The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-04
L. xWzH the WESTERN
A ~4RMY<
IHaHk Hoods Last Railroad.
Hoods Last Railroad.
By GEN. GREEN D. RAUM.
the publishers of Tue NATIONAL TRIBuNE.

stationing infantry at Il number of i'm
portant points south of Atlanta. 1t was
found that not only this WAS done. but
that troops were held ready in atlanta to
be sent 10 threatened points by railroad
on trains kept waiting for that purpose.
Gen. kilpatTick's first attack upon Love,
| joy Station was repuised, in fact. serious
Disaster imrended for Il. time. but Minty's
! and Longs 4:rigades came forward into
i the fight with all the enthusiasm that their
beld ard capable leaders could inspire, and
| tile enemy WAS repulsed with heavy loss.
| But the fight was not over. Col. MnrrayFs
troops We're attacked in the rear by n
cayalry force with artillery. Gen. XII
patrick ROW found that his entire force
was enreioped by the enemy, He at once
decided to fight his way out by riding over
the enemy's cavalry. This is what Gen.
Fitzpatrick says about that spirited engage
mcnt:
in 20 minutes found that was COM
pletely enveloped by cavalry and infantry,
with artillery. ! decided at once to ride
over the enemys cavalry and retire on the
McDonongh Road. A large number Of
my people were dismounted, fighting on
foot and it took some time TO mount them
and form my command for the charge.
During the delay the enemy constructed
long lines of barricades on every side.
Those in front of his cavalry We're very
formidable. Pioneers were sent in ad-
vance of the charging columns to remove
distractions. Col. Minty, with his COM
mand in three columns. charged, broke.
and rode over the eIiemy's left. Col. Muir
ray. with his regiments, broke his center,
and in a moment Gen. JacksOn's Division,
1000 strong, was running in great con-
fusion. 1t was the most perfect rout any
cavalry has sustained during the war. We
captured four guns three were destroyed
and one brought Off, three battle flags
were taken: his ambulances. wagons and
ordnance train captured, and destroyed as
far as possible; r.any prisoners We're TAX
en-. and his killed and wounded are known
to be large. My command was quickly
reformed, thrown into position. fought sue
cessfully the enemy's infantry for one
hour and 40 minutes, and only retired
when it was found that we had left only
sufficient ammunition to make sure our
retreat. We swan Cotton Indian Creek
and crossed South River on the morning
of the Dist, and reached our lines near
Decatur. by way of Lithonia. without
molestatiOn. at p. M, Aug. %. We eff
fectively destroyed four miles of the Ma
con Road from Jonesboro to Bear Creek
Station, distance of 10 miles. One train
of cars was fully. and second partially
destroyed. We brought into camp one
gun, three battle flags, and large num-
her of fresh horses and mules and about
30 prisoners. My entire loss in killed.
wounded, and missing will not exceed 300
men. Two hundred of this number were
killed and wounded. Only the dangerous
ly wounded were left with the enemy.
INSTANCES OF CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY.
"While it is most difficult to single out
instances of gallantry l cannot close this
report without mentioning to the favor
ul.1 l. nf Nha al
commanding. the follOwing-named officers
whose gallant conduct attracted my atten-
ton on so many occasions: Col. Minty,
two brigades from the Sec
ond Cavalry Division, for his untiring
energy throughout the march. and the
tconsummate skill displayed at the moment
when we were repulsed at Lovejoy Sta
.tion, and the subsequent gallant ride of
his command over the enemy's barricades,
deserves immediate promotion. Col. Long
was equally distinguished. and well de-
serves immediate promotion. He was
twice wounded. and yet remained on the
field. Capt. Estes, my Assistant Adju-
tant-General, and my two Aids, Lieuts.
Wilson and Northrop, deserve every con-
sideration for the great service rendered
me throughout the expedition. Col. Muir
ray, commanding division, and the brigades
of Coils. Jones and King were greatly dis
ing thc SHdl sc VI hcNeJcs b't"-
ton. Officers were never more gallant and
skillful; men were never more brave. They
well deserve a success SO great"
EFFECTIVE WORK OF LIEUT. COL. KLEIN's
COMMAND.
In addition to the foregoing Gen. Kill
patrick reported the operations of Lieut.
Col. Klein in connection with this expedi-
ton. He said:
81 learn from Lieut.-Col Klein. and
from prisoners taken by him, that the i'm
preston at headquarters that lie had done
but little damage to the railroad is errone-
Gus. He informs me that he effectually
destroyed three miles of the road below
Bear Creek Station; that he tore mp the
track, burned the ties, and bent the rails;
that lie captured locomotive with nine
cars loaded with supplies and car wheels.
He ran the train into deep, long cut,
and there burned it. He is of the opinion
that the damage done to the road by his
command cannot be repaired in less than
four or FIVE days. Between Bear Creek
Station and Jonesboro sections of track
were torn up in many places. Col. Klein
also captured train of 20 wagons, brought
home the animals, and destroyed the
wagons. He brought in II prisoners; they
will be forwarded to you this evening
81 omitted to merton in my report of
this morning that one gun belonging to the
Chicago Board of Trade Battery explod-
ed in the engagement near McD0nough;
that a gun-carTiage Of another gun bee ;me
disabled. and the gun thrown into Cotton
Indian Creek.
II will forward the report of division
and brigade commanders as soon as re-
ceived"
While Gen. Fitzpatrick had been able to
reach the Macon Railroad and infict tenn
porary damage upon it, the appearance of
a superior force of infantry and cavalry
at Loyejoy Station put an end to his
work of destruction. He was compelled
to fight his way out, and be content with
escaping with his command. The destruc-
ton of five or six miles of the railroad,
while an Inconvenience, was in no sense
such destruction of the road as was con-
templated by Gen. Sherman. After his
interview with Gen. Fitzpatrick, Gen. Sher-
man advised the War Department of the
Near Atlanta, Ga,
Aug. 90, 1864; 10 p. m.
Receiyed IL p. m, 23d
Maj. Gen. ii. w. Halleck, Washington,
ID. c.:
Gen. Fitzpatrick is back. He had pref
ty hard fighting with division of infantry
and three brigades of cavalry. He broke
the cavalry into disorder and captured a
battery, which lie destroyed, except one
gun. which he brought in in addition to
all his own. He also brought in three cap
tured flags and 40 prisoners. He had pos
session of n large part of Ross Brigade
but could not cucumber himself with them.
He destroyed three miles of the road about
Jonesboro and broke to pieces for about
10 miles more enough to disable the road