The National tribune., 1902-10-09
FLANK MOVEMENT AROUND ATLANTA.

assumed command OF the Fifteenth corps.
FLANK MOVEMENT AROUND ATLANTA.
This great flank movement around At
lanta began early On the morning of July
q. Gen. Stoneman with $500 men and
Gen. Garrard with 1000 men were at
Decatur seven miles east of Atlanta. Gen.
Stoneman was the ranking officer, and
had command of the entire force. Gen.
| McCook with $500 men was northwest
of Atlanta, at Turner's Ferry. He had
been reinforced by Col. Harrison's Bri-
gade, which constituted part of Gen. Rous
seau's column on his raid to Opelika.
These 10000 cavalrymen were under or
ders to form junction at LOvejoy's, on the
railroad q miles south of Atlanta, on July
%, and to destroy the road effectively.
Gen. McCoOk marched down the west
bank of the Chattahoochee to near River
town. Here he laid his pontoon bridge
and crossed the river with his command.
| He moved rapidly to Palmetto Station, on
| the West Point Railroad, and tore up a
portion of the track. He left one regiment
at Palmetto Station. which marched to-
wards Campbellton to create diversion
in that direction, and then recrOssed the
river, took up the pOntoOn bridge and re-
turned with it to their old camp.
Gen. McCook moved rapidly. His
march led him through Fayetteville. Here
he found large wagon trains Of the enemy.
He captured 250 prisoners, mostly Quar-
| termaster's and train men. He burned
500 wagons, killed 800 mules, taking many
others with his column. He then pressed
forward to Lovejoy's Station, and reached
there at the appointed time. He burned
the depot, tore up the railroad track and
continued the work of destruction until
he was forced to turn upon the enemy to
defend himself.
Gen Stoneman and Gen. Garrard did
not appear. McCook could hear nothing
from them. He soon found that he would
have no assistance in TINS important enter
prise.
He discovered that the enemy were con-
centrating against him from the north the
west and the east. Brig Gen. Joseph Fl.
Lewis was hurriedly dispatched by cars
from Atlanta to cooperate with Gen.
Jackson, who, with Harrison's and Ross
Brigades, had followed McCook from Pal
metto Station. Gen. Wheeler was also
closing in on McCook from the east. Gen
McCook decided to make his way back.
He moved south and west, and was pur-
sued by an enterprising enemy. He reached
Newman, on the West Point Railroad,
and encountered an infantry force coming
from Mississippi to Atlanta. These troops
were being conveyed by railroad, and were
stopped by the break In the track made
by McCook at Palmetto Station. The
Confederate cavalry in hot pursuit came
upon the scene. Gen. McCook soon found
himself over-matched in point of numbers
and hemmed in. He dropped the prison
ers and prepared for battle. A vigorous
fight ensued, In which McCook lost about
500 officers and men, most of whom were
captured. But he cut his way out with
the main body, marched hurriedly to the
Chattahoochee River crossed over, and
reached Marietta without further loss.
THE sToNEMAN RAID.
Gen. Stoneman cid not move directly
to Lovejoy's, as ordered by Gen. Sherman.
He divided his force, sending Gen. Gar
rard to Flat Rock, while he pushed off to-
wards Covington, on the Augusta Rail
road, crossed tho Ocmulgee River near
| Covington, and moved down on the east
side of that river, reaching Clinton, town
about ~ miles northeast Of Macon. He
sent out detachment which struck the
! Macon & Savannah Railroad at Griswold
Station, 10 miles east of Macon, tore up
the track, destroyed II locomotives and
about 100 cars. He then pushed east tc
the Oconee River and burned the bridge
He was now 40 miles from Atlanta and
lib miles from Lovejoy's, his original OBJ
jective. So far everything was In his
favor
Gen. Stoneman now decided to move
against Macon. He reunited his Division
before that city, but the Ocmulgee River
not cross the river by the bridge; it wa.
: held by forces under Maj.-Gen. Howell
e Cobb.
Gen. Stoneman shelled the city Gen
i Cobb drew up a considerable force, com
posed Of Georgia reserves, citizens, loca
t companies and militia which Gov Brown
r had organized. This force confronted Gen
. Stoneman, and skirmished with him dur
q ing July 80.
t Gen. Stoneman now withdrew to Gin
}. ton, hoping, no doubt, that he would b,
!, able to work his way back to Atlanta. s.
}. far everything had gone well with hi
q command. The expedition was surpris
to the enemy, and Gen. Stoneman's move
q ments were SO rapid and SO erratic tina
e his real plans could rot be fathomed; bu
!, when he spent day In front of Macon
J: forces gathered rapidly for his discom
d fture. Gen. Alfred Iverson met Gen