The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-11-27
"Near Atlanta. Aug. 20, 1864: Z p. m.

SchOfield's. Gen. JEFF. Davis reached the
West Point Road ard tore up section to
prevent infantry going ont to bother Gen.
Kilpa trick on his return. The Signal Off
GER at Gen. Towards reports three trains
of cars that went out of Atlanta returned.
backing into the station. so | infer they
could not go ahead. Nothing from Gen.
Fitzpatrick. An officer was mp from Sand
town bridge saying he had GOO men there.
and all was quiet l hope Gen. Xii
patrick has reached the road and has made
a good job.
''W. T. SHERMAN.
Maior-General, Command
TIL, MILITARY TELEGRAPH LINES.
These communications around the line
were sent ny wire. The Military Tele-
graph was an important. in fact an 'indis-
pensable adjunct to all the military head
quarters. Upon :: line il or 20 mics in
length the Use OF couriers alone to convey
orders and information would lave been
too SLOW to secure prompt and efficient ser
vice: signal stations with signal flags and
secret codes. had long been in use in the
armies of the old world and were in Use
in both the Union and Confederate armies;
but when telegraph line could be erected
it took the place of the signal.
The telegraph system around Atlanta
was very complete aud efficient. Constant
communication was kept up between the
various headquarters. 50 that important i'll
formation and movements obtained or Oc-
curing ut one point should be known at
all points where it might be of value. On
Aug. %. when the Union forces were ac-
tive around and south of Atlanta, and
bent on the destruction of railroads, the
Confederate forces were also active north
of Atlanta, their business also being to de-
StrOy the railroad and telegraph used by
Sherman's army. During the day Gen.
Smith discovered the movement of n con-
siderable force of rebel troops. and sent
the following dispatch to Gen. Sherman:
'Cartersville. Aug. 90. 1864.
"Maj.~Gen. Sherman: Having ascer-
tanned that there is Il force of about Zoo
rebels five miles south of Stilesville. l
placed 1000 infantry ard 400 cavalry I'M
der Gen. McCOok's orders. He moved out
"JNO. i. SMITH.
''Brigadicr-General."
Gen. Sherman sent the following reply:
'Tlie force you describe as about Stiles
b0ro is Clanton's, from the neighborhood
Of Talladega. Gen. Vandever's cavalry is
after it. Head it off and if possible cap
ture it. 1t is very Indifferent force, that
Gen. Rousseau drove with great ease 1t
WIS uOuDlleSS OTueTeu III Co-opeEdtt Will
Wheeler and is behind time"
1t will be seen from the four follow
ing dispatches that the information in the
course of an hour went the rounds to Gen.
Sherman, thence to Rome, Chattanooga
and Nashville:
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi. in the Field,
Near Atlanta, Aug. 20, 1864; 9:15 p. m.
Gen. Vandever, Rome:
Gen. John +. Smith reports from Car
tersville force of 1900 below Stilesboro,
and has sent out / 400 men TO head it off.
Between sou at Rome and Gen. John Il.
Smith at Gainesville that force should be
caught. Send out every man you can
spare, and do all that is possible.
''W. Il. SHERMAN,
"MajOr-General, Commanding"
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field.
''Near Atlanta, Aug. 20, 1864; 10 p. M.
'Gen. Steedman, Chattanooga:
Gen. Vandever reports Clanton has
passed the CoOsa ON his way north. He
will come up doubtless by way of La
Fayette in concert with Wheeler. Be on
your guard and prevent a junction if pos
sible. Call for cavalry and infantry from
above.