The National tribune., 1902-10-23


Many household in the North had
been filled with sorrow when reading the
long list of the killed and wounded as
news of the heroic campaign in Georgia
was given to the public. The army was
in splendid health and spirits. 1t felt it
self equal to any task that its commanders
might call upon it to perform. Its faith
strengthened day by day, and it had abso-
lutte confidence in the ultimate success Of
the Union arms.
The direct movement against Atlanta
began July II. This campaign had now
continued q days. This is what had been
done: Atlanta was at first besieged from
the north and east; the Augusta railroad
miles, and important bridges farther east
had been burned; five desperate battles
had been fought and won: numerous skir-
mishes and engagements were had which
in other wars would have been recorded
as battles; a cavalry raid had been made
against the enemys railroads in Alabama,
and 30 miles of track destroyed.
The Stoneman-G n-Garrard-McCoOk raid
had failed of its purpose. and the cavalry
had incurred heavy losses, but they also
inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, and
demonstrated the enterprise and courage
of the Union soldier.
THE SITUATION ON AUG. 8.
The main army besieging Atlanta had
changed its position from the northeast to
the southwest side of Atlanta. This was
the situation on Aug. s.
The Confederate forces now occupied
a line more than 10 miles long, protected
the entire length by strong works located
upon the most available ground for de-
fense, and extending southwest from At
lanta so as to defend the railroads lead
ing into the city from the south and west.
The Union forces held a great curved
line of works about 20 miles in length, ex-
tending from the Augusta Railroad east
of Atlanta, around the city on the north
cinity of East Point. This whole line
conformed to the position of the Confed-
crate works, and now threatened the left
flank of the Confederate army and the
railroads south. The Union forces were
posted on this line as follows:
The Fourth Corps, now commanded by
Maj.-Gen. David S. Stanley, was on the
extreme left, facing southwest. The
Twentieth Corps, commanded by Brig
Gen. Alpheus S. Williams. was next on
the right, north of Atlanta, covering the
railroads to Chattanooga. Posted in reg
ular order to the right were the Sixteenth.
Seventeenth, Fifteenth, Fourteenth, and
Twenty-third Corps, the latter now hold
ing the extreme right of the army. Brig.-
Gen. hlcnaru w. JOHNSON WIS now III
command of the Fourteenth Corps, sue
cessor to Gen. Palmer. &
It will be realized at glance that the
army had in a short space of time per-
formed q great military feat. These sue
cessful movements and battles must take
a place in history as equalling the most
brilliant campaigns of any wars.
There was much done in the campaign
upon which its success depended that can
1a hrn nUht r
as the herOism displayed on the skjrmish
line and in battle. But it must be re-
membered that the duties of officers and
soldiers involve many important things be-
sides fighting.
This army was composed Of 100000
officers and men. There were 1000 wag-
Ons, 500 ambuIances, 24.000 mules and
and animals had to be fed. The neces-
sary provisions, feed and forage came
from the North by railroad, and officers
and soldiers were assigned to the duty OF
receiving, caring for and distributing this
immense quantity Of materi l.. The ord
nance stores, medical supplies, and cloth.
ing for the soldiers were provided and
cared for in the same way. The most
perfect system prevailed in every De
partment of the service.
II was a rare thing that soldier had
cause to complain that he was not prop
erly provided with clothing, food, ammu-
milton and medical attendance. All OF
these things were necessary to maintain
the army in a high state of efficiency. 1t
is probable that no army ever operated so
far from its actual base of supplies that
was better provided for than the Army OF
Georgia.
The actual labor incident to this cam
paign was immense.
For crossing the Chattanooga River 1C
pOntoon bridges were built, averaging 350
feet in Iength-3,50O feet. Seven trestle
bridges were built of material cut from
timber in the neighborhoOd; five of these
| were dOuble-tracked; they averaged 33C
feet in length-2.45O feet, or total OF
| $3.50 feet Of bridges. Six bridges were
built over Peach Tree Creek, so feet long
| each, and many shorter bridges and many
miles of road repaired.
These bridges were constructed with
| great promptness, but the bridgebuildine
feat that attracted universal comment in
the army was the erection by Col. w. w
| Wright of a railroad bridge across the
| ChattahoOchee River to replace the Howe
truss bridge which had been destroyed
by order of Gen. Johnston. This perma
nent bridge had been erected on numbe
of stone piers. 1t was utterly destroyed
nothing being left but the piers and tn,
wreck of iron work. Col. Wright il
six days erected substantial trestl,
| bridge to take the place of the former
bridge and had loaded trains passing ove
| it. This was undoubtedly the most sue
cessfui piece of military railroad engineer
ing that occurred during the war.
The construction of intrenchments wa.
a herculean job.
At least so miles Of infantry parapet
and an equal length of artillery epaule
ment were constructed. This work was il
variably done under the most difficult ant
dangerous conditions.
These labors had been performed b,
this army, and cheerfully performed, a
a means to the great end in view-th
defeat and r0ut of the Confederate army
As before stated, after Aug. s ther
was lull in the aggressive movements O
the two armies, and for time it SCENE,
that each of the two chief commander
was waiting for the other to take the il
itiative.
If Gen. Sherman's mind was in a stat
of revery, it was soon called into activit
by n telegraphic dispatch from Resaca
which informed him that cavalry fore
Of the enemy, 5000 strong, had been dis
covered marching northward on the Fed
!. eral Road % miles east Of the railroad
This was new feature in the cam
paign. 1t was evident that Gen. Hoo
had become greatly emboldened by hi
success in dealing with Stoneman an
McCoOk, and that he now proposed I
take the offensive, and il possible deal
stunning blow to Gen. Sherman's line O
communications.
. 1t is safe to say that Gen. Sherman ex
] periehce6 grim satisfaction when h
. learned that Gen. Hood, his enterprisin
and courageous anita g0nist, had sent ava
II ,n1,~ L. L.