The National tribune., 1906-04-05

1 Gen. Hood then restated the reasons
and said that Gen. Polk could not hold
his line an hour. Nor could he (Hood)
hold his two hours If attacked in the
morning. Lieut.-Gen. Polk again ex-
plained the facts as existed in refer
ence to his line, and stated his will
| ingness to assume the offensive at any
time, then or in the morning, rather
than to await the attack of the enemy
in his (Polk's) present position. Upon
these points Lieut.-Gens. Polk and
Hood entirely agreed, urging the offen-
siVe rather than await the enemy.
Orders to Retreat.
"Lieut.-Gen. Hardee made but few,
IL any, remarks that | heard. After a
Few moments Gen. Johnston gave the
orders for the armies to move to the
south side of the Etowah. Lieut.. Gen.
Polk called to his A. A. General to
issue orders to his division command
ers. This was about 1880 or IL o'clock
The orders to Maj.-Gen. Loring,
Army of Mississippi, were given me to
deliver; also one to him to order to re-
port TO me an officer with 800 men to
occupy the exposed part of Maj. Gen
French's line, as soon as his command
was withdrawn.
Il was instructed by Gen. Polk to
place this detail along that part of the
line, and keep up such fires as would
indicate the presence of the Withdrawn
command, and to cut timber and drive
stakes to indicate that works were be-
ing thrown up, and to remain there
until daylight and observe the move
ments of the enemy before leaving. 1
went at once to Gen. Loring's head
quarters on the left of the CaSSyille
road, saw that General, and delivered
the orders; obtained the officer and de-
tail, and arrived at Gen. French's line
al...tU 10 ~,
command ready TO move; by IL o'clock
(midnighD they had withdrawn and
the detail was posted with a few men
out in front. 1t was q calm, clear,
starlight night. and the position of the
enemy upon the opposite ridge was
clearly seen, without their fires, which
could be traced along their line and
the cutting of timber could be distinct
ly heard and located. In addition to
the enemy's location upon the crest of
the ridge, and passing there or Just in
front of the town of CasSville and on
to the southwest, there were also strong
indications of an advance line upon the
plane nearer to the foot of the ridge
occupied by us, and their chopping and
driving rails was very distinct, and
their voices occasionally could be
heard.
1.-THE work of the detail was kept up
through the night. At daylight 1 In
structed the officer to assemble his men
TO the rear. During this time of pre-
pairing to leave the line I closely OBJ
served the enemy and his positions
through very strong field glass. II
found that many of their batteries
along the ridge had been advanced,
and their principal and somewhat in
trenched line appeared to leave the
ridge at point about a mile cast of
Cassville, and passing TO the southwest
fully half mile in front us their lines
of the previous afternoon. 1t appeared
that the enemy had been aware of the
movement of the Confederate armies,
and their line advanced during the
night was now vacated, and there were
trains and artillery moving to the west
upon the Kingston road and solid bod
les of infantry were moving in the same
direction.
''The detail having been assembled,
/ placed them upon by-road to Cass-
Vile Station on the main road tc Car
tersville. instructed the officer to |
proceed to the south side of the Eto> |
wah River by way of the Cartersville |
bridge, and to report back to his divi-
sion commander. I passed on to cross |
the river at the same point, arriving |
there about 1880 o'clock, and found |
the Army of the Mississippi nearly over
to the south side, which was completed |
by noon.
Very truly yours.
Walter j. Morris, Late Captain, Engi- |
neer Corps. G. s. A.; Chief Engineer, |
Army Of Mississippi.
IN. B.-Inclosed herewith you Will |
find q map made by me from my notes |
taken at the time Of reconnaissance.
yours, ETC., w. ]. NJ"
(To be continusd.)