The National tribune., 1902-11-13

Copyrighted. 1901. by the publis
During the forenoon of Aug. 16 a con
siderable body of the Confederate forces
in Atlanta were moved to the left of the
Union position in such Il manner as to at
tract the attention of the besieging forces
1t seems probable now that this was done
to. keep up the illusion that a force was
to cooperate in some way in Wheeler 5
movement north.
Gen Sherman kept the wires hot with
dispatches asking for information and CIV
ing directions
Nothing great or small escaped him, day
or night. To Gen. Smith he sent the fol
lowing:
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
Near Atlanta. Ga, Aug. 16, 1864.
"Gen. John L. Smith. Resaca:
Il have your dispatch of II m. and Col.
Raum's of 1890 a. m. You should make
a junction with the Dalton force as soon
as possible, restore the telegraph and rail
road, and feel out to Spring Place. If
Wheeler goes up into East Tennessee.
we'll; only get word to Chattanooga and
Nashville as soon as possible. l would
rather he was there than here. Do all
You can to rescue his prisoners, and don't
let him return. Get on the road by which
he went and obstruct it by all the means
in your power. 1t may be he has gone up
into East Tennessee with 4 part, and n
part remains. In that event fall upon the
latter and drive it as far as your men have
endurance. Clean out Spring Place, move
its inhabitants North, and burn the town,
if you think they have connived or play
ed spies on your road. Communicate these
views to Gen. Steedman, and ! will ap-
prove whatever you or he may do.
"W. T. SHERMAN,
"MajOr-General, Commanding"
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
"Near Atlanta, Aug. 16, 1864.
"Gen. John E. Smith, Resaea:
Il hear nothing of the six regiments
near Cartersville. The wire was inter-
ing we'll. If Martins Division be at
Spring Place and Wheeler above Dalton,
Martin should be attacked by infantry,
and the road occupied and obstructed by
all possible ways, SO that he cannot move
artillery or wagons. As soon as you COM
municate with Gen. Steedman, and he is
satisfied he can handle Wheeler, return to
your post with the command. The stores
In Allatoona are 50 valuable that don't
want to risk them too much. Wheelers
move north was forced upon him, and if
he could be hemmed in he won't fight hard.
He depends on sudden dashes and sur
prise. l have broken the West Point
Road good, and will try the Macon Road,
without which Hood cannot feed his army.
Wheeler will find it hard to feed his men
and horses up there. Gen. Steedman can
call from above a good many troops, and
horses will be along soon.
"Major-General, Commanding"
Feeling some apprehension that there
might be sudden dash made by the
enemy against Allatoona, where large
quantities of supplies were stored, the fol-
lowing additional correspondence by wire
was had between Gen. Sherman, Gen. Nc
Arthur and Lieut-Col. Tourtellotte:
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
"Near Atlanta, Ga, Aug. 16, 1864.
Seen. Macarthur, Marietta:
Communicate with Col. Tourtellotte,
commanding at Allatoona, and if you have
reason to believe our stores there in dan
ger, send by cars all the men you can
spare, and send cars to me for reinforce
ments for Marietta.
''W. T. SHERMAN,
'Major-General, Commanding"
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
Near Atlanta, Ga, Aug. 16, 1864.
sCol. Tourtellotte, Allatoona:
81 have instructed Gen. Macarthur, in
ease the stores at Allatoona Pass are en-
dangered, to send you reinforcements by
cars from Marietta, and / will replace
them from here. Send word to the bridge
and Cartersville that if attacked they must
fight to the last. Cavalry will not attack
troops in position, because half the men
must watch the horses. The bridge, the
stores, and the Allatoona Depot must be
held, cost what it may.
.'W. T. SHERMAN,
"Major-tieneral, Commanding"
Headquarters Military Division. of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
"Near Atlanta, Ca, Aug. 16, 1864.
aCol Tourtellotte, Allatoona:
what force is at the Etowah Bridge
and Gainesville?
'W. T. SHERMAN,
'Major-General, Commanding"
"Allatoona, Aug. 16, 1864.
''Maj.-Gen. Sherman:
"There were two regiments and four
gun battery at Etowah Bridge and one
regiment at Gainesville, but think one
regiment at least was sent away yester-
day.
"J. E. TOURTELLOTTE.
"Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding
When Gen. Smith arrived at Resaca
with his forces he Immediately dispatched
Q courier to Dalton to communicate with
Col. Laiboldt upon receipt of Gen
Smiths letter repeated it by wire. The
Colonel sent the following dispatches to
Gen. Steedman at Chattanooga:
Dalton. Aug. 16, 1864.
'1Maj.-Gen. Steedman:
Il just received following note from J.
e. Smith, Brigadier-G General:
'Resaca, Aug. Is; II p. m.
II have just arrived with 1900 men.
Gen. Sherman directs me to communicate
with Gen. Steedman. If he is not there
you will communicate such information as
you may have of the movements of The
enemy. Gen. Sherman desires that
Wheeler be driven toward Tennessee and
not be allowed to return down the valley.
! shall move out toward Spring Place in
the morning. You will telegraph Gen.
6teedman and send me reply as soon as
possible.
Yours respectfully,
al. E. SMITH,
'Brigadier-General.'
II shall eEdeavor to find out Wheeler's
whereabouts, and do all in my power with
the troops at my disposal to accomplish
the desired object. Please answer imme-
diately.
"B. LAIBOLDT,
Colonel, Commanding Post"
dalton, Aug 16, 1864; 6 a. m.
'Maj.-Gen. Steedman, Chattanooga:
II just received information that Mar
pms (rebell Division is in camp four miles
here on this side of the river.
''B. LAIBoLDT,
Colonel, Commanding"