The National tribune., 1906-05-10

Accordingly Hardee's and. Stewards
Corps resumed their former positions.
Col. Freshman, Chief Engineer, was in
structed to exanl1n8 at once the par
TALLY completed hne Of works toward
Peach Tree Creek which Gen. Johnston
had ordered to hR constructed for the
defense of Atlanta and to report at the
earliest moment In regard to their fit
ness to be occupied by Stewards and
Cheatham's CorIE, together with the
Georgia State tro0pA under Gen. G. w.
Smith. The report was received early
on the morning uf the 21st. to the ef-
feet that the linese sta blished by john
ston was not only too close to the city
and located uponp too low ground but
was totally Inadequate for the purpose
designed: that Sa esmans. line, which
extended from the vicinity OF Decatur
almost to the Dalton Railroad north Of
Atlanta. rendered necessary the con-
struction of an entirely new line. and
upon more elevated ground.
The Chief Engineer was thereupOn d.
rected to prepare and stake Off new
line and to employ his entire force, in
works soon after dark on the night Of
the 21st, and have time to aid in
strengthening their position before dawn
OF next morning. This task was soon
executed through the skill and energy
Of Col. Freshman and his assistants.
GenS. STEWART, CneaInam dnQ u. w.
Smith were instructed to order their
division and brigade commanders to ex-
anime before dark the ground to be
occupied by their respective troops, so
az to avoid confusion or delay al tn"
time of the movement.
Hardee Selected for the Chief Part.
Gen. Hardee, who comman led the
,argest corps. and. whose troops were
comparatively fresh, as they had taken
but little part i'm the attack Of the pre-
viOus' day, was ordered to hold his
forces in readiness to move promptly Ut
dark that night--the 21st. / selected
Hardee for this duty because Cheatham
had at that time but little experience
as a corps commander and Stewart had
been heavily engaged the day previous.
The position of the enemy during the
21st remained. I may say. u-c.aase1.
with the exception that Schofetd and
Mcpherson had advanced slic htly to-
ward Atlanta. To transfer after dark
our entire line from the immediate
presence of the enemy to another line
around Atlanta and to throw Fardee,
the same night. entirely to the rear and
flank of McPherson---as Jackson was
thrown in II similar movement at Chan
cc!lorsville and Sec ond Manas 5as--and
tn initiate the offensive at Daylight, re-
quired no small effort upon the part of
the men and officers. l hoped. however,
that the assault would result not only
In a general battle. but In a signal VIC
tory to our arms.
1t was absolutely necessary these OPP
erations should be executed that same
night. since delay OF even q hours
would allow the enemy time to fl =
Their intrerch. and afford Sherman a
chance to rectify in measure his
strange blunder IL separating t. omas
so far from Schofit Id and Mcpherson.
Shnr .Ir .lx al r3-r.n,
as the following extract from his Mem
oirs denotes:
There was quite gap between
Thomas and SchOfie.d. which ! cav
Ored 10 close by drawing two o. Il wv
ards Divisions near ScIo ED"
/ we'll knew ha-w.u,d tx to retrieve
his oversight Mt THE earl+ st ossible
moment: therefore i determined to
forestall his attempt nd to make an
other effort tn defssst the Federal army.
No time was to het lost in trkirg cd
vantage OF this second unexpe.tcf OPP
portunity to achieve victory and relieve
Atlanta.
was convinced that Mcpherson and
Schofield intended to destroy not
only the Georgia Railroad. hut 'ikew' Sc
our main line pf' comm uni"at'or the
railroad to Macor 1T is now evident
the blow on the 10th checked the reck-
less manner Of moving which had so
long DeGH pTdctI.eHUV the e!tSI1H, Will
out fear Of niolcstntfon. during the Dali
ton1Atlanta campaign. The rap. of.aia~n-
ing receiycd1by ThDsnag y. on 'Peacr Tree
Creek must have induced the Federal
comma nder to alter his pam He says
in relation thereto:
sherman More Cautis:s.
During the nieht (21st l ad full
reports from all Iarts OF our lin mo t
Of which was partially intrenched as
against a sally. and finding h"t VI
Pherson was stretching out to- rru"',
on his left flank, | wrote him a
early in the morning not to cxtc
much by his left, for we had not 30
enough to completely invest TIE pac.,
and / intended to destroy utter ~
parts Of the Augusta Railroad to tn"
east Of Atlanta. then to withdraw from