The National tribune., 1903-04-23

The question was ably debated, and
finally was put to vote and carried, and
the State of Georgia restored to the Union
by these merry legislators. -. -..'" !
/ 1t was in this same hall that Hon,
Alexander III. Stephens, on Nov. IA, 1850,
delivered a great speech before the nLegis-
iature, against secession. and in favor OF
preserving the Union. Mr.. Stephens was
Unanswered by Hon. Robert TOombs, and his
opinions were 'overberne by the Legisla-
ture and later by State Convention,
which forced the State Of Georgia into
SECESSION by vote of POS yeas. and 50
mays, the people at large not having been
given an opportunity to vote upon the
lquesti0n. . ~ sm,tz- ---.E. liz --4t.,. Z
/ .'.H Mr.. Stephens opponents iconld have
lifted tile vail that hid the future from
their view, and had beheld- a great army
surrounding their capital and had wit
messed the scene of mimic legislation. they
would no doubt have stood appalled,. .
f. The capture of Miliedgeville was the
first step in. the great march.
IN THE HEART OF GEORGIA.
The whole army had been thrown,
without serious opposition, into the very
heart of Georgia between Macon and
Augusta, the enemy had given battle and
was beaten by small force and the
most important railroad systems of the
State had been reached and were being
destroyed
The Left Wing of the army was con-
centrated at the State Capital, while the
Right Wing occupied, and was destroy
ing the railroad east of Macon, and was
in communication with the Commander
in-Chief. Gen. Howard, by courier, gave
Gen. Sherman full information as to his
march, the seizure of the railroad, and the
battle of Griswoldville.
The wings of the army were now lying
within easy supporting distance of each
other.
The movement of Sherman's army from
Atlanta was promptly heralded all over
the South. Gen. Wheeler, with his diyi-
sion of cavalry, was at once ordered to
operate against the moving columns and
to aid in rallying force to meet and
destroy this now isolated army, which
was moving without base and without
hope of reinforceIents. 1t was Gen.
Wheelers cavalry which from day to day
skirmished with Kilpatrick's advance as
the movement was made through Jones'
borO. Lovejoy and on toward Forsyth and
the Ocmulgee River.
When Wheeler learned that the Union
forces were crossing the Ocmulgee ne has
tened to Macon and reached there about
IL O'Clock on the night of Nov. 49, He
had already sent forward Anderson's and
Crews's Brigades to report to Gen. Cobb
of his command to follow, except the brig
AIDES of Ferguson and Breckenridge.
Gen. Wheeler met Gen. Hardee that
night at Macon, and learned that he had
assumed command of the Department.
Gen. Hardee directed Gen. Wheeler to
cross the river and move out at daylight
with all hisavailable force. except Crews's
Brigade, on the road to Clinton, and as
certain the location and strength of the
Union force. 1t will be perceived that
Wheeler and Fitzpatrick, old antagonists
in northern Georgia, were now face to
face again between Macon and Clinton
1t was the cavalry of these two enter
prisng and courageous men who had
series Of skirmishes on Nov. 20. The
day was foggy, and Mt times it was diff
cult to see any distance ahead. A pOr-
ton OF Wheeer's forces actually penetrat-
ed Clinton for few moments, and cap
tured servant of Gen. Osterhaus, but
the Confederate forces which had been
brought together ut Macon were wholly in
adequate to seriously interfere with the
progress of Gen. Sherman's great army.
The plan of campaign for Gen. Hoods
army had been publicly proclaimed to be
an offensive move to the rear of the
Union army at Atlanta, with the view of
forcing it to abandon the State of Georgia.
Gen. Hood was at Florence, Ala, when
Gen. Sherman began his march. It was
out of the question in a military sense
for Gen. Hood to pursue and oyertake Gen.
Shermans army. Had he made the at
tempt Gen. Thomas would have at once
been on his track, and he would have
been in danger of falling between the
forces of Sherman and Thomas.
The die was cast. Hood must continue
his offensive campaign to the end and
Georgia must rely for her defense upon
such troops as could be brought to her
relief, ana to the uprising of the people.
The Confederate authorities were
amazed at the audacity of Gen. Sler-
mans movement. The whole thing was
contrary to well-established military rules
land to them seemed impossible of sue
cess. The daily newspapers teemed with
articles prophesying the utter ruiz, Of the
Union army. An appeal was made for
an uprising of the people en- masse to de-