The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-30

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work "his own sweet viii upon anything
and everything lying in his way. Ifhe went
toward the sea, be must cut all his commu-
nications. While Hood conld and would
be heard from daily by all the North, their
own forces would be lost to them for weeks
in the heart of the Confederacy, and there
would be a reaction against the loyal Gov
ernment at most critical time-the eve OF
an election. So no sooner was be certain
that the northward movement had begun,
and leaving the Twentieth Corps to hold
Atlanta Sherman took the Fourth, Four
teenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps In
pursuit.
Hood had sent Stewart with the cavalry
and his own corps, along the line Of the rail-
road, which they destroyed for more than 70
miles, capturing some gsrrisons IN blockhouses'
On Oct 5 they attacked Allatoona, where
were stored 3 100000 ratiOns, but the garrison
having been reinforced by Gen. COrse, from
Rome, the assaults, though made with desper-
ate courage, aud repeated again and again, fail
ed and the rebel commander drew Of, leaving
dead and wounded enough to outnumber the
defenders.
HOOD ADVANCES GORTHwARD.
Having crossed the Coosa with his main
force the rebel commander directed his march
Dortbward toward Lafayette and Summeryille,
and thus threatened both Bridgeport and Chat
+. tanooga Stewart, keeping on or near the line
Of the railroad. captured numerous garrlsons
IN block houses along the course OF has maTeh.
and pushing as far north as Dalton captured
that place, carrying off the officers, only TO pa
role them three or four days later. Many OF
the coored troops composing its garrison sue
ceeded IN escaping and reaching Chattanooga.
For some reason Gen. Thomas refused TO rec
ognize the paroles and the officers, as soon as
their return to the Federal lines was reported,
were ordered on duty, and later on again TOOK
part in the campaign
Meanwhile Sherman, marching on the rear
Of the rebel force, was not gaining any upon
il: his trains being more cumbersome, and he
somewhat IN doubt as to the course his oppo-
neBt meant TO take. Directly before him, and
within striking distance. was Chattanooga,
with its magazines full of stores of all kinds;
but il was strongly fortified, and though its
works We're not fully manned, still he must
expect that the defense would be desperate,
and delay him long enough for his earnest ad-
versary TO fall upon his rear. The route
through Eastern Tennessee would take him
through region bitterly hostile and
not well stocked with supplies at that
time and be would have no oppOrtu-
nifty TO obtain any from other sources.
The bridge at Bridgeport could easily be de-
Etroyed, if necessary and he thus find an
impossible river in his front; or, as wss more
probable il would be defended TO the last. and
be would find himself hemmed in in narrow
valley, out OF which it would be impossible to
make a rapid movement with his trains. Call
ing In Stewart, therefore, from his course along
the railroad. he turned westward south OF
the Tennessee. and at SummeTyiile the COM
Enand was reunited aud marched for Gadsden,
on the COosa; Sherman. not IN the best possible
humor following on his trail. Bat, on reach
ing Gayiesyille. near the Alabama line, he
halted, to see what Hood would do" After
3 delay Of q week, he found that he had put
his leading columns IN motion toward Deea-
fur Ala, and turning him over to the care of
Gen. Thomas, he faced his army about and
started for the coast, having first detached the
Fourth Corps and ordered its commander to
report for the defense of Tennessee.
GRANGER REFUSES TO SURRENDER.
Above Decatur, Ala, the river could only be
crossed by bridging. and the Federal gunb0ats
rendered such proceeding TOO hazardous. and
on the 25th Of October the rebel advance
reached Decatur, and demanded its sur
render. It's Gefenses were not formidable, and
its garrison was less than 1000 strong. The
river was sp2nned by fne pOnt0On bridge,
and the possession Of the place would give a
crossing by which cavalry force could readily
reach the railroads from Chattanooga; and as
the Fourth Corps had not yet passed north of
that place, such movement would have at
least seriously delayed its junction with forces
already gathered Tor the defense of Tennessee.
But the officer in command, Rrig.-Gen. Z. S.
Granger, not only refused 10 surrender, but
made SO great a show of force even making
one sally hy which a large portion of the rebel
picket-line on their left was captured, that he
deceived the commander of the attacking
force as TO his actual strength. and made him,
with Aliatoona fresh IN his memory, hesitate
about an assault In the meantime he called
earnestly for endorsements and some were sent
Il,
80 about 1900 men; among them a regiment
Of colOred inlantTy-the 18th Z. s., under CON-
mand Of Col. Thos. j. Morgan. On the 9th this
regiment passing westOf the Qualifications under
cover Of the high bank Of the river, suddenly
sttaeked the 18th La. battery stationed in an
earthWoTk on the extreme right of the rebel
line above the town, and carried it by assault
though at once driven out by q brigade lying
IL q ravinc In rear OF the work. After loiter-
ing about tie place till the Both, Hood with
drew his forces aud passed down the river to
the neighbOrhood Of the Muscle Shoals. This
movement may have been necessary in order
70 procure supplies, OF which the country
north Of the river and as far down as Decatur
had been stripped by both armies during the
Summer; but by this movement he lost the
first opportunity lac had of inierposing between
different portions OF the forces of his enemy
and left that enemy's communications opeI
and unassailed. Hoods whole campaign seems
90 have been lacking ia earnestness of execu
fion the part of his suhordinates; nor did
those not directly under his command, but {,
whom be looked for supplies, seem to meet hi
expectations.
After withdrawing from Decatur he fingered
in the vicinity Of Tuscnmbia until Nov 20
waiting for supplies 10 be sent him from
Cherokee Station, On the Memphis & Charles
ton Railroad, the most easteriy point to whicl
that line was IN running order. This left i
miles over which transportation to Tuscumbi
must be by wagons and over clay roads whic
In rainy weather soon became quagnlires.
Hood complained that this road had bee
ordered repaired as far as TuscHmba before h
began his northward movement. and that, ha
the order been Obeyod, he could have at one
pushed northward and have been at Nashvill
before Thomas could have concentrated fore
enough to successfully oppose him.
Before this movement had been begun an
during the visit Of Mr. Davis, the department
Of Gems. Taylor and Hood had been consoI
dated and Gen. Beauregard put in command
but bis jurisdiction must have been of somt
what aB0malOus nature. for il was defnitel
understood that he was not TO assume an
authority n the field and his last meetin
with the actual commander took place viii
the army lay around Decatur, and after eros
ing the Tennessee Hood seems TO have bee
wholly master Of his own movements
As before stated that crossing was effecte
without serious opposition on Nov. 20 at Muse
Shoals zvlsere fhe Federal gunboatr conl5 -,