The National tribune., 1906-05-24
WASHINGTON THURSDAY

The enemy have now reached a coun-
try where supplies can be gathered by
foraging expeditions. and part of your
cavalry will be required to prevent that
II he can be forced to retreat for want
of supplies. he will be in the worst
condition TO escape or resist your pur-
suing army. Gen. Hardee's minute
knowledge of the country and his ex-
tensive acquaintance with the officers
and men of the command must render
his large professional knowledge and
experience peculiarly valuable in such
a campaign as I hope is before you.
Jefferson Davis"
Hood Needed No Suggestion.
The foregoing dispatch is the only
communication offering a suggestion
which | remember TO have received dur
ing the siege of Atlanta from the Presi-
dent: II therefore stands out in bold
contradiction to the general assertion
that I was ordered by him to assume
the offensive or to make certain cam
paigns. The President did not at any
time order what l should or should not
do, and although l had solicited coun-
sci he gave none, save the above eau
ton in regard to breastworks. and at
later period his expressed disapproval
of the contemplated campaign into Ten
nessee.
In accordance with my determination
to attempt with cavalry. the destruc-
tion of Sherman's road. / ordered Gen.
Wheeler. with $500 men, to begin op-
erations at once. He succeeded in burn
ing the bridge over the Etowah; recap
tured Dalton and Resaca; destroyed
about 35 miles of railroad in the vicini-
ty, and captured about 800 mules and
1000 horses; he destroyed. in addition,
about so miles of railroad in Tennes-
see.
Gen. Forrest, with his usual energy.
struck shortly afterwards the Federal
line of supplies in this State. and, as
will hereafter be shown. inflicted great
damage upon the enemy. OF his ex-
ploits on this expedition have no Off
cial report, as he was not directly un-
der my command.
RnidIng the Lines.
Forrest and Wheeler accomplished all
but the impossible with their restricted
number of cavalry. and the former
finally was driven out of Tennessee by
superior forces. Gen. Sherman, in re-
lation to this movement, says:
THE rebel Gen. Wheeler was still in
Middle Tennessee. threatening our rail-
roads, and rumors came that Forrest
was on his way from Mississippi to the
same theater. for the avowed purpose
of breaking up our railroads and COM
pelling US to fall back from our con-
quest. To prepare for this or any other
emergency j ordered Newton's Division
of the Fourth Corps back to Chatta-
nooga. and Corse's Division of the Sew
enteenth Corps to Rome. and instructed
Gems. Rosseau at Nashville, Granger at
Decatur, and Stedman at Chattanooga
to adopt the most active measures to
protect and insure the safety of our
roads"
So vast were the facilities of the Fed
eral commander to reinforce his line of
skirmishers, extending from Nashville
to Atlanta, that we could not bring to-
gether sufficient force of cavalry to
accomplish the desired object. there
upon became convinced. and expressed
the opinion in my official report, that
no sufficiently effective number of cav
airy could be assembled in the COnfed-
eracy to interrupt the enemy's lire OF
supplies 20 an extent to compel him to
retreat.
From the 5th to the 18th of August
no event of special Importance oc-
CURED. I find naught recorded save
the constant demonstrations of the enc
my in front, whilst completing his
TO our left. A heavy dem
onstration was made on the 9Th against
Bates's Division, which was twice as
saulted; twice the foe were driven back
in great confusion with a loss of two
stands of colors, 500 killed and wound
ed. some small arms and intrenching
tools.
On the 7th Gen. Cleburne's Division
was transferred to our extreme left. and
the 9th was made memorable by the
most furious cannonaGa which the city
sustained during the siege. Women and
fed into cellars, and were there
forced to seek shelter a greater length
Of time than at any period of the bonn
bardment.
(To be continued.)