The National tribune., 1902-11-20
AVHH the WESTERN
EA ~4RMYS
EJh&9A Operations Against the Macon Railroad.
Operations Against the Macon Railroad.
Ey GEN. GREEN B. RAUM.
Copyrighted 1901 hy the publishers THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE

Ey YEN. VkEEN b. NAUW.
hers of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
probably be best to move two corps at
a time. as it would require all the enemy
available veterans to meet this force. 1t
| is hardly possible that the enemy can Ell
lure three such battles, as he can thus
he compelled to fight i'll as many con-
sccutive days.
| I'm case this plan should I've adopted.
even in its main features. l would sug-
gcst that in the. first movement Gen.
Thomas put his two corps i'll on the right
| of the Fourteenth. leaving mine i'll re-
| serve as ii virtually is now. and let ne
make the next move on his right. or even
Oh the right of Gen. Howard, if that be
preferred. This will bring Gen. Thomas's
three corps together and allow miEe to
take Il more hazardous part (f not more
important OIe) i'll q movement which l
| recommend.
Il would also suggest as n matter of
detail what 1 consider an improvement
upon the prevalent mode of making such
movements; viz, that instead of gradual
| Iy unfolding from the flank of the corps
already in position, the corps moving in,
ietach itself 4 mile or so from the flank
and march in strong order of battle di-
rectly upon the point to be gained. In
the comparative open country to our pres
ent right this method will be entirely
practicable and much more rapid and de-
cisive than the prevalent method. l feel
confident that this plan ought to succeed,
land its hazards appear less to me than
any other that promises success. Yet
suggest it with diffidence. and do not feel
mt all sure that it is as good an as
that suggested by you yesterday. though
the latter seems very difficult of eXecu-
ton. l am carefully considering the de-
tails of movement involved in your plan,
l. and will fviVa
possible. Meanwhile / am preparing the
position l now occupy as 4 pivot on
which the first portion of that movement
can be made.
Il have the honor to be. very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
u. NJ. SCHOFIELD,
"AIajor-General.'
GEN. THOMAS'S PLAN.
Gen. Thomas also made recommends
tions as to the movement in the following
letter:
HEADQUARTERS Department of the Cum
berland,
Before Atlanta, Ga, Aug. 10, 1864.
Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman. Commanding
Military Division of the Missis-
sippi.
General: have the honor to. submit
1.-THE following plan for the withdrawal Of
my troops from the left, and concentrat-
ing them on the right, and at the same
time place the Twentieth Corps in the
Notifications at the railroad bridge.
'First. Have all the wagons that are
to be taken with the troops moved over
Ito the right, and parked in some secure
lposition. Then, early in the evening,
about 8 o'clock, move Gen. Stanley's en-
tire force from the intrenchments. and
mass them On advantageous ground some
where about the Meyer House. This
will enable Gen. Stanley to cover the re-
ltirement of the Twentieth Corps, which
would be able to commence its movement
by u o'clock at night. About 2 p. m.
both Gen. Stanley's and Gen williams's
pickets might be withdrawn, Gen. Stan
lley's pickets taking post in front of his
4 line. near the Meyer House. and Gen.
| Williams's pickets covering his march to
the river. Gen. Garrard's cavalry should
preserve its position to the extreme left,
and look out for the flank during the
movement of the two corps, commencing
to fall back when Gen. Stanley's pickets
move, and so conduct his movement as to
lplace his troops between Gen. Williams s
skirmishers and the enemy if Gen. Will
Iams is pursued. Gen. Garrard should
maintain his position until Gen. Williams
!. has reached his position at the bridge and
adjusted his troops.
Second. Gen. Williams having ad-
! justed his troops to cover the railroad
bridge Gen. Garrard should move by the
right and place himself on the right and
rear of Gen. Howard to protect his flank.
After Gen. Williams has passed toward
. the river Gen. Stanley could continue his
march and 60 into camp behind and near
the extreme right. If possible Gen. Stan.
ley should reach the position on the ex
: treme right the first day, as it would en-.
/ able his troops TO have the whole of the
l second day to rest.
} Third. In continuance of the move
, ments for the concentration Of the army
the second day Gen. Howard could move
, from his position on the left of the Four.
? extreme right as you design, and the
8 Fourteenth Corps shift its position from
the left to the right of Gen. Schofield's
e Corps, and in front of the Fourth Corps
: or on its right flank. This will place the
, troops in position in the order in which
t you designed moving them, with Gen
S Garrard's cavalry on the left flank.
e II am, General, very respectfully, YOU
, "GEO. II. THOMAS.
4 major General, L. S. Volunteers, Com
manding."
, GEN. scHoFIELD's DETAILED PLAN.
j In his letter of Aug. IA, Gen. Schofielt
e suggested some important modification!
e of the plan proposed by Gen. Sherman
G at the council of war; but two days af
: terwards he sent in the following, sugges
0 ting details for carrying out Gen. Sher
e mans plans:
= Headquarters Army of the Ohio.
= aug. 16 1866
!, "Maj.-Gen. Sherman, Commanding Mill
= tary Division of the Mississippi.
.. .. General: l respectfully suggest tin
{ following details in the execution of tn
!. plan proposed by you on the 18th inst.
= First day. Twentieth Corps to TAX
y its position on the Chattahoochee and tn
), Fourth Corps in rear of the Fourteenth
:, the trains which. are to move with th
= army being previously parked along tn
= Utoy, and those TO be left in rear to b
Il sent to the bridge-head.
!, Second day. Gen. Howard to NOV
!. via Utoy Post-Ofice to the south bank 0
: the UtOy Creek. Gen. Thomas to pas
6 around Gen. Schofield. beyond the Camp
4, bellton road. Gen. Howard's trains /
- move to where the road from UtOy Post
- Office to Campbellton crosses branc
:, of the Utoy Creek, those of Gems Thoma
" and Schofeld, near the Campbellto
- Road, in rear of Gen. Thomas.
4 Third day. Gen. Howard to move vi
- Elton TO Fairburn, Gen. Thomas wi
Mount Gilead Church to Red Oak. Gen
70 SchOfield to follow Gen. Thomas. Train
% to follow Gen. Howard on the road hi
:. troops take and ones intermediate be
Il tween Gems. Thomas and Howard. Gems
" Thomas and Schofield to march by til
~ ~ right flank in strong order of battle (thre
"a parallel columns) using the wagon roa