The National tribune., 1902-09-04

And now, on July II, began the great
movement of Sherman's army against At
lanta.
sRERMAN's MOVEMENT AGAINST ATLANTA
BEGINS.
The various corps moved forward in the
following order from right to left: The
Fourteenth Corps on the right, Palmer
commanding; the Twentieth Corps to his
left, Hooker commanding; the Fourth
Corps to his left, Howard commanding,
composing the Army of the Cumberland,
under the command of Mai. George
III. Thomas; the Twenty-third Corps next
to the left of the Army of the Ohio.
Maj.-Gen. Schofield commanding: next
came the Sixteenth Corps, Dodge com
manding; next the Fifteenth Corps, Logan
commanding, and on the extreme left the
Seventeenth Corps. Blair commanding, be-
ing the Army of the Tennessee, under the
command Of Maj.=Gcn. James b. Nc
Pherson.
Gen. McCOOk's Division of Cavalry was
on July 15 sent to Winnings Station, under
orders to post his command along the
banks Of the river between PAGES and
Turner'S Ferries (the one above and the
other below the railroaD as soon as the
balance of the troops had crossed, and
guard the rear of the army. Stoneman
II
marched toward Stone Mountain, his OBJ
jective being the railroad east of Decatur
SchOfeld moved out toward Cross Keys
and Decatur. The general direction Of
the movement was to the southwest.
But little opposition was encountered
during this first days march by McPher-
son and Schofield: small bodies of cavalry
were met, but We're soon swept aside; they
were present more for observation than
fnr hot I'm
Davis found the enemy about one mile
out from the river. Gen. Morgan's Bri-
gade had quite sharp skirmish fight, in
which he was joined by part of the skr-
mishers of Gen. Johnson's Division. The
enemy, after considerable resistance, fell
back toward Nancy's Creek. Thomas's
column pushed forward towards Nancy's
Creek, Palmer and Hooker forming a line
with skirmishers extending to the junction
of Nancy's and Peach Tree Creeks.
Skirmishing was renewed with the enemy,
who were driven to and across the creek,
and here Thomas encamped for the night
Gen. Thomas's proximity to the enemy
made it necessary that his army should
be prepared for battle. All his divisions
when moving threw ont strong skirmish
lines and moved forward ready for a fight.
Early OH the morning Of July 1S the whole
army resumed the march. The direction
Of the movement was in the nature of
great right wheel, Thomas with his ex-
treme right holding on close to the Chat
tahoOchee River, the object being to bring
the army around fronting Atlanta.
About = O'Clock in the afternoon Me-
Pherson struck the railroad seven miles
east OF Decatur, and Immediately began
tearing up the track. This work was con-
tinucd as his army, astride OF the railroad,
marched westward. McPherson's ad-
vance reached Decatur Mt night where
they found Gen. Schofield with his com
mand, who had arrived earlier in the day.
Schofeld's line of march had drawn him
away from Thomas's left wing, and now
there was considerable interval between
these two armies.
ThOmas's whole command crossed Nam
cy's Greek and encountered the enemy at
once. Skirmishing was renewed. The
enemy was steadily driven and Thomas's
command pushed forward to n position i'm
front of the old Peach Tree road leading
from Turner's Ferry to Decatur, Palmer's
right resting near the junction of Nancy's
ana Peach Tree Greeks, with Hooker's
ards Corps ut Buck Head, Thomas had
his army well in hand and ready for any
emergency. The enemy had not yet ap-
peared in force
The slight resistance offered by the Con.
federates during this important movement
created the impression that Atlanta would
be abandoned without serious struggle.
But this was not to happen. An impor-
tant event was then occurring in the city
OF Atlanta which was to produce com
plefe change in the conduct Of the cam
paign. Jefferson Davis, the President OF
the Confederate Government, had for some
time been greatly dissatisfied with the de-
fcIsivc plan Of campaign adopted by Gen.
Joseph Il. Johnston. Mr.. Davis favored
more aggressive system, and determined
to bring this about by making change
IN the commander. Gen. Johnston was
relieved and the command was given fo
Gen. John b. Hood
Gen. Hood had chafed under the CON
tlY-rccurrinQ withdrawal Of tha Con