The Washington times., 1903-10-15

10 uIifSS Joe Johnston makes us.
The issues to citizens have been enor-
nous. and the same weight OF corn and
oats would have saved thousands Of the
mules whose carcasses now corduroy the
roads, and which we need so much in
war.
Il will not change my order. and I
beg of you to be satisfied that the
clamor is partly humbug and for effect
/ advise you TO tell the bearers Of the
appeal 70 hurry to Kentucky and make
up a column of cattle and wagons and
go over the mountains on foot by Cum
beriand Gap and Somerst to relieve
their suffering friends. as they used 20
before the railroad was built Tell them
they have no time to lose. We can
relieve all actual suffering by each com
pany and regiment giving their savings.
Every man who is willing to work and
Tight gets full ration. and all who
VIII not fight and work we offer free
passage in the cars
Sherman always sustained hts officers
who assumed great authority in an
emergency, although they might be
wrong. One instance OF that was in
bridging the river at Roswell Before
Sherman crossed the Chattahoochee for
his attack upon Atlanta. his army was
stretched from Soap Creek to Sand
town Ferry, facing the river My
corps. the Sixteenth, was upon the ex-
IRENE right, and ] thought the cross
ing was to be by the right flank, as il
was so much nearer 70 Atlanta. and
my orders were to seize all ferryboats
and other means of crossing.
Fording the River.
General Sherman came to my head
quarters. took out his map, and asked
how long ii would take me to con-
struct a bridge across the river at Ros-
well, some forty miles away beyond our
extreme left, telling me it was rock
bottom and could be forded. and that
there was a road bridge at that point
which the Confederates had destroyed.
l supposed 1 would have TO go into the
woods and cut the timber. and told him
1t would require at least a week He
had not been gone more than an hour
when l received orders from General
Mcpherson TO move to Roswell and that
General Sherman would communicate
directly with me- The march was hot,
dusty one, in the rear of the army. but
did not halt, except. for our meals and
an occasional hours rest. I received at
Marietta a dispatch from Sherman urg-
ing me TO get there as soon as possible
On arriving. / Immediately put a bri-
gade across the river, and il was as
fine sight as 1 ever saw when Fuller's
Ohio brigade. in line of battle, forded
the river The enemy's cavalry held
the other side As my men moved
across. holding their guns and cartridge
boxes high above their heads. the bands
OF the corps struck up lively tunes. The
rebels poured in a heavy fire, but il
was too high Now and then a boy
would step into a hole and disappear
Fr,- al
Immediately sought shelter under the
steep-cut bank. where Fuller reformed
and made his charge. clearing out the
enemy in short order.
Roswell had cotton and wooden fac
tories that had been running UP TO the
time that General Garrard's cavalry
captured them, and burned most OF the
factories. The operatives were mostly
women. and these Garrard moved TO
Marietta by detailing a regiment OF
cavalry, each member OF which took
one of the operatives on his horse, and
in this way they were all sent north TO
Sherman
French Flag Ignored.
over the house of the proprietor OF
the factories was flying a French flag
saw Immediately that if / utilized the
balance Of the buildings I could erect
and instructed Captain Armstrong and
detail OF 1.509 men to tear down the
buildings which were left from Car
rard's fire and utilize them. The next
morning some OF my officers who were
better lawyers than I was told me that
the proprietor was making a strong
protest. and that was liable to get into
trouble on account of violation OF in
ternatiOnaI law
Although / was using the material I
thought II bess TO write General Sher-
man letter. stating what had done.
what the claims were. and at the same
time that by using the material could
have the bridge completed by Wednes-
day I arrived there at noon on Mon
day. the 10th Of July. Sherman an
swered in the following characteristic
letter
General Dodge. Roswell. Ga:
Il know you have 2 bis job. but that
is nothing new for you ~Tell General
Newton that his corps is now UP near
General SchOheld's crossing, and all IS
quiet thereabout. He might send down
and move his camps 10 proximity OF his
corps. but l think Roswell and Shallow
Ford so important that I prefer him 10
be near YOU until you are well fortified.
If he needs ratiOns tell him 10 get his
wagons up. and l think you Will be able
to spare him after tomorrow. I know
the bridge at Roswell is important. and
you may destroy all Georgia TO make ii
good and strong. W. T. SHERMAN.
Major General. Commanding
Soldier and Citizen
You will perceive his letter was very