fast,
that it is difficult indeed to distinguish them one
from the other, and still Observation-Disclosures on
Bard-goes the army of Tennessee.
The railroad from Big Shanty to Ringgold is
we'll destroyed 1t is true, that some Of Che garri-
sons at intermediate points marched around,
but Dalton, Iiton and several other important
points have been taken. Gen. Hood reached the
former place on Thursday last, and demanded an
surrender, granting Col. johnson
i've minutes to haul down his flag The Colonel
begged for his negro garrison, that they would be
treated prisoners of war-that private property
would be respected-that officers should be paro-
I'd, &c all Of which, in consequence Of his SOL
1lers being GU" slaves, was peremptorily refused,
lnG at the expiration Of the five minutes, "the gel
orious old flag trailed liz the dust and Southern
banners were unfured upon the forts and upon the
houses Of Dalton. The negroes were eight hun
lrcd in number and the white men two hundred
md fifty, making over one thousand in ALL They
we're all rugged out in full Yankee uniforms The
larkies were at once stripped of their over-coats
md boots by our boys, and put to work burning
cross ties and twisting rails. 1t must have been
wo days before that, when Tilror, with three hun
lred and fifty prisoners, was taken.
AS soon as Dalton fell the army resumed the
march towards Chattanooga, and the last heard
rom it, the right rested at Latay ete and the left
1t Ringgold. 1t is not thought however, that
Chattanooga will be attacked, as General Hood is
'ndeaVoring to economize the lives Of his soldiers
IS much possible III Northern Georgia, for the
purpose Of being more effective in our adjoining
State of Tennessee. The opinion is universal that
le will speedily cross that river at point below
chattanooga and march towards Nashville.
General Sherman won the reputation both among
lis people and ours, that he was great strae-
,ist but in the recent operations, General Hood
completely out generated him. A division of cav
Try under Armstcad, was sent to the Coosa, near
Rome, to which point it known the Yankee
'rmy was marching for the purpose of intercept
ng ours. Our army had, however, already passed
North. When the cavalry came in sight the Yam
zee army, thinking it the advance Of General
Iood, dcployed in regular lines Of battle, posted
cserves, fankers, threw up breastworks, etc The
avalry skrmisbed and fought for two DAYS before
heir real strength was found out, when the Yam
zee army advanced and routed them of course
But while they won the victory over The little
quadron, Hood gained four days' ia4rch unon
hem for they were obliged to tail back to King
ton, and from thence go up the road
1t is to be regretted that General Hoods army |
s SO badly provided with blankets and shoes in !
his extraordinary movement. Whole regiments |
re barefooted, while blankets with any of the men !
rather the exception than the rule And there
re some reg ments who have not been paid in IF !
cen months! Of course, then, the men bave
othiDg in the way of money, with which to pur-
base clothing themselves There are MANY hun
reds of men here and in camp at Blue Mountain.
or tbs want of proper outfits. They are full of |
enthusiasm and snxlous to join the advancing army,
ut are kept back by the cause indicated. The
7ind is already cold and chilling in these noun
aims, and unless the country promptly forwards
hese supplies, or Gen. Hood goes into Tennessee