Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-27
OFFICIAL REPORT OF LIEUT.. GENERAL
STEWART OF OPERATIONS UNDER GEN.
HDQR' STEWARDS CORPS, A. oS I :,
NEAR TUPELo, Mss. Jan. II, 1865.

HOOD.
HpQH' STEWARDS CORPS, A. os T :, !
NEAR TUPELo, Mss. Jan. II, 1865.
Col. 4. B. Mason, A. g:
SlR--In compliance with the wishes of the Com
handing General submit the following brlel re-
port of the operations ofthis Corps sOm July 18th,
lse2 the day on which Gen. Hood took command
OF the Army OF Tennessee, TO September, 18th,
1854 the day on which We recrossed the Chatta-
hoochie On the 18th of July we lay in biyouae on
| the south side of Peach Tree Greek, between the
Mprietta and PAGES Ferry road. On that or the
f,Tov,inp day we commenced entrenching-the cue
my having crossed the Chattlhooche, and adyanc-
cd, on Sunday, the 18th, to the vicinity ofPeach
Tree Greek. This Corps was on the leit, Haruee's
in The centre, Cheatham's Formerly HoodSl on the
right of the army. On the morning Of the 10th, It
was decided at army headquarters that, at O'Clock,
p NJ that day, an attack SHOULD be made on the
enemy by this Corps aud Hardee's. The plan was
for the Divisions commencing on Hardee'S rightly TO
move forward successfully 10 echelon, at intervals
of some 200 yards, to attack the enemy dvive him
back To the creek, and then press down the creek
| IN IN. left. Should the enemy he found entrench-
el his works were to be carried, everything on
| opr side of the creek was to be taken, and our
crossing the OF her side OF the creek was to de-
| pend GA onr success. Such were the instructions
OF tAe Commanding General TO General Hardee
and myself 1 was 10 hold Division in Reserve.
| 1, seea,S that "a Division had been drawn from the
lines on the right of Ilardee's Corps, His Corps
and mine were to close to the right far enough TO
cover the space vacated BY this Dyison-the space
| 10 be divided between the two Corps. This would
have shifted my line halt Division front to right,
| perhaps, at most, half a mile,
The Division and Brigade Commanders we're noti-
Ted oil tic work to be done, and directed to
uoitre the ground in front OF their lines far
practicable. At one O'clock / found she left of
ardee's corps just beginning to shift to the right.
Feeling thot this change was not important, and that
moi a moment was 20 be lost in making the attack
coutem dated a staff officer was despatched to the
| ChmIaan in. General to inform him of the fact,
| AMI requesting an order to stop the movement to
| m. ri-ht-and commence the forward movement.
The result was, however, that to keep mp connec-
4 lion with the ether corps my line moved mile
/ and half or miles tho right, and my right
division iloriugsl did not move Misunderstanding
the one it, right in the prescribed order, until
| nearly four O'Clock Ny Instructions to Division
| Commanders, and through them to Brigade and
Etgimcntal Commanders, were TO move forward and
a!:Scs the enemy, If found intrenched 10 fix bayO
nets and carry his works; to drive him back TO the
| creek, and then press down the creek that we
we're IN carry everything IN our front side of
| the creek. Loring's Division the right,
| Wathalfs IN the centre, and Frencrs the reserve
| division on the left.
The instructions given were obeyed promptly and
with alacrity. Loiings division moved forward and
| carried the works in their front hut were compell-
| Ell tA TALL hack hy an endlade tire from the right
II
| moved up to the attack. WathIli's division also
czyag ID the enemy with great spirit while Frepch's
/ VAS moved so rs la cover tho left aud be in sup
porting distance. Learning the cause Of the check
| tu LoriRg'S and WaltharS divisions, an officer was
d. Spatched to request General IIardee to allow his
lett division to cooperate with LoringS in carrying
| tEc line in its front. Before answer was re-
tc.ived, a staff officer brought order from the
| Commanding Geueral TO retire to the entrenched
4 Inc from which We had advanced, and the conflict
Il is tod les In Walt oil
divisions, especially the former, vas heavy. These
comm GuderS their officers and men behaved entire
Is go my satisfaction, and cannot but think had
thr plan Or the battle, as understood it, been car
| ricl ouf FULLY, would have achieved great sue
CO.'S. beg leave 20 refer TO subordinate reports,
for the names of those who distinguished them
selves by special glsuiry, and OF the brave officers
aqd men whose blood was SO freely and it would
som uselessy shed on this occasion, as well as for
those details It is impossible to embrace in this
/ 5 ,ctch.
Thursday night, July 2lst, the army fell back to
| the Hue around Atlanta, this corps occupying the
| siace from Peachtree creek to redoubt on hill
t the left of the Turner'S Ferry road, bslng Still
| tl.r lcit of the army.
Ca the ED, We were again ordered to be in readi-
/ ness TO attack the enemy, following the corps on
OAR right, but for reasons unknown me, the bat
4 IL dd not become general on that day. On the
! 2Sth the enemy, by extending TO his right had
| nearly gained the bickskillet road--lorng's and
| WahhallS Divisions had been relieved at the
1 trenches and /. was expected that Frepch's woud
| he that nj hit As | understood the instructions,
| Gen. Lee, commanding, corps, was to move out on
the L!Ckskillet road attack the enemy's right flank
| daI drive him FROM thar road and the one leading
| fem il by Mt Ezra Church Ny own orders were
"a with the divisions named to the point where
our own line OF works crossed the LickSkillet road
| Trenchs division. when relieved, and one from some
Orier corps, 60 Tejoin us and at early hour
next morning, we wers TO move out upon that road,
IN 10 the right, pass IN rear of the enemy and at
task. On reaching the point Indicated Lees corps
vas found 10 be engqged, aud in need OF assistance.
! Accordingly, Waltnalfs Division was moved ont
| tLorings following as suppoit,) and formed on
Lees LEFT. 1t attacked the enemy, strongly posted
ou hill, aud failing, after a desperate fight and
heavy loss to dlslodge HIM, lorjng's Division was
4 "a iced in position along the Lickskillet ROAD
| ANA Walthal directed To withdraw in rear OI
| Io.ue's. short time previous TO this,
| Geucral k1ring was wounded, leaving his
| division under the command of Brig. Gen. Feath-
. ston. While his division was taking its position
yas myself disabled, and did not return to duty
| ill the 18th of August. At this time tho corps
occupied the line FROM the Marietta road to q short
d:3t0nce west Of the Lickskillet road Nothing of
nec!al interest pccngTad beyond the constant Skin
mishng along the picket lines, until the end OF Au.
gust wien the enemy moved from our front aud
| moved upon Jonesboro'. This corps remained in
position around Atlanta until il BECAME necessary
e. eyScuale the place, retiring towards Mellon
0uah aud finally 80 LoFej0y's Station, whera it re-
p.aiued until ScptemLar 18Th On that day we
marched for Palmetto, on the A. and ", =, rail-
ad, aad on the 10th took position on the lett OF
tbs army, between the railroad and the 6hattahQO-
chic where we remained Uadsturhed, until the
jtb, when we crossed the river at Pumpkin Town,
near Cross Anchor.
/. il i dhe them to express ny high appreciation
Os the conduct and services Of the several members
Of ms staff, namely, Lieut. Col. T. +: Sewer, \.
!. &c, and his assistants, Lieuts. Cabal and Hop
kins and private Williams, of the New Orleans
Lieht Horse; Major Douglas West and Captain W.
D. Hale, of A c.. Department; Maj1r Foster, Cap
lt,n Portrr, Lieuts. DeSaullet and McFan, of the
Engineers; Lieuts Ridley and Stewart, Aids; Cap
tain Vanduford, ordnance officer; Major Mason, q.
NJ. and Major Marplly, c.. S. To Captain Green
leaf and his company, the Orleans Light Horse, 4