The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-11-27
TIE SITUATION OK AUG. II.

Aug. IL was an important and busy day
in the campaign of Georgia.
All the breaks in the railroad and tele-
graph lire made by Wheeier's raid were
repaired.
Gen. Wheeler was marching away from
Spring Place towards Cleveland. Tenn..
avoiding an engagement with the Union
forces. Gen. Steedman returned with his
troops by railroad from Dalton to Chatta-
nooga.
Cen John +. Smith marched from
Resaca to Spring Place with 1900 men:
not finding the enemy. lie returned to
Resaca that night
Gen. Sherman was informed of all the
above recorded facts.
Orders were issued from all Army
Corps, Division and Brigade Headqnar-
tiers to carry out the orders of Gen. Sher-
man for the great movement issued the
day before.
Gen. Sherman confers with Gen. Xii
patrick and changes his plans, deciding 10
have Gen. Fitzpatrick destroy the Macon
Road with his cavalry and postpone the
movement with the main army, and is
sued orders accordingly.
The cavalry began their movement on
the night of the 18th, and Gen. Schofield
issued orders for the movement Of the
Twenty-third Corps the next day.
TROOPS COMPOSING EXPEDITION.
The expedition of Cen Fitzpatrick
against the Macon Railroad was to con-
sist of five brigades of cavalry and two
batteries of artillery; three brigades of his
own division and two brigades of Brig
Gen Kenner Garrard's Division.
The Third Cavalry Division, command
ed by Brighten. Fitzpatrick was on Aug.
II encamped on the Chattahoochee River
at Sandtown, on the right and rear of the
army. The three brigades were present.
Lieut. Col Robert Klein commanding the
First Brigade, composed of the Sd Ind.
Maj. Alfred Gaddis, and the 9Th Iowa,
Maj. J. Morris Young. Lieut.-COl. Fielder
A. Jones. commanding the Second Brigade,
composed of the Sth Ind. Maj. Thomas
Herring, commanding; I'd KY, Maj. Owen
Star, commanding, and 10th Ohio, Lieut.
Col. Thomas W. SandersOn commanding.
Col Eli II. Murray, commanding the
Third Brigade, composed of the 92d III.
Mid Inf. Col. Smith D. Atkins command
ing; the Sd KY, Lieut.-Col. Robert II.
King commanding: 9Th KY, Col. Oliver l..
Baldwin commanding; the 10th Wis. Bat
terry. Capt. Yates V. Beebe commanding.
The First and Second Brigades and a
battery of artillery of Gen. Garrard's Divi-
sion were ordered to report to Gen. Kill
patrick at Sandtown to engage in the
movement against the Macon Railroad.
The First Brigade, commanded by Col.
Robert H. G.. Minty, consisted of the 4th
Mich. Cav, commanded by Maj. Frank
w. Mix. 7th Pa, Maj. William "a. Jen-
nings, 4th q. S.. Capt. James B. Mcln-
tyre. The Second Brigade, commanded by
Col. Eli Long, consisted of list Ohio, Col.
B. Seidel; 4th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Oliver p.
Robe, and the Chicago. Illinois, Board of
Trade Battery, Lieut.. George 1. Robinson
commanding.
FITZPATRICK MOVES OUT.
On the night of Aug. II these troops
left their camp east of Atlanta, near De-
catur, and marching around to the rear of
the Union line joined Gen. Fitzpatrick at
Sandtown.
Gen Fitzpatrick assumed command of
this combined force, and turned over the
command of his division to Col. Eli Fl.
Murray. who in turn turned over the COM
mand of his brigades to Lieut.-C0l. Robert
l.. King. Aug. Is was spent in resting
the men and horses and in preparation for
the movement.
On the evening of Aug. IS Gen. Kill
patrick drew out from Sandtown with his
entire force, consisting of 4,5OO men. This
was splendid body of veteran troops.
Well drilled, we'll disciplined, well
mounted, well Differed; full of enterprise
and courage, they were ready for the per-
Torrance of any duty assigned them. This
advance within the enemy's lines was to be
made in the night, the aim being to push
forward rapidly and reach the railroad be-
fore the movement was discovered.
SMALL WAR IN THE REAR.
After Gen. Fitzpatrick cut loose from
Sandtown every effort was made by the
army besieging Atlanta to render him aid
and assistance. Gen. Garrard, with his re-
naming brigade of cavalry, on the morn
ing of Aug. 10, moved out from Decatur
in the direction of Flat Rock and Atlanta,
to attract the enenhy's attention by skirm-
ishing and threatening to attack his flank.
He then drew off towards Stone Noun
tain, inducing the rebel cavalry to fol
low. Late in the evening he swung around
towards his old position in the direction
of the Peach Tree Road. This manuver
was repeated on Aug. 20 and created con-
siderable interest in Atlanta.
A demonstration was made along the
entire front of the Union line from left
to right with heavy artillery force, and
with a display of troops at various points
to create the impression that an assault
might be made.
Gen. jeff. C.. Davis, with his division,
moved out from his position on the ex-
IRENE right of the army and reached the
West Point Railroad near Red Oak Sta.
ton and tore up portion of the track. He
reported this fact to Gen. SchofeId by the
following dispatch:
Headquarters, Second Division, Four.
teenth Corps.
'Aug. 20, 1864; 800 p. m.
"Maj.-Gen. Schofeld. Commanding.
General: A part of my troops have
reached Red Oak and are tearing up the
track at this time. / have ordered Nor.
gan to return. They met but little re-
sistance. All the rebel cavalry have gone
to the rear in pursuit of Fitzpatrick
Very respectfully,
JEFF. C. DAVIS,
''Brigadier- General, Commanding Divi
sion."
During this activity of the troops OF
Aug. 10 Gen. Dodge, commanding the Six
teenth Corps, was wounded in the head
| so seriously that he was compelled to sur
render the command of the corps and &c
North for recovery. Brig. Gen. Thoma.
Il. q. Ransom succeeded temporarily tt
the command.
Great interest was felt throughout tn,
army in the enterprise undertaken by Gen
Fitzpatrick. Nothing had been heard from
him after he left Sandtown, and clos,
watch was kept on the enemy to learn, il
possible, from his movements what was go
ing on below.
From the tall signal stations erected
around Atlanta careful observations wer,
made to determine whether Gen. Hood hat
learned of the movement Of Fitzpatrick A.
message:
| "HOward's Head0uartere