The National tribune., 1906-06-28

cessors, and as it may be important fol
you to possess.
VERY respectfully and truly yours,
Jefferson Davis.
For Gen Hood"
This order was most satisfactory. in.
asmuch as 1t afforded me at least an
opportunity to confer with an officer OF
distinction in regard to future opera
tons.
sherman Leaves Atlanta.
The attack upon his communications
in the vicinity Of the Etowah River and
near the Alabama line had forced Sher-
man to hasten from Atlanta. In truth
The effect Of our operations SO far sur
passed my expectations that / was in
Luc.d to somewhat change my original
plan to draw Sherman to the Alabama
line and then give battle. l according
Is decided to move farther north and
again strike his railroad between Re-
SAGA and Tunnel Hill, thoroughly de-
stroy 1t, and then move in the direction
OF the Tennessee, via Lafayette and
Gadsden, with no intent however, to
cross the river. This move, / consid-
cred. would SO seriously threaten the
road at Stevenson and the bridge across
the tennessee River at Bridgeport that
sherman would be compelled still fur
| ther to detach and divide his forces
whilst at the same time he continued
his march northWard. ] intended then
to entice him as near the Tennessee
| line as possible before offering battle
To accomplish this end l thought IL
| might be expedent to march to a point
| in the vicinity OF the Tennessee and
even to order the cavalry to advance as
| far az the river, before / turned upon
| the enemy.
1t was my fixed purpose to attack
| sherman as soon az I succeeded In
these maneuvers. The plan of the orig.
inal campaign was therefore only more
fully developed by this strategy, which
In truth. adopted as an afterthought
| On the 9Th the army reached Dallas
Our right rested at New Hope Church
where intelligence was received thai
the enemy was advancing from Los
/ Mountain. From Dallas we marched
to Coosaville. 10 miles southwest o.
Rome, via Van Vert. Cedartown and
Cave Spring. At the latter place Mai.
Gen. Wheeler. with Il portion of hi.
command, Joined me from Tennessee
We arrived at Coosaville on the 10th
and the day previous. when near Var
Vert sent the following dispatch t.
Gen. Bragg:
Near Van Vert. Ga. Oct. 3, 1864.
Gen. Il. Bragg and Hon. j. A. Seldom
Richmond
! when Sherman found this army Oh
his communications he left Atlanta hur
riedly with his main body, and formed
line of battle near kenesaw Mountain
at once moved to this point. and
marching tomorrow, shall cross tn
Coosa River about 10 miles below
Rome. and moving up the west banl
of the Oostenaula. hope to destroy MI
communications from Kingston to Tun
mel Hill. forcing him to fall back O.
move south. II the latter. l shall NOV,
on his rear. II the former, l shall NOV,
to the Tennessee River, via Lafayett,
and Gadsden. | leave near Jacksonvill,
all surplus baggage. artillery and wag
ons. and move prepared for battle.
| move to the Tennessee my trains will
meet me at Gadsden. Please have tn,
Memphis & Charleston Railroad repair
ed at once To Decatur. II possible.
| u. Is. Hood. General"
This last precautionary measure
deemed advisable as l sought to fore
stall every possible contingency. /
our arms met with only partial success
In battIe--that Is. X Sherman was no
routed. but merely badly Worried