The National tribune., 1902-09-11

upon Thomas's left flank, followed up with
energy along the whole line. could prac-
| tically destroy Thomas's army.
Gen. Hood had been placed in command
of the army for the express purpose of
giving battle to the Union forces. which
fer nearly three months with victorious
| banners had been forcing the Confederate
| army southwark. Having made his dis
| positions, and having formed his plans,
! Gea. Hood felt that the opportune time
to strike had arrived.
On the morning of July 90, Gen Sher-
man being anxious to close up the interval
between Schofield and Thomas, directed
Gen. Thomas to dispatch the divisions of
Stanley and Wood to perform that duty.
These divisions, Stanley in the lead, COM
| menced the march at Z o'clock A. m, July
70, and proceeded to a crossing of the
South Fork of Peach Tree Creek. The
bridge had been destroyed. Skirmishers
were sent across the creek A new bridge
was built, and by 10 o'clock Stanley be-
gan the passage with his column. His
sklrmishers were at once engaged with
the enemy. Communication was soon had
with Gen. SchOfeld, who was marching
toward Atlanta on a road about one mile
| away. Stanley's advance developed the
enemy in force strongly intrenched Gen.
Howard was with these two division in
person. He formed line in front Of the
| enemy. Wood on the right, Stanley on
the left. This position was soon securely
intrenched.
The appearance of this new force in
front Of Gen. Cheatham introduced q new
problem into the military situation. The
facts were reported to Gen. Hood, and
he decided that it was necessary that he
should move the Corps of Gems. Hardee
and Stewart to half division length to
their right. Orders to that effect were
issued and the movement began.
1t must be understood that these two
great armies were operating in q rough
country; creeks, hills, valleys, woods, and
here and there farms, diversified the topog-
raphy. Both armies we're preparing for
great struggle-the Confederate army
under orders to deliver battle at l o'clock
that afternoon.
At an early hour on the morning Of
July 70, steps were taken to have the
hole of this Army Of the Cumberland on
the Atlanta side of Peach Tree Creek.
Gen. Davis promptly crossed with bal
ance of his command. Capt. George O.
Gardner, with his 5th Wis. Light Battery,
was moved forward into DilwOrth's works,
and with a few rounds of excellent firing
drove the enemy from his rifle pits in
front. Gen. X. W. Johnson crossed the
creek at an early hour with his division.
and went into position for battle. Gen.
Palmer's Fourteenth Corps was now all
present, occupying a strong position, in
trenched, and in the following order:
Davis on the right, Baird in the center,
johnson on the left, Dilworth's Brigade
on the extreme right, and Col Anson G.
McCook's Brigade on the extreme left.
When Gen. Wood drew out of his works
on the south side Of the North Fork of
Peach Tree Creek in the early morning of
July ~, Gen. Newton at once crossed over
and occupied the intrenchments. Gen.
Howard had directed Gen. Newton to re-.
port to Gen. Thomas for orders. Gen.
Thomas reached Gen. Newton's position
about noon and directed that as soon as
Wards Division of Hooker's Twentieth
Corps had crossed the creek and effected
junction with him, be was to advance
on the main road toward Atlanta.
1t has been seen that the Divisions of
Stanley and Wood had been moved to the
left SO as to connect the lines of Gen.
Schofeld and Gen. Thomas, but the in
terval was too great; there was now
gap Of fully two miles between the right
OF Woods Division and the left Of New
tens Division.
The condition which Gen. Hood had
based his plans upon, namely, an uncoy-
cred interval on Thomas's left, still ex-
listed: Gen. Wards Division was the last
OF Thomass army to work its way across
Peach Tree Creek. 1t was not until the
afternoon Of July 20 that Gen. Ward
crossed the creek at Newton's bridge and
formed junction with the right of New
toms intrenched Division. Gen. Hoods
assault had, fortunately for Gen. New
toms forces, been delayed. 1t has been
seen that the movement Of Stanley and
Wood to the left in the early morning had
been discovered by Gen. Hood, and that
he decided to move Gen. Cheatham's
Corps a division front to the right, and
for Gems Hardee and Stewart each to
extend half division front to the right
to close the interval
1t is claimed by Gen. Hood that by some
error in the execution of his orders three
hours Of time were lost in making this
movement, and that the attack which was
planned to be made at / o'clock in the
afternoon, did not occur until o'clock. II
is quite clear now that the opp0rtune mo-
ment for Gen. Hood to have attacked the
left flank Of ThOmas's army on July 90.
was about 10 o'clock in the morning, af.
ter Stanley and Wood had marched away,
and before Wards Division of Hooker's