The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-21

roe taxing It's thin line in reverse,
| whilst charged in front by overwhelr-
/ Ing numbers, on narrow ridge. with
no room to reform the declivity In rear
| offered the only means and quickest
way 10 reach the valley below. where a
line was Immediately formed and the
enemy checked 1000 yards away from
the crest. This reverse had Disguised
the army with it's commander, but had
not disheartened 1t.
In all these battles, superior num-
bers had been brought against It. In
all these battles, generalship had alone
been lacking, TO make this army sur
pass the achievements OF the troops
that Lee commanded.
When Johnston came to Il at Dalton
in December. 1863. Its cantonments
rang with Joy. BY spring he had II
provided IN all its departments. dis
ciDlined. drilled and exercised in field
manoeuvres. No finer Confederate
army ever trod the soil OF the South
than the Army of Tennessee when
Johnson put IL in motion from Dalton
III May, 1864.
He had already won Its confidence
and as the campaign progressed their
. confidence grew into love and devotion
for him.
In assuming command he had an
nounccd that rations would be cut
might be made full and more than
fun when the campaign opened. prom
ising that then and during operati ons
rations OF whisky would supplen emit
the others In rainy weather, and dur
ing those trying days Of fighting and
marching and ditching no day found
his troops without three days rations
In their haversacks; no rain fell upon
the army but what rations OF whisky
were issued before 1t had ceased His
foresight provided always three days
fresh and dry rations whenever those
carried by the men We're presumed TO
have been spoiled in their havcrsacks.
exposed to the weather. Such solicit
tude soon won the hearts OF his SOL
diers. His martial bearing under fire
and al all times. filed them with en-
thusiasm. and thus inclined iowa rds
him, they soon came to understand his
tactics and to place implicit faith in
his plans. With unconcern thereafter
they would in attack or in retreat trust
in old Joe" The army he took
charge of numbered $1,000 men In all
arms a. the outset of the campaign.
May :. 1864. sherman's army that con-
fronted him numbered from 100000 10
no. 600 men. From that day on II was
mastery game of war between tn csc
Two forces: the inferior one contesting
every inch OF ground against from two
10 three times it's numbers, watching
blow, and always inviting attack on its
chosen ground. For seventy DAYS II
was tghting all day, marching and in
trenching all night. One hundred and
forty miles OF country were slowly re-
treated over in this time Stands were
made. where bloody checks we're given
10 the foe. Assaults that rose TO great
batties were repulsed with terrible loss
10 the assailants. Resaca, New Hone
Cnurch' kennesaw Ridge. Marietta cut
"ide sWaths into the masses OF the
enemy. that suffered daily losses on The
skirmish line and were further dim in
ished by large details TO guard bridges
ana the railroads in It's lcncthening
rear Not one position that Johnston's
army TOOK was ever carried by the
roe attack Some were held for weeks
ana none were abandoned excen, to
face the foe on one or the Other ra,L
around which his vast superiority ~
numbers allowed him to turn. II was
swinging back of one wing of John
SION army, and then of his whole
me zigzagging process that mark ed
It's path with entertainments. close to
the railroad. from Dalton to Atlarta
icaliy grew the admiration and love ~
'he army Tor its general He appeared
as master or the situation; so prepared
Tor any move of his opponent. His
POSITIONS seemed all to have been Sc
lected in advance.
Ihey were staked out before our
ARRIVAL ready for our details to start
ehtrehching. Roads to them had hean
Gu. from our positions last held en-
aonte us stealthily to move at night
with celebrity and uncmbarassed. No
naste or confusion accompanied those
behind. not even a tar bucket as said
the enemy ' 'tu
one OF their generals, high in COM
man" IN mat campaign, thought il re-
markable. and SO wrote: That no de-
serters' no stragglers. no muskets or
,;'." 's"chs ana no material of war were
round III the wake of his retreat"
1t became patent to Johnston,s col
diers that he was well working out tho
Pfopiem TO weaken the opposing army
pS drawing 1t from its base of opera
uohs towards his own, seeking in the
meantime to attack and destroy 1t
whenever an advantageous occasion
presented itself Their feeling w.
when odd Joe" gets Sherman's army
divided or sufficiently reduced and de-
cides TO strike, II rests with us To
crush the foe. and we will do 1t. Thus
IL was at Cassville, when Johnston
thought he had his opportunity and
issued ms battle order. No army ever
nailed inc announcement Of a coming
Tray with more enthusiasm than swent
the ranks of his army. Re-ecboinr
CHEERS from bivouac TO biyouac pro
claimed eagerness and confidence.
Bitter was the disappointment when tn
determination to attack the foe was
given up. owing to one of Johnston's
CORPS commanders reporting his In
ability to carry out tho part assigned
to him.
again, after crossing the Chatta
hoochie. III front OF Ttlanta, when the
order came to abstain from entrench-
ing, and that the men should wash up
ana rest. enthusiasm arose to a high
pitch In expectation OF the announce
ment that odd Joe" had Sherman
where he wanted him. and was about
10 denver n crushing blow to him as
lie crossed Peach Tree Creek.
But instead of that expected battle
order came the announcement of old
j Oe'Sp ramnNaI from tl,a ..1,...-.4..i a