The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-21

Hoou Win MS army, equiHy WITH anu
more destitute of supplies, was content
to rest at a-fairly safe distance near Flor
ence, on the Tennessee River.
After he was compelled to abandon the
Atlanta stronghold, the intrepid Southron
had determined to destroy our Cracker
line. the army name for the railroads over
which our supplies were transported, ana
TO prevent this audacious movement there
had been severe strain OF constant
watching and tedious night marches on the
part of our army.
: Sherman. in his quick, nervous way
would direct his Corps Commanders. as
they started off in the arkness, to oeca-
sionally set house aire to let him know
where they were.
Hoods willy and energetic cavalry lead
er, Gen. Forrest, had with his force been
almost constantly in their saddles, and
this temporary suspension gave him the
opportunity to rest his jaded steeds and
recruit with fresh mounts. On one OF
these quiet days our great commander
stood on the slope in front of his quarters.
grfp.5 peering down the smoky valleys
and over the purple ranges that separated
him from his impulsivo antagonist, and
deliberately planned the boldest military
movement recorded in history, the IA
nous March to the Sea-"
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
When on one bright nsrning of early
May Sherman's loo, GEO Harched out on
the red-clay hills of northern Georgia 10
battle against the 1900 that Johnston
had held together, it was well known the
contest would be mighty and that the oak
shaded hills and cottOr6e2ds on the path
of war would be bathed with blood. The
ablest commander in the Confederate army
was opposed TO rs, and the proof or his
military genius was manifested by his
mastery retreat upon his stronghold,
where for 12O consecutive days of fight
ing, with spirited skirnishes every day
and general engagements every week, he
entered the Notifications of Atlanta with
ont having lost by capture single field
piece. wagon or even a camp kettle.
The long Summer had cruelty tested the
endurance of both armies, and during the
first three months of the campaign, in the
frequent assaults of the blue-uAiformed
warriors against the streAg heldworks that
formed gridiron across eur lines of ad-
vance, we lost 20,G60 brave men. and in
the fourth month the Confederate army.
under their new commander, lost an equal
number in their mad rushes and sallies
against our fortified gordon. and this, witt,
the train loads they carried back over the
Etowah and .Chattahooches Valleys, to-
gether with those buried on the battle
fields, swelled their Losses to 10000.
In the early days of November, 1864,
Sherman's army, parted at GayleSvjlle,
the General, taking the fourteenth, Eff
teenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Corps.
numbering over 10000 men. formed them
into two wings and started for the At
lantie coast. n-e
HEADING OFF HOOD.
He left the Fourth and Twenty third
Corps, mastering 26,o00 men, to oppose
Hoods army of $1,000 men in all branches
of service,
It seemed perhaps natural for Hood to
believe that the way was left open for
him TO lead his army where he pleased,
and that he could easily sweep away any
thing that would confront him in his
triumphai march TO Nashville, Louisville
and Cincinnati. :s.s
But Sherman selected from his able as
sociates the two commanders in whom he
had the greatest eonfdence-Thomas and
Selected; haying full knowledge of the
formers Wonderful power in organiza ton,
and the brains and capacity of the latter
for execution.
As he marched his splendid army down
through the mountain valleys of northern
Alabama and Georgia toward Atlanta, he
realized that the fighting would be done
by those he left behind. But his expert
enee in the Summer campaign gave him
fun reliance that their wsrk would be
well done, and that the two Generals
would make no mistakes, but with the
Il
much as might be done by any two lead
ers in any country or age. The Twenty
third and Fourth Corps, upon whom SO
much depended. marched in quick order
10 Resaca and Dalton, where transporta-
ton awaited to take them by rail to Nash
vile and thence TO Pulaski, arriving there
the second week in November.
This movement was ordered by Thomas.
the senior officer, but was under the di-
rect command OF Schofield.
The commanding General made his
headquarters at Nashville, and remained
there to organize strong force, made up
of detachments that had been on duty in
the rear, also new regiments that had
been recently recruited, and those, to.
gether with Gen. A. j. Smiths Corps
which had been ordered from the West
would q nforce the army at The front te
an equ;J or larger number that Hoods
and enable us to face him, or even over
come bis army.
At the same time vigorous efforts were
made to remount, equip and place our cav.
airy on a better footing, with Gen. vii
son in command, who was expected t6
cope with the same branch of Hood
army. under Forrest, which numbered oyel
12,0Ge men.
Schofields duty was to watch and re
tard Hood while this concentration abou,
Nashville was progressing. Hood, how
ever, was not inclined to wait for oui
preparations, and was ordered by Beaure
gard, who was his superior in command
10 push forward from Florence, which h,
did on the Goth of November, expectin,
10 flank Sehofield ar Lawrenceburg and
cnt off his retreat by rail from Pulaski
Hoods friends. spies and scouts in am
about Nashville. kept him accurately in.
formed as to Thomas's movements, 81
that he determined upon as rapid an adj
vance as possible; but bad roads retard
ed him so that almost week had passes
before he was able to concentrate hi
whole force ut Columbia.
In the meantime Capron's, Croxton'
and Hatch's cavalry were covering hi
front and on the lookout, and sent wore
10 ScbofieId, who Immediately prepared /,
fall back to Columbia.
Gen. Cox's Division of the Twenty thr,
Corps left their camps and started on til
Columbia pike on the 22d and marched L
Lynville, where they were joined by Wag
ner's Division. Fourth Corps.
On the afternoon of the 23d we march
ed TO the junction of the Mt Pleasant an,
Shelbyville roads. Before daylight of tn
Oath We were ordered to march 10 Column
bia, and arrived there just after sunrise
As We approached the town the well-kep
farms and spacious lawns, with Ions
straight lanes bordered with trees, lead
Ing I'm IN fha he nd np,a uaape;ooo 1o