The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-30
AS 70 THE BATTLE OF JoNEsBoRo'.

ID. +. BOYD.
AS TO THE BATTLE OF JoNESBoRO'.
FoKT WAYNE, Mich, Sept. a, 1865.
DEAR GENERAL / have carefully read
your Memoirs and desire to express my adj
miration OF the work as vivid picture of the
great part OF the war Your experience was
made in. 1t is not to be supposed, indeed ii
is not possible, that all the actors in their
varied scenes should be satisfied with the
parts assigned them, neither is it possible that
you could have a perfect and personal ac-
quaintanee of the circumstances Of every por-
ton of your widely extended theaters OF
movements and battles.
On page 10S, second volume of the " Me-
mOiTs.' it Is stated ''Gen. Stanley had
come up on the left Of Gen. Davis, and was
deplOying, though there could not have been
on his front more than skiImish-line. Had
he moved straight by the flank, OF by slight
circuit to his left, lie would have inelosed the
whole ground occupied by Hardee's Corps
and that corps could not have escaped us. y
have no-copy If my official report with me,
but have copy of The daily journal Of my
Chief of Staff. Col. J. S Fullerton. written
the night OF Sept ], 1854. / also ask you to
read the inelosed extracts from letters 10 me
and William Grose. TO each of whom | ad-
dressed note in order TO get their recollec-
fi0ns of the days movements and the state of
the case. Igiye only extracts as each of these
letters contains private matter only interest
ing TO myself.
In regard to the days result at Jonesboro',
assure yOH felt at the time and have since
felt, as discontinued as yourSelf urged the
movement IN person, and at the time thought
Newton unnecessarily slow Il think since he
did all he could under the circumstances.
The only criticism have to make is the one
made by Gen. Grose, that too much time
was spent tearing up railroads"
About or 2:30 p. m. Col Willard Warner
came to me and said that you directed that
q thorough destruction of the railroad be
made. If we had marched on the enemy
during the hours we spent burning ties. and
making bows and loops of iron rails, we would
have ruined Hardee's Corps sure enough.
Gen. Thomas never came near me- nor did
i meet anyone that afternoon who could give
me the least information with regard to the
situation OF affairs. ! aecompan ed Newton's
DIVISION In Its deplOyment. and urged them
on Just at dark | received a confused wound
from musket-ball in the groin that disabled
me for the remainder of that day.
i submit these papers to YOU. with the
utmost good nature TO show you that your
suPpostion in regard to the force of the enemy
upon nay fnont Is a mistaken one. The great
Difficulty was the dense tangle of underbrush
we had 10 Traverse under artillery-fre. and
the InposslsllIty IN consequence Of the rank
lDg Generals being able to push the advance
rapidly by ang personal influence
i am aware that there was much severe
criticism made upon the Fourth Corps at
the time, but have always felt we had a
record that could stand little haynmefing.
and this Communication Is intended only for
yourself
/ am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant.
ID. S. STANLEY.
Colonel, 22d Inf, BreYet Maior-General,
L. S. Army.
THE FOURTH CORPS AT JoHEsBoRo'.
lTnclosures.I
Extract from Diary Of Brey't Brig. Gen. J. s.
Fullerton, Chief Of STAFF. Fourth Corps.
Z. :. Army, ior the 1st day of September,
1864.
ATLANTA & MACON RAILROAD. BELOW
ROUGH AND READY, Ga.
"A m.--our working parties commenced
30 destroy the railroads
4:3O a. m.-Receiyed a note from Depart-
ment Headquarters Of which the following
is copy:
RESFREws, Ga, Aug. 81, 1864.
Ma. Gen. ID. S. STANLEY, commanding
Fourth Corps.
GENERAL: The Malor-Generaic command
ing directs that tomorrow morning early you
commence the destruction OF The Macon Is
Western Railroad, in connection with Gen.
SchOieid vino VIII receive orders from Gen.
Sherman.
You will destroy Gar as Won can In the
direction of Jonesboro'. or until yon meet
with Gen Bands Division of the Fourteenth
Corps, which you will probably find engaged
IN the same kind OF work. Should YOU meet
or oyertake Gen. Baird, you viii report for
further Orders. Brighten. Garlard has been
ordered 20 cover the flank OF your column
during your march down the road.
=" Very respectfully,
WILLIAM ID. WHIPPLE. A. A.-G.
Up. S.-Gen. Baird struck the railroad at
8 p. IN. to-day. and went to work immedi-
ateiy breaking the road. W. u. W"
$50 a m.-Directed division commanders
TO make immediate preparations 10 march
Gen. kimbails . Division to move down The
railroad towards JonesboIo' followed by Gen
-'e""Ai' "cS tno uiNislois 10 destroy the
railroad. Geu. Woods Division 10 march
carefully down the Griffin Road (which runs
parallel with the failToadl toward Jones'
boro', and 10 take the artillery with him. all
save two guns. which are TO move with the
column down the railroad
b a. m.-kimball commenced to move
down the railroad, followed by Newton, de-
stroying the road as they marched
10 a. m. Arrived at the point on the rail
Tia fon-e;uo;la N