The National tribune., 1902-07-17


that this new line was to be held per-
manently and retired across the open
fields out of range. The time liked by
Gen. Mcpherson for the withdrawal of
the troops was the early morning of
June /. As a preliminary, however, II
was decided that Gen. Dodge should on
May 81 make an assault on the enemy S
work The Fourth Division, assisted by
the Second Brigade of the Second Divi-
sion. was assigned to that duty. y strong
formation was made and these troops
pushed forward with great audaclty, anu
without serious loss carried one line OF
the cnemy's works, capturing number
of prisoners.
On June ], at o'clock in the morning,
Gen Dodge began the movement of with
drawing from his works at Dallas. Col.
Rice with the First Brigade, Second Divi-
sion, moved out in advance, assigned to
the duty of occupying some new lntrench-
ments on the Allatoona road which had
been constructed especially to cover the
withdrawal of the army. The balance of
til Sixteenth CORPS and Gen. Davis 5
Division of the Fourteenth Corps follow
ed promptly. the Fourth Division having
the rear. with instructions to move to Il
8 pusition near Owens Mill To cover the
roads TO Van Vert, Burnt Hickory and
Kingston. At the same hour Gen. Logan
moved the Fifteenth Corps out of their
new works. passed through Dallas over
Pumpkin Vine road, and swinging TO the
north and east over byroads passed into
q road leading TO New Hope Church and
soon reached the rear Of Gen. Hooker 5
Twentieth Corps. And SO on June l the
Fifteenth Corps relieved the Twentieth
Corps occupying the works which had
been commenced by Gen. Geary on the
morning of May %. Gen. Logan formed
the corps in the following order: Gen.
Harrows Division on the right, Gen. Nor
gan l.. Smiths Division in the center and
Col afterwards BrigadierGeneraD
James a. Williamson's Brigade Oh the
left.
Gen. Osterhaus with his two remain
ing brigadcS were held in reserve. Gen.
Dodge handled his corps with great skill:
he covered the movement of other troops,
and on the afternoon of June | formed his
line facing toward Dallas with his left
joining onto the Fifteenth Corps and his
right reaching TO Big Pumpkin Vine
Creek which latter position WAS held by
Gen. Veatch with the Fourth Division.
This new line was at once strongly IN
trenchcd and all the batteries of the Six
teenth Corps placed in position. Gen.
Davis had moved out with Gen. Dodge
and soon reported to Gen. John NJ.
Palmer, commanding the Fourteenth
Corps.
This transfer of six divisions of infan-
try and oRe division of cavalry from the
works of Dallas left Gen. Hardee with
out an enemy in his immediate front.
FLANKING HOOD.
While this movement of the troops un-
der the command of Gen. Mcpherson was
progressing another important move upon
the extreme left was performed. Gen
nd ptIalh T.
ly extended their lines to their left, over
tapping Gen. Hoods right and making his
position more and more unsafe, so on June
/ the cavalry under Gen. Stoncnian, rem
forced by Gen. Garrard's Division, were
instructed 10 seize Allatoona Pass. They
approached this stronghold from two di-
lections, and entered the works and took
possession without opposition; the enemy
had wholly abandoned the place. not even
leaving, cavalry outpost TO bear the
news of its capture. Gen. Sherman now
had control of the railroads from Ala
toena Pass, Ga, 10 Louisville, NY.
Gen. Hardee found that, in spite of all
his efforts to prevent it, Gen. McPaeI son s
command had withdrawn from his front,
and that not single soldier was left to
man the extensive line of works which
had been constructed in his front; he
therefore decided to move out against
new position. On June ., Gen. Hardee
sent forward a strong column and at
tackled the extreme right of the Union
line, which rested on Big Pumpkin Vine
Greek. The Fourth Division, Sixteenth
Corps, commanded by Gen. Veatch, held
this part OF the line; their defensive
works, though hastily thrown up, were
strong, with batteries posted at ad-
yantageous positions.
ha e-i-f icT. of ha in
works were prepared for an attack. The
Confederate lines came boldly ON, but met
such sudden and formidable resistance
that they soon retired discounted with
considerable loss. After this engagement
Gen. Dodge shortened his line somewhat,
moving the Fourth Division a short dis
tance TO the left, and thus strengthened
the position. As soon as the Fifteenth
Corps had relieved Gen. Hooker's Divi-
sion, Gen. Logan made an examination OF
the line, and directed that active opera
tions should at once begin against the
enemy; skirmishing became continuous,
and wherever it was possible to do 50
his line was pushed up closer to the
enemy's works. Gen. Logan had great ex.
perience in military operations Of this
kind; he was quick to find 2 weak point
in an enemy's line, and equally quick to
take advantage of it.
tached to hold the railroad north of the
Etowah River, Gen. Sherman now had his
entire command strongly intrenched in
front OF New Hope Church and to the
right and left of it, besides holding ALA
toona Pass with his cavalry. Gen.
Thomas now had the Twentieth Corps
and Dayis's Division of the Fourteenth
Corps, with which he could extend the
line to the left toward the railroad at
Acworth.
JOHNSTON AGAIN FALLS BACK.
The Army of the Cumberland, the
Army of the Ohio and combined cavalry
forces were sufficient in numbers to con
siderably overlap the right flank of the
Confederate position in and around New
Hope, and Gen. Joseph L. Johnston be.
came convinced that Gen. Sherman had
gained such advantage that it was safer
for his army to change its position to
more defensive grounds further south. He
had already made ample preparations fol
such move; positions had been selected
ard defensive works constructed ready to
receive his troops whenever the time came
that he would be forced from his posi-
uons around Dallas and New Hope
Church.
For four days in June the fierce con
test was kept up, but by daylight on tn,
morning of the 9Th, Gen. Johnston's army
had evacuated their works and retfeated
BY direction of Gen. Sherman, Gen. Nc
Pherson issued orders on the morning Of
June for the Army Of the Tennessee t.
march TO Acworth. The movement be
gan promptly with the Fifteenth Corp,
in advance, Gen. Dodge with the Six
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