The National tribune., 1906-06-07
"RichmofId, March 10, 1865.

"Richmoifd, March 10, 1868.
Gen. Hood: You ask to what extent
your army was strengthened at Atlanta
by the return ofqdetailed men, and by
dismounted cavalry ordered to you by
Gen. Bragg. l Have the honor to state
that so far as the detailed men are
concerned, il was found necessary 20
return them to the arsenals and shops
in rear, and that fney were, as / be-
lieve, all so returHed before the eyacua-
ton of Atlanta. ~ sHoddy's Cavalry, upon
the very day reached Atlanta. was
ordered back to AIabama Gholsen's
Brigade remained at Atlanta until its
evacuation. 1t was. however. very
smali-not numbering more than ESQ
men, and was in most miserable condi-
ton; so that the reinforcements, in
truth. amounted te acthing.
II have the honor to be very respect
fully, etc,
"F. A. Shoupe. Brigadler-General and
Chief-of-Staff at Atlanta"
Although the number of killed ard
wounded in the Army of Tennessee
proper during the siege amounted to
1909. the actual loss was 9,124, thus
proving that nearly 5000 wounded re-
turned to the ranks.
/ shall now sum up the loss of the
enemy during that same period.
Sherman's Losses.
Cen Sherman reports his loss in kill
ed. wounded and missing around Allan
ia during July, August and September
to have been 1908. His actual loss
during the siege must assuredIy have
been il excess of this number. In ac
cordance with his recapitulation he had
on the 1st of July an army of 106.070;
on the 1st of August, 91,675; and oil
the 1st of September, S1,75S, demon
strating an actual loss OF 24,312 men
within two months. This number, less
the troops discharged or permanently
detached, must be the real loss he sus-
tained. have not been able to CLEAN
from his statements the decrease of his
army from this latter source. / find.
however, the following recorded in
Shoupe's Diary on the 18th of August:
"Enemy's pickets called to ours, and
stated that Kentucky division, 2,200
strong, was going out of service, and
that neither Old Abe nor Uncle Jeff
would get them in service again."
Taking his own statements as a basis
of calculation, and assuming the COR
rectness of the report by the picket rel
ative to the discharge of 1920 Kentuck-
ians 13 days prior to the fall of Allan
ia, his actual losses (provided ne did not
during the siege receive reinforcements,
of which I can find no mention in his
ntHlOiTSJs pIoNC " nave DccH Ef,ol q,
plus 1902 killed and wounded early III
minus 2,200 discharged;
showing an actual loss OF z4,914 effec-
tives against my loss of 9.124. although
every aggressive movement of impor-
tance was initiated by the Confederates.
On the other hand, and according to
my opponents statement, Gen. Sher-
man had, after Blair's Corps joined him
near Rome, a force of 112,S19 effectivesl
to oppose Gen. Johnston. and at the \
close of his victorious march from Dali
ton to Atlanta 10B,0T0 effectives, which,
subtracted from thestotaI number, 49,,
s1s, in the field, at Ytie beginning of the |
demonstrates an actual loss
Of only 6,749. agaihst Gen. Johnston'sl
loss of $4,000 men,
This comparison Of losses under OPP
posite modes of handling troops evinces
the truth of the 1pEihciple for which ]
that loSses are always com
drives before 1.-THE enemy day after
day. as in the itstance of the Federal
army during the Dalton Atlanta cam
paign; or in an army which holds It's
ground, as in the instance of the siege
Of Atlanta when, thel Federal loss was
greatly in excess, of our own. by reason
Of the enthusiasm and self-reliance of
the Northern troops having. In the sud
den check given to their sweepingl
career of victory, been somewhat coun-i
teracted by depression, consequent de-
sertion and the tardy return of alb
sentees.
(To be continued.)