The National tribune., 1902-08-14


fortified position. Pine Mountain ha'!
been abandoned. The line now extended
directly between Kenesaw and Lost Noun
tain.
On this day Mcpherson moved Gen.
Harrow's Division of Logan's Corps 10
the extreme left of the army. where Har-
row, forming ut IL right angle to Gen.
Blair's left flank. with Gen. WalcItt $
Brigade in front and Col. Reuben Will
iams's and Col. divers BrigadeS forming
Il second line. Gen. Harrow attacked the
enemy with great yigor, drove him fiom
his position and captured 3J0 prisoners.
including - commissioned officers; his
own loss was 10. This action opened the
way for the Seventeenth Corps to advance
its line. establish new works and to Sc
riously threaten the left flank of the Con
federate army.
On the same day Gen. Thomas and Gen.
Schoiield advanced their lines about two
miles over very rough and difficult ground
This movement was continued on the 10th,
and the Union forces drew up close to
the euemy's line.
The month of June in northern Georgia
was Il period Of heavy rain storms. The
roads were rendered almost impossible.
the small streams were bank-full and the
bottoms were boggy. The two great ar
mics were all the while in close proX-
unity, and were constantly Ill state OF
action: heavy Skirmishes. reaching almost
to the importance of battles, were of daily
occur1 eIlce; particularly was this SO ON
Sherman's right flank. which closely fol-
lowed Johnston's army as 1t from time
to time withdrew eastward into new
works. The men on both sides were eN-
posed to the elements: the military condi-
tions We're such that this could not be
avoided.
The Union forces advancing to n new
position were compelled to work in the
rain and to construct their riiie-pits and
forts of the muddy soil. The Confeder-
ate soldiers had this advantage: when
they fell back it was to occupy works al
ready constructed, and these new works
We're located upon the most available
ground for defense. The Union army
pushing up close to the enemy's line was
compelled to occupy any available ground
that could be found, establish line and
construct works under fire. This opera
tion was repeated from time 10 time as
the rebel army changed its position.
On June 10 Gen. Johnston again with
drew the aanks of his army. This was
done so secretly and to such distance
that the first impression was that he had
retreated; but it was soon learned that he
had simply retired to a new and a strong
-er position behind MONDAY Greek and
Moves Greek, two streams which flow at
the base of KeneSaw and Little kenesaw
Mountains.
=, Kenesaw Mountain was the center and
key-point of this great defensive position.
Sherman held the railroad as far south as
Big Shanty Station. At that point the
railroad track curves abruptly to the east,
and passing around the mountains on the
east runs through the town of Marietta.
JohnstoH's line formed a great half cir
Gle about six miles in extent, with the
railroad in his rear. The center of his
line on Kcnesaw faced west. This fOrlna-
ton protected the railroad, the town of
Marietta, and the wagon roads leading
out of that place.
Gen. Johnston's line was strongly forti-
fed. Well-planned forts were erected at
all important points, and were filled with
artillery. These forts were connected by
a continuous line of heavy breastworks for
infantry, the top of the works being pro-
tected with head-logs. In front of these
works timber was felled to obstruct the
movement of troops, and line of skir
mishers was established. At many points
lines of rifie-pits were constructed some
distance in front of the main works.
Gen. Johnston had at least 10000 men
behind his intrenchments-1O,O00 men to
the mile; Gen. Hardee with his corps oc-
cupied the center of Kenesaw; Gen. Hood
with his corps was on the left, and Gen.
Loring, successor Of Gen. Polk, occupied
the right with his corps.
DISPOSITION OF suERMANs ARMY.
The Union line, of course, cOnformed
to the Confederate position, but being the
outer circle, was much longer. The base
of tha NJ RtO inf
Station was under the protection of the
Army of the Tennessee, which occupied
the left flank of Sherman's army, the
three corps being present, Logan, with the
Fifteenth Corps, in the center, Dodge with
the Sixteenth Corps on his right, and Blair
with the Seventeenth Corps on his left.
Gen. Mcpherson disposed of his forces
so as to protect the depot of supplies with
great strength. On June 10 ne advanced
the Fifteenth Corps to near the base of
Kenesaw, where it was soon intrenched.
Gen. Logan pushed his skirmishers up
the mountain side, driving the enemy's
skirmishers before him. On June "A he
attempted to gain the summit of the
mountain with his skirmishers, but found
the enemy in strong force and well pro-
tected with heavy works and rifie-pits.
The Army of the Cumberland occupied
the center, holding the ground in the i'm
mediate front of the heavy works on Ken
esaw, and extending far to the right, the
three corps all being present, Howard
with the Fourth in the center, Palmer
with the Fourteenth on the left and Hook
er with the Twentieth occupying the right
of Thomas's force.
The Army of the Ohio, composed of the
Twenty-third Corps, under Schofeld, was
on the extreme right of the Union line,
which was now nearly 10 miles long.
Along this whole front the conflict was
kept up between the contending forces al
most without pause. The Union line had
been constantly extended to the right TO
overlap the rebel position and force John
ston to stretch out his line of battle, and
thus reduce the numbers along the chosen
position.
On the afternoon of June % the Con-
federates moved out in strong force from
their works and attacked the right flank
of Sherman's army, which was advancing
toward Marietta. The assault fell upon
Hooker and Schofield. Three of their di-
visions met and successfully resisted the
attack.
sHERMAN's REPORT TO HALLEcK.
Gen. Sherman on June 23 made a brief
report by telegraph to Gen. Halleck at
Washington giving an outline of the situa-
tion. lie said:
I'VE continue to press forward on the
principle of an advance against fortified
positions. The whole country is one vast
fort, and Johnston must have at least sc
miles of connected trenches, with abatis
and finished batteries. We gain ground
daily, fighting all the time. On the 21si