The National tribune., 1906-04-05

|
close 10 the crest OF the ridge occupie,
by Gen. Polk's command.
The extreme left. or eastern bat
| teries of the enemy, necessarily emf
Iaded considerable portion of Gen
Hoods line.
+, Having made these examination
and noted them down, 1 formed III,
following opinions:
list. That the right of the line oc.
cupied by Lieut.-Gen. Polk's command
could not be held. as it then was, nol
| could 1t be held by constructing a rife
pit along the crest
I'D. That traverses would be of nc
avail either for the rife pits upon the
crest or as covered way to the rear
as such traverses would cover nearly
the entire surface.
.3d. That it was extremely hazard
Gus for Lieut.-Gen. Polk to advance his
line TO make an attack upon the enemy
while their batteries held the positions
they then occupied.
"4th. AS to forming any opinion as
to the taking of these left batteries OF
the enemy by a special flank movement
this / could not do, as / was unable to
examine to the right of Lieut.-Gen
Hoods line, as 1t had grown dark. But
judging from the stream as located on
the skeleton map, there must have
been a very narrow ridge TO approach
the enemy upon their left.
''At the time ] arrived about the CEN
ter of Gen. POlk's right where the open
crest OF the ridge commenced, 1 found
very heavy enfilading and cross-fre
going on from the enemy's batteries
There were but n few sentinels re-
naming upon the crest, the main body
of men, intended to occupy this part
of the line, were compelled to with
draw to the right and left at the foot
Of 4 hn t.iI Of -i,rlnt I,,A
of range of the enemy's batteries.
IL found that Maj.-Gen. French had
one or two batteries in position upon
the part of the line near the ravine, and
while they were coming into their posi-
lions, and before the guns could be un-
limbered, from one to two horses from
each piece were killed. On my return
the fire from the enemy had nearly
ceased.
At Folks Headquarters.
Having completed the reconnois-
sance, l returned to Lieut.-Gen. Polk $
headquarters, just after dark.
Il placed before him my sketches
and notes, and explained to him sub
stantially these facts. Gen. Polk sent
at once to ask Gen. Johnston to come
to his headquarters. Lieut.-Gen. Hood
was already WITH Gen. Polk. Gen.
Johnston arrived about o'clock. 1
remained in the CABIN during the con-
versation as 70, ,tolding the position
then occupied 6E advancing or retiring
tho Il armies to tHsIsouth of the Etowah
River, about sbEgsn. or eight miles TO
Lieut. Gen. FAX expressed himself
convinced thatIh he could not hold his
line against attack. and that Maj.-Gen.
French. who otedpied that part of his
line in question. was of the same opin-
ion as was his "Geh. Poik's) Engineer
officer (myselfJI %alf6 had examined the
position and reported that traverses
would be of no. avail. Lieut-Gen. Hood
stated that he WAS also convinced that
neither he noTaGen. Polk could hold
their lines for ain hour against such an
attack as they5 fnight certainly expect
in the mornina-these Generals both
advocating to the Commanding Gem
eral to take the offensive and advance
on the enemy from these lines In ref
erence to this proposed forward move
ment, Gen. Johnston's attention was
Of taking possession Of the positions
occupied by the batteries of the enemy
on their extreme left, either by O spe-
cial flank movement or by prompt ac-
ton at the time when the Confederate
lines would be advanced. Lieut.-Gen.
Polk expressed himself entirely willing
and ready to cooperate with Gen.
Hood to accomplish this object. After
some moments OF silence, Gen. john
ston decided to withdraw the armies
to the south of the Etowah. Soon after
this Lieut.-Gen. Hardee arrived. Gen.
Johnston informed him Of this decision
to cross the river. stating that Gems
Polk and Hood had informed him that
thAv could not hold their Lines. Lieut.