The National tribune., 1902-08-28


vigorous policy would have to be adopted;
that cavalry raiding parties must be kept
| actively at work up and down the line of
| the road and for some distance out, so as
| to detect any movement of the enemy and
| to be prepared to attack them at once;
that more blOck-houses and defensive
works should be erected along the line of
the railroad, so that the posts would not
| be farther apart than two and a half
miles, and that the guards should pass
over the railroad every hour, night and
day. l applied for an assignment of a
| body Of cavalry to be stationed Mt Resaca
| TO operate under my orders. This was
done-twO companies OF cavalry We're as
| signed to this duty. z.,--
/ gave the necessary. orders TO carry
ont the plan above ouf1ned. The COM
handing officers of regiments entered
upon the work heartily. We were as
sisted by the railroad workmen. and we
soon had our line in good defensive cOndi-
| ton. Our cavalry was constantly on the
| move and they made it dangerous for
small bodies Of Confederate troops to put
| in an appearance.
| Early in July, while small body OF Con-
| federate cavalry was scouting through the
country southeast of Resaca. a Lieuten-
ant and seven men who were detached
| from the main body were captured by the
company Of Home Guards, who started to
the railroad to surrender the prisoners.
They had not proceeded far before they
were overtaken, surrounded, and they and
their prisoners captured.
Capt. Hare, Of the 9Th KY. Cav, was
near by, and took hand. His pursuit
was SO vigorous that the Home Guards
were released and brought in in safety to
| Calhoun, with few prisoners. l received
the following letter, which tells the story:
Headquarters Third Brigade. Third Cav
| airy Division, July 8, 1864.
| Colonel: The Home Guards were,
with this Lieutenant and eight rebels. re-
captured by Capt. Hare. 9Th Ky Cav,
under Maj. Wolfley, and left Mt Calhoun
last night. This has been a great game
throughout, but we are ahead. Had these
succeeded in securing these citizens, they
! doubtless would have received bitter
treatment. Wolfey is still after them
with about % men. Very respectfully,
| &c. II. MURRAY,
.Colonel Commanding"
| "Coi. Green b. Raum, Resaca."
Amidst the activities and excitement Of
our military life we found time for a lit
tie social enjoyment, as the following let
ter will show:
Headquarters 9TH KY. Cav,
Camp Resaca, Ga, July 10, 1864.
"COi. Raum.
Dear Sir: The turkey will be killed
today. Come and help, according to prom
Use. shall expect you.
yours very truly,
| 20. L. BALDWIN,"
l WAS present Mt Col. Raldwin's din
ner, which was served in fine style.
found his officers body Of splendid men.
FRIENDLY RELATIONS ESTABLISHED WITH
CITIZENS.
| In a short time our officers became well
acquainted with the people and perfectly
| familiar with the roads, bridges, fords,
etc. The people in the country soon he.
gan to bring in marketing for sale, and
| they were encouraged to this By respectful
treatment and the payment of fair price.
for their products. 1t was not long until
money began to circulate among the citi-
zens who had something to sell and those
who chopped wood for the use of the rail
road.
There was certain amount OF social
intercourse between the soldiers and the
citizens and their families. A few of my
officers and men paid their respects to a
number Of estimable young women living
on or near the line Of the railroad.
1t will be understood, of course. that
the civil Governments of Northern Geor-
gia Were not in working order within the
area of military operations. The officers
had abdicated their functions and left the
people to shift for themselves. 1t is won
derful how a rural community can get
along without the help of law officers.
They became law unto themselves. and
matters go along without apparent diff
Guilty. This was the condition of things
in the section occupied by the Union
forces.
TO make provision for any emergency
that might arise for the interposition Of
legal authority, as heretofore stated. / au.
thorized my Provost Marshal to examine
into all questions that might be brought
to his attention. We soon had the auee-