The National tribune., 1902-09-04

Union army went in pursuit of the Con
federate army, which had retired from the
intrcnchments at Kenesaw Mountain tn
night before. Gen. Thomas with the Arm,
of the Cumberland was now on the left
Gen. Schofield with the Army of the Obi,
in the center. and Gen. Mcpherson witt
the Army of the Tennessee on the right.
Gen. Garrard's cavalry had the advance
of Gen. Thomass column, and soon EN-
countered the rear-guard of Gen. John
stOn's retreatins army. The Confederate
forces marched over a number of roads
which had been prepared in advance on
each side of the railroad. and which led
directly to their new fortified position. The
Union forces in pursuit, marching south
and southeast, did not have the advantage
of direct roads, but were compelled to find
their way across the country as best they
could; their line of march was much
longer than that of the foe, so it was not
until late in the afternoon that Gen. ThOm-
as encountered the enemy at Smyrna
Station. on the railroad, six miles south of
Marietta.
Gen. Sherman had entered Marietta
early in the day, and was impatient when
he found that Gen. Garrard was Observ-
ing great caution in his pursuit of the en-
as to the preparations Gen. Johnston had
made to his rear for defense. The fact
was that he had opened a number of roads
leading south from Kenesaw, and had been
working for Il month with 1000 negro
slaves in the construction of n great fortI-
fed camp Oh the northwest side Of the
ChattahoOchee River. These works were
about six miles in extent, having the rail
road bridge across the river as the center;
tho inrlaSnI S,Iiiiripntly In
to accommodate his entire army, which
he could supply by railroad from Atlanta,
only nine miles away.
DRIVING JoHNsToN's ARMY INTO ITS FOR
Titled WORKS.
Gen. Johnston's army withdrew from
kenesaw in perfect order and with full
knowledge that they We're falling back to
a position of great strength. There was
no panic. The rear-guard took position
at Smyrna Station in n line of works al
ready prepared for them, and here they
received the attack of Gen. Thomas on
July 4 vigorous fight was kept up dur
ing the day. \ number of batteries We're
brought into action on both sides. and Il
strong skirmish line was established by
the Union forces. The rebel works were
was made during the day, and the noise
of battle continued until night.
Our losses on this occasion were not
heavy, but amongst the wounded was Col.
Noyes, of the 39th Ohio, afterwards
Brevet Brigadier-General, who lost his
leg. While this fight was going on Gen.
Schofield advanced his army on ThOmas's
right, and Gen. Mcpherson pushed for
ward to the ChattahOochee River below
Turner's Ferry, while Gen. StOneman. still
farther to the right with his cavalry,
struck the river opposite SandtOwn.
Gen. Sherman was making a demon
stratlon IN great force down the river to
create the impression that he intended to
cross the river there and thus attract at
tention to that point, while in fact his
plan was to cross the river above the rail
road. On July Gen. Sherman ordered
Gen. Garrard to move with his division
of cavalry up the river Is miles to Ros
well to secure possession of the factories
and to hold the bridge and ford at that
place. Garrard was entirely successful,
gaining possession of this important point
without opposition. On the night of July
the Confederate forces were withdrawn
from their position at Smyrna, and joined
the main body of their army within the
fortified works at the river.
On July 5 Gen. Thomas advanced his
forces along the railroad and soon reached
Vining Station. From a Iill near this
point Gen. Sherman had fne view to
the south: he could see the city of At
lanta: spread out before him was the val
ley of the Chattahoochee River, where
wagon trains and camps were in full view.
Gen. Sherman had not yet seen the Con-
federate Notifications at the river, and
from what he saw of wagon trains, camps,
etc. beyond the river he came to the con-
clusion that Gen. Johnston had with
drawn the bulk Of his army across the
river. leaving behind only force for the
defense of the bridge. Gen. Thomas
straddled the railroad and pressed forward
with his whole command. Cen. Howard,
with the Fourth Corps, was on the left.
The Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps
moved close up to the enemy's works. un-
der orders from Gen. Sherman to assault.
Proper dispositions were made and skir-
mishers thrown forward for the purpose
OF an assault, but it was soon discovered
that Gen. JOhnston's army was present
in fun force behind works of immense
strength and was prepared for an attack.
Gen. Sherman made n personal exam
ination of the enemy's line. He saw the
1ortihcatons; they were well protected
In front by abatis: the redoubts were
strong and filled with artillery: the whole
line was occupied by troops. He at once
decided that he would not undertake to
carry the place by storm, but that he
would turn it by flank movement and
force Gen. Johnston to retire across the
ChattahOochee
DISPOSITION OF TROOPS.
Gen. Sherman's army had now a front
OF about ~ miles. Gen. Garrard with his
cavalry was on the extreme LEFT at Ros
Wei, IL miles above the railroad Gen.
Edward NJ. McCoOk with his cavalry diyi-
sion was lower down on the river, about
the mouth of Soap Creek. Gen Howard
with the Fourth Corps was at PAGES
Ferry. on the Chattahoochee River, which
point he reached without encountering the
enemy. Gen. Palmer with the Fourteenth.
and Gen. Hooker with the Twentieth
Corps were confronting the enemy's works.
Ten. Schofeld with the Twenty-third
Corps was uDon their right Gen. Nc
Pherson with the Fifteenth. Sixteenth and
Seventeenth Corps, still farther to the
right, was at Turner'S Ferry, demonstrate
ing heavily as though it was his purpose
70 cross the river ut that point. while
S:oneman with his cavalry was still lower
down the river examining the country, an.
parentiy hunting for a suitable crossing
The encmy's cavalry was i'm full force
on The south side of the river and were ON
the alert, watching the movements of Me-
Phcrson and Stoneman.
GEN. SHERMAN EXPLAINS THE SITUATION.
On July Gen. Sherman telegraphed
Gen. Halleck at Washington City as fol-
lows:
Johnston Tin his retreat from Kene-
saw has left two breaks in the railroad
nnp af Moriaft, onJ ono ot y;,;,-..