The Washington herald., 1914-02-25
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
Feb z lssFderah from Chattanooga Attacked the conedrates at
Buxzards Reos Near Dalton, Ca and Were RepusedA Dnonsa
lion to Aid Gen. Sheman's Meridian Expedition.
twrItt.n expressly for Tn. Herald,

Fifty years ago today a strong force Of
, Federals from Chattanooga, under Maj
Gen. John NJ. Palmer. commanding the
Fourteenth Army Corps. attacked the
Confederates at Buzzards Roost. or
Rocky Face Gap, about three miles north
OF Dalton, Ga, and were repulsed,
The movement was intended to assist
Gen. w, T. Sherman. who was engaged
in an expedition from vicksburg. against
Meridian, Miss It vas believed by Gen.
Grant that re-enforcements had been sent
from Dalton, where the Confederate
Army Of Tennessee was concentrated un-
der Gen. Joseph Z. Johnston. TO assist
the forces opposing Gen. Sherman IN
Mississippi. Grant had ordered Gen.
George H. Thomas at Chattanooga to ad-
vance toward Dalton and by a determined
demonstration to draw back to that point
any troops that might be on their way to
fight Sherman.
The natural avenues of approach to Dali
ton follow the railroads. The town it.
self marks the apex of an inverted tri-
angle of railroads. with the towns of
Chattanooga and Cleveland at either end
of its base line.
Federal troops were stationed at both
Chattanooga and Cleveland. and, COM
plying with Gen Grants suggestions.
Gen. Thomas put them in motion on Feb
ruary .. Every man carried three days
rations, and wagon trains were shortened
in order to facilitate rapid movements.
Two divisions of the Fourteenth Army
Corps, under Brig. Gen. Richard W. John
son and Brig. Gen. Absalom Baird, first
marched from Chattanooga to Ringgold,
Ga, fifteen miles southeast, and about
fourteen miles from Dalton. February 2,
the other division OF that corps, Brig.
Gen. jefferson c. Davis, Joined them
near Ringgold. -.
A fourth division, that of Brig. Gen
Charles Cruft, of the Fourth Army Corps,
which had been left at Cleveland when
the balance of its corps marched into
East Tennessee in December, also moved
south on February .. camping for the
night at Red Clay, seventeen miles from
Dalton.
In a Strong Position.
The strength of the Confederate posi-
ton at Dalton was in the natural obsta-
cles between it and the country to the
north. A spur of the Cumberland Noun
tains called Rocky Face Ridge. presented
an almost impossible barrier to any army
coming south from Chattanooga At one
point only was it broken, and there the
railroad from Chattanooga passed
through. This gap. known as Rocky Face
Gap, or BuzZards Roost. was not only
naturally defensibIe. but in addition was
strengthened by earthworks and held by
a strong division of Confederates.
The Federals had not yet tried its
strength. Gen. Thomas determined to
attempt TO carry it IL possible. and direct
ed Gen. Palmer to move against II.
Accordingly. the three divisions OF the
Fourteenth Corps. moved south from
Ringgold along the railroad. Gen. John
sons division. preceded by the Eighth
Indiana Cavalry under Col. Thomas J.
Harrison, moved in advance, and after
reaching Catoosa Station, two miles be
low Rinsgold, was in constant conflict
with the enemy.
Col. Harrison's men drove hack the
b Confederate pickets as far as Tunnel
Hill, where, in strong position, he en-
countered a force which considerably out
numbered him. He waited until the in
fantry supports came up and reported
the condition of affairs TO Gen, johnson.
A flank move by Gen. JEFF Davis divi-
sion, and combined advance of his and
Johnsons men, carried the gap at Tunnel
Hill on February a. and Col. Harrison's
horsemcn moved forward to the vicinity
of Buzzards Roost.
FcderaIs RcpuIsed.
Gen Baird's division in the meantime
had moved east and formed a junction
with the force under Gen. Cruft. which
had come south along the railroad be-
tween Cleveland and Dalton. The road
which he was following passed through
Varncll Station to the rear of the cast
side of Rocky Face Ridge, and it was
hoped by the Federals that show of
force from that quarter would compel
the evacuation of the gap at Buzzards
Roost.
In the afternoon OF February ., when
the four Federal divisions had got into
position, a determined demonstration was
made to ascertain the true strength OF
the Confederates. Johnson's and Davis's
divisions moved down the west side of
the ridge against Buzzards' Roost, while
Crufts and Baird's divisions advanced
down the east side, directly against Dali
ton.
Gen. Davis division engaged the Con-
federates at BuzZards Roost with little
success. Repeated attempts were made to
gain ground, but the commanding posi-
tions of the Confederate artillery rem