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

HOOD SUPERSEDES JOHNSTON IN
COMMAND OF THE ARMY.


COMMAND OF THE ARMY.
atiOns at Cassville and New Hope
Church-Wanted Johnston to Retain
COmmnnd-Dinerences Between East
ern and Western Armies.
Gen. Johnston. touching the opera
lions of his army near New Hope
Church, says:
I'VE found, next morning, that the
Federal line extended much farther to
our right that it had done the day be-
fore. Folks Corps was transferred to
the right of Hoods. The
Federal troops extended their in
trenched lines so rapidly to their left
that 1t was found necessary in the MORN
Ing of the 9th to transfer Cleburne's
Division of Hardees Corps to our right,
where it was formed on the prolonga-
ton of Folks line. Kelly's Cavalry.
composed of Aliens and lannon's Ala
bama Brigades. together less than 1000
men, occupied the interval of half q
mile between Cleburne's right and Lit
tie Pumpkinvine Creek. Be-
tween and o'clock in the afternoon
Kelly's skirmishers were driven in by
a body of Federal cavalry, whose ad-
vance was supported by the Fourth
Corps. AS soon as the noise
of this contest revealed to Maj.-Gen.
Cleburne the maneuver to turn his
right he brought the right brigade of
his second line, Granberry's, to Kelly's
support. by forming it on the right of
his first line. The Fourth
Corps came on in deep order, and as
sailed the Texans with great yigor, re-
ceiving their close and accurate fire
with the fortitude always exhibited by
Gen. Shermans troops in the actions
of this campaign. The con-
test of the main body of the Fourth
Corps with Granberry's Brigade was a
very fierce one. They the
enemy left hundreds Of corpses within
90 PAGES of the Confederate lines"
1t is strange the author of this Mar
rative should offer the above, and, in
fact, nearly all he has written on pages
32S-29-3O-31 as contribution to the
historian, when he commits the un-
pardonable error of placing Folks
Corps during the whole of this affair
near New Hope Church I'm the identi-
cal position occupied by my corps.
/ was not only on the right, where
he places Polk, but sent to him for a
good division, with the message that
Towards Corps was moving rapidly
to turn my right flank, which was the
right Of the infantry Of our army; that
had extended my lines as far as pos
sib1e. He sent Cleburne's Division to
report to me. Gen. Cleburne was CIV
en- by me most explicit instructions i'm
regard to the formation of his forces
on the right of my corps. He was di-
rected to place his troops in a column
of brigades, in the rear of my imme-
date right, which was the right OF
Hindmans Division, with Granberry's
Brigade in rear Of the column, so as to
bring Ii on our extreme right when
deployed into line; he was also in
structed to allow the Federal cavalry
to recOnnoiter and find our right. SINH
lar orders were given to our own cav
airy. AS Towards Corps advanced.
Cleburne was directed to deploy quick
ly into line: the Federals thus came I'm
contact with a solid line of infantry,
In lieu of finding the open space on our
flank, which existed at the time Of the
reconnaissance of the Federal cavalry.
/ shall ever remember the enthu-
siasm and transport of the gallant Gle
burne at the time of this though small
engagement. yet most brilliant affair
OF the whole campaign.
Gen. Hoods Account.
The proof of the correctness OF my
statement respecting the above opera
tons will be found in the following ex-
tract from a short report. written at
my dictation by young officer of my
staff, and which. as il conflicts with
Gen. Johnston's own Narrative, is un-
accountably inserted by him on pages
SIS and $685.
"On the morning OF the 26th, the
enemy found to be extending their
left. Hindman's Division was with
drawn from my left and placed in po-
sition on my right, the enemy con-
finuing to extend his left. Maj.-Gen.
Cleburne, with his division, was Or
dered TO report TO me, and was assed
On Hindman's right. On the morning
of the 9th, the enemy known to be
extending rapidly TO the left. attempt
Ing to turn my right as they extended.
Cleburne was deployed to meet them,
and, at $3.50 p. M, a very stubborn
attack was made on his division, ex-
tending TO the right, where Mai. Cen
Wheeler, with his cavalry. dismounted,
was engaging them. The assault was
continued with great determination
upon both Cleburne and Wheeler until
after night, but every attempt to break
their lines was CALAMITY repulsed.
About 10 o'clock at night, Brig. Gen
Cranberry, with his brigade OF Texans
made dashing charge on the enemy
driving them from the field, their killed
and wounded being left I'm our hands
During this engagement 200 or 800