The National tribune., 1886-10-14

Quite likely Bragg ordered frequent roll
calls as guard against desertion. Johnston
trusted the soldiers, was kind 10 them and
soon won their confidence. He ordered that
they should he paid. True, the money was
worthless almost, but il was something for
the Government 90 keep It's faith with them.
He ordered that $50 bounty he paid TO each
man. ii only cost the printing. The
promises to pay never would be redeemed,
but it made the soldiers happy. That was
the gain.
J0HNsToN's ARMY.
The army under Johnston, on the last
day of April, consisted of Hoods and Har-
dee's Corps and Wheeler's cavalry, in all
52,992 Reinlorcements were on their way.
MERGERS Brigade of $500 came three days
later. On the 9TH Cantys Division Of $500
reached Resaca. Gen. Polk hurried up from
Mississippi with his corps Of 10000. Other
divisions were forwarded so rapidly that On
the secoud week in May the Confederate
army numbered between 10000 and $4,000.
THE UNION ARMY.
Let ms lock at the Union army under
Sherman, with headquarters at Chattanooga,
on the Isl Of May. There are three distinct
armies tbat of the Cumberland, under Gen.
Thomas the Army Of the Ohio, under Gen.
Scholield; the Army of the Tennessee,
under Gen. Mcpherson, and the Eleventh
and Twelfth Corps of the Army of the POto-
mac Babe, sickness and expiration of
service had sadly thinned the ranks Of the
regiments of the veterans from the East.
Sherman 1ecides TO consolidate them into
new CORPS The veterans are proud of their
achievcm, nis. The men OF the Eleventh do
not want 60 be merged into the Twelfth, nor
do the soldiers of the Twelfth desire 10 lose
their identity in the Eleventh Gen. Sber-
man reeppcts the spirit of the men and
creates a new corps, the Twentieth, to win
new victories aud make history OF ITS own.
Gen. HntAcr, the ODD commander of the Army
of the Potomac, is appointed commander and
the corp. IL attached 10 the Army of the
Cumberland. Resides the Twentieth, Cen
Thomas has the Fourth under Gen. Howard
who has commanded the Eleventh, and the
Fourteenth, under Gen. Palmer.
The Army of the Tennessee is composed
of the Fifteenth Corps, under Gen. Logan
the Seventeenth, under Gen. Blair, aud the
Sixteenth uHder Gen Dodge, bat only two
divisions OF the Sixteenth are at Chatta-
nooga- he Army OF the Ohio has but one
corps, the Twenty-third.
BEGINNING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The 5lh Of May was selected by Gen. Grant
for the movement of the army. He desired
that ii should be simultaneous with the
movement Of the Army OF the Potomac in
Virginia. On that morning Gen. Thomas Is
at Rlnggoid, Sehotield is east of him, march
down from Cleveland, and Mcpherson moy-
inga The old battlefield of Chickamauga,
10 come IN upon the right of Thomas
Gen. Sherman has looked ahead to see
about the resources of the country, consult
ing the ccilsns tables of 1860 of every County
in Georgia, showing the amount of corn, the
number OF cattle, that he may make caleula-
tiODs Tor the support of the army in case he
cannot obtain all he needs from the North.
On May Gen. Thomas comes upon the
ConiederaIes at Tunnel Hin, and drives off
the piclSels holding it. From the hill Sher-
man looks down past Buzzards' ROHst. He
can see the long lines OF works, the Conled-
crates behind them, the cannon rejecting
the sunlight, the dams thrown across the
creek forming miniature lakes lie has no
intention of attacking the formidable posi-
tiOn. de has a better plan. He directs
McHhefSon and Hooker 10 move toward
Snake Creek, a little stream which springs
from tlIemountain side southwest of Dalton.
There is gap in the mountains, with a road
winding through il. No Confederate soldiers
guard IL. IL seems not TO have occurred TO
Johnston that Sherman would use IL TO turn
his flank and rear. Not till Mcpherson was
marching through the gap did Johnston SEE
that be had lett a side door open, through
which Sherman could walk into Resaea.
Hooker, with the Twentieth Corps, followed
AlcPherson who at 2 O'Clock on the 9th was
within mile and half of the railroad at
Resaca. lie met brigade of cavalry, but
quickly Grove them. Had he pressed on he
might have seized the railroad but he acted
with caution and fell back TO the gap tll
morning. The ablest commanders and the
best OF men err in judgment and make ms
takes. Mcpherson lost great opportunity
He had $4,000 men, Hooker was right be-
hind bin. and had he moved on 10 Resaca
there would have been CONSERVATION in the
Confederate army. Johnston would have
been compelled 10 either divide his army OF
10 retreat eastward, abandoning the line of
railroad and his SUPPLE. III the latter,
ThOmas and Sch0ield would have been in
position % p0unce upon HIM aS hounds Hpon
a startled deer. Gen Johnston has bern re.
parded ~ one Of the ablest of Coniedegate
commanders, bat the neglect 90 guard Snake
Greek Gap WIS glaring defect In his plan
of defense The caution 0f Mcpherson was
due to the terms of his instructions from
Sherman. IL wss an error OF judgment on
the safe side, but had he seized the railroad
IL would have been a disastrous day 10 John
st0n. Had he done 30, SAYS Sherman,
am certain that Johnston would NOT have
ventured 20 attack him in position. hut
would have ietreated towards Spring Place,
and We should have captured half his army
and all his baggage at the very beginning OF
the campa en-"
Gen. sherman decided TO move the whole
army through Snake Greek Gap There was
but one road, and il was a slow march.
Through the next two days there Was a
ceaseless tramping of men and rumble of
artillery along The narrow road. The tro0ps
deplOy a. close in upon Resaca, Mcpherson
Oh the right, Thomas in the center and
SchOfcd on the left
Johnston IL forced 10 abandon all the
strong works at Dalton. The breast works
the dams, are OF no account. 1t was not
agreeable, but there was no help for IL and
80 we see the ConfedeTatcs fastening back Ia
Resaca and The soldiers work ing like beavers
10 construct other breastw0rlzs the army no
longer facing north but west The campaign
bas opened, and the two mighty armies are
IN position for the first great battle.
10 be continued
Mr.. Barnum has the Twins
ltIl AlaH t,1-fus1