The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-04
Copyrighted. 1901. by The nj
KlLPATRlCK'S RAID.
Vigorous Efforts to Cut the Macon Railroad
and StarYe Food ont OF Atlanta.

Vigorous Efforts to Cut the Macon Railroad
and Starve Hood out OF Atlanta.
The first news Gen. Sherman receive'
of Kilpatrick's movement was IL dispatci
from Gen. Thomas, as follows:
Headquarters Department of the Cum
herland.
Aug. p, 1864.
''Mai-Gen. Sherman: Did you receive
Col K!ein's report forwarded this morning
He broke the road near Fayette and de
stroyed u train of ears with locomotives
but being attacked by cavalry, supported
by infantry, and cut off, as he says. from
Fitzpatrick. returned to Sandtown with but
very little loss. If he broke the road be
tween Atlanta and Fitzpatrick, and then
succeeded in effecting his escape. there can
be but little doubt of I[ilpatrick's success
if he worked away from Atlanta, as there
is but little probability of his meeting ser
ious opposition from the direction OF Ma
con. Orders about concentrating all cav
airy coming to the front at Dalton have
been given.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
"MaiorGeneral.'
NEWS FROM FITZPATRICK.
This report of Col. Klein was very en-
couraging BY breaking the railroad and
telegraph several miles north of where XII
Patrick's force was to strike it, Gen.
Hood would be delayed in getting infor-
nation and also in sending troops from
Atlanta. On Aug % Gen. Fitzpatrick was
heard from in person. He had made the
circuit of Atlanta. and entered the Union
lines at Decatur.
He reported to Gen. Thomas, who at
7:30 p. M, Aug. %, telegraphed to Gen.
Sherman a brief account of the raid. He
said:
"Gen Fitzpatrick is about to start for
your headquarters. He reports having
torn up four miles connectedly of railroad
between Rough and Ready and JOnesboro.
and 10 miles at intervals, and destroyed
two trains. including the one destroyed by
Klein. He virtually captured Ross and
brigade, but could not bring the men away.
He was attacked by Jackson's cavalry and
a division of infantry, but effected his es-
cape before the enemy could surround him,
and brought off his own artillery and one
piece of the four captured. Two pieces
and nine caissons were destroyed by him.
He brought in about 20 prisoners and three
battle flags; all his own wounded. Has
81 killed. and missing. among the missing
four officers. Brighten. Long was wOuE;-
ed slightly in two places. He speaks in
high terms of the behavior of his whole
command Capt. Bartlett is we'll and on
the road with him to your headquarters.
KILpATRIcK's OPERATIONS.
Gen. Fitzpatrick hurried over to Gen.
Sherman's headquarters and gave him a
full account of his short campaign.
1t was well planned and skilfully ex-
ecuted. Soon after leaving Sandtown on
the evening of Aug. IS Gen. Fitzpatrick $
advance encountered the enemy's pickets
near Camp Creek and soon drove them
across that stream.
AT 10 O'Clock p. N. the camp of the 9th
Tex. was attacked mile beyond Camp
Greek and routed. At 1890 a. m. The
rebel cavalry brigade of Gen. Ross, 100
strong. was encountered and driven in the
direction of East Point. Lieut.-Col Jones,
with the Second Brigade, Third Division,
was thrown out towards East Point anu
protected the road against an attack of
the rebel cavalry, while Gen. Fitzpatrick
passed with the main body. The column
pushed forward, and by daylight reached
the West Point Railroad. Here the col
umn halted and tore up portion Of the
railroad track.
his forces, pursued Fitzpatrick. and during
the halt at the West Point Road fell upon
his rear. Ross was soon repulsed; Xii
patrick was able TO bring q superior force
against him. Kilpatrick's column moved
on the Fayetteville Road and soon found
Gen. Ross in their front. Here a cOnsid-
cradle skirmish ensued. Ross retired slow
ly in the direction of Jonesboro, and cross
ed Flint River at o'clock in the after
noon. and partially destroyed the bridges.
Coils. AIinty and Long, under cover of
the artillery, crossed Flint River with
pontoons of their brigades, and drove the
enemy from their rife pits. The bridge
was repaired. the Union forces crossed
over. and Fitzpatrick drove the. enemy s
cavalry from the town of Jonesboro, and
by ) o'clock p. IN. he had possession of
the Macon Railroad ut that place. As he
advanced from Sandtown, Cen Kilpat-
rick detached Lieut-Col. Klein with the
First Brigade. with orders to strike and
destroy the railroad and telegraph line
above Bear Creek Station. His object was
to prevent Gen. Hood from sending train
loads of infantry from Atlanta against
him when he struck the railroad
At Joneshoro Gen. Fitzpatrick learned
that the railroad and telegraph line had
been torn up at Bear Greek Station. He
therefore knew that Lieut.. Col. Klein had
caryied out his Instructions.
DESTROYING THE RAILROAD.
Gen. Fitzpatrick now set his entire COM
mand TO work destroying the railroad.
For six hours the work of destruction
continued. During this time. however, the
enemy was not idle. A considerable force
was collected and an attack was made
upon Col. Murray's forces, about one mile
south of Jonesboro, at II o'clock at night
Col. Murray was forced to retire. He fell
back towards JonesborO and reported the
situation TO Gen. Fitzpatrick who suspend
ed work OH the railroad and promptly at
tackled the enemy, driving him q mile and
half. Apprehending that he might be
attacked from Atlanta. Gen. Fitzpatrick
now moved on eastward five miles in the
direction of covington, and halted the
head of the column, closed up. and with
one brigade formed line facing west to
meet the enemy if he advanced.
The men were given little time to rest.
On the morning of Aug. 20 Gen. Xii
patrick had his force well in hand. He felt
that his work OF destroying the Macon
Railroad was just begun. What he had
done Mt Jonesboro, and what he knew
Lieut.-COl. Klein had done further north
was good start for one day: but his mis-
sion was to destroy that railroad effective
Iy, so it could not be used within a reason
able time to supply Gen. Hoods army. He
therefore decided to strike the road fur
Their south. The enemy, who had rallied
and followed Kilpatrick's forces, began to
gather in lis front
Gen. Fitzpatrick Eow detached one bri-
gade to engage the attention Of the enemy,
while with the main body lie moved
rapidly six miles south in the direction of
McDoneugh, therce west across the coun-
o'clock in the forenoon of Aug 20 he
again reached the Macon Railroad one
mile north of LcvejOy Station, and 90 miles
e Al ~ 4 Al.