The National tribune., 1903-02-19

able Information was constantly obtained
by our cavalry:
Headquarters Third Cavalry Division,
Department of the Cumberland,
"One Mile of Van Vert, Oct. 8, 1864;
2 p. IN.
Received $50 p. m, 18th.
Gen. Elliott: l have encountered the
rebel cavalry under Ferguson. Ross and
Armstrong are on the Rome road and, l
think, StilesborOugh road. Troops from
Fan Vert moved in direction of Rome and
oxford. l am having a pretty severe
fight. Have gained the mountain this side
of Van Vert. A considerable force OF
rebel cavalry is now moving to attack me.
They have crossed the stream the other
side of the town. Scouts report none of
our cavalry at Dallas, as l was led 70
aIppose. l would not have advanced so
far had l known this sooner. 1t is now 2
o'clock in the day. l cannot withdraw in
the face of so much cavalry without
700 or 800 strong, is at Villa RIGA. l am
afraid they may attack me in tho rear.
very respectfully, etc.
81. KILPATRIcK."
HEADQUARTERS Second Cavalry Division,
New Hope, Oct. 8. 1864; 8 p. IN.
BRIG. Gen. Elliott, Commanding Cavalry,
Department of the Cumberland:
General: The force l sent to Van
Vert has returned. They did not reach
that place, but got within few miles of
it. The cavalry of the rebels hold it. They
brought to me a citizen having a brother
in Cheatham's Division, who lives near
here. He passed last night with his
brother. He was at Cedartown last night.
and says all the infantry and wagons took
that road from Van Vert. The infan-
try commenced moving this morning, but
he did not learn their destination. Some
thought Rome and some Blue Mountain.
Hood has pontoon train with him. am
confident this is the correct report, viz,
that Hoods army took the CedartOwn
road from Van Vert, and all his infan-
try were at and near Cedartown last
night.
''yery respectfully, your obedient serv-
ant, X. GARRARD,
'Brigadier-G General, Commanding Divis-
'This man was captured near Van
Vert on his way home from Cedartown,
which place he left this morning. X. G"
The telegraph line had been restored,
and Gen. Sherman deemed it important
to keep the War Department advised of
the military situation in Georgia, as will
be seen from the following dispatch 10
Gen. Halleck:
Headquarters Military Division Of the
Mississippi,
"Allatoona, Ga, Oct. 8, 1864; 8 p. m.
"Qleceived 1870 p. m.)
Maj .-Gen. Halleck, Chief of Staff:
Hood crossed the Chattahoochee, and
before l was convinced of his design he
had got across to Powder Springs. / i'm
mediately resolved to leave the Twentieth
Corps (Slocum's) at Atlanta, and push
for Marietta. 1 reached the Kenesaw
Mountain Oct. 5, just in time to witness,
at distance, the attack on Allatoona.
had anticipated this attack, and had or
dered from Rome Gen. Corse with REIN
fforcements, and the, attack was met and
handsomely repulsed, the enemy losing
some 200 dead and more than 1000
wounded and prisoners. Our loss, about
100 in the aggregate. The enemy cap
tured the small garrisons at Big Shanty
and Acworth, and burned about seven
miles of our railroad; but we have, at AL
latoona and Atlanta, an abundance of pro-
visions. Hood, observing our approach,
has moved rapidly back to Dallas and
Van Vert, and l am watching him, in
case he tries to reach Kingston or Rome
Atlanta is perfectly secure to us, and this
army is better off out here than in camp.
SHERMAN PLANS MARCH TO THE SEA.
On Oct. Gen. Sherman had a full
view of the true military plan to be pur-
sued in Georgia. Up to the capture of
Atlanta he made the Confederate Army
his objective. The Selling and holding
Of territory and towns was simply subor-
dinate to the great ruling motive of over
towering the army commanded by Gems.
Johnston and Hood. That army had been
met, fought, and beaten ON every field, and
driven from every stronghold during a
campaign of three months. Now, Gen.
Hood, its commander, by leaving the front
of the Union Army, admits his inability
to successfully meet that army, and
marching away from his base in Georgia
obviously intends to establish his base in
Alabama and force Gen. Sherman to fol-
low him and give up the State Of Georgia.
Gen. Sherman was unwilling to allow
Hood to dictate the scheme of campaign.
This is what Gen. Sherman telegraphed
to Gen. Grant on this subject:
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field,
"Allatoona, Ga, Oct. 8, 1864;
'7:30 p. m.
"Received II a. m, 10th.)
'Lieut.-Gen. Grant, City Point, Va:
ut will be physical impossibility to
protect the roads, row that Hood, Forrest
and Wheeler, and the whole batch of dew
lis, are turned loose without home or
habitation. | think Hoods movements in
dictate diversion to the end of the Selma
& Talladega Railroad at Blue Mountain,
about GO miles southwest of Rome, from
| which he will threaten Kingston, Bridge
port and Decatur, Ala. / propose we
break up the railroad from Chattanooga,
lua-
vile, Millen and Savannah Until we can
| repopulate Georgia, it is useless to occupy
it, but the utter destruction of its roads,
houses, and the people will cripple their
military resources. BY attempting to hold
| the roads we will lose 900 men monthly,
and will gain no result. | can make the
march, and make Georgia howl We have
over 5000 cattle and 100000 of bread
but no corn; but we can forage in the III.
terror of the State. w. I. SHERMAN,
Major General Commanding"
| On Oct. Gen. Hood drew out from his
position between Dallas and New Hope
Church. and by 2 o'clock in the afternoon
reached Van Vert, where he established
a defensive line.
At S O'Clock on the morning of Oct. S
Gen. Hoods army left Van Vert and
marching Is miles, arrived at Cedartowr
at 2 p. M, and went into camp in order OF
battle. At this point Mai.-Gen. Wheeler
rejoined the main army with portion OF
his forces. Gen. Wheeler had divided hi.
command, and sent portion of it to op
crate against the railroad north of Resaca
while Gen. Stewart was moving on Ri.
Shanty. BY this means he kept up ;
commotion along the line and threatened
the safety of the large droves of cattle
numbering 5000, that were being driver
10. 4I.nv Elt e q