The National tribune., 1909-02-04

were close unnn fhe Confederate Gem
erafs heels. With $4,000 splendid VET
Grams Of tie Army Of the Tennessee,
McPherson could have held Johnston
off until The mighty Army OF the Cnm-
heriand had poured down upon MIN
thru Mill, Creek Gap. If he had done
this, Sherman felt confident OF eaptur-
ing at least half of Johnston's army;
fwith all his wagons and artillery. sun
fSherman admitted to MePherson that
the latter wass justified by his orders
in doing what he did, and the next DAY
Sherman wrote him the following let
Headquarters Military Division OF the
Mississippi, in the Field. Tunnel
| Hill, Ca, May II, 1s64-morning.
"Maj. Mcpherson, Commanding
| Army Of the Tennessee. Sugar VAL
| ley, Ga.
General: I received by courier Gin
the mighty yours Of and $3.50 p. m
of yesterday
| "You now have your $4,000 men,
and Gen. Hooker is in close support,
so that you can hold all of Jos. john
ston's army in check should he aban-
don Dalton. He canot afford to aban-
don Dalton. for he has fixed it up on
purpose to receive us, and ne observes
| that we are close at hand, waiting for
him to quit He cannot afford de-
tachment strong enough to fight you,
as his army will not admit Of 1t.
| Strengthen your position: fight any
thing that comes, and threaten the
safety of the railroad all the time. But.
| to tell the truth, would rather the
enemy would stay in Dalton two more
days. when he may find in his rear
larger party than he expects in an open
field. At all events we can then choose
our own ground, and he will be forced
to move out of his works do not in
| tend to put a column into Buzzard's
Roost Gap at present.
"See that you are in easy communi-
cation with me and with all headquar-
ters. After to-day the supplies will be
at Ringgold. Yours,
| "W T. Sherman, Major-General Com
| manding."
headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field, Tunnel
Hill, Ca. May IL, 1864-morning.
| Gen. Mcpherson. Sugar Valley.
| General: The indications are that
Johnston is evacuating Dalton. In that
event Howard's Corps and the cavalry
Will pursue; all the rest will follow
your route. I will be down early in
the morning
| 'Try to strike him II possible about
the forks Of the road. Hooker must
be with you now. and you may send
Gen. Gerard by Summerville to threat
| en- Rome and that flank. I will cause
all the lines to be felt at once
"W. T. Sherman, Major-General Com
manding."
On the Extreme Left.
Gen. John Newton, commanding the
Second Division OF the Fourth Corps,
makes this report of the operations on
the extreme left:
Sunday, May 8, Harker's Brigade
| was ordered to ascend to the northern
extremity of Rocky Face Ridge, the
125th Ohio (Co1 O2dycks) clearing the
way as skirmishers, which, being effec-
| tually done. the whole brigade ascend
ed to the summit. The summit was
sharp ridge, never wider than the room
occupied by four men abreast, and
oftentimes So narrow and obstructed
| by boulders that men in single file
could with difficulty climb over the OBJ
stacies. The enemy. protected by nat
| ural and artificial fmpediments, stead
| lily resisted the advance OF the brigade
until dark Gen. Harksr gaining about
three-quarters Of q mile of the crest.
At night one piece Of Battery NJ, 1st
III. Art. was moved on the ridge. ready
to open on the elemy's rock barricades
in the incoming. Gen. Schofeld having
arrived on the ground meantime. one
brigade Of his army was moved on the
crest, and took its place in Gen. Hark-
er's rear. May 9, Schofield having with
drawn his troops from the ridge to
make a demonstration with his whole
corps In the valley on the east side
division was pushed to the top Of Rocky
Face Ridge. forming Immediately be-
hind Gen. Harker. Gen. Harker opened
with his piece Of artillery at daybreak
and charged the enemy. driving them
i gallantly until they found shelter be-
hind their main line of works on the
top OF the ridge. The whole extent of
the ridge occupied by US amounted to
about one and three-quarters miles
From the ground thus gained the lines
OF the enemy on the east of Rocky
Face could be distinctly seen. Their
position was good and well fortified,
running of at right angles with the
Schofield, having driven the enemy's
skirmishers into their works in the
valley, It was arranged that he should
then attack while attacked The enc
my's works on the eastern slope of the
ridge and On the top, Gen Wagner's
Brigade being displayed on the eastern
slope for this purpose. Gen. Harker,
on the top of the ridge. was not to at.
tack till an impression had been made
by the other columns. Gen. Wagner,
in advancing, found his further prog
| ress impeded by an impossible ravine,
on the opposite OF which the enemy
had a line Of intrenchments, receiving
a heavy fire from the enemy in the
meantime. The leading regiment Of
IGen. Harker's Brigade, without waiting
for the partial success of the other at
tacks, prematurely advanced, and the
column naturally followed. They car
ried the work Immediately In front Of
| them with heavy loss, marching~b
the flank. but found themselves con-
| fronted by another and stronger work
on an eminence commanding the one
they had taken. They held this posi-
ton for some time, but further progress
being impossible. fell back somewhat
retaining about 100 yards of the ground
they had gained. Col. McIIvain, 64.h
Ohio, was killed in this charge: Col.
Buckner, 18th Ill, and Lieut.-CoI. Bull
lit, Sd KY, wounded, and the names
of many other brave officers and mon
close the list of casualties ON this day
This days operations demonstrated the
enemy's position on the slope and crest
of the ridge to be impregnable. Gen.
4 Harker and the officers and man of hfs
brigade highly distinguished themselves
for gallantry and good conduct"
Gen. HowardPs Account.
In Battles and Leaders.' Gen. O. O.
Howard. commanding the Fourth Corps
gives a vivid picture of the scene as u
presented itself ITO him:
"Early in the day, May Z. the Fourth
Corps, arranged for battle, was near a
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