The National tribune., 1902-12-25
Copyrighted. 1901 by the rubl
FIERCE FIGHTING AT JCNESE0R0.
The Rebels Discover the Flank Movement.
and Try to Stop dedicated Everywhere
They Evacuate Atlanta.


and Try to Stop dedicated Everywhere
They Evacuate Atlanta.
1t was mot until the afternoon of Aug.
80 that Gen Hood reached the conclusion
from information furnished by Gen.
Hardee from Rough and Ready, that Gen.
Sherman was moving against the Macon
Railroad in great force. After consulting
with his corps commanders he determined
to move two corps of his army to Jones'
boros during the night and to attack and
drive the Union forces at that place across
Flint River Gen. Hardee was telegraphed
to at Rough and Ready in the evening OF
Aug. 80 to come to Atlanta; an engine was
sent for him, and he arrived after night.
Gen. 'Hardee received orders from Gen.
Hood to move to Jonesboro with Gen.
Lees Corps, and his own, which was at
the time commanded by Mal.-Gen. Gle
burne. The orders were for Gen. Hardee
to attack the enemy at Jonesboro and drive
him across Flint River. These two corps
were encamped in the vicinity OF East
Point. Telegraphic orders were at once
sent to Gems. Lee and Cleburne to move
promptly and make night march to
Jonesboro. Gen. Hardee proceeded by
railroad from Atlanta and reached Jones
boro before daylight. The troops OF Gle
Gen. Cleburne's Corps had the advance
and arrived at Jonesboro in time to go into
position at 8 a. m. The advance of Gen.
Lees Corps arrived about IL a. M, but
three brigades which had been left on
picket did not get up until l:50 IN the at
fernoon Gen. Hardee felt that it was
necessary TO have his entire force present
before opening the battle.
Gen. CIeburne's Corps was posted on
their left. and Gen. Lees Corps as 1t ar.
rived was posted on their right east OF
the railroad and fronting west.
1t will be understood that Gen. Howard
had no definite information of the strength
of the garrison and forces posted at Jones'
bero at the time of his arrival in front of
that place ON the night of Aug. 30. On
the next morning he made no haste to
attack, tie time being spent in making
complete preparations for defense and for
the arrival and posting of the Seventeenth
Corps. Gen. Howard with the entire
Army of the Tennessee was now within
half a mile of the Macon Railroad at a
point 80 miles south of Atlanta; besides,
he was in close connection with Gems.
Thomas and Schoield. on his left. He
knew that Gen. Hood must send out from
Atlanta the major part of his army to de-
fend his line of communications, or aban-
don the city altogether. He felt that he
could afford to wait and strengthen his
position.
BATTLE OF JoNEsBoRO.
Early in the afternoon of Aug. 81, and
as soon as his lines could be adjusted,
Gen. Hardee ordered the attack upon the
Union force. His plan was for Cleburne
to open the battle by vigorous assault
upon the right flank of the Union line,
which he was expected to turn; this to be
followed by an attack by Gen. Lee. which
was to begin when he heard Gen. Gle
burne's guns. Gen. Cleburne sent for
ward a strong line of skirmishers to open
the engagement; hearing the sound of
these guns, Gen. Lee supposed that the
battle was on, and Immediately ordered
his corps to attack. Gen. Cleburne, how
ever, had not yet become seriously en-
gagged. Gen. Lees Corps was confronted
by Gen. Logan with the Fifteenth Corps.
As has been seen, Logan had prepared
himself well for such an attack. When
Gen. Lees men advanced to the attack
they encountered formidable breastworks
filed with veteran soldiers ready to re-
ceiye them with every piece of artillery
belonging to the Fifteenth Corps in posi-
ton. The Confederate Generals were un-
der orders to attack and drive the Union
forces across Flint River.
1t was well understood by the Confed.
crate Generals, from Gen. Hood down, that
the fate of Atlanta depended upon the re.
suit of this battle. Gen. Hardee Gen.
Lee and Gen. Cleburne realized the fact
that the Union forces held the railroad
leading to Chattanooga, that they had
thoroughly broken up the Augusta and
West Point Railroads, and were now in
great force along the line of the Macon
Railroad. and that this road would also
be effectively destroyed unless they were
able to gain a great victory over Gen
Shermans forces. With the destruction
OF the Macon road the further occupanc.
OF Atlanta was impossible.
The Confederate Generals led their meI
forward to the assault with reckless dar
ing, but their assaults were vain. Gen
Lees Corps was repulsed at every point
hut they renewed the assault again anC
again. Gen. Cleburne's Corps for timt
was more successful. but this body of vet
eran troops was finally repulsed aud forced
to retire. 1t must not be concluded tina
The defeat of these men resulted in tn,
iisorganization of these commands; they
were too well disciplined for that; they
were held together firmly.
The orders which Gen. Sherman ISSUED
to Gems. Thomas and Schofield on th,
night of Aug. 30 were put into execution
on the morning of tie 31st. An imme
date advance was made by the Fourtl
and Twenty-third Corps upon the railroad
while the Fourteenth Corps was rapid!
moved southwark to connect with tn,
Army Of the Tennessee. When the battI
was on Gen. Davis pushed the Fourteenth
Corps forward, and joining Gen. Logan
command formed on the left of the Eff
teenth Corps, and almost at a right-angl
to their line, striking the right flank O
Gen. Lees command. The Fourth an,
Twenty-third Corps had struck the rail
road at and south of Rough and Ready
and were tearing it up when the BATH
began.
IMPORTANT STRATEGIC MOVEMENT.
Gen. Sherman conceived the idea that
would be possible to capture the create
he could throw the Fourth Corps upo
Gen. Lees rear on the left of Davis
Corps. Gen. Sherman issued urgent oil
ders to Gen. Stanley to push forwar
with the Fourth Corps and fall upon tn
rear of the enemy, but the distance to
Travelled was considerable and the natur
of the ground was such that this importan
strategic movement could not be accom-
plished; the Fourth Corps made every e,
fort to reach the desired position, out wa
unable TO do so.
Gen. Lee, with his Corps, acting unde
orders from Gen. Hood. Withdrew froI
the field. and making a detour to the eas
to avoid conflict with the Twenty -thir
Corps. marched back towards Atlanta
cover the withdra wal of the balance {
the forces from that doomed city. Gel
Hood now realizing that Sherman's arm
was In his rear, on the Macon Railroa
In great force. At the same time Ge
Hardee retreated from the field at Jone
boro with his own corps, commanded du
Ing this battle by Gen. Cleburne, takiI
with him the principal wagon trains
the entire army, which had been q