The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-27

examination OF the III i-s--tst-ss .Aiit -'
he meant Savannah oI Unal.es,vr, anu
he said, Yes
Again, soon after the capture Of At
lanta, he called Col. Beckwith, his Chief
Commissary, and myself into his room
in Judge Lyons house in Atlanta, and,
locking the door, laid his map on the
floor, and indicated his proposed march
to Savannah. Col. Beckwith's first
question naturally was, Z" How about
supplies? The General replied that
there we're 100000 of people in
Georgia, and that where they could live
his army would not starve.
SNAKE CREEK GAP.
Before and during the movements
against Gen. Johnston, at Rocky Face,
Gen. Sherman explained to ae and
others of his staff that the demonstra-
tons Oh Johnston's front and right were
feints to cover and hide the real move
ment of attack by Gen. Mcpherson
through Snake Creek Gap. In speaking
of the danger that Johnston might fall
On Mcpherson with his whole force, and
crush him before help could be got to
him, he said that the $4,000 muskets of
the Army of the Tennessee could not
+" be run over by anybody in hurry"
and that the moment Johnston let go
of Rocky Face, Thomas and Schofeld
would be in his rear, and thus place him
between two fires, when ruin would be
sure.
On the night of May 9, as we were at
supper at the brick house by the spring
near Tunnel Hill Station, letter was
brought to the General Reading it, he
instantly left the table, and bade me to
follow him. When we had got a little
way from the house, he stepped short,
and, with vehement gesture of his
right hand, clinched, said:
81 have got Joe Johnston dead.
This letter is from Mcpherson. At l
o'clock to-day he was within one and a
half mile of the railroad. He must be
ON it now. | want to 60 over to see
Tom meaning Gen. Thomas.
On his way he said that Johnston
would be compelled to abandon the rail-
road and most of his artillery and trains,
and retreat to the east through the
mountains pigeon Mountains, l think
they were called; that we would follow
the railroad and beat Johnston to
Atlanta.
Arriving at Gen. Thomas's Head
quarters, we found him at supper, and
Gen. Sherman repeated to him the same
expressions he used to me. Gen. Thomas
was also greatly pleased, and my recol-
lection is that he said lie thought
Johnston would fortify and defend the
gap.
Sherman and Thomas agreed that
Johnston must now let go Rocky Face,
and that Thomas and Schoield must
push him hard in the morning to crush
him and prevent his crushing MePher-
son. This understanding had, we re-
turned to our Headquarters, Gen. Sher-
man being in high spirits.
Late that night word came from Nc
Pherson that he had failed to seize the
railroad, and had fallen back to the
mouth of the gap and fortified. l think
that all the members of the staff will
remember how disappointed and excited
the General was on receipt of this news,
and how cross ne was the next day, and
that we all thought he might relieve
Mcpherson of his command, though the
General gave no intimation Of such IN
tent-to me, at least. We simply III
ferred it from McPherson's failure to
execute the work expected of him.
was present when Gen. Sherman and
Mcpherson first met after this. and we'll
remember that Gen. Sherman's manner
toward Mcpherson was one of sadness
rather than anger, and that his first
remark was:
"Well, Mac, you have missed the
great opportunity of your life"
Gen. Adkins and Col. Hickenlooper,
both of whom were in good position to
know the truth, express, | think, the
general judgment of the Army of the
Tennessee-that if certain other diyis-
ion commanders had been in the lead
the railroad would have been seized and
held, and Johnston ruined.
That the failure to do this was by fan
the most grievous disappointment which
Gen. Sherman met with during tho
Atlanta campaign, will, | think, be ad
mitted by all who participated in it, and
were familiar with its history.
L. usd