The National tribune., 1906-05-31
Fitzpatrick Breaks the Railroad.


Fitzpatrick Breaks the Railroad.
The 18th, nigh two weeks after
wheeler's departure with about one
half of our cavalry force, Gen. Sherman
took advantage of the absence of these
troops, and again attempted lodg- |
ment on the Macon road with cavalry. |
At $50 a. m. Gen. Fitzpatrick was re-
ported to be moving, via Fairburn, in
the direction of Jonesboro. Gen. Jack
son quickly OWNED his objec., moved
rapidly in pursuit, overlook him at an
early hour, attacked and forced him to
retreat after sustaining considerable loss
in killed, wounded and prisoners. The
Federals had previously succeeded how |
ever, in destroying mile and half OF
the Macon road; had cut the wires, and
burned the depot at Jonesboro.
Gen. Sherman, touching this his sec
ond strenuous effort to render the evac-
uation of Atlanta a matter of eompul- |
sion by throwing cavalry to our 'ear,
says:
He (Kilpatrick) reported that he
had destroyed three miles of the rail- |
road about Jonesboro, which he reck- |
oned would take 10 days to repair; that |
he had encountered division of infan
try and brigade of cavalry (Ross's) |
that he had captured a battery and de- |
stroyed three of its guns, bringing one
in as trophy, and he also brought in |
Inree DaIlleIdSS anu ~ pTlSOHeTS. oI
the 23d, however, we saw trains COM
ing into Atlanta from the south, when
became more than ever Convinced that
cavalry could not or would not work
hard enough to disable 2 railroad prop
erly, and therefore resolved at once to
proceed to the eXection of my original !
plan"
Our cavalry also drove a brigade of
the enemy from the Augusta road on
the 22d, which affair, together with the
happy results obtained in the engage
ment with Fitzpatrick, demonstrated |
conclusively that the absence of one
half of our mounted force notwithstand-l |
ing, we had still a sufficient number. |
with Jackson, to protect not only the
fianks of the army, but likewise our
communications against similar raids. |
and, moreover, to defend our people |
against pillaging expeditions. At this
period / was charged by the Johnston |
Wigfall party, through the press, with
having committed serious blunder by
sending off the cavalry, and with hav-
ing exposed our people to robbery and
maltreatment by raiders through the
country. --=-
The severe handling by Wheeler and
1verson of the troops under Stoneman
and McCook, together with Jackson
success, induced me not to recall |
Wheeler's $500 men, who were stin
operating against the railroad to Nash |
Vile. 1 had, moreover, become con- |
WINGED that our cavalry was able to
successfully compete with double their |
number. Fortunately they had not be- |
come demoraiiZed upon the retreat, in |
consequence of their habit OF dismount- |
ing and fighting at one point to-day, |
then remounting and fastening in an |
other direction to encounter the enemy /
on the morrow. AS before stated, our |
cavalry were not cayalrymen proper, |
but were mounted rifiemen, trained to |
dismount and. hold in check or delayl
the advance of the main body o. the |
enemy, and who had learned by ex-
perience that they could without much
difficulty defeat the Federal cavalry. !
This teaching, combined with Inc fact
that small bodies can fall back In front
of large armies without material dis
couragement to the men, warded off
the baneful influences which worked
upon the infantry. and accounts for the
non-demoralization Of the cavalry.
wheeIer's Cavalry.
In this connection 1t becomes my
duty. well as pleasure, to make ac-
Acknowledgements of the valuable services
of the Army of Tennessee during my
operations in Georgia and north Ala
bama. ! have not forgotten the outcry
against Wheelers Cavalry just prior to
and after the close of the war: IL was
brought about in great measure, doubt
less, by renegades from our armies
who committed outrages which were
charged by the people to the account of
the cavalry. / am confident that when
the history of our struggle is written
Maj.-Gen. Wheeler and his command
will occupy high position, as the Con-
federacy possessed, in my opinion, no
body OF cavalry superior to that which
j found guarding the TANKS of the Army
of Tennessee at the time / assumed its
direction.
The bombardment of the CITY contin-
al 81, xF 10
full, yet strange, 10 mark how expert
grew the old men, women and children
in building their little underground
forts, in which to fly for safety during
the storm of shell and shot. Often mid
the darkness of night were they con-
strained to seek refuge in these dun
geons beneath the earth albeit l cannot
recall one word from their lips express
sive of dissatisfaction or willingness toi
surrender.
Sherman had now been over onel
month continuously moving toward our
left and thoroughly fortifying, step by
step. as he advanced in the direction of
the Macon Railroad. On the night Of
tlic 25;h he withdrew from our imme
diata front: his works, which at AM
discovered to be abandoned, We're oc-
cupied at a later hour by the corps of
Gems. Stewart and Lee.
This movement of the Federals gave
its object. | felt confident that thsirI
plan would soon be developed. Accord
ingly orders were issued to corps COM
nanders to send out scouts in their
front, and to keep army headquarters
fully advised of the slightest change in
the enemy's position: to issue three
days rations. and TO be in readiness to
move at a moments warning. Instruc-
tions were likewise sent to Gen. Arm
strong, commanding the cay.-iry in the
vicinity of the West Point Railroad. to
be most active in securing all possible
information in regard to the operations
of the enemy.
Shermnn's Grand Swing 10 the Right.
On the 27th Maj.-Gen. G. w. Smiths
Division was ordered TO the left to oc-
cupy the position of Stevenson's Diy.-
sion, which, together with Gen. Maury's
command, was held In reserve. EarIy
the following morning the enemy were
reported by Gen. Armstrong in large
force at Fairburn. on the West Poin.