The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-05-03

be replaced by recrnits. because all the |
recruiting depots had been drained to
reinforce either Lee or Johnston.
could therefore hut make the best dis |
positions in my pewer with the re- |
duced numbers Of the army, which OPP |
posed force OF 100000 Federals. buoy
ant with success and hope, and who
were fully equal to 100000 such troops
as confronted Johnston at Dalton. by
reason of their victorious march Of 100
miles into the heart of the Confederacy.
The Battle Of Peach Tree Creek.
Accordingly. on the night Of the 18th
and morning OF the 10th, formed line
of battle facing Peach Tree Creek; the
left rested near PAGES Ferry road and
the right covered Atlanta. / was in
formed on the 10th that Thomas was
building bridges across Peach Tree
Creek: that Mcpherson and Schofield
were we'll over toward, and even on,
the Georgia Railroad, near Decatur. i
perceived at once that the Federal COM
mander had committed serious blum
der in separating his corps or armies
by such distance as to allow me to con-
centrate the main body OF our army
upon his right wing, whilst his left was
so far removed as to be incapable OF
rendering timely assistance. Gen. Sher-
mans violation of the established max
i'm that an army should always be held
within easy supporting distance, af-
forded one of the most favorable occa-
siOnS for complete victory which could
have been offered, especially as 1T pre-
scented an opportunity. after crushing
his right wing, to throw our entire
force upon his left. In fact, such
blunder affords a small army the best,
if not the sole, chance OF success when
contending with a vastly superior force.
Line Of battle having been formed,
Stewards Corps was in position on the
left, Hardee's in the center. and Cheat
hams on the right. Orders were given
to Gems. Hardee and Stewart to OBJ
serve closely and report promptly the
progress Of Thomas in the construction
of bridges across Peach Tree Creek and
the passage of troops. Gen. Cheatham
was directed to reconnoiter in front OF
his left; TO erect, upon that part Of his
line, batteries 50 disposed as to COM
mand the entire space between his LETT
and Peach Tree Creek, in order to
completely isolate McPhersOn's and
Schofield's forces from those of Thorn
as, and, finally. to thoroughly intrench
his line. This object accomplished. and
Thomas having partially crossed the
creek and made a Judgment on the east
side within the pocket formed by
Peach Tree Creek and the Chatta-
hoochee River, I determined to attack
him with two cOrps-Hardee's and
Stewards, which constituted the main
body Of the. Confederate army-and
thus, If possible, crush Sherman's right
wing, az we drove it into the narrow
space between the creek and the river.
Maj.-Gen. C. w. Smiths Georgia
State troops were posted on the right
Of Cheatham, and it was impossible for
Schofeld or Mcpherson to assist Thorn
as without recrossing Peach Tree Creek
In the vicinity OF Decatur. and making
on the west side a detour which neces-
STATED march OF not less than 10 or
IL miles,, In order to reach Thomass
bridges across this creek. L Immediate
~ assembled the three corps command
ers. Hardee. Stewart and Cheatham. to-
gether with Maf-Gen. G. w. Smith,
commanding Georgia State troops. for
the purpose Of Swing orders for battle
on the following day, the goth Of July.
Hos1eA Plans.
here quote from my official report
written soon afte1. these events:
ION the morning OF the 18th the
dispositions of the enemy were sub
stantially as follows: The Army Of the
Cumberland. under Thomas. was in the
act Of crossing Peach Tree Creek. This
creek; forming 4aOOnsiderable obstacle
to the passage Of IN army, runs In
| northeasterly direction. emptying into
| the Chattahoochee River near the rail-
road CROSSING The Army OF the Ohio.
under dch0field. was also abeHt tOEcross
east Of 1.-THE -.Buckhezd<rDad. The Army
OF the Tennessee, :underta Mcpherson,
was moving on the Georgia Railroad
at Decatur. Finding it impossible i to
| hold Atlanta without giving battle, /
determined to strike the enemy while
attempting to cross this stream. My
troops were disposed as follows: Stew
arts Corps on the left. Hardee's in the
center, and Cheatham's on the right
| intrenched. My object was. to crush
Thomas's army before he could fOrtify
| himself. and then turn upon Schofield
and Mcpherson. To do this Cheatham
was ordered to hold his left on the
creek, In order to separate Thomas's
army from the forces on his (Thom-