The National tribune., 1906-03-22

commanders OF corps. divisions. bri-
gadeS and regiments neglect to make
up their returns every few days. In
fact, 1t is we'll known that this duty is
neglected by no discreet officer, even
during an active campaign: otherwise
there would be no means of ascertain
ing the number of men engaged in any
one battle. The return of Maj. Fall
coner. l presume, is correct SO far as
it gives the effective strength Of the
cavalry directly at Dalton on the 1st
Of May: but 1t does not include bri-
gades near Dalton,' within the easy
direction of Gen. Johnston, as shown
by the following extract from the off,
ciai return now I'm the possession OF
Mai. j.-GeE. Wheeler, a copy OF which
this officer furnished me on the I'd Of
May, 1874:
Wheeler's Cavalry.
May 6. 1864. General field and staff
and company officers present. 525; to-
tai effective fighting force. 4,299; ag-
gregate officers and men effective for
battle, 4,S24. Dibbrell and Harrison
Joined from East Tennessee with 1,415
effective men just after this report was
made. Dibbrell and Harrison reached
Resaca about May j. | went down and
inspected the command"
This aggregate gives a total effective
of 6.239, and 1t IS evident that Gen.
Johnston's Chief Of Cavalry, Maj.-Gea.
Wheeler, had in his command this
on the 9Th, but on the 1st Of May.
Gen. Johnston himself furnishes
proof of the correctness of Maj.-Gen.
Wheeler's report Of the 9Th, by his
acknowledgment Of the presence Of
Dibbrelrs Brigade on the 9th OF May,
in these words:
ION the same day Maj.-Gen. Wheel
err with Dibbrell's and Aliens Brigades,
encountered a large body Of Federal
cavalry near Varnell's Station" He
admits also Gen. Martins Division OF
Cavalry to have been at Cartersville,
short distance south Of Resaca, on the
1st Of May, and Maj. Kinloch Falconer
states I'm his official report: The cav
airy Of the Mississippi Army, which
joined near Adairsville, was estimated
at $500 effective men. and Martins
Cavalry Division. which Joined near
Resaca, at $500" Let us, therefore,
continue the search for cavalry. before
returning to New Hope Church to
make the first estimate Of the effective
strength OF this army. Gen. Johnston,
in his Narrative, alludes to the follow
ing accessions: "Jackson's $500 met
number, added to Wheelers and Mar
tins forces of 6,239. gives OF this arm
of the service an effective total of TO-
139; which number, in lieu of 5000
reported at New Hope Church. added
to $4,000 infantry and artillery, gives
66,139, instead Of $4,000 Of all arms,
as stated by Gen. Wigfall.
The following letter from Ma. Gen.
Wheeler affords additional evidence OF
the correctness of the foregoing esti-
mate Of cavalry:
New Orleans, La. June 1, 1866.
"Dear General: In reply to go, m
quiry as to the aggregate numSs OF
ov,1i Tod NAT Il a
/ could have thrown into
action at any time prior TO the siege
of Atlanta, had i been notified that q
battle was to be fought. and time given
to bring up men detailed at the rear,
I will state that the records in my
day Of July, 1864. the figures referred
to were S.410; Of these 6,279 were
fighting, enlisted men already on duty,
mounted on serviceable horses. Gen.
Jackson and three brigades which are
not included in the above.
"I cannot give his exact force, but
when he first joined the army near
Adairsville i was informed he had
about 4.500 men.
.I remain, General. with great re-
spect. your obedient servant;
"To Gen. John B. Hood. late Command
ing Army Of Tennessee"
Joe Johnston Had 10000 Electives.
Thus, the first summary shows an
effective total Of 66,139 men. 13 days
out from Dalton, to which force should
be added 1888 killed and wounded,
loss which Gen. Johnston acknowledges
to have sustained prior TO the passage
Of the .Etowah, and the result shows
p, 1.li Amy OF 69,527 electives lat and
!. ar Dalton, excl,yw'ce VI descrters,
straggiers anft the sisoners captured
from the commences lent of the CAM
paign to the arrival OF the army at New
Hope Church. Therefore ii requires an
allowance of but 473 men, lost as strag-
elers and deserters during the 13 days
Of retreat, In order to sum up the
20, 600 electives alluded to in my off,
cial report.
I shall now ascertain the strength OF
the army at Adairsville on the lIth ot
(Continued on page two.)