The National tribune., 1902-11-13

the exchange of such prisoners as might
be captured in the rear of the army, anG
as their compact was approved by the
commanding officer of the Army of the
Cumberland, and also by myself, / fee
it my duty to return to you the prisoners
which were captured in and around Dal-
ton. i have heard such statements as to
lead me to believe that you will approve
of the course pursued by me, if you desire
to lessen the horrors attending upon war
and that you will aid me in lessening the
affections of those captured. l rely upon
you to release such prisoners of my com
mand as you may capture, or have here
tofOre captured, and direct them to rejoin
me until the number equals that which
have returned Of yours. / will keep an
accurate account of the number returned
to you, and also those of my command
which You may release. / have parOled
these prisoners, and shall consider them
exchanged as soon as you may commence
sending my prisoners to me, or to our
lines.
Respectfully, General, your obedient
servant,
"JOS. WHEELER.
MajOr-General, c. s. Army
&c. B. RAUM."
We We're able to complete the repairs of
the railroad before the telegraph repairers
completed their work, but as I had
promised, the line was opened to Chatta-
nOOga early in the afternoon of the 18th:
the interruption to the wires south of
Resaca was quite temporary, but the
break below Dalton required considerable
time for its repair. When the line was
completed Capt. Van Duzer, Assistant
Superintendent of u. s. Military Tele-
graph, celebrated the event by sending the
following dispatch to Maj. Eckert, Super
intendent: ,l33
Kingston, Ga. Aug II, 1864; 9 p. m.
Mai. I. Z. Eckert:
"For the first. time since Sunday morn
ing we hayeis telegraphic communication
with Chattanooga. Wheeler has been OIL
the line and has kept it down since that
time between here and Dalton, and has
destroyed thesrailrOad, to what extent !
am as vet not informed. He attacked
Dalton, but was repulsed, and retreated
towards Spring Place, pursued by Gen.
Steedman and John r. Smith, who will
give him 10 rest.
MATTERS at Atlanta as at last advices,
except that the left is retired to prepare
for flank movement in earnest in few
days.
81. C. VAN DUZER,
Captain, Etc"
Gen. Smith, with 1000 infantry. 200
cavalry and two pieces Of artillery. made
the march to Spring Place in good tine.
arriving at l: 30 in the afternoon
My courier overlook him and delivered
the letter informing him that Gen. Steed-
man had learned that Wheeler had
marched away the day before, and he
therefore would not make the march to
Spring Place, but would return with his
troops to Chattanooga
VIpon receivinp thic infor,,o,,on bo
faced about and returned to Resaca with
his command. His column marched about
~ miles from z a. m. until 10 p. M, Aug
II. On his arrival Gen. Smith telegraphed
Gen. Sherman as follows:
"Resaca. Aug. II, 1864; 1870 p. m.
Maj. Gen. Sherman:
II have just returned from Spring
Place, where l arrived at 30 D. m.
command had left yesterday
p. m. in direction of Cleveland. Sent scouts
out to see if any portion had gone south
or east. They report that none have taken
those directions. They reported that they
had 10000 men. Citizens say the horses
were generally in good condition. and that
men said they were going to Tennessee.
Cannonading was heard in the direction of
Cleveland at 2.3O p. IN. Commanding Off
GERS: Wheeler, Martin, Kelly, Robertson.
Allen, Williams. Dibrell and Col Harmon.
'JNO. E. SMITH,
Srigadier-General."
On Aug. 18 Gen. Smith embarked his
troops upon cars, and moving south re-
turned the various regiments of this tenn
porary division to their proper posts.
Trains on the railroad were now freely
passing between the army in front and
and Nashville. Gen. Sherman
was in telegraphic connection with Wash
ngton City and Gen. Grants Headquar-
ters in Virginia. Wheeler's raid as far
as the army at the front was concerned
was at an end. With his large force of
cavalry he had been able to disturb the
regular and orderly use Of the railroad
and telegraph line for period of five days
only. But he continued northward, bent
upon doing all the damage possible. 1t
will be readily understood that cavalry
raiding column must be prepared for rapid
movements, consequently it must march
in light order; small and light wagon
train is absolutely essential to success.
Gen. Wheeler's column marched in this
condition. The 5000 or 1000 men and
which composed this expedition
were soon forced to subsist off of the coun-
try. After Gen. Wheeler had been on the
road week he found the supply of grain
and forage in1the northern part of Georgia
over which theytwO armies had marched
tuu IOuSnt, WIS inadequate TO supply his
wants, besidesSh he had no disposition to
such force as Gen. Stecdman
would be able to muster if he should
march against Chattanooga; he therefore
turned the head of his column northeast,
rs has been shown, so as to afford his
army the advantages of the products of
The fertile and prosperous country watered
BY the Ococer and Hiawassee Rivers. On
his way thitherI he threatened Cleveland
and Charleston and thoroughly broke up
the railroad between these two places.
Food and forage were found In abundance
in Tennessee, and were taken without
stint. Gen. Wheeler pushed forward rapid
y, occupied Athens and captured a con-
siderable quantity of supplies, and con-
.inued the destruction of the Knoxville
Road to Loudon.
The Union forces occupying these var
ous places were not sufficient in numbers
TO cope with Gen. Wheeler's force, but
they kept up considerable skirmishing
from day to day, and to certain extent
mpeded his progress. Gen. Wheeler con-
.emplated crossing the Tennessee River,
frst at Cotton Port and then at Kingston.
out rise in the river forced him finally
to head the high water OIL the Holston
and French Broad Rivers, and cross the
Tennessee above Knoxville.
A small cavalry force was sent ont
from the National garrison at Knoxville
md had a spirited skirmish with Gen.
Wheeler while crossing the Tennessee but
tha voiOht NJ hio fnrCo co. r.-.na =.