The National tribune., 1906-07-12
ieorgia "unopposed." as he himself ad-

Georgia 'unopposed,' as he himself ad.
| mits.
Gen. Beauregard had moved in the
direction of Georgia to assemble al
available forces to oppose Sherman,
advance At the time ! made my oil
cial report 1 was furnished a copy OF
his letter to President Davis. stating IN
full the reasons which had induced him
to approve my campaign. and enuner
atinS the difficulties al this crisis to be
encountered in a movement southwark
to Georgia. This letter Is dated ths
9Th of December, but l insert 1t at this
point, since 1t treats of events under
consideration, and which occurred just
prior to the advance into Tennessee:
Letter to Davis.
Augusta, Ga. Dec. 6, 1864.
ITO His Excellency. Jefferson Davis
President Confederate States.
"Sir: Your letter of the 30th ult., ac-
knowledging the receipt of my tele-
gram of the cath of November. was
received by me on the road from Ma
con to this place.
with the limited reliable means at
our command 1 believe that all that
could be has been done. under existing
circumstances, to oppose the advance OF
Shcrman's forces towards the Atlantic
coast. That we have not thus far been
more successful none can regret more
than myself: but he will doubtless be
Charleston and Savannah. and he may
yet be made to experience serious loss
before reaching the coast.
ION the 18th of November, when
about leaving Tuscumbia, Ala. on a
tour of inspection to Corinth, Miss. ]
was informed by Gen. Hood of the re-
port just received by him that Sher-
man would probably move from Allan
ia into Georgia. / instructed MIN at
Wheeler to watch closely Sherman s
movements, and, should he move as re-
ported. to attack and harass him at all
favorable points.
"I telegraphed to Lieut.-Gen. Taylor
ct Selma, Ala, to call on Gov. Watts,
of Alabama, and Gov. Clarke, Of Mis-
sissippi, for all the State troops that
they could furnish. and with all the
available movable forces of his depart
ment to keep himself In readiness to
move at a moments notice to the as
sistance of Mat-Gen. Howell Cobb and
Mai. Gen G. w. Smith, who were then
at or about Griffin, Ga, threatening At
lanta.
'I also telegraphed to Gen. Cobb to
call upon Gov. Brown, of Georgia, and
Gov. Ronham, of South Carolina. for
lected.
"I made all necessary preparations
to repair forthwith to Georgia. in the
event of Sherman's executing his re-
ported movement.
"On my arrival at Corinth. on the
18th of November, having been In
formed that Sherman had commenced
his movement l issued all necessary
orders to meet the emergency, inclua-
ing an order to Gen. Hood 10 send one
division of cavalry (Jackson'sl to re
infurce Wheeler; but this order was
suspended by him, his objection being
that his cavalry could not be rcdu""d
without endangering the success of his
in Tennessee. and that Gen
Wheeler had already IS brigadns under
ius command. I finally instructed him
ro send only one brigade II he contem-
plated taking the offensive at once, as
had already been decided upon. 1 then
left Corinth for Macon. where / ar
rived on the 24th of November.
II did not countermand the cam
paign in Tennessee 70 pursue Sherman
with Hoods army, for the following
reasons: