The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-22
TO DRAW SHERMAN BACK
Copyrjrhtra. 1901. nv the pub

Communications and Threatens Chatta
nooga and Nashville.
1t has been seen that after the battle
of Jonesboro and the retreat of the Con
federate army from Atlanta, Gen. Sher
man assembled his forces in and around
Atlanta, and that Gen. Hood concentrated
his army at Lovejoy. 80 miles south OF
Atlanta. on the Macon Railroad.
There were no active military opera
lions on either side for more than tive
weeks. 1t was not in the nature of things
however. that these two armies could re-
main quiet for any length of time within
so short distance of each other. Their
commanders were too active and enter
prising to allow much time to pass with
out stirring up a fuss The Confederate
army had been forced to give Up the most
defensible portion of Georgia. 1t was
now occupying position of no strategic
Importance, and which could be easily
turned; indeed, the Topography of the
country south of Atlanta is such that there
are no positions of natural strength to be
occupied and held by an army.
1t became perfectly clear to Gen. Hood
that his position was untenable. The
future operations of this army became a
subject of very serious consideration at
the Confederate Capital. 1t was con-
ceived that an offensive campaign against
Gen. Sherman's lines of communication in
force was the most feasible plan for rid
ding the State of Georgia of Union troops.
The experience of the raids of Forrest in
Tennessee and of Wheeler in both Georgia
and Tennessee, with their strong cavalry
forces against the Union railroads, con-
WINGED Gen. Hood that all the cavalry in
his service could not permanently inter
rupt the railroads in Gen. Sherman's rear
so as to force him to abandon his position.
He therefore decided to move with his
whole force against the railroads north
of Atlanta.
dering Atlanta absolutely useless as a
base for further military operations by the
Union forces. AS a preliminary step he
caused the West Point Railroad to be re-
paired and restocked with cars so as to
make Alabama his source of supply. He
ordered Gen. Wheeler TO rejoin him with
his cavalry force. He also ordered that
the telegraph wire and railroad iron be
taken up and sent to the rear for future
use on tile Macon Road between Lovejoy
and Griffin, on the Georgia Railroad, be-
tween Oconee River and Stone Mountain,
and ON the West Point Railroad east from
Palmetto Station. His next step was to
try to utterly destroy the railroad between
Atlanta and Chattanooga.
HOOD BEGINS HIS OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN.
On Sept. IS Gen. Hood began his great
offensive movement Marching by the
left flank he transferred his entire army
from the Macon Railroad to the West
Point Railroad at Palmetto Station, about
80 miles southwest of Atlanta. On Sept.
20 he extended his line to the Chatta-
hoochee River, some seven or eight miles
away, and next day fortified this position:
the supplies were drawn from Blue MouH-
tain. The army was here supplied with
shoes, clothing, etc.
: So important were the movements of
this army regarded by President Davis
that he visited Georgia to see the army
and consult with Gen. Hood. On his way
bia, s. c., and on Sept. % he addressed
large crowd at Macon, Ga. and on the
18th, with two of his Aids, Mr.. Davis
visited Gen. Hoods Headquarters at Pal
metto. The next evening Mr.. Davis was
serenaded by the Doth La. Band, and
being called on, delivered a short and
spirited speech. He was followed by Gen.
Hood, Gov. Cobb and Gov. Harris, of
Tennessee, all of whom stirred the enthu-
siasm of the soldiers. On Sept. q, Presi-
dent Davis left for Montgomery.
On Sept. % Gen. Hardee was relieved
from command of his corps and assigned
to the command of the Department of
South Carolina and Florida. Gen. Sher-
man had become apprised Of the fact that
Ue1- I1OOu udu ulDVeu his army, III Idct.
he had a spy in the camp at the time of
Mr.. Davis's visit, who heard Mr.. Davis's
speech and reported If to Gen. Sherman.
On Sent. % Gen. Sherman telegraphed
to Gen. Halleck as follows:
"Hood seems 20 be moving, as it were,
to the Alabama line, leaving open the road
to Macon, as also to Augusta, but his
cavalry is busy on all our roads. A force,
number estimated as high as 5000, is
cd IN
and a regiment of $50 sent with relief
have sent Newton's Division up to Chat
tanooga in cars. and viii send another
division to Rome. If / were sure that
Savannah would soon be in our posses
sion, would be tempted to march for
Milledgeville and Augusta; but l must
first secure what l have. JEFF. Davis is
at Macon"
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN GEMS. GRANT
AND SHERMAN.
Gen. Grant, having received a COPY of
the foregoing dispatch replied as follows:
'City Point, Va, Sept. 26, 1864; 10 a. IN.
Maj. Sherman, Atlanta:
at will be better to drive Forrest out
of Middle Tennessee as Il first step, and
do anything else you may feel your force
sufficient for. When a movement is made
on any part of the sea coast, | will ad-
wise you. If Hood goes to the Alabama
line, will it not be impossible for him to
subsist his army?
"U. S. GRANT,
ACKNOWLEDGMENT"
Gen. Sherman sent the following reply:
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
Atlanta, Ga, Sept 20, 1864.
General: / have your dispatch of to-
day. l have already. sent one division
lNewton's) to Chattanooga, and another
(Corse's) to Rome. Our armies are much
reduced, and il l send back any more I
will not be able to threaten Georgia much.
There are men enough to the rear to whip
Forrest but they are necessarily scattered
to defend the roads. Can you expedite
the sending to Nashville of the recruits
that are in Indiana and Ohio? They
could occupy the forts.
Hood is now on the West Point Road.
"A miles south of this, and draws his SUP,
plies by that road. jefferson Davis Is
there today, and superhuman efforts will
be made to break my road. Forrest is
now Lieutenant General, and commands
all the enemy's cavalry.
wv. T. SHERMAN,
Major-GeBeral"
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN LINCOLN AND
SHERMAN.
President Lincoln was also Informed NJ
Gen. Sherman's dispatches, and the fol-
lowing kilograms passed between them:
Washington, D. c., Sept. q, 1864:
a. IN.
'Maj.-Gen. Sherman, Atlanta:
You say JEFF. Davis is on a visit to