The National tribune., 1906-04-12
HOOD SUPERSEDES JOHNSTON IN
COMMAND OF THE ARMY


COMMAND OF THE ARMY.
ationS at Cassviile and New Hope
Church-Wanted Johnston to Retain
Commapd-Diferenccs Between East
ern and Western Armies.
Gen. Johnston, touching the opera
tions 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. Polk's Corps was transferred to
the right of Hoods The
Federal troops extended their in
frenched lines SO rapidly to their left
that it was found necessary in the morn
ing of the 27th to transfer Cleburne's
Division of Hardee's Corps TO our right,
where it was formed on the prolonga-
tion of Poik's line. Kelly's Cavalry,
composed of Aliens and lannon's Ala
bama Brigades. together less than 1000
men, occupied the interval of half
mile between Cleburne's right and Lit
tie Pumpkinvine Creek. Be-
tween 5 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, Granberrys. to Kellys
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 vigor, re-
ceiving their close and accurate fire
with the fortitude always exhibited by
of this campaign. The con-
test of the main body of the Fourth
Corps with Granberry's Brigade was a
very fierce one. They Cthe
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 a contribution to the
historian, when he commits the un-
pardonable error of placing Polk's
Corps during the whole of this affair
near New Hope Church in the identi-
cal position occupied by my corps.
1 was not only on the right, where
he places Polk, but sent to him for a
good division, with the message that
Howard's 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
sible. He sent Cleburne's Division to
report to me. Gen. Cleburne was CIV
en- by me most explicit instructions in
regard to the formation of his forces
on the right of my corps. He was di-
rected to place his troops in column
of brigades, in the rear of my imme-
diate right, which was the right OF
Hindman's Division, with Granberry's
Brigade in rear Of tie 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 Howard's Corps advanced.
Cleburne was directed TO deploy quick
ly into line; the Federals thus came in
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.
1 shall ever remember the enthu-
Eiasm 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
tions 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 ii conflicts with
Gen. Johnston's own Narrative. is un-
accountably inserted by him on pages
bS5 and $50:
"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-
Eition on my right, the enemy con-
iinuing TO extend his left. Maj-Gen.
Cleburne, with his division, was Or
dered 10 report 10 me, and was massed
On Hindman's right. On the morning
of the 27th, the enemy known 10 be
extending rapidly 10 the left, attempt
ing to turn my right as they extended.
Cleburne was deployed TO meet them.
and, at $50 p, M, very stubborn
attack was made on his division, eX-
tending to the right, where Mai.-Gen.
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 gallantly repulsed.
About 10 o'clock at night, Brig. Gen.
Cranberry. with his brigade of Texans,
made a dashing charge on the enemy,
driving them from the field, their killed
hnd wounded being left In our hands.
During this engagement 200 or 900