The Washington herald., 1914-05-25
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
May zs S64G W. Shenan Federal Army Advancing Atlanta,
Met the Confederates Dense Wilderness Church.
and Began Series Of Heavy Engagements Which Was Last More
Than Week.
tCopynsht. MAJ

Fifty years ago today Gen VT Sher.
mans Federal army. advancing on At
lanta, met the Confederates under Gen
Joseph E. Johnston in the heart Of a
dense wilderness near New Hope Church
Georgia, and began a series Of heavy
engagements that was to last more than
a week
The contending forces had temporarily
broken away from the railroad. alons
which they had been waging a severe
struggle, and~now were deep in the vast
expanse of heavily wooded country that
stretched westward toward the Alabama
border There, as the Federal advance
pushed biindly along the narrow country
roads that turned and twisted through
the forest, 1t suddenly came face to face
with the enemy in force
The meeting was unexpected, for Il was
supposed that the Confederstes were
miles away to the east near Allatoona.
They had been there only two days be-
fore, and it was with a purpose OF swing
ing around their flank and getting in
their rear that Gen Sherman had sent
his army on long march through the
forest The meeting of the two armies
gave. Gen. Sherman the first intimation
that his plans had miscarried
Since the opening of the Atlanta cam
paign on May s Sherman had met with
had forced the Confederates back nearly
fifty miles without fighting a single gen
eral engagement In every instance
when Gen. Johnston determined to fight,
Gen. Sherman skillfuIly moved his army
around a Confederate flank and caused
him to beat a-hasty retreat.
The Federals had the advantage Of
numbers. Sherman had about 10000
men in three armies-the Army of the
Tennessee. under Gen. James B. McPher-
son; the Army OF the Cumberland, under
Gen. George H. Thomas, and the Army
of the Ohio. under Gen. John NJ Scho-
field. Johnston had 1000 men, and an
advantage Of fighting in easily defended
positions.
The latter was a master in the art Of
defensive fighting and his tactics In the
Atlanta campaign have since been cited
by military authorities as a model of
their kind. He watched his adversary
closely. constantly tempted him 10 at
tack his intrenched positions. and hung
on until the very last moment, when he
retreated. invariably with small loss in
guns or wagons.
Johnston Forced Back.
Gen. Sherman. by adroit handling pf
his columns had forced Gen. Johnston
from one point to another. through Res
aca, Adairsville. and Kingston to the
vicinity Of cassviile. forty miles south
of Dalton.
While the bulk of the Federal forces
were following Johnston. Gen. Jefferson
c. Davis division of Federal infantry
and Gen. Kenner Gerrard's division OF
cavalry had pushed on to the west, and
after sharp fighting had captured Rome.
Ga. Confederate supply depot, with
large quantity of supplies and cotton.
and a small steamboat on the Coosa
River. These, with several foundries In
the town, were destroyed Most of the
residents left In haste and the Federals
made themselves at home in their dwell
inGs and literally helped themselves to
anything they wanted. They then de-
stroyed much that was left. In mary
cases including the houses themselves
Gen. Johnston was determined to at
tack the Federals at Cassville. From
Adsirsville two roads lead to that town.
Johnston hoped that the Federais would
divide their force and advance in two
columns on these roads. II they did. he
hoped to throw his whole force AGAINST
one OF them are to crush II.
The Federals seemed to play into Gen. |
Johnston.e hands; for. as he had ex-
pected. they advanced over the two
roads On May - Cen Johnston ordered |
Gen John B. Hood 10 attack the Fed |
ssaas On fas direct Rad With his entire