The National tribune., 1909-07-29
Headquarters Second Brigade,
Third Division. Fifteenth Corps


Third Division. Fifteenth Corps.
"Resaca, Oct. u. 1864.
"T'o Gen. J. B. Hood: Your communica-
tion of this date received. In reply,
have to state that ! am somewhat sur
prised at the concluding paragraph. to
the effect that. if the place is carried by
assault, no prisoners will be taken. In
my opinion l can hold this post. If you
want it, come and take it.
Il am, General, very respectfully, your
most obedient servant,
CLARK r. Viewer, Commanding Officer"
Gen. Hood contented himself with tear
ing up the railroad at Resaca and Tunnel
Hill and receiving the surrender of the
garrison of 1000 colorej troops at Dali
ton. Thence he took his army thru the
fgaps between Yillanow and into the val
ley south of Lafayette and not great
| ways from the. old battlefield of Chicka-
| mauga.
Hood Wants to Fight.
Hood says that he was determined to
! draw his army together in this valley and
offer Sherman battle. Sherman had pur-
sued him as far as Snake Creek Gap.
| with force that Hood estimated at
65,000. Hood says that he had now the
Blue Mountain Railroad in his rear. which
would afford him supplies, and he
| thought he had discovered in his troops
| justify him in delivering battle. He called
his officers together to lay this matter
before them, but to his bitter disappoint-
+, ment he found that their opinion was
unanimous that. altho the army bad much
improved in spirit. it was not in condition
to risk battle. Hood says that he remain
ed two days at the crossroads sin seri-
Gus thought and perplexity. I could not
offer battle while the officers were unani-
nous in their opposition. Neither could
l take up an intrenched position without n
likelihood of disadvantageous results"
Therefore Hood decided to swing still fur
ther around thru Northern Alabama ana
strike at Sherman's railroad west of the
range of mountains and in the neighbor-
hood of Shelbyville. Murfreesboro and
Nashville
With Sanguine Hopes.
Hood let his sanguine spirit run away
with him in the pictures which he painted
as the possible results of his manuver.
He says:
Il was imbued with the. belief that |
could accomplish this feat, afterward
march northeast. pass the Cumberland
River at some crossing where the gun
boats, if too formidable at other points.
were unable to interfere, then move into
Kentucky, and take position with our left
at or near Richmond, and our right ex.
tending toward Hazel Green, with Pound
tains in our rear.
''In this position I could threaten Gin
cinnati, and recruit the army from Ken
lucky and Tennessee; the former State
was reported, at this juncture, to be more
aroused and embittered against the Fed
erals than at any other period OF the.
war While Sherman was debating be-
tween the alternative of following our
army or marching thru Georgia, | hoped,
by rapid movements, to achieve these re-
suits.
"If Sherman should cut loose and move
south-as 1 then believed he would do
after l left his front without previously
! worsting him in battle-I would occupy
at Richmond. Ky, a position of superior
advantage, as Sherman. upon his arrival
at The seacoast. would be forced to go on
board ship, and after long detour by
water and land. repair to the defense of
Kentucky and Ohio or march direct to the
support of Grant. IL he should return to
confront my forces, or follow me directly
from Georgia into Tennessee and Ken
lucky, hoped then to be in condition to