National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-11-20

tenofal deOrRo IL. lnOmaS SuCCeeueu 10 INC
command Of the Army of the Cumberland.
The military division of tho Mississippi was
created, and General Grant assigned to the
command. Tho plan originated by General
Rosccrans was successfully carried out by
General Thomas. BrigadierGe w. f.
Smith, who perfected the details, was intrusted
with its execution. Browns ferry was cap
tured, aud bridge quickly thrown
over the river surprising tho enemy
aud providing for the beleaguered, troops, an
open river and short lines of supplies On Oc-
ctober "a General Hooker put his command
in motion toward Chattanooga, aud after
breaking tho enemy's lines in sharp engage
ment occupied Lookout valley. Steamboats,
were soon in motion bringing the needed sup
plies to tho army. Then followed The series of
brilliant battles which resulted in driving
Bragg from Missionary Ridge. On the 23rd OF
November General Thomas forced tho enemy
from Orchard Knob On thencxt day Hooker,
moving under the direction of General Grant,
by gallant charge gained foot
hold OH Lookout Mountain. Tho Goth
saw the culumiDation OF these movements In
the daring aud rcsistless assault ON Missionary
Ridge, which resulted in the route of tho
enemy. General Hooker followed in pursuit
as far us Ringgold, where, meeting witb.strong
opposition, lie withdrew his troops to the main
army.
The portion of tho army sent to the relief
of Burnside at Knoxville countormarchcd on
the 9TH, Bragg having raised the sioge. Sher-
mans troops were withdrawn to the West,
During the months of November and Deccm.
Der there were several brilliant contests
in resisting the cnony's cavalry, no.
pressing gucrillas and scouting to the
front TO ascertain the strength and movements
OF the enemy. The beginning of 1864 found
the Army of the Cumberland disposed from
Knoxville to Bridgeport. The month Of jan
nary was occupied in minor operations. On
the 10Th Of February General Grant ordered
General Thomas to make a reconnaissance to-
ward Dalton. On the 18th Of March General
Grant having been appointed Lieutenant
General, Major General Sherman succeeded
to the command of the military division of
the Mississippi campaign with Chattanooga
as it's base was decided upon. The armies Of
the Cumberland, tho Tennessee aud the
Ohio were united. Preparations for an active
campaign against Johnston were made In
April, and on the lst of May the Army of the
Cumberland was well in hand awaiting orders.
The Army Of the Cumberland began the
movement against Dalton on the It'll of May.
While General Thomas engaged the enemy ut
Buzzard's Roost the turning of Dalton WAS Of
fected. On May 18Th Johnston retreated from
Dalton, which place was Immediately Occu-
pied by Howard. The armies were then adj
vanced TO Resaca, which place Johnston was
forced 10 abandon on tho 18th. Then followed
the capture of Rome and the further
retreat Of Johnston. The next point Of attack
was Dallas, and the latter part of May WAS
spent by the Army of the Cumberland in hard
fighting about Dallas. The troops were next
engaged in pressing the enemy of Lost and
Kenesaw mountains. On the 9th General
Thomas assaulted tho enemy at Little Kene-
saw, but being unable TO move him from his
impregnabe position, threw up breastworks
In close proximity to his line. On the LIST Of
July General Sherman succeeded in turning
tho point which he had failed to carry by as
md m tha n ul, IN
johnson withdrew his army. Tho direct ad-
vance upon Atlanta began on tho 18th Of July.
Meanwhile General Hood had succeeded Gen-
eral Johnston in command of the rebel army.
General Hoods fist engagement after assum-
ing his command WAS the battle of Peach.tree
Creek. lie contemplated, by bold and sud-
den assault, to entirely defeat the Union army,
but lie was resisted and defeated by a portion
of the Army of the Cumberland, aud fore d to
retire to tho immediate defcnses of Atlanta.
A regular siege Of Atlanta was then begun,
and tho month was used up in va
rious operations which did not change the
relative positions of tho armies. General
Sherman, raising the sioge, then inaugurated
the grand movement by the left flank, and
by the LIST of September the army was moving
upon Jonesboro. General Morgan's division
carried the line Of the enemy at this point by
bold assault. This was Immediately fol-
lowed by the retreat Of Hood from Atlanta
and the four months campaign was ended
with tho occupation of the city.
A new phase of the Georgia campaign ap.
peared when Hood in September began to
move his army northwest, for the evident pur
pose of cutting of Sherman's communications
which involved n change of tactics on the part
of the Union forces. An Invasion of Tennes-
sec by Forrest at the same time demanded the
attention of Genaral Thomas, and after a cam
paign of two weeks, he expelled the enemy
from the State After operating against Hood
Int. Nlh Ma
early in November abandoning the pursuit of
the enemy on his northward march,
left Thomas to watch Hood, and embarrass
him in the expected Northern invasion, and
turned his attention to preparations for the
grand march to the soa. The responsibility of
opposing Hoods entire enemy now fell upon
General Thomas. He began u campaign,
which resulted on the 10Th of November in
Hoods defeat at Franklin. The gallant fight
ing OF all the troops engaged, and especially
of Opdyke's brigade, saved the National
army from destruction, which was imminent,
and rcpulsed every assault OF the strong army
and made him withdraw In hasty retreat
On December Sd General Thomas moved to
Nashville. Owing to many nnthycrable con-
ditions he liestated to give battle until fully
prepared This was the primary cause OF the
order issued on the Ii relieving him of
his command aud appointing General Scho-
field to succeed him. The order, though
was soon suspended, and at the same
time Thomas was urged to hasten the
battle at Nashville, Tho battle began on
the morning Of the 18th. The veteran
brigadcs of the Army of the Cumberland, as
saulted the enemy with the daring and cour-
age for which they had long before become
famous on many bloody field. At night
complete victory was in sight, and General
Thomas and his army were congratulated oili-
cially by the President in the name of the
people. The battle WAS continued on
tho following day, and before night
the enemy was hurled from every
position in utter route. This action
resulted in crushing out of existence the Con-
federae Army OF the Tennessee, and AN
nounctd tho overthrow Of tho rebellion in the
West On the 17th General Thomas COM
menced the pursuit of the fleeing foe, but the
pursuit was abandoned ut Sugar Creek, and
General Thomas prepared to dispose his forces
in winter environments. On the 30th he isaued
orders announcing the conclusion Of the cam
paign
The march to the sea began November 10.
On the 18th Sherman denaued the surrender
of Savannah General HRrdee, without sur
rendering, withdrew his forces on the 18Th
and the city fell into tho hands of the Ma.
tional forces. In January 1865, General Sher-