The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-31


 eight or nine miles. as Johnston's sn- was wooded land through which troops might move.
 General Johnston had already discov- cred that General sherman marched his army considerably scattered, which proved in later weeks to bs hts habit Johnston. therefore, halted at Cassyille ordered Wheeler to hang upon the front of the advancing columns of the enemy to report whether they fol- lowed on both of the wagon roads. Wheeler soon informed the General of the army that both roads were oc- cupied by the advancing enemy. Learn ing this. Hardee was placed ct Kings ton, where one of the roads touched the railroad. Polk was placed In the woods between the two roads and Hood on the other or most northeriy road. Everything promised well. the day was fair. the troops In hne fettle. John following spirited battle order was read to the regiments and the General Commanding mounted:
 sHeadquarters Army of Tennessee,
 .Cassvfile. May 19. 1864.
 "SoldIers of the Army of Tennessee: You have displayed the highest ouaii- ties of the soldier--firmness in combat, patience under toll.
 .By your courage and skill you have repelled every assault of the enemy. By marches by day and by marches by night, you have defeated every attempt on your communications.
 < Your communications are secure. You will now turn and march to meet his advancing columns. Fully connd- ing in the. conduct of the officers. the courage of the soldiers. I will lead you to battle.
 we may confidently trust that the Almighty Father win still reward the patriots tolls and bless the patriots banners. cheered/by the success of your brothers in Virginia, and beyond tue Mississippi our efforts will equal theirs. Strengthened by this support. those efforts will be crowned with like gfories. ]. D. Johnston,
 General"
 This is about the length of Napo- Icons battle order at Waterloo. and 1t Is quite as eloquent.
 s French's division from Demopolis had joined Polk ct Calhoun. and Jackson's Cavalry now joined him II was here that General Polk. also Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana. received e letter from Mrs. Johnston In Allan ia, requesting him to bapsise the Gen- eral of the Army, her husband, and rite was administered. Before leaving Dalton, Lieutenant-Generai Hood had requested General Polk to baptize him. and the rite was administered about o'clock in the morning.
 But there was no battle. As Hood marched in battle order, he was de- ceiusd by the appearance of some of the enemy's troops on his right flank. lie halted until he could report to the Commanding General. The General. believing the delay fatal to his plan, withdrew all the corps and marched beyond CassvIlle. That same after- noon he selected & place for receiving Sherman's attack the next morning. It was a long wooded ridga and In front an open field through which the enemy must advance. All troops were posted, Hardee on the left next the railroad, Polk in the center and Hood on the right. The General was very Iconfident. remarking to some of his officers that the Confectionery was now as secure as any nation of Europe.
 When General Johnston reached his tent about dark, he found a message from General Polk inviting him to sup- per at his quarters. He did not go immediately but later walked to Folks quarters in a little house. Hood was thefe. At supper Gneral Polk assured General Johnston his position In line Of battle was enfiladed or eoull be from a hill a mile on, and could not [ be held an hour. Hood agreed to this. Johnston objected. saying traverses could be constructed and the whole line held. Hardee came | up and was astonislred to hear objections to. the battle for the next day. Polk and Hood per- sisted, that the battle would be, c I failure. General Johnston then sent hasty orders to his stan to come to hin mounted. The army was put In mo- ton that night and the day fol)owiug all crossed the Etowaf Sherman says hts pickets advanced the next morn 1 ing across the field and searched the hilltop but could see no sign of John stons army. This was surely a re- markabie instance of successful hand ling of an army of more than 50,00o- l withdrawing it from the immediate presence of a foe. double its numbers ] who had planned to sattack in less | than six hours In the Alabama De- 1 t,artmentN of Art and History there is | 4 copy of "Johnston's Narrative" tAal came from tho library of the late J L. M. Curry. Curry was at the time of this event on Johnstonls staR. He
 made a pencil marginal note on ths | leaf of the volume and signed It wirp his initials saying that the generai fs. marked to him after they had crossed | inc Etowah that he had made a great mistake in yielding to Polk and Hood tRat the position he had chosen fca Aho batkIa yyaa the most favorable hs