The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-06

from the enemy having arrived there before him. Gen.
crai Hunter retired by way Of the Kanawha Mean
while ia order repair the losses Of the army of Ia.
Potomac the chief part Of the force designed to guar
the middle department and the department Of Washing
ton was called forward to the front Taking advaniag,
of this state of affairs in the absence Of General Hun
tcrs command the enemy made large detachment from
their army at Richmond, which, under General Early
moved down the Shenandoah valley threatening Bait
more and Washington. Their advance was checked NJ
Monocacy, where's severe engagement was fought by on
troops under General Wallace, ro-enforced by part
the sixth corps under General Ricketts,. After this bat
lie the enemy continued 10 advance until they rcache'
the INTERNATIONALLY around Washington. Here they wer
BY TROOPS from the army of the Potomac, CONSISTING
OF the 9th corps under General Wright part of the 81
corps just arrived from New Orleans, under GeneiI
Emory BY these troops the enemy were driven back
from Washington, and rereatel hastily TO Virginia. pur
sued by our forces under General Wright.
On the 18th day of August, 1861, General Sheridan was
placed in command of the mltay division comprising
the department Of Washington. the department Of Wei
Virginia, the department Of the Snssluclanna, and the
middle department III two great battles Mt the crossin,
Of the Opeduan the 10Th OF September and 1t Fisher
Hin tho I'd of September the rebel army under Early
routed AMI driven from the valley with Immense loss
Of prisoners, artillery, and stores desperate effort
made by the enemy 10 their position. Early
strongly re-enforcel and the morning OF the 10Th Oh
October, in the absence Of General Sheridan, his Inns
surprised his position turned aud his forces driven
back in confusion eat the when great disastct
battle restored and riliant victory achieved. Thu
routed forces of the enemy pursued Mount Jack
where he arrived without organized regiment Of
his army. All his artillery aud thousands of prisoners
fell into Sherdans hands. These closed mill
tary operations In the Shenandoah valley, and rebel
force Appealed there during the war.
Major General William 4 Sherman began the brilliant
series Of His campaigns early in May The first
point Atlanta To reach that city his armies mn
pass from the northern limit TO tho centre OF the great
Stare of Georgia, forcing their way through
defles and great rivers. overcoming OF turning
formidable intrenehed positions defended by strong.
wellappointed veteran army, commanded by aieii,
al lf.tlI
the 9th day Of May, and on the ID day Of September the
national forces entered Atlanta This achievement
thus described In General Shernans Field Order No. 81
On the irst Of May armies lying IN garrison
seemingly quiet from Knoxville 10 Huntsville, and our
enemy lay behind his rocky faced bar .ier 1T Dalton
proud, defiant, and eAulting He had had time since
Christmas to from his discontinue on the Mis-
sion Ridge, with his ranks filled and commander.
chef and second to in the confederaey ia repna-
ton for skiil, sagacity and extreme popularity
All at once our armies assumed life and action and
appeared before Dalton. Threatening Rocky lace
threw ourselves upon Resacs aud the rebel army
escaped by the rapidity Of lis reat aided by the M
mcros roads with which he WIS familiar and which
strange to Again he took post in Atatoona b
gave him no rest and by our circuit towards Daa
aud subsequent movement 10 Ackworth gained IL
Alatoona Pass. Then followed the eventual battle
about Kenesaw, and the escape of tic enemy tn
ciisft afsoonheo river ny
Ute crossing OF the Chatai,Dochee and breaking o
the Augusta road was most handsomely executed by
and will be studied as an example in the art Of Al
this stage of game enemies became dissatisfied
with their old and sul commander, and selected oui
more bod aud rash New tactics were adopted
Hood first boldly aud rapidly on the Goth Of July Tell
right at Peach Tree creek, and lost Again til,
22d. he struck our extreme left aud severely pun
hed; and finally, again the 2sth he repeated a.,
attempt on our right aud that time must have hecon,
satisfied for since that date he has remained on the de
feasiye. We slowly and gradually drew lines about
Atlanta feeling for the railroad which supplied the rehe
army aud made Atlanta place Of importance.
We must concede to enemy that he these ei
forts patiently and skiliy but at last he made the mis-
take we had waited for so long, aud sent his cavalry
far beyond the reach Of recall Instantly oni
cavalry was on his only remaining road and followed
quietly with principal army and Atlanta fell
possession the rn Of we'll concerted measures baekct
by brave and confident army
For military reasons, stated in the report Of the Lieu
tenantG neral it determined that Atlanta shonld
destroyed, and siermsns armies push forward to savai
nah or some other point on the Atlantic coast.
sI rty before the fall ofAtlant General Johnston ba,
been superseded in command Of the rebel army by enea
Hood who, adoptinga different system from thai pursu
by his cautious predecessor boldly the offensive
with view to force General Sherman from Georgin h,
cutting of his communications and Invading Ter,ne..e,
and Kentucky Pursuant to this plan, Hood by rapid
march, gained and broke up, at Big Shaniy the railroad
that supplied shernans army, advanced to Dalton asd
| thence moved towards Tennessee. Hood was fIowat
from tIanta by General Sherman far enough north IA
cover his own purpose and assure him against Hood in
terrnpting the contemplated march 10 the seacoast
Sherman turpediack suddenly to Atlanta That city
and all the railroads leading 10 it, destroyed and
the 18th Of November The march common ed for Sayan
nah Advancing in three columns and living upon tbi
country the capital Of the State and other large town
command, the 10th Of December "cIosed in on In
eneniy's works which covered savannah Fort AIis
ter gallantly carried by asslt the day TIL
city of Savannah strongly fortified. and garrsoned by
large force under General lIardie, summoned IN
surrender refused. Preparations for assault wor
made, and in the night the Goth Of December IIar
evacuated the city, and with large part Of his garrison
escaped under Of darkness. The United State
troops entered the city early IN the morning the
ordnance, and military stores captured and the co
that fell into our hands amounted Ia value many
millions a dollars
While Gsueral Sherlnan's army was marching soutl
from Atlanta 10 the se;coas the rebel army under Hood
strongly reeDiSced moving north threatening Ten
The task OF encountering this formidable foe
and defending the border States from INVASION was in
trusted Major General George II. Thomas who wa.
ably assisted ny his second in command, Major Gsncra
Sciofeli. In his report General Thomas says
"T found myself confronted by the army which, under
General ). u. Johnston, had so sknlly resisted the I'D
OF the whole active army fthe military division
the Mississippi from Dalton TO the Cbatfaioocheo re
enforce by welequpped aud enthusiastic cavalry conI
mand If 1900 men, led by Of the bodest aId
most successful cavalry commanders in the rebel army
My information from all confirmed the report
strength stated Of Hoods army be from forty fort
five thousand infantry andfrUm twelve to fifteen thousand
cavalry. My effective force at this time consisted of the
fourth corps al,oat ~ 900 under Major General d. &
Stanley: the twenty third corps about 10000 under NJ
or General Scloed; Hatchers division of cavalry about
1900 Croxton's brigade, 1900 and Caprons brigade d
about 2D0. The balance OF my force distributed
along tue railroad and posted at Murreesboro steven
son. Bridgeport Huntsville, Decatur aud Chattanooga Il
keep open communications aud bold the posts aoy,
named if attacked, until they could be reinforced nj
this time 1t impossible 10 determine which toT
Hood would take. ad"ance Nashville turn toward
Huntsville. Under these circumstances II mamie a
y best act the defensive until sufficiently reorc,
TO Justify taking the Offensive On the 18th Of Noye.
communication with General Sherman was severed Tia
last despatch from him leaving Cattersve Georgia
2aj y that date lie had started his great *
petition from Atlanta 10 the seaLdard leaving me Il
guard Tennessee, or TO pursue the enemy Il he oHowe
the commanding generals column. 1t was tI,erel,,,,
with sderuble anxiety that watched the fore. a
Florence, to discover what they woull ptie "a
regard TO General sherman's movements deierininin
thereby whether the troops under my command MN
boring iess than half those under Hood where to act 4
the defensive IN Tennessee, OF take the offensive 10 Al
bama'
When the possibility Of Hood following Sherman VII
over, General Thomas took measures gu the d.ei
sve. Requirements OF new regiments were hurri.
forward to him by the governors Of the Weste,n st,t
All troops ut for any military duty were collected an
sent forward from the hospitals asanteca leave weI
called M the employees in the
were armed and organized for duty in the
aud two divisions OF veteran infantry under command
dencral A. j Smith. that had been serving on sle Re
iver and Afterwards in Missouri pushed forward
uebtfai Thomas. BY these means his forces were sns.d
~ sweiled when concentrated army nearly IA lag
as that OF the enemy The public property anil garrison
were drawn IN IRON exposed positions and points
CURED 10 be held, the Qualifications OF Nashville w.r
strengthened and every PREPARATION made for
gle OF no ordinary magnitude Hood adyanceio Colnh
b, where he attempt to Duck creek check q
Tor while by General Schohed who repulsed the
many times with heavy loss. schobeIds main oree ~
front Of Columbia Withdrawn on the night Of tn
2yth OF November, and position taken al Franklin %
the morning Of the 30th. Here took place one 81 M
most fierce and Dooiy battles OF thu var The enemy
says General Thomas, in his report. followed closely
after General Schohelds guard ia the retreat e
franklin, and upon coming up WIN the mann iofce
formed rapidly and advanced 10 assault our works, re
peang attack after attack during the entire aern0
Ia aaflnr In lrlalE