The National tribune., 1902-12-18

tions as were NECESSARY to obtain reliable
information Of tAeir movements.
The divisioh& Of Gen. Stevenson and
Gen. Marcy NeFe ordered to hold them
notice, and the corps commanders were
directed to keep the General Headquar-
ters fulfy advised Of every known move
ment of the Un7on forces.
On Aug. q the Army Of the Tennes-
see was gitenii needed rest, and the
wagon trains Were closed up and every
preparation made for an advance. Gen.
Garrard crossed the river at sandtown,
and marched to the front, taking posi-
tion to operate with the left wing Of the
army. fSE
Gen. Stanleyd moved his corps forward
to Mount GileaR Church, and formed line
of battle along the country road Leading
to Fairburri. station on the West Point
Railroad. Gen. Davis also advanced the
Fourteenth Corps to a position on the
| ECampbellton road at Holbrook's and Pat
terson's farms.
On this day Maj.-Gen. Fl. w. Sloeum
arrived and assumed command of the
Twentieth Corps under orders Of the War
Department.
THE WEST POINT RAILROAD.
On the morning of Aug 2S the Army
of the Cumberland and the Army of the
Tennessee moved forward for the purpose
of seizing the West Point Railroad.
Gen. Thomas with the Fourth and
Fourteenth Corps moved at daylight, Red
Oak Station being their objective.
Gen. Davis with tie Fourteenth Corps
reached tie railroad at D. m. and posted
his corps sonth of the road facing to-
wards East Point. Gen. Stanley with the
Fourth Corps came up Immediately and
formed his line north of the railroad and
also faced towards East Point, this point
being the junction of the Macon and West
Point Railroads leading to Atlanta.
On this day ut noon Gen. Schofeld drew
out of his works with the Twenty third
| Corps and followed the Army of the Cum
berland as far as Mount Gilead Church
on Camp Creek, where he went into posi-
ton, covering the left flank and trains of
the army.
Gen. Fitzpatrick moved out at 6 O'Clock
and very soon encountered the enemy's
cavalry; with these he had a considerable
skirmish but drove them before him and
gained the railroad. The Army of the
Tennessee moved forward in two columns.
and by noon reached the railroad; the
Seventeenth Corps at Fairburn. Logan
and Blair Immediately intrenehed their
position, and Logan reaching out to the
left communicated with the Army of the
Cumberland. In the meantime Gen. Ran
som, with the Sixteenth Corps, moving
from his position in reserve, passed to the
right of the Seventeenth Corps beyond
Fairburn.
The afternoon and night were spent by
these three corps in the complete destruc-
tion of IL miles of the West Point Rail
road; every crosstie was burned, every rail
was bent, and the most importants cuts
were filed with logs, brush and earth,
with here and there loaded shells so ar
ranged that they would explode if an at
tempt were made to remove the brush.
While this work was going on Gen. Kill
patrick guarded all the roads to the front.
When the Union forces struck the rail-
road at Fairburn on Aug. % they en-
countered heitrobps on Gems. Armstrong
and Ross, and with these Gen. Fitzpatrick
had spirited skirmish. These C0nfed-
crate commanders at once advised Gen.
Hood by Telegraph of the presence of the
Union forces, announcing that quite a
large body of cavalry, artillery and in
fantry was present. This was the first
definite information Gen. Hood had of
Gen. Sherman's movement. At the same
time he learheH by scoats along the river
that the Union forces were moving down
the river, ana that their wagon trains
were going down on the opposite side of
the Chattahooehee.
These reports were somewhat bewilder-
ing, but Gen. Hood at once issued orders
to strengthen sthe posts along the Macon
Railroad, so as to meet any raiding TO ce
that might bee sent against it. He still
did not realize shat Gen. Sherman was
moving against his lines of communication
with six corps.
Gen. Morgan was ordered to report
with his command to Gen. Jackson at
East Point. Reynolds's and Lewis's Bri-
zades of infantry and Col. lannon's regi-
ment OF cavalry were ordered to Jones'
boro to cooperate with Gen. Armstrong
in repelIing raids against that point; Gen.
Brown with the remainder Of his division
was ordered to Rough and Ready. with
instructions to fortify that place and keep
a good lookout on all roads for raiders
from the direction of the West Point Rail
road.
On Aug. % the Army of the Tennes-
see remained in its position, completing
the work of destroying the railroad
spent the night OF the 2Sth and part of
the 29th of August in destroying the
West Point Railroad in their neighbor-
hood.
On the 23th Gen. Schoield crossed
Camp Creek and firmly established him
self on the left of Gen. Thomas.
TIE destruction Of the West Point Rail
road was accomplished without any ser
ious resistance on the part of the Confed-
crate forces.
ATLANTA AND MACON RAILROAD.
-Four days had now elapsed since this
grand movement began. Much had been