The Washington herald., 1914-05-29

Fifty years ago today Confederat.
plans for an attack on the Federals un.
der Gen. W. T. Sherman near New Hope
Church, Ga, failed. and the Union arm5
continued without mofestation move
ment to secure the Western and Atlantic
Railroad. along which 1t had been ad.
vancing toward Atlanta.
The miscarriage of the Confederate
plans is illustrative of the difficulties AND
dangers of large armies operating in
swooded country. Each army was hidden
from the other. Cavalry was of little uss
in locating the enemy's position. for II
could not move through the woods Even
IL heavy skirmish lines We're sent on,
and the position Of the enemy exactly
located, ii was possible for him to retire
and throw up new Entertainments without
making his movements known in the few
hours that would necessarily elapse be-
tween the reconnaissance and the actual
attack upon him. ~ ;.
Such was the case fifty years ago to-
day. The Confederates in council the
night before had planned their attack.
They knew the positions Of the Federals
at that time, but when the .mornfng
came and they advanced TO assault the
Union lines II was found that they had
been drawn back I'm the night and newly
protected by formidable log breastworka
Move and Counferm0ve.
The movements on this field had re-
suited from an attempt by Gen. Sherman
to throw his army around the left flank
of the Confederates. Gen. Johnston had
been at Allatoona Pass, on the Western
and Atlantic Railroad. south Of the Etc.
wah River. He had hoped that Sherman
would attack him there. but the latter
determined to march around him toward
Marietta. fifteen miles in his rear He
did not care to attack the Confederates
in a position he knew to be tremendously
strong. q :
Sherman put his army in motion on
May %, and his advance headed south
toward Dallas. Gen. Johnston learned of
the movement and Immediately marched
to intercept the Federals. The first
clash, which occurred late in the after
noon Of May q, was for possession Of
an important crossroads, where stood a
little Methodist meeting house. called
New Hope Church Gen. Johnston made
HEADQUARTERS there. ard so strongly de-
Tended the point that the Federals made
little headyay toward it
The fighting of that day ended long
after dark. and both armies slowly moved
up into position and prepared for the
coming contest The Federals many of
whom were experienced woodsmen threw
up breastworks of trees along their front,
and the Confederates dug lines of rifle
Both sides expected a general engage
ment the next day. but it did not come.
Nor did it come in the succeeding DAYS,
nor each commander was unwilling to
|. try his strength against the strong po-
sitions held by the other
The Confederate line was about ZEN
miles long and extended from near
Dallas toward the railroad On the left
was Gen. W. J. Hardee's CORDS at the
7 Darl
and at the extreme right. was Gen. John
b. Hoods corps. Gen. William H. Jack
sons cavalry guarded the left and Gen.
Joseph Wheelers cavalry the right
sflank The total force numbered about
5000
Against this army Gen. Sherman
brought more than 10000 men. The
Army of the Tennessee. under Gen Will
lam r. Mcpherson, was at the right, op-
posite Gen. Hardee: the Army of the
Cumberland. under Gen. George H.
Thomas, formed the center, facing Folks
corps. and the Army of the Ohio, under
Gen. John N. Schofield, was on the ex
treme left. in front of Hood.
Marched Into a Trap.
On May &c, Gen. Sherman had DETER
mined to try to turn the enemys right,
in order to open the way east toward
the railroad. He selected Gen Thomas
j. Woods division of Towards Fourth
Corps to head the attack. 1t was TO be
supported by Gen. Richard w. Johnson's
division of Pslmer's Fourteenth Corps
and Gen. N. c. McLean's brigade from
the Army of the Ohio. The gap created
by the withdrawal of Woods division was
filled by an extension of the lines.
On the morning of May q the picked
troops moved to attack. Passing far to
the northwest, beyond the Federal lines,
they soon encountered the Confederates.'
but withdrew without bringing on an
engagement The column then moved
yet mile farther to the left. and. be-
Viewing that II nav was far beyond the
and pushed forward.
A more dangerous position to attack
could not have been chosen in all the
HELD. The Federals were not beyond the
Confederate flank. as they supposed Dr.
rectly In front of them Gen. Johnston's
line wss sharply turned back, the point
OF the angle being held by q battery,
This angie the Federals encountered.
but thinking II to be the end of the
Confederafe lines. attempted to march
around A. TO the left. to gain the rear
They were not left long in ignorance
of their mistake. 4 terrific fire greeted
them from the front. informing them
hat they were not, vet beyond the lines,
Ind at the same time destructive flank
Ire was opened from the each face Of
The Federais had stumbled into q tran
and the only thing left To them was q
retrsat; This xas accomplished with
skil, thoRsh NOT Until more than 1soo