The National tribune., 1902-12-18
sHERMAss GRAND MANuvER AGAINST LAST RAILROAD


Corps from their works the enemy opened
| up with artillery, and considerable skirm-
ishing occurred along the line, but the Con-
| federate troops did not advance beyond
their intrenchments.
While this change of position of the
Fonrth, Twentieth and Sixteenth Corps
was being made the other troops, namely:
the Seventeenth, Fifteenth, Twenty-third
and Fourteenth Corps. remained in their
works and kept up the usual activity of
the siege during the night Of Aug. %,
and all day Aug. 26. So far there was
no indication on the part Of the Confed-
crates in Atlanta that they were aware
of the withdrawal of these troops.
| PROGRESS OF sHERMAN's MOVEMENT
On the morning of the 2Gth Gen. STAN
ley moved the Fourth Corps farther to
the southwest along Utoy Creek, posting
his command on O. succession Of ridges
facing the Creek ami. covering the wagon
road leading back to Sandtown. Gen.
Davis then withdrew from his position
on the right Of the Fifteenth Corps, and
passing in the rear of the Fourth Corps
crossed Utoy Creek and prolonged Stan
! ley's to the southwest. In the mean time.
on the same day Garrard withdrew from
the old works Of the Fourth and Twen-
tieth Corps, and crossing the Chatta-
hoocbne River at PAGES Ferry above the
railroad bridge, marched down the river
| to a point opposite Sandtown.
| AZ an early hour On the morning of
Aug. 26 intelligence was received by Gen.
Hood to the effect that the Union forces
were leaving his front. This information
was confirmed by scouts sent out for the
purpose Of watching the movements of
the Union army. These scouts reported
that the retirement Of Sherman's army
was towards the river.
The troops Of Gen. Stewart and Gen
Lee took possession of the abandoned
Union works during the day. Some pris-
oners were brought in by them, but no in
formation could be obtained from any Of
them; in fact, no reliab bic information was
secured by scouts or from prisoners as to
the intentions Of the National commander
in making this movement. The prevail
ing opinion at Gen. Hoods headquarters
was that the Uiiion forces were falling
back across the Chattahoochee River. 1t
was discovered, however, that the Union
forces still occupied portion of their
works which confronted Gen. Hardee's
Corps.
On the night Of the 26th the Fifteenth
and Seventeenth Corps also abandoned
the siege, and withdrew from their forti-
| fed line. These troops marched to the
southwest, between the West Point Rail
road and the Chattahoochee River, max
| ing detour around the right of the Army
of the Cumberland in two columns, the
Fifteenth Corps OF the left, the Seven
teenth Corps on the right, followed by the
Sixteenth Corps. Earls on the morning
Of the 9th the Army of the Tennessee
went into position near Camp Creek, fac
| ing south, with Ransoms Corps in reserve
and Gen. Kilpatrick's division of cavalry
on the right. Gen. Schofield still retained
his position near East Point, and was
now on the left of the army.
This great movement Of the army had
been conducted with SO much secrecy and
care that not life had been lost; one un-
fortunate soldier struck by a Confederate
cannon ball lost his leg.
| REJOICING IN ATLANTA.
On the morning of Aug. 81 Gen. Hood
found that the siege OF Atlanta had been
raised; that the entire line of Union works
around the city, which had been built
with so much skill and labor, bad been
abandoned. Not a man or gun re-
manned. Sherman's army had disappeared
and had taken their whole paraphernalia
of war along with them. 1t must be un-
derstood that during this movement care
had been observed by the Union Generals
in taking their new positions not to ad-
vance their lines so as to encounter the
enemy and thus give notice of their loca-
ton. Consequently Gen. Hood had NO in
formation on the morning Of the 9th as
to the wherea bouts of the lately besiegine
force or of Gen. Sherman's intentions: a
rev prisoners were captured during the
DAY, all OF whom gave il as their opinion
that Gen. Sherman intended falling back
to Chattanooga. This now became the
settled opinion with the military euthori-
mes IN Atlanta, and Sherman's retreat
! was announced by telegraph throughout
the South. Gen. Hood ordered Gen. w.
n. Jackson, then commanding his cav
airy, to harass the rear of the retreatine
enemy. 1t was stated that trains of cars
with ladies came up from Macon IN az,
sisf in celebrating the grand victory.
While Gen. Hood was uncertain as to
the movements of Sherman's army, and
actually believed that it was in full re-
treat, he did not neglect to place his own
army in position to meet. any emergency.
The cavalry was ordered to follow m ti,e
'refreafins forces and make such disposi.