The National tribune., 1902-12-25

therefore putting. stop to all Geographic
cOmmunicationy With Gen. Hardee. Stan
officers and c66riers have been sent with
Instructions for Gen. Hardee.
menced at Pm. and Continued until
dark. Hardees Corps succeeded in carry
ing the enemyeS works, but Lees Corps
was repulsed. Our loss was heavy, TAX
ing into consideration that we gained moth
ing. Among the wounded was Gen. Pat
ton Anderson 1fRd Brig. Gen. Cumming.
line of march f6r Atlanta at 2 o'clock this
morning. Gems, Morgan and Scott were
ordered to act in concert and make
stout resistance at East Point. At 5
p. m. our forces commenced the evacuation
of Atlanta, falling backward toward Nc
Donough. One train of ordnance stores,
ST cars and five locomotives, were de
stroyed. Some commissary stores were
distributed among the citizens.
GEN. LEE AND HIS VETERAN CoRrs.
Lieut-Gen. Stephen D. Lee, who had
been assigned to the command of Hoods
old corps when that General was placed
in command of the army, had taken a most
active part in the campaign; his corps
was composed Of fine body of troops.
This corps was certainly unsurpassed in
discipline and courage by any body of men
in the Confederate army: they had been
inspired to deeds of valor by their old
commander. who early in the war estab-
lished reputation as fearless fighter.
Gen. Lee, in his official report, gives
graphic account of the part taken by him
self and his corps in this brief campaign.
The following quotation shows his posi-
ton at the time Gen. Sherman began the
movement. He says:
"Hardee's Corps had been placed on
my left TO check the enemy, who con-
tinued extending to the left. About the
26th the enemy retired from his position
in front of Atlanta, making quite a detOur
to the left of my corps, which extended
to the West Point & Atlanta Railroad,
three-quarters of q mile beyond East
Point. Stevenson's Division reported to
me by IL a. m. on the Goth of August.
Hardees Corps was on my left, and was
gradually relieved, by my corps in order
that it might extend farther to the left.
| about 4 p. IN. on the Both l was noti-
fed that Gen. Hardee would probably
move to Jonesboro. and that it was de-
sired that my corps should follow and sup
port him. At army headquarters, in At
lanta, about 9 p. H., it was decided that
the column of the enemy which was
marching on Jonesboro from the direction
of the West Point & Atlanta Railroad
should be attacked early on the morning
|
that Lieut.-Gen. Hardee, with his corps
and my own, should be charged with the
expedition. l accordingly reported to Gen.
Hardee at Gen. Hoods headquarters. Ac-
cording to my recollection, the column
marching on JonesbOro was the only col
umn of the enemy well defined and in
motion, and that it consisted of about
three corps. l was advised that Gen.
Hardee's Corps, the left of which rested
at Rough and Ready, four miles below
East Point ON the Macon Railroad, COM
| meEced moving about 4 D. IN. Orders were
issued for my corps to move Immediate
ly after Gen. Hardee's. The rear of
Hardee's Corps was in molten about IL: 80
p. m. My corps was well closed up to it
was very slow, lind the head of my
column die not reach Rough and Ready
till daylight II ascertaincd that the
delay was caused by portion of
Hardee's Corps encountering the enemy
about - p. m. Aug. 80 on the
road on which they were marching, which
made it necessary for the line of march
to be changed 10 neighborhood road. In
consequence of this delay my. corps did not
arrive at JoneaboFo till near 10 a. m. on
the 31st but it reached there Immediately
in rear of en.uHardee's last division. The
last three brigades of my corps in cOnse-
quence of the distance they had marched.
and having been on picket, arrived about
/ 80 p. IN.
"The enemy had during the previous
evening and night effected crossing of
Flint River and made a Judgment lon the
east bank The preiminaries for the at
tack were arranged. My corps was formed
almost parallel to the railroad and imme-
diately to the right of Jonesboro. connect
ing with the right of Hardee's Corps.
which extended toward Flint River, and
making almost right angle with the rail-
road. 1t was found that Hardees Corps
did not cover as much ground as was eS-
pected. and was instructed to extend my
troops so as to fill up the interval, ard
my command was moved almost two divi-
sions front to the left. The Instructions
given me were to attack rs soon as Gle
burne. who commanded Hardee's Corps,
should become holly engaged. he being or
dered to swing to his right. and my corps
TO advance directly against the enemy.
and. if possible. swing TO the left. The
firing to my left ION CIeburne's Iine) did
not Indicate serious engagement until
the right division of Hardee's Corps be-
came engaged. Being satisfied that the
battle had commenced in earnest, | at once
gave orders for my corps to move against
the enemy.
'"The attack was not made by the troops
with that spirit and inHcxible determine
| ton that would insure success. Several
brieades behaved With great gallantry.
and in each brigade n,sny instances Of gal
liant conduct were exhibited by regiments
| and individuals: but generally the troops
halted in the charge when they were much
exposed, and within easy range of the
cnemy's musketry, and when they could
| do but little damage to the enemy behind
his works. instead of moving directly and
promptly forward against the temporary
and informidable works at their front.
The attack was feeble one and fail
IRE, with loss to my corps of about 1.300
men i'm killed and wounded. The enemy
being behind works, and apparently no
impression having been made upon him by
the attack on my left. where his line was
supposed to be weakest, and Rrig-Gcn
Ross. commanding a cavalry brigade on
my immediate right, having reported the
enemy moving to my right, was induced
not TO renew the attack.
During the night of the 31st. about
%. m. received an order from Lieut. Gen.
Hardee to march at once to Atlanta. My
corps was at once put in motion, and was
halted by Maj.-Gen. M. L. Smith, Chief
Engineer of the Army. about six miles
from Atlanta, and there put in position
to cover the evacuation of the city"
Uo be cOntinued)
| To CUEE COLD IN ONE DAY