Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-02-21
CAMP FIRE Re,
MISTAKE BY GEN. SLOVENIAN
Failed 20 Follow instructions from
GEN. Sherman Regarding Heiease
of AndersonvIIie Prisoners.

Some time since some one asker
the question why Gen. Sherman az
err he captured Atlanta, did not senu =
force and release the prisoners at
Macon and Andersonville- Your an
swer was that Hoods army was De-
tween Atlanta and Macon. a very
potent reason. About the LIST OF aug
ust. 1864. the prisoners at those two
places could have been released nad
specific and mandatory orders peer.
obeyed, writes Alexander EscKei OF
Knoxville, Tenn, in the National
Tribune.
In July, 1864, Gen. Sherman plan
ned two expeditions. which, mad tney
been carried out according to the orig
inal plan, would have accomplished
that much desired object. he Oh
rected Gen. Stoneman to take ABOUT
1000 cavalry and move from Deca-
tur on the left OF Atlanta, his ob1ec-
tive being Lovejoy Station. on the
Georgia Central railroad AZ Ine
same time he directed Gen. McCcoK
to take his division of calavry and
Col. Harrison's brigade and move
from Palmetto, station on the AT
lanta & West Point railroad, his OBJ
1ective also being Lovejoy, where ne
was to meet Gen. Stoneman. his
force numbered about $500 cavalry.
Col. Harrison's cavalry was 10 Do
taken as q reserve, as he had just re-
turned from very successful raid
where they had destroyed about 80
miles of the Montgomery &c West
Point railroad
Gen Sherman had called both
Gems. Stoneman and McCook to his
headquarters, and had given them
personal instructions what he expect
ed Of each of them. Before leaving
the headquarters Gen. Stoneman re-
quested Of Gen. Sherman the privi-
lege Of going to Macon and Anderson
Wills and releasing the prisoners. Re
iuctantly he had granted his request,
but it was with the express under
standing and instructions that he was
first to form junction with Gen. Nc
Cook at Lovejoy; then. If the thought
tempt
Both moved simultaneously from
the points designated on July 27 On
the morning Of the 2Sth Gen. McCook
reached Lovejoy, where he found
considerable force Of Wheeler's cav
airy interposed between him and the
direction In which he was to expect
Gen. Stoneman. He proceeded to de-
stroy the railroad and telegraph wires
as directed, alternately fighting
Wheeler and doing his work Of de-
struction. Here he fought, worked
and waited until about three o'clock.
Gen. SLOVENIAN, instead Of going to
Lovejoy. marched straight for Macon.
and did not go within 20 niles OF
Loyejoy, and left Gen McCook to
take care of himself. He succeeded
in getting within few miles Of Ma
con, where he met a superior force
and was forced to surrender. Part OF
his force seeing the futility OF hfa
movement refused to go further, and
turned back and fought their way
through, but with considerable loss.
Gen. McCook, deeming it unwise to
wait any longer for Gen. SLOVENIAN,
started to return to his position In
the line Of investment of Atlanta. as
directed. He succeeded In reaching
his lines after loss Of about 500 OF
his men.
Had Stoneman Joined McCook as
ordered, their combined forces would
have amounted to about 10000 vet
eran cavalry, and Gen. Stoneman.
ranking officer, would have, been In
command. With this force he could
have overwhelmed Wheeler and swept
down both railroads and taken both
Macon and Andersonville and re-
leased the prisoners. Had he done
this, he would have saved thousands
OF brave men from untimely graves