The National tribune., 1906-06-28

Il
road; by rapid marches to cross the
Tennessee River at Gunter's Landing,
and again destroy the enemy's COM
municatiOns. at Stevenson and Bridge
port. l felt confident that Sherman,
| after being disa bied in battle, would
follow in my rear, and 1 hoped that
| the near approach of cold weather
would favor my attempt to at least re-
| cover our lost territory. and allow our
army to winter again in the vicinity of
Dalton. In anticipation of this prob
| able event l requested the authorities
to have the Memphis & Charleston
Railroad repaired to or near Decatur.
| Ala. In order to establish another line
for supplies and retreat, in case of eth
er success of disaster in Tennessee.
In dispatch to Gen. Taylor l re-
quested that Forrest be ordered to op-
crate at once in Tennessee:
<No. 499.)
| ivan Vert Oct 7.
| "Lieut.-Gen. Taylor, Commanding De-
partment. Gainesville Junction:
| Your dispatch of the 9th received.
This army being in motion, 1t is of vital
importance that Forrest should move
without delay, and operate on the enc
my's railroad. If he cannot break the
| Chattanooga & Nashville Railroad, he
can occupy their forces there, and pre-
vent damage being repaired on the 9TH
er road. He should lose no time in
moving. 1 am very thankful for the
assistance already afforded this army.
u. B. Hood, General"
Forrest Wanted.
! The improvement in the morale of
the troops was already apparent, and
assertions, so frequent at Palmetto, had
altogether ceased. /, therefore, INDUCED
a not unreasonable hope very soon to
deal the enemy hard and staggering
blow. In order to convey his apprecia-
| ton OF the importance attached to our
movement upon his line of commune
cation, will quote Gen. Sherman's own
words:
"In person I reached Allatoona on
the 9Th Of October, still in doubt as to
Hoods Immediate Intentions"
In dispatch Of the same date to
Thomas at Nashville:
Il came up here to relieve our road
The Twentieth Corps remains at At
lanta. Hood reached the road, and
broke it up between Big Shanty and
Ackworth. He attacked Allatoona, but
was repulsed. We have plenty OF bread
and meat, but forage is scarce. ! want
to destroy all the road below Chatta-
nooga, including Atlanta, and to make
| for the seacOast. We cannot defend this
long line Of road"
On the same day he sent the follow
ing dispatch to Grant, at City Point:
ut will be a physical impossibilfty
to protect the roads now that Hood,
| Forrest, Wheeler and the whole batch
OF devils are turned loose without home
or habitation. 1 think Hoods move
ments indicate diversion to the end
OF the Selma and Talledega road, at
Blue Mountain, about go miles south
west OF Rome, from which he will
threaten Kingston, Bridgeport, Decatur,
Ala"
Making Ready for Battle.
On the 10th of October Brig Gen.
jackson. commanding the cavalry, was
instructed by Col. Mason as follows:
| (No. ,43S.)
Gave Spring. Oct 10, 8 a. m.
Gen. Hood desires me to inform YOU
| that the pontOOn at Quinn's Ferry. on
| the CoOsa River, will be taken up this
| evening. and you must put on line Of
courfers to that place to connect with
a line to the other side. They will meet
at the FERRY, and you must continue to
keep some there. Or near there. to take
| dispatches over the line. Day after
tomorrow (12th}, unless you are 9TH
erwise engaged GEN Hood desires you
will move on Rome. and make a con-
| siderable demonstration from your side
OF the river, but be- careful not to fire
into the town. Communicate fully and
frequently about all movements Of the
enemy"
On the 18th the army crossed the
Coosa River, marched in the direction
| OF Resaca and Dalton, and bivouacked
that night II miles above CoosaviIle
and 10 miles northwest Of Rome. That
same day Ma. Gen Arnold Elzey. Chief
Of Artillery, was directed to move to
Jacksonville with the reserve artillery
and all surplus wagons, and Gen. Jack
son was instructed to retard the enemy
as much as possible, in the event Of his
advance from Rome.
Having thus relieved the army Of all
fncumbrance, and made ready for bat
tie. we marched rapidly to Resaca, and
thence to Dalton, via Sugar Valley Post
Office. Lieut.-Gen. Lee moved upon Re-
SAGA, with instructions to display his
forces and demand the surrender of
the garrison, but not to attack unless
in his Judgment the capture could be
decided not to assault the Federal
works, and commenced at once the de-
struction Of the railroad.
On the 18th / demanded the surren-
der Of Dalton, which, in the first in
stance, was refused, but was finally ac-
coded to at 4 p. m. The garrison con-
sisted Of about 1000 men. AS the road
between Resaca and Tunnel Hill had
been effectuaHy destroyed the army
was put in motion the next morning in
the direction Of Gadsden, and camped
that night near Vilanon.
Whilst in front Of Dalton quite a spir-
tied affair occurred at Mill Creek Gap.
where detachment OF our troops at
tackled and gained possession of block
house. Maj. KinlOch FalcOner, of my
staff, was during this assault seriously
wounded.
On the morning Of the 18th I sent
from Van Vert the following dispatch
to the Hon. ]. A. Seldom, Secretary of
War, Gems. Bragg and Beauregard:
(No 5000
Evan Vert Oct Is.
This army struck the communica-
tons OF the enemy about a mile above
Resaca (the 12th), completely destroy
ing the railroad, including block houses
from that point to within a short dis
lance of Tunnel Hill. and about four
miles OF the Cleveland Railroad. cap
turing Dalton and all intermediate gar
risOns, with their stores, arms and
equipments, taking about 900 prison
ers. The main body Of Sherman's army
seem to be moving toward Dalton.
~. b. Hood, General"
Hood Wasted To Fight.