The National tribune., 1902-12-18
Copyrighted. 1901. by the publ
A PIECE OF SUPERB STRATEGY.
sherman's Mas eriy Handling of Els Arm.
in the Grand Flank Movement

sherman's Mas erly Handling of Els Arm
in the Grand Flank movement.
On Aug. %, when Gen. Fitzpatrick
person reported the result of his raid I
Gen. Sherman, he expressed the opinio
that the damage inflicted on the raihoa
was such as to prevent its use for l
DAYS. Gen. Sherman. however. came I
the conclusion at once that the damage Z
the road was not of such chara ctef n
would compel Gen. Hood to abandon Al
lanta. lie therefore decided to carry on
his original design of moving with hi
army in force against the West foin
and Macon Railroads. This plan involve
raising the siege of Atlanta-the absolut
abandonment of the immense line o
works. some 80 miles in length. extendin
from the Augusta Railroad east of At
Ianta around to the north, west and south
west of the city to Utoy Creek, threaten
ing East Point.
As Indicative of his decision to NOV
against Gen. Hoods railroads in force
at 1890 p. m., Aug. y, Gen. She maj
telegraphed to Gen. Steedman at Chatta
nooga as follows:
seen. Fitzpatrick is back all right; hat
pretty hard fighting with cavalry and in
fantry, but brought in three captured nag:
and one extra gun. Captured a Whole
battery. which he broke up. He DESTROYED
enough road to last 10 days. BY that time
1 will reach it again.
.-'t-s PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN.
1t was on Aug. 16 that Gen. Sherman
issued his order for the grand movement
1t was the result of q Most careful study
of the character and topography Of the
country over which the movement was ii
be made, and of the military situation
The General had carefully examined IN
person the country then occupied by ms
army, including the Confede-ate works Oh
both sides of the Chattahooche River,
erected for the defense of the railroad
bridge; he proposed utilizing those. works
on this occasion. This order is military
masterpiece, and is given in full below:
"Headoualters Military Division of the
Mississippi in the Field,
"Near Atlanta, Ca, Aug. 16, 1851.
Especial Field Orders. No. 81.
''The movement of the army against the
Macon Railroad will begin Thursday
night, Aug. Is, and will continue on the
following general plan:
II. All amy commanders will send
aeross the Chattahoochee River, and with
IN the old rebel works at the bridge and
down as far as Turner'S Ferry all sur
plus wagons, horses, men and materials
not absolutely necessary to the success OF
the expedition, and will collect in theiI
wagons with the best teams, bread, meat
sngar, coffee, etc, for Is days after the
10Th instant, and ammunition, and park
them near Ut0y Creek.
- 'First Move: Gen. Kilpatrick's cav
airy viii move to Camp Greek; Gen
Schofield will cover the Campbellton road
and Gen. Thomas will move one corps
Gen. Williams 81 to the Chattahooehee
Bridge, with orders to hold it, PAGES
Ferry Bridge, and pontoon bridge Capt
L. -. l.yf IN. h<
laid down if necessary; the other corps
Gen. Stanley'sI will move south of Proc
tors Creek to near the Utoy, behind the
right center of the Army Of the Tennes
zee, prepared to cover the Bells Ferr.
road; Gen. Garrard's cavalry will fall be
hind Peach Tree Greek, and act against
the enemy should he sally against Gen
Williamss or. Gen. Stanley's Corps dur
ing the movement.
Second Move: The Army Of the Ten
nessee win withdraw, cross Utoy Greek
and move by the most direct road toward
Fairburn. going as far as Camp Creek
Gen. Thomas will mass his two corps
(Stanley's and Johnson's) below Ut0y
Greek, and Gen. Garrard's cavalry vii
Join Gen. Thomas by the most direct road
or by WY of Sandtown Bridge, and acl
with him during the rest Of the move
Gen. Schofeid will advance abreast OF
and in communication with the Army OF
the Tennessee as far as Camp Greek.
"Third Move: The Armies Of the Obi
and Tennessee will move direct for tn,
West Point road, aiming to strike it be
tween Red Oak and Fairburn. Gen
Thomas viii follow well closed up in two
columns, the trains between. Gen. Xii
patrick will act as the advance and Gen
Garrard will cover the rear, under direc
ton of Gen. Thomas. The bridges al
Ssndtown viii be kept and protected BY
detachment of cavalry detailed by Gen
Elliott, with section of guns or four
gun battery.
III. During the movement, and unit
the army returns to the river, the utmos
care will be taken to expose as little a,
possible the trains of cars and wagons
The depofs at the bridge, at AIIatoona
and Marietta will be held against any at
tack, ;tnd communication kept up with
the army as far as possible by way o.
Sandtown.
sOn reaching any railroad the troop,
VIZ ct once be disposed for defense, and
at least one-third put to work to teal
up track and destroy iron, ties and al
railroad material
by order of Maj.-Gen. W. T. Sher
man.
Il. N. Dayton, Aid de Camp"
HOODS COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SOUTH
This order was temporarily suspended
to give Gen. Fitzpatrick an opportunity tc
try his hand in the destruction of the Ma
con Railroad, but the army commander.
had been directed to nuke all needfu
preparations for the grand movement il
the event fitzpatrick found himself un
able to destroy the road effectively, SO q.
to force Gen. Hood to abandon Atlanta.
On the morning of Aug. %, Gen. Sher
man learned from officers on the sigma
towers that trains were entering AtIant;
from the south, clearly indicating tina
this breaks in the railroad had been re
paired; it had required only three day
to restore the road to use, instead of II
days, az was supposed by Gen. Xii
patrick.
Gen. Sherman felt that no time shoul,
be lost in commencing his flank move
ment. Early in the forenoon he bega,
to communicate with his army command
err.
To Gen. Thomas and Gen. Schofieid b
telegraphed as follows:
Headquarters Military Division of tn
Mississippi, in the Field,
Near Atlanta. Aug. %, 1854; 9:15 a. m
Gen. Thomas: AS near as l can max
out the rebels have repaired the Macol
Road, and we must swing across it. lie
me know when you will be ready to exc
cute the former plan
'.W. T. SHERMAN.
.'Major-General, Commanding"
Sherman's Headquarters, Aug. %. 1884
Gen. Sehofeld: l think the rebel
have already repaired the Macon Road
How soon can you be ready to execut
o0r former plan?