The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-10-21

and 20, 900 men, so Suddenly abandoned strong
positiOnY Why has he so suddenly changed
his mind? Why exposed himself 10 be the
laughing-stOck of the army2 At sunset on the
evening Of the 18th Hood was on the right,
Polk in the center, aud Hardec on the left. the
troops all in position, the artillery behind the
reastworks-evcrything in readiRess for the
battle No Union troops were in his rear.
sherman was making no movement TO outhank
him. lie has issued his order for a battle, aud
yet in the morning he is making haste toward
kenesaw Mountain. What is the meaning Of IL 2
After the Confederate troops were all in posi-
ti0n Johnston, Hood. and Polk sat down TO
supper together in a house at Cassville. john
ston had nothing 10 eat and was dining with
Hood. Ny troops are not in good position !;
the enemy's cannon enflade my line" said
Hood. They also cniiaae my line. aud fear
j shall not be able 10 hold my ground, said
Polk.
RETREATING ONCE MORE.
Gen. Johnston Is astOnished and irritated for
he secs that it is a criticism upon his plan.
Gen Hood is a brave, energetic, but restless
officer. He has found fault with Johnston for
abandoning Resaca, aud maintains that he
should have fought battle there. There is a
long discussion Of Johnstons plans and tactics.
Johnston finds out tha, Hood has plan Of his
own that he wants TO carry out Johnston be-
lieves in making a defensive fght-tO stand
behind his intrenchments and let Sherman
make the attack. Hood, instead, wants TO
take the offensive He believes i'm giving
blows instead of receiving them. lie wants TO
march with his own aud part Of Folks Corps
and fall upon Schufeld, who is five miles
away from Thomas. lie thinks that he can
defeat SchoGeld, drive him pel-mell TO the
rear, and then hasten back and get into posi-
tiOn once more before Thomas can begin bat
tie. Ii is quite possible that Hood thinks that
he can repeat the tactics of Stonewall Jackson
at Charlottesville. He has ever been re-
garded by his fellow officers as brave but lack
ing in Judgment. Johnston does not believe
that any such strategy can succeed. lie is irri-
tated and angry. The newspapers of the
South have been finding fault with him, have
asked why does he not fight battle. He
knows that portion of his officers have been
finding fault with him also, aud now when he
is all ready to fight, instead Of hearty, unques-
tiOning cooperation, Hood and Polk are criti-
cising his plans. He accuses them of having
conferred together, Of having lost heart, of
being beaten before a battle has begun. At
last he says: " j am not willing to engage in a
critical battle with an army much larger than
my own, with two Of my corps commanders
dissatisfied with my plan aud unwilling TO
fight upon the ground which have chosen, or
in the positions which have assigned them"
He rises from the table In anger and issues or
ders for the army 20 retreat at once. Behind
him a few miles is EtOwah River, beyond
which is the range Of hills in the vicinity of
AllatoOna. Beyond Allatoona is Kenesaw,
where be will be able 10 find a strong position
and once more stand on the defensive. Cou-
riers go out with the order and the Confeder-
ate soldiers disappointed once more, take up
the line of march toward the Etowah. 1t is a
stream easily forded and in the morning they
are passing through the Allatoona Hills. com
ing once more into position on the east bank Of
Pumpkin-Nine Creek. Morning dawns, the
Union army is ready 10 attack, but not Con-
federate soldier is TO be found at Cassville.
TO be cOltinuedl