The National tribune., 1902-07-03

y. m. Of May 81 Gen. Ross reported this
encounter to Gen. jackson. and the i'll
formation was promptly conveyed to Gen
Johnston.
On May %. at his bivorac on Raccoon
Greek, Gen. Ross spent the morning ac,
lively in making observations of the move.
ments of the Union troops. and reported
the result in the following dispatch:
HEADQUARTERS Texas Cavalry Brigade,
May %, 1864; II Il. IN.
General: The enemy are not moving
IN any direction on this side of the river
in my front, nor on the opposite side. so
far as | can see / have been watching
them all morning from the top of very
high house on an eminence which gave
me Il commanding view of the whole
country They are encamped all along
n creek running around the ledge of hills
and parallel with the river Stragglers
and men from the nearest camps are walk
ing about on the river banks and around
the houses in the valley. They had pa
rade and inspection this morning. bands
of music, etc: their drums were beating
in every direction. | could very distinct
" hear the whistle of locomotives i'll tn"
direction of Cass or Cass Station. There
can he no doubt about its being the
whistle of an engine The report in ref
erenCe to artillery passing down toward
-Gillem's Bridge last night | think must
have been a mistake. Capt. Croft thought
he could hear the peculiar rumhlns of
artillery wheels. but | think As the road
along which it could only have passed
is about two miles from the point where
Capt. Croft stood. he could not have
heard artillery carriages. | am satisfied
from the position of the enemy near me
that they will cross below me. and not
between this point and the bridge guarded
by Gen. Ferguson. A scout has Just
reached me and reports three cavalry reg
iments on the opposite bank at Milams
Bridge: thinks they are going to cross.
A large force campcd back in timber not
more than a mile from the river: their
camps. men. etc, are plainly visible. They
will certainly cross there and at Gillem's
Bridge if they advance. a force has been
sent to reinforce the picket just this side
of the bridge and dispute the crossing"
This dispatch was forwarded to Gen.
Joseph Z. Johnston at 1 p. III. the same
day. Gen. Johnston now became satisfied
that Gen Sherman would soon begin his
movement across the river. and caused
the following letter to be addressed to
Gems. Polk, Hood and Hardee:
General: Gen. Johnston informs you
that reports indicate active movements of
the enemy. but are conflicting as to di-
rection. When the direction is ascer-
tanned time is all important. Everything
should he ready to move in any direction
at a moments notice
Upon the receipt of Gen. Johnston's
letter. Gems. Polk, Hood and Hardee di-
reeted that the troops of their respective
commands hold themselves in readiness
to move in any direction at n moments
notice. Gen. Hood announced to his divi-
IL -
that the enemy viii cross the river be-
low" Thus it will be seen that on the
evening before Gen. Sherman began his
movement. the rebel army was holding
itself ready to move against him, and
that the opinion was that he would cross
the Etowah River below the railroad.
There were several bridges over the
Etowah River between Etowah Station,
the point where the extreme left of our
army was encamped, and the city of
Rome. which Gen. Sherman proposed to
use in crossing the river; but to facilitate
the rapid movement of the troops several
pontoon bridges were laid.
The reader must understand that Gen. |
Sherman had nearly 10000 of his army |
fronting the great bend III the Etowah
River between Etowah Station and |
Kingston, and that these troops, with the
artillery and wagons. were to cross the
river at fords and over bridges within a |
space of about 10 miles. 1t was busy |
day with the army when this movement |
began. The Army of the Tennessee
crossed over Wooley's Bridge. about three |
miles west of Kingston. The right of
the Army of the Cumberland crossed at
Giilem's Bridge, south of Kingston: the |
left of this army crossed at Etowah Cliffs, |
and was followed by the Army Of Ohio |
while the ceater of the Army of the Cum |
beriand crossed at bridges intermediate
between Etowah Cliffs and Gillems. This |
arrangement placed Hooker's Twentieth |
Corps and Schoield's Army of the Ohio |
between Raccoon Creek and Euhariee |
Creek, and gave them the shortest route
to Dallas: besides. it placed them nearest |
to the Confederate forces at Allatoona |
Pass.
The other corps of the Army of the |
Cumberland, led by Gen. Thomas in per- |
son, together with the Army of the Ten |
south through rough and heavily-wood |
ed country west of the Euharlee Greek, |
while Gen. Davis, with his division. |
crossed the river at Rome and moved |
down the Van Vert road TO unite with |
other troops at Dallas. Gen. Sherman |
marched with Gen. Thomas, who occupied
the center, which was the main column
of direction, and to whose movements the
other columns conformed. The three
armies moved up the valleys Of the Eu-
harlee Creek, a stream with its branches
that flows northeast and empties into the
Etowah about three miles below Etowah
Cliffs. These streams break through a
ridge of low mountains. over which the
troops passed. This ridge is an old min
ing camp, where much work has been
done in search for gold. The ores, al
though quite abundant, are of low grade;
the business proved Improbable and the
diggings had been abandoned, but the
mines had made many paths and roads
across the range, and these were used
by the troops in making the crossing
GIN the morning of May % Gen. Ross
was still encamped on Raccoon Creek, |
watching the movements of the Union
forces. At an early hour he saw the
Union troops in motion and cavalry cross
ing the river. He Immediately reported
the facts in the following letter:
''The enemy has crossed heavy force |
ofscavalry On pontoons ut Milam's Bridge |
Pickets and scouts report hearing arti- |
lery crossing the bridge; were driven off |
before they could see any infantry Gf |
they have crossed any. / will force them |
to show their infantry when they reach |
my lines. They are marching on coun- |
try road leading into the Alabama road |
at StilesbOrough. | can see by the dust |
that another column is approaching the |
ford just opposite my headquarters, which |
&c dol