The National tribune., 1902-10-23

tant flank movement forced Gen. Hood to
withdraw large body of troops from the
circle of fortifcation around Atlanta, and
place them behind long line of works un-
protected to the rear, and which was liza
BILE at any time to be, turned. ~ .aszs -
The disastrous result of the movement
OF the cavalry against the railroads south
of Atlanta satisfied Gen Sherman that
the only way-to effectively destroy those
railroads and prevent their use for sup
plying Gen. Hoods forces in Atlanta, was
to move against them with the main army.
The position of the Twenty-third Corps
on the extreme right of the army natural
ly cast upon it the duty of seizing the rail
road. if it was possible to do so. Great
activity was observed in pressing the Con
federate line, but SO far no impression
had been made upon it.
A QUESTION OF RANK BETWEEN GEMS.
sCHoFIELD AND PALMER.
On Aug. 4 Gen. Sherman ordered Gen.
Schofield to make an attack upon ne rail
road anywhere about East P..Ht, and
ordered Maj.-Gen. John NJ. Palnier. com
manding the Fourteenth Corps, to report
to Gen. Schofeld for orders.
Gen. Palmer at once claimed that he
ranked Gen. Schofeld, and denied his right
to command him.
The Twenty-third Corps had an effec-
tive force Of l., ,614 men present for duty:
the Fourteenth, whose position was imme-
diately on the left of the Twenty-third
Corps, had an effective force of 17,114
men present for duty. Total of the two
corps, 30.72S men.
The question OF rank between these two
officers was discussed by them with Gen.
Sherman. Gen. Sherman rendered his de.
cision in the matter in the following note
to Gen. Palmer:
"Aug 4, 10:45 p. m.
"From the statements made by yourself
and Gen. Schofeid today, my decision is
that he ranks you as Major-General, being
OF the same date of present commission, by
reason of his previous superior rank as
Brgadier-General. The movements of to-
morrow are SO important that the orders
of the superior on that flank must be re-
garded as military orders, and not in the
nature of cooperation. | did hope that
there would be no necessity for my making
this decision; but it is better for all parties
interested that no question of rank should
occur in active battle. The SandtOwn
road, and the railroad, il possible, must be
gained tomorrow, if it cost half your com.
mand. / regard the loss of time this af-
ternoon as equal TO the loss of 1000 men" ;"
The facts upon which this controversy
arose were these: Gen. Palmer was made
Colonel of the 14th lii. May %, 1861
appointed Brigadier- General of Volunteers
Dec. 90. 1861, and appointed Major Gen.
eral of Volunteers Nov. %, 1862.
Gen. Sehofeld was Captain in the Reg.
ular Army May IA. 1861; Major of LIST
Mo. Inf. April 20 1861; Major of 1st Mo
General of Volunteers Nov. q, 1861: ap
pointed Major-General Nov. %, 1862
Not being confirmed by the Senate this
commission expired March 4, 1863. Con
tinued as Brigadier-General March
1863; reappointed Major-Generai May II
1863, to rank from Nov. 30 1862.
Gen. Palmer. no doubt. contended tina
he WAS Major-General duly appointed
confirmed and commissioned, six months
prior to the date of the appointment o.
Gen. Schofeld under his present commits
sion. and that the retrospective provision
in the appointment giving Gen. Schofiel'
rank from Nov. %, 1862. under an ap
pointment made May II, 1863, should no
be given effect against an officer VIII
had been Major-General six month
while Gen. Schofeld was yet a Brigadier
General.
But Gen. Sherman decided otherwise
and the result was that Gen. Palmer ten
dered his resignation as commander of tn
Fourteenth Corps, and it was accepts
Aug. G.
Cox's DIVISION ASSAULTS THE ENEMY
WORKS.
On Aug. 6, Brighten. J. d. Cox, com
manding the Third Division, Twenty-thir
Corps, prepared to attack the enemy i
his front. His position was on a low
wooded ridge separated from the Atlant
and Sandtown road by an open valley, i
which one of the branches Of the Uto
Greek runs, the course of the valley bein
nearly north and south, and highe
wooded ridge on the east side, command
ing both valley and road, was held by tn
enemy.
The timber and underground betwee
the two armies prevented a clear view b,
sing obtained of either line.
The skirfnish line was strengthened b
a reinforcement of 200 men. and placed Il
command Of Lieut. Col. MOTLEY, Of th