The National tribune., 1902-12-11
ORDERS TO GEN. srEEDsfAv.

|
The plan now was to concentrate a
strong force under the immediate com.
| mand of Gen. Steedman, which could oper-
| ate against any force. large or small
which might threaten the railroad at any
point. the cavalry at Calhoun and Carriers.
vile to scour the country east of the rail
road. and the garrisons along the line to
be left to police the railroad and to defend
their posts. On aug. q Gen. Sherman
gave full directions to Gen. Steedman by
wire. This is what he said:
Il have. your dispatch of today. and II
gunbOat can get up to Kingston ii
would be we'll to send it. Wheeler cannot
do us serious harm there. and cavalry has
not the industry to damage railroads ser
| iously, Gen. Schofcld thinks Knoxville has
provisions for three months, and is very
strongly fortified. so you need not bother
Wheeler there further than to keep him
watched by scouts and citizens, and let
me know his future course. I don't want
him to come back by way of the Oosten-
alila. Now is the time to get all your
forces in good position To move rapidly
against his flank if he comes hack any
where between Spring Place and Talking
Rock. Dalton is the best point from
which to watch him. and think ii would
be well to make Il bridge across the Con-
nesauga. near the mouth of the Cooyehut-
Place, and build a small. but strong. re-
doubt between the forks at the bridge. rs
a threat to that flank. don't know the
grounds at Dalton or Spring Place. bnt
by the maps know if you have Il reSpect-
able force mt Dalton. and the Spring Place
road fortified as | describe. Wheeler will
not dare pass down that way. If he go
into Kentucky by Cumbel .dnd Gap or
Somerset there are forces enough to at
tpnd / san
Grant will give Lee enough to do. so he
cannot detach any considerable force to-
wards Knoxville"
cring together troops enough in his dis
trct to form II column of sufli"ien,
strength for the task assigned. On Aug
~ he directed Gen. .Iohn T.. Smith. conn
manding at Cartersyille. to send him FIVE
regiments to Chattanooga, instead Of Da!l
ton, as soon as he could procure tr,nspor-
fation. and TO exercise his own Judgment
as to where to take them from.
The 18th Pa. CAV. which was moving
to the front. was detained at Dalton 10y
direction of Gen. Sherman. and general
movement of scouting parties of cavalry
was set on foot east and west of tl.e rail
road. Gen. McCOok directed the move
nleht of the forces operating from CaIters-
vile. Gen. William Vandever controlled
tIie hitHeIhcHtS III tNpSe OntfHliUg from
Rome. Col. Watkins commanded the
troops moving out from Calhoun Gen
Steedman gave orders TO those troops
nHerating from Dalton. while he in person
took strong body of infantry by railroad
in the direction of Cleveland. Tenn. This
combined movement soon forced the NUM-
erous small bodies o. Confederate cavalry
to retire from this field of oper:,tions
But little actual fighting was done: as
before stated, the object of these Cnnfed-
crate raiders was to destroy the railroad
and telegraph line whenever possible. ard
not to bring on a fight if it could be avoid
ed. In three days the situation was en-
tireiv changed and peace and order
reigned.
This was the condition that Gen. Sher-
man labored to secure He was preparing
for a great flank movement by his army
against the railroads of the enemy: he
wanted his own railroad communication
secure. and he wished TO prevent the re
turn of Gen. Wheeler
CTo be continued.)