The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-04-12

!. GEN. ALEX. P. STEWART.
to that period, and to which I nave
previously referred. We finally sepa-
rated; each rode off to his own tent;
land, howsoever, dispirited, I am conf
ldent not one of us so far lost sight of
that cooperation SO essential in time
of war, as to speak one word which
would convey suspicion Of Gen.
Jonhston's contemplated retreat to
Macon.
Shortly after this occurrence, the
army occupied the line at Kenesaw
Mountain. the last stronghold Of the
many sharp ridges passed over during
our retreat. 1t was to the left of this
point, on Pine Mountain. that we lost
the brave and magnanimous Polk, and
with him much Of the history of this
remarkable campaign.
| The Confederate army had remained
on the defensive about 80 days at Ken
esaw Mountain, when Sherman resort
ed to a ruse he had learned from
experience would prove effective he
sent a few troops to make j rumbling
sound i'm our rear, and We folded up
our tents, as usual under strict orders
to make no noise. and, under cover Of
darkness. marched to and across the
Chattahoochee, upon the fiat plains Of
Georgia.
| After our passage of this river, on
the night of the zsth of July. Sherman
moved rapidly to the eastward and
across the Chattahoochee, some dis
lance above Peach Tree Creek. He
formed a line parallel to this creek, with
his right on the river, and approached
Atlanta from the north, whilst Scho-
| field and McPherson, on the left
marched rapidly in the direction of De-
catur to destroy the railroad to Angus
Ia.
/ Gen. Johnston thus relates the Sc.
lquel: .s.f
ION the 17th Maj Gen. Wheeler re-
1 ported that Tthe whole Federal army
had crossed the Chattahoochee. = :
The following telegram was received
from Gen. Cooper. dated July II:
Lieut.. -Gen. j. B. Hood has been COM
missioned to the temporary rank Of
General, under the late law Of Con-
gress. I am directed by the Secretary
of War to inform you that, as you have
failed to arrest the advance of the enc
my to the vicinity of Atlanta, far in
the interior Of Georgia, and express no
confidence that you can defeat or repcl
him, you are hereby relieved from the
command of the Army and Department
of Tennessee. which you will imme-
diately turn over to Gen. Hood
IL Gen. Hood came 10 my quar-
ters early in the morning OF the 18th,
and remained there during the day.
Intelligence soon came from Maj. Gen.
| Wheeler that the Federal army was
marching toward Atlanta. and. at Gen.
Hoods earnest request / continued to
give orders through Brig. Gen. Mackall
Chief Of Staff until sunset"
About IL o'clock on the night of the
18th, I received telegram from the
War Office, directing me to assume
command of the army. This totally
unexpected order SO astounded me, and
overwhelmed me with sense Of the re-
spOnsfbility thereto attached that re-
NAMED in deep thought throughout the
night. Before daybreak I started for
Gen. Johnston's headquarters, a short
distance from which / met Lieut. Gen.
A. p. Stewart, one Of my division COM
manders, who had been recommended
by me, and recently promoted to the
rank of corps commander to replace
| Gen. Polk.
| We rode on together to Gen. John
ston's quarters, which we reached
| shortly after dawn. I at once sought
the Commanding General, and inquired
| into the cause Of this order. He re-
piled he did not know: the President
had seen fit to relieve him. I then in
| sisted he should pocket that dispatch,
| leave me in command of my corps, and
fight the battle for Atlanta; at the same
time I directed his attention to the APP
proach of Gen. Sherman, and alleged
that the enemy, unless checked, would
| in few days capture the city.
| To this appeal he replied that the
| President had seen fit to relieve him,
and 1t would have so to be unless the
order was countermanded. Lieut.. Gems
| Hardee and Stewart then joined me in
a telegram to the President, request
ing that the order for his removal be
postponed, at least till the fate of At
lanta was decided. s
Hood Decentralization to Remain.
The following extract from q letter
| that l was DESTROYS Gen. Johnston
should remain in. commando:
Gen. ]. B. Hood.
"My Dear General: Your letter of
| the 25th ultimo was received some days
since, and / avail myself Of the first
opportunity to answer 1t.
You ask me to send you a state
ment setting forth the facts as you (I)
understand them,i OF the circumstances
| attending the removal OF Gen. j. f.
Johnston from the command of our
army In Georgia. tn 1864. and my APP
pOintment to succeed him. 1t gives
| me pleasure to- comply with your re-
quest. Monday morning DULY
18) you will remember we met about
| sunrise in the road near Johnston's
headquarters. and then Informed you
Of the object Of seeking an interview.
and that was that we should all three
unite in an effort to prevail on Gen.
Johnston to withhold the order, and
retain command OF the army until the
impending battle should have been
fought. | can bear witness to the read
mess with which you concurred. We
went together to Johnston's quarters
and you and he had O long CONVERSE
!! ton with each other, which did no,
hear At the close OF 1t, however, you
and Gen. Hardee and went into the
Adjutant-Generafs Office, and together
prepared a telegram to the President
| stating that, in our judgment, 1t was
dangerous to change commanders at
that junctufe; and requesting him to
recall the order removing Johnston, at