The National tribune., 1909-07-29
HCitv po,n. = Nov. /. 1854: G n m.

II advisable, rsoM that Hood has gone so
far north, to entirely ruin, him before
sSlarting on yanr proposed campaign:
uhan, m,an Hoods army destr?yea. you can hs. so
iieyed and still believe. if you started
south while Hood was in the neighborhood
of you. he would have been forced to go
after yoif. Now that he is far away he
might look upon the chase as useless, ana
he will go in one direction while you are
pushing lin the other. If you can see q
chance Of destroying Hoods army, attend
'U.tiS. Grant, Lieutenant-General."
Sherman replied to this as follows:
sRome, Ga, Nov. 2, 1864.
s'Lieut.- u. s. Grant, City Point.
Va: Your dispatch is received. If | could
hope to overhaul Hood. would turn
against him with my whole force; then he
would retreat to the southwest, drawing
me as decoy away from Georgia, which
is his chief object. If he ventures north
of the Tennessee River, l may turn in
that direction, and endeavor to get be-
low him on his line of retreat, but thus
far he has not gone above the Tennessee
River. Gen. Thomas will have a force
strong enough to prevent his reaching any
country in which we have an interest: and
he has orders. if Hood turns to follow me,
to push for Seim:;, Ala. No single army
can catch Hood. and I am convinced the
best results will follow from our defeat
ing jeff. Davis's cherished plan of making
me leave Georgia by manuyering. Thus
far / have confined my efforts to thwart
this plaE, and have reduced baggage so
that l can pick up and start in any direc-
ton: but l regard the pursuit of Hood
as useless. Still. if he attempts to invade
Middle Tennessee, ! will hold Decatur.
and be prepared to move in that direction ::
but, unless let 60 of Atlanta, my force
will not be equal 10 his.
"W. T. Sherman. Major General"
Later he sent the following:
Kingston, Ga, Nov. 2, 1864
"Lieut.-Gen. U. S. Grant. City Point, Va:
"If turn back the whole effect of my
will be lost. BY my movements
have thrown Beauregard (Hood) wen to
the west, and Thomas will have ample
time and sufficient troops to hold him until
the reinforcements from Missouri reach
him. We have now ample supplies at
Chattanooga and Atlanta and can stand
a months interruption to our communica
tions. i do not believe the Confederate
army can reach our railroad lines by
cavalry raids. anI Wilson will have cav
10 IUeui.
clearly of opinion that the best results
will follow my contemplated movement
thru Georgia
''W. T. Sherman, Major-General."
In response to his dispatch from Rome
Gen. Grant answered as follows. giving
him the required permission:
"City Point. Va, Nov. 2, 1864; II 80
a. m.
"aIaj-Gen. Sherman: Your dispatch of
0 a. IN. yesterday is just received. I dis
patched you the same date, advising that
Hoods army. now that il had worked 80
far north ought to be looked upon now as
the object. With the force. however,
that yog ,haYeeleft with Gen. Thomas. he
must beg9bler TO take care of Hood and
destroy him. ylc
II d0a not see that you can withdraw
from where yoH are to follow Hood. with
out giving uprall we have gained in ter
ritory. sav. then go on as you propose.
"U.nS. Grant, Lieutenant-General.'
The Termination of the Campaign.
The Atlanta campaign terminated with
Sherman's decision to follow Hood no fur
ther back, butt intrust his defeat to
Thomas, who would endeavor TO hold "the
line of the Temessee" against him.
The Atlanta Campaign then passed into
history nas onsof the most magnificent IL
iustratiens of Ithe highest military skill
in the annals of the world. 1t is some
thing uhiqueSaand unprecedented in the
yeluminous annals of great wars. No
great commander ever had before him
task abounding in more gigantic diff
cuities, and none of the great captains of
history ever surmounted these with more
skill. Sherman's army of 100,-
600 effective soldiers was a far larger ac-
tive force than usually seen in great wars
of Europe. 1t was rare that even Napol-
con, with his colossal armies, ever moved
in the active field of operation as great
force as 100000 men. and Napoleon never
had the difficulties of nature to contend
with that Sherman encountered. While il
is true that Napoleon made a phenomenal
feat in the crossing of the Alps in his first
against Italy. yet he did this
with small, easily handled force. and he
had all the benefits of surprise. When
he got across the Alps he descended into
fertile country abounding in supplies for
his men, and he had no need to look out
for his communications. On the othei
hand. Sherman took his great army over
many ranges of difficult mountains where
he was confronted at every step by a
brave, vigiiant skillful enemy, ever ready
TO take advantage Of his slightest mis-
take.
The armies which Napoleon encountered
were far inferior to the magnificent army
Of 10000 men with which Joseph Il.
Johnston battled with Sherman for 100
miles. With such an opponent in front
Of him as the skillful Johnston. handling
10000 such magnificent soldiers as the
Confederate Army of Tennessee, Napol-
cons battles would have turned out far
from what they did
What will attract the historical student
Of the future. is the brilliant perfection of
the manuvering on both sides during the
100 days of desperate wrestling in the
and in the wilderness. No
other great campaign in history presents
rs few mistakes on either side Both
Sherman and Johnston were strategists of
the hioheSt order. and it is rare that their
equals can be found among the greatest
captains OF time. Each fenced with the
highest skill 10 find an opening in the
others afmor and were unsuccessful.
Sherman handled mis- vast host of 100000
men with the NEST consummate skill and
his long line of communications
with equal ability. With no less skill
Johnston foresaw every move of his ad-
versary. and was prepared for him.
Sherman's Superb Soldiers.
A large part Of Sherman's success was
iue to the splendid character of the men
ne commanded. He had 100000 brave,
Intelligent, intensely patriotic and jealous
young Aperieans. These had learned the
-rade OF waTy,to perfection in their pre-
'ious, c9mpalgps and every one of them
vas keenly, aliye to comprehend and carry
Dut tie Generafs plans Their adversary.
Joseph Ef Jolnaston. gives them the highest
,redit f9f tins. He says that, according to