The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-20
THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
NuMBER TEN

theless did send Efardee with some troops against Johnstonss warmest protest Hardees arrived at Demopo- lis iu advance Of his troops sent out through the plantations for farm wa- gons and mules and collected a great number. Those of his troops delayed at Montgomery were turned back and those arrived were hurried back to Dalton when news of 6mtth's defeat by Forrest reached him.
 In the same month of February General Hafdee already had come totho vicinity of Demopoiis on quite a differ. ent Taissfofi.S In the previous time. he carried back to the army as his bride, Miss Mary F. Lewis, of -Risak House" young heiress to many slaves ana wide acres. The wedding brought Gen erai Pat cieburne, Generai E. C. Deas, and other soldiers from the two great armies for respite from hazards, to which some of them soon fell victims.
 This victory of Forrest was most de- clsiye. IL was not only q characteristic and glorious feat of the Aeld for him. but 1t prolonged the life of the Confed- eracy and gave the government the chance to preserve the confederacy for ever. Had Forrest failed to overtake and destroy sleight's raid the year be- fore, the Army of Tennessee at Tuila- horna must have been placed tn jeop- ardy. Had Forrest failed now in Mis- sissippi. there could have been no ea- cape of General Johnston from speedy destruction from Che rear.
 When Grant took command in Vir- ginia, he immediately recalled Sherman from Mississippi to take the command at chattanooga. with orders to prepare for a concerted forward movement at once, of the three great armies of the United States In the neid. The Army of the Potomac would move against Lee. the consolidated army under Sher- man would move against Johnston, and the army under Banks in Nprthern Louiaiana would move against Kirby Smith at Shreveport, all on the same day h Nay aS nearly az might De. 1t was te cheefmatc this combination or the invader that General Lee laid be- fore the President and adivsed him to accept. Lonestreet's plan to render w0t1a three Southern armies in Kentuc- ky, under Johnston, and Invade Ohio.
 sherman arrived at Chattanooga in March, took command and made obser- vationa of Johnston's positions at Dal- ton and the strength of hts army He then made a plan to ssnd McPherson, with about 30,0O0 infantry and several thousand cavalry, to turn the Confed- crate position on the right and move on to Opelika and Montgomery, while Che remainder of the force, then about 10000 strong, he would occupy John- eton at Dalton. Jse abandoned this plan, however, as Polk was yet at De- lnepoIie, Forrest yet in Mississippi, and Maury at Mobile. ready to. con eentrate snd meet McPherson.
 General Sherman finally determined to preserve intact his army. He had it fncfeased to about 1Os.000 men. some 1s.000 of which were, mounted. No negro regiment was with him. His troops were Of the flower of the up- per Mississlppi States, farmers for large part. Grant had most of the me- ggoes and the new Ievies from Euz rope. Sherman spent the month of April in Nashville preparing transport akien on the railroad for hia support as ha moved on toward Atlanta. gushing Johnston ahead of him, as he supposed He estimated that he wouM require 1s0 car loads of supplies every day. He prescribed how much -four, how much hard tack, meat, oats, etc, should be loaded each day. He allowed only one third the army rations to his horses. No oe1eer should carry more than q fly tent ana nc more than prescribed quantity of personal baggage. He finn tied himself as he did his subordinatee The entire machinery of his prepara- tions was constructed with exactness and ability
 General Grant notified Sherman and Banks that the concerted movement must begin on May 4 The order was executed with fdsilty.
 J. ". ID