The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

envy had open to them West Virginia
| whence TO assail the position at Peters,
| burg in the rear from Lynchburg.
1t would be impossible to teach that
| Grant could have preserved his army
| from humiliation by Lee had Lee con-
tinued TO retreat from Cold Harbor
| southwark. Grant had lost more men
than Lees army numbered at the OPEN
ing of the campaign when the day closed
az Cold Harbor.
! 1t Is impossible in recognition of known
| principle of the science of war to teach
that Petersburg was defensibe against
an attacking force of limitless numbers
within half hour of its base.
The amplest proof is open to show that
Lees defense of Petersburg is incon-
sistent with this exhibition OF mis- gem
| ius, irreconcileable with his practice of
war before then and contrary to his ex-
pressed opinions to the government at
| tho time.
General Sherman moved up on John
ston at Delton upon time, under his or
ders. He went upon spur of the noun
| tain, after he had driven Wheeler from
| the outpost about Tennnel Hill, and from
! that elevation he could see such prepara-
| lions by the Confederate commander to
receive him that he desisted. Johnston,
! on May r. sent Wheeler with about
|
had available to force his way into Sher-
mans lines and find out what was going
on there. Wheeler reported the same
! afternoon that he had had some bloody
! fighting, but he had found out that the
enemy was moving the bulk of his force
around to the southwest, through Snake
| Creek gap, to strike Resaca OH the rail-
road fifteen miles In Johnston's rear.
! That night Johnston withdrew from his
! lines at Dalton. He had left Snake
| Creek gap open, but he had built some
excellent roads from Dalton to Resaca
He had measured the road through Snake
| Creek gap he knew the length and
width of 1t, and he knew to an hour how
long 1t would take Sherman to march
! that way
BY the afternoon of May 10 Johnston
had all his army safe behind impregna-
| BILE works at Resaca, waiting for Sher-
man.
| 18th and 18th Sherman did his best to
drive Johnston from Resaca, but in vain
| Polk. Hardee and Wood were his corps
| commanders. The whole army was in
| superb condition and supreme confidence
! in itself. General Johnston was ever
| upon the edge of the battle He was an
| eye witness to some conduct OF Colonel
| Connolly, commanding an Alabama regi-
ment and Colonel Dawson, commanding
a Tennessee regiment
| General Johnston praised them gener-
ously on the spot. The compliment came
well from commander always himself
| at the front.
Sherman fanked again. He had left
Johnston at Dalton he now left him at
| Resaca.
/ We shall not here go into details of
the march. At Cassvllle Johnston was
ahead. There he issued an eloquent bat
! tie order and 1t was read to all the regi-
/ .,fn ~ % 10 AsxI,f DnIlF
to take it up and Hardee next. Hood,
always willing to fight, was here de-
ceived. The order was recalled. This was
May 10.
| That afternoon General Johnston select
| ed a wide plateau In the rear OF Caas-
vile where the three corps were placed
| in line of battle, Hood on the right POLK
| in the center, Hardee on the left. In
front was a beautiful open valley across
! which the enemy must advance to tfe
attack After dark Polk and Hood pro-
tested that the battle should not be
| fought on the plateau. They had discov
cred Sherman's long range guns on emf
nences a mile away. that enfated ther
lines. They could not hold out an hour,
they said. General Johnston did not
agree with this view, but as two OF his
three commanders expressed an unwill-
ingness to fight, the army fell back to the
Etowah at midnight Sherman says he
expected 10 aIIdCk next llIe
! 10Th, but when his skirnishers went out
, to the hill top in front no Confederates
were there.
! Johnston crossed the Etowah on the
railroad bridge and the wagon bridge.
! Wheeler forded and swan tho stream.
f, Sherman crossed some miles below.
| Wheeler recrossed, attacked his wagon
| train and captured and burned 3o0 wag-
| ons.
! Sherman now left tho railroad and
| struck out for Dallas, about twelve miles
, south. Dallas was nearer Atlanta than
| Marietta on the railroad where Johnston
was.
The Confederate commander now moved
| his whole force to intersect Shermans
| line of march. on the afternoon of May
| 25 Stewards division of Hoods corps
| struck the head OF Towards corps at q
| little Methodist church in the woods,
| New Hope" church General Johns on
! was on the ground and the battle was
very sanglinary against the enemy.
| Stewart was assisted by battery OF Six
| teen guns well served. He won great
victory with small loss. General Sher-
| man came up and was SO anxious that
he slept by u log, In the rain, that night
| on the field.
Two days later. the 9th. Cleburne's
division and Kelly's division Of cavalr.
won a great victory at Picketts mill In
the vicinity Of the church
| From May n to June q the two armies
| lay in sight Of each other each moving
yard by yard behind Notifications back
| to the railroad Sherman says Johnston
| had fifty miles Of breastwork and rife
| pits built in the most scientific style.
/ Sherman had no less than the Confeder-
| ate's. He says he seldom saw Con
| fedeTate. but the firing was incessant.
night and day. Lieutenant General POLK
was killed by some of this Irregular
| firing.
Sherman said he had grown tired of
| hearing from his men talk that he would
not fight Johnston except behind works.
| so on June a. after one month In the
woods behind breastworks. and nothing
| to show for the time spent, he ordered
| an assault early In the morning with
his whole force upon Johnston at Ken
nesaw mountain. 1t was magnificent
sight, All day long the enemy marched