New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-21
GEN. SHERMAN.
HIS OFF ICIAL r r 7.
rRom ATLANTA TO SAVANNAH.
A Valuable Contribution to the History Of
the War.
From Our Special Correspondent


The following official report has been fur
uisLed for publication:
HDQRs. MI DIV. OF TIE MISSISSIPPI
IN riIB FIELD SAVANNAH. GA. January |, lsG3.
MAJOR. Gen ii. W. HALLEcK Chef Of STAT, WashiHetor
City ID. C.
GENERAL: have the honor to offer my re-
port of the operations ohe ai mics under my command
the occupation of Atlanta in the early part OF sep
TENDER last, up 10 the present date.
AS heretofore reported in the month Of September
the Army of the Cumberland, Maior.Gen Thomas
commanding held the City of Atlanta; the Army Of
the Tennessee, MajorGe Howard commanding was
grouped about East Point; and tho Army of the Ohio,
MajOr-Gen ScioIeld commanding held Decatur.
Many changes occurred in the composition Of tlose
armies in consequence of tie expiration of the time OF
service Of many Of the regiments. The opportunity
was given TO is 10 consolidate the fragments. Icc'Uhe
and equip the men, and make preparations Tor tie
fniure campaign. also avaed myself of the occasion
60 strengthen the garrsons to rear, TO make our
communications more secure and sent Nagners Diyi-
sion Of the Fourth Corps, ano Morgans Division OF he
Fourteenth Corps back to Chattanooga. and CoTses
Division OF ths Fifteenth Corps Rome. Also n
thorough Reconnaissance was made Of Atlanta. and .
new line OF works begun which required small garr
ron 10 hold.
During this month the enemy whom we had left ct
Lcyejoys Station, moved westward toward the Chat =
hoochee. taking position facing MS aud covering TIE
Yves. Point Railroad, about Palmetto Station lie
also threw pQntOOn bridge across tue Chattabooelee
and sent cavalry deachmeDtS 10 the west IN the Giroc
ton of Caroton and Powder Springs. About the
same time President Davis visited Macon. and Iis
army Palmetto and made harangues referring 20 an
command OF lhe Confederate forces, with Cbea.lan :
H. Lee end Stewart commanding his three corps, old
Wheeler in command OF his cavalry which had blan
largely reinforced.
My cavalry consisted o. twQ divisions. One We
stationed at Decatur rnder Command Of Brig Gen.
I;arrard; tho other commanded by Brig. Gen hupat-
rick was posted near Sandtown, with pontoon b1idse
over the Chattahoochee from which he could waehG any
movement of tie enemy toward TIE est.
As soon Is became convinced thai tho enemy IN
tended TO assume the offensive, namely September e,
sent MdiorGcn. Thomas, second in command, 20
Nashville 10 orgahNe the new troops expected % ar
rive and 20 make preliminary preparations 10 in,e'
About the LIST Of October some of the enemy eev'y
made their appearance on the west OF the Ch11ta
hOOchoe, and Of his infantry corps was reEpiud
Powder Springs; and received authentic ntell
gence that the rest OF his infantry e. the
west OF the Chatahoochee. nj once made my orders
that Atlanta and The Chattahooeaee Railroad bridge
should be- held by the Twentieth Corps. MaJor-6eIL
Slocum, end the 4th Of October put ia motion the
sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps, and the Fourth Four
teenth. and Twenty third Corps 10 Smyrna cam
ground, and the jth moved TO the strong pos q
about Kenesaw. The enem!'s cavalry had by a rapid
movement, got upon railroad q, BIG ShaIty and
broken the line Of telegraph ana railroad, and with
division OF infantry Qrench') had moved agains.
Alatoona where were stored ebout million of rallons
Its doubts were gariscned by three small regiments
pndor Col. Tourtcl!5tte. 4th Minnesota
had anticipated this movement and had nv signal
and telegraph ordered Gen Corse to reeaforce t,at
post from Rome. Gen. Core had reached Aunt0cna
with brigade during the night of the 18th just il time
10 moetthe ataeE by ienchs Division ON ine morning
about 10 a. M OF the sth and could the smoke OF
battle SUD hear the faint SQUADS Of artillery. The dis
lance 10 niles was 100 great ior me TO make IN TINE to
share In the battle but 1 directed the Twenty hird
Corps, B,icadior- General Cox commanding 10 move
rapidly from the base OF Kenesdw due west aiming TO
reach the road from AllctoOno 10 Dalas, threatening
tie rear OF the forces attacking Alatoona succeeded
ia getting signal message TO Gen COrse during his
eight notifying him Of my presence. The de.ense OF
AatOona by Gen. COrse was admirably conducted ana
Tho enemy repused with heavy slaughter His descGip
ton G. tae defense is 50 graphic tat cayes nothing
for me 10 add; a1d tie movement Of Gen Cox had the
deslled effect Of causing the Withdrawal o! Irenchs d.
vision rapidly in tho direction o. Dallas.
Ca the 9th and 7th pushed D.. cavalry well toward
Burnt Hickory anu Dallas, aud dlscoJ cred that the
eneIry had moved westward and inferred that ne
wond attempt 20 break railroad rain in the neigh
borhood Of Kingston. Accordingly. o. tie morning OF
tie stb ! PIT the army IN motion through AllafOona
Pass TO Kingston. reaching that point on the 10Th.
There learned that the enemy lad feighed on Rome,
ond was passing the CoOss River on pOntoon bridge
about eleven miles beosRone. Therefore Oh the lth
moved 20 Rome end pushed Garrerds cavalry and the
Twenty third Corps under Gen Cox across the Ooste
paula 10 threaten the Aenks Of the enemy passing
north GarraYl's cavalry drove a cavalry BRIGADE Of
The enemy and cyoDd the Nalows. leading into the
valley of the Chaiiooga, capturing two field pieces
The enemy bad moved with great r0pidity an / made
his appearance at kessca and Hood had in person de-
nand, its surrender.
had ro,n Kingston reinforced Resecs by two reei.
nsenis of the Army Of the Tenne6sec. at first in
tended 10 move the army into TIE Ctattooga Valley
GinterpOse between the enemy 6l bis line OF retreat
down the Coca hut feared that Gen. Hood would ia
that even. turn eastward by Spring Place. and down
Federal road. and therefore moved against him at
Rcssca Col Weaver al Eosaca aterw ald leonlOI ed
by Gen. Raums brigade had repulsed tie enemy from
Pesaca but he had succeeded in breosinc the railroad
from Elton 10 Dalton and a. Tar north as the tunnel
Arriving Gt Resaca the evening at ;he l4.h deter
mined to strike Hood In flank force him 10 battle
and directed the Army Of the Tennessee Cen. How
ard 10 move 10 Snake Creek Gap which woh held by
the enemy, while Gen Stanley. with the Fourth and
Fourteenth Corps, moved by 1iton across the noun
,ains the rear Of Snake Creek Gap in the neghbor
The Army OF the Tennessee found the enemy oec1
owing our cid Lines in Snake Creea Gap and O The 18th
sEirBisbed for the parpOSe o. holding him there until
Stanley could get 10 his But the enemy gave way
about noon and was followed through the Gap. escap
inc before Gen STANLEY had reached the further end Of
the Pass The next day (tle lbh) the armies moved
Hoods retreat. VIC found him intrenched in Ships
Gap hat the leading division Wooi Of the Fifteenth
Corps rapidly carried the adyaIoed posts held by Two
companies OF South Carolina Regiment making them
prisoners The remaining eight companies escaped 10
the main body near Lanyetto. TIE next morning we
passed into the valley Of the Chattooca the Army
Of the Tennessee moving IN pursuit by Lafayette and
Alpine toward Blue Pond the Army Of the Cumber
land by Summeryille aud Melville PostOice 10 Gayles
VILE and the Army Of the Ohio aud Garrards Cavalry
hon Viapow, Dirtown, and Gotors Gap 10 Gayles-
ellie Hood however was little incuInbered with
trains and marched with great rapdlty. anu had cue
decided in getting into the narrow gorge formed by the
Lookout Range sbuttDg against the CoOsa l2Ner IN the
ncighborhood Of GadsdeD. lie evidently wanted 10
AVOID d fight.
On the 18Th all the grouped about Gayles
VILE In the rich valley OF the Chatooga. Astounding
In corn and meat and determined 10 pause IN Wy pur
suit Of toe enemy TO watch his movements and i've on
the country. hoped that Hood would turn toward war
Guntersyile and Bridgeport. The Army oi the Ten
aessse posted near Little River WIN Instructions
70 feel forward IN support Of tho cavalry when wht
ordered TO watch Hood IN the neighpoinooa OF Mn
Valley and 10 give the earliest notice possible OF
bis turning northwsrd. The Army OF the ONO wa.
posted at Cedar Bluff with orders TO lay a poniooa
across The Coosa and 10 feel forward 10 Center and
nn In no di-ect on Of Blu, Mountain. The Army OF