The National tribune., 1893-03-23
the enemy were driven back aud retreated

From this point Cnickamauga Station was in
full view, aud skirmisbers were thrown for.
ward. Upon reaching the suburbs OF the town
! they encountered the enemy in a very sharp
! skirmish and discovering from the burning
buildings that the enemy had retreated. the
skrmshers pushed the attack into town, press
ing the enemy so closely as to compel him 10
! abandon considerable property undestroyed.
/ Orders were now given TO advance and attack
| the field works, and were executed with a dash
| which soon drove the enemy beyond their
main line. which had been formed about a
quarter Of a mile beyond the town to resist the
rapid and vigorous advance. A gallant charge
soon caused the enemy TO fall back in great
haste aud after sharp conflict the fieldworks
were taken and the enemy fell back towards
Graysville. Several cannon, among them two
"a FOUNDER siegepieces, were captured, and a
considerable quantity of commisSary, quarter
master, and ordnance stores were saved, not
withstanding the enemy's efforts to destroy
them.
Under orders from Gen. Sherman, who ar
rived at the head of the column about p. M.
the FIRST Division. with Beatty's tSecond)
Brigade, on the right pushed forward in pur-
suit The skirmishers drove the enemy's cav
airy until Shepherds farm, about three miles
beyond the station, was reached. The enemy
in considerable force here opened fire upon the
head of the column, when Gen. Beatty threw
sharply. His brigade pushed rapidly across
the swamp, and moved at once upon the
ememy's position in the open field. After some
sharp skirmishng the enemy fell back across
the open fields where his battery was posted.
Battery ], Cd Ill. L. A., conforming to the
movements of the brigade, moved forward to a
commanding hill in the open field and opened
fire upon the enemy's battery.
Beatty pushed his brigade to the banks of a
small stream running through the fields and
formed in line of battle. Heavy firing was at
once commenced and kept up on both sides
until long after dark.
McCook with two regiments of his brigade
pushed forward and formed on Beatty's right
and rear, in close supporting distance. while
the other two regiments of McCook's Brigade
pushed forward aud formed Immediately on
Beattys left.
Morgan came promptly UP in reserve, but it
being now quite dark attack was not deemed
prudent.
In this engagement the brigade of Gen.
Beatty did most of the fighting and behaved
with excellent courage. During the night
the troops lay on their arms, and at daylight
in the morning resumed the pursuit McCook's
Brigade in the advance.
KNOXVILLE (TENN.) CAMPAIGN.
By the evening of Dec. 3 the Second Division
reached the Tennessee River at Loudon, and
on the 4th marched up the river and Joined the
Fifteenth and part of the Fourth Corps at
Morgamton.
On the evening of the 5th the division, fol-
lowing the rear of the entire column. crossed
the Tennessee River, and commenced the adj
vance from Morganton to Knoxville, but on
the 9TH, in obedience to orders received on
the 9th recTossed the river. and on the evening
of the 9Th reached Columbus on the Hiwassee,
at which point it remained until the morning
of the 10Th, the intervening period having
been occupied in procuring subsistence from
the surrounding country.
On the morning of the 18th the march was
resumed. and on the 18th the division reached
Chattanooga, though many of the troops, owing
to the breaking OF the pontoon bridge, did not
reach their old camps on the opposite side of
the river until the 18th.
The loss of the Fourteenth Corps during the
Chattanooga 'Ringeold campaign was Is officers
and 130 enlisted men killed, 55 officers and 7l9
enlisted men wounded and Ia enlisted men
captured or missing; total, 931.
THE OPENING OF THE YEAR 1864
found the Army of the Cumberland in no con-
dition for aggression. 1t was disposed from
Knoxville to Bridgeport, and along the railroad
from the latter place to Louisville Ky. Dur
ing the siege of Chattanooga at least 10000 ami
mails had died. and those remaining were unfit
for service. The first months of the year were
therefore occupied in preparations for future
operations.
Many of the old regiments had re. enlisted as
veterans, and were furloughei and sent home
both to enjoy their brief vacation and, if posi-
bic. recruit their numbers for the strife Of the
coming year.
DEMONSTRATION ON DALTON.
Early in February, 1864, occurred the first
break in the long Winter rest of the troops.
On the 10th Gen. Thomas received orders to
10 rfa IN Enarvsi1a vvif for
as could lie safely spared from the protection
of Chattanooga and its communications TO CO.
operate with the Army of the Ohio and drive
Longstreet from East Tennessee. These orders
were, however, c0untermauded on the 14th,
but as Gen. Thomas had been preparing for a
move it was deemed advisable to make
demonstration on his immediate front. and, if
possible. gain possession Of Dalton and as far
south OF that as possible.
Accordingly, on the 22d of February, the
troops were put in motion. The First Division
fJobnson) and the Third Division (Baird) of
the Fourteenth Corps, with cavalry in advance
and on the right flank, moved out from Chat
tanooga and occupied Ringgold, Ga. where
they were joined by the Second Division
Davis. Cruft's Division. of the Fourth Corps,
with Longs Brigade of Cavalry and a detach-
ment of the Fifteenth Corps operated in con-
junction with the Fourteenth Corps. Daring
these operations skirmishes ensued, on the 23d
near Dalton and at Catoosa Station and Tunnel
Hill; 2ith 25th at Tunnel Hill, BuZzard
Roost and Rocky Face Ridge, and on the 9th
at Stone Church, near Catoosa Platform. Gen.
Thomas, however. becoming convinced that the
rebel army at Dalton largely outnumbered the
four divisions opposed TO it, withdrew his troops
TO the positions occupied previous to the recon-
noisssnces.
The total loss OF the Union troops during the
demonstration on Dalton, Ga, was 345 killed.
wounded. and missing, of which number the
Fourteenth Corps lost 35 killed, 172 wounded,
and Y aptured or missing; total, 234.
On March 16. 1864. Maj. Gen. w. r. Sherman
assumed command of the Military Division of
the Mississippi. Maj.-Gen. James B. Mcpherson
succeeding him in command of the Army of
the Tennessee. During the months of March
aud April various movements were made by
both the Union aud Confederate armies, but
with no very important or definite results TO
either.
REcoNSoIssAEcE TOWARD TUNNEL HILL.
On Aprii % a reconnaissance was made to.
ward Tunnel Hill from Ringgold. The force
consisted Of 300 cavalry under Gen. Fitzpatrick,
supported by Van Derveer's Brigade OF the
Third Division, Fourteenth Corps. They en-
countered the enemy and drove him some dis
tance, when, developing greatly superior
force, they were compelled to withdraw. At
Davis's House the enemy pressed them, when
they turned and repulsed him handsomely.
About this time preparations were COM
menced for the proposed advance on Dalton in
May. The Fourteenth Corps was to concen-
trate at Rnggod, Ga, as soon as possible and
Kilpatrick's Cavalry Division was ordered to