The Washington herald., 1914-09-28
CIVIL WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
September 1864 jefferson Davis Was Returning Richmond After
Visit to Gen Hoods Army the Northwest Of Georgia-Begnnng of h
Confederate Invasion of Tennessee.


operations against the Fedora! railroads
north of il.
But. nifty years ago tuday the first in
timatiOn of Hoods true intent WAS re-
ceived by the Federals Spies within
the Confederate lines brought word OF
the presence Of President jefferson
Davis in Georgia: that he had come
south from Richmond. where Gems Grant
and Lee were struggling. to learn the
exact situation in front Of Atlanta
Not only was the presence Of Mir. Davis
regarded b. the Federals as sign that
something new was TO be attempted by
the Confederates. but his fiery speeches,
at Macon and in the Confederate camps.
laid bare the Confederate plans
Mr.. Davis had reached Hoods head
quarters at Palmetto on the evening Of
September ., and the next day the two
had ridden 10 the camps. The dissatisfied
, Confederate troops gave the president
reception that he had not expected.
While few Of the brigades Cheered him
others let him pass in silence. and the
majority OF the organizations greeted
him with shouts OF Give US Gen. John
ston," meaning Gen. Joseph 2. Johnston
whom Gen. Hood had superseded Gen.
Johnston had incurred the displeasure
Of Mr.. Davis. and the latter did not
| relish the display OF feeling by the troops
He tried to arouse their enthusiasm by
an outburst of oratory.
One of the spies" wrote Gen. Sher-
man in his memoirs. was there at the
time. who came in the next night and
| reported to me the substance OF his
speech 10 the soldiers
Davis DivuIgcs Plans.
Gen. Sherman wrote that Mr. Davis
camp speech was a repetition Of those
he had made at Columbia, :. c. and
Macon, on his way out. which Sherman
had seen in the newspapers.
Davis seemed to be perfectly upset
by the fall of Atlanta, and to have lost
all sense Of reason" writes Sherman
He denounced Gen. Johnston and Gov
Brown as little better than traitors; at
tributed to them personally the many
misfortunes which had befallen their
cause and informed the soldiers that
nov the tables were to be turned; that
Gen. Forrest was already on our roads
in Middle Tennessee. and that Gen.
Hoods army would soon be there
He asserted that the Yankee army
would have to retreat or starve, and
that the retreat would prove more dis
astrous than was that Of Napoleon from
Moscow. He promised his Tennessee and
Kentucky soldiers that their feet soon
should tread their native soil He thus
gave US the full key to his future de-
signs. To be forewarned was to be fore
armed, and I think We took full ad-
vantage OF the occasion"
Similar speeches We're made BY Gen.
Howell Cobb and Gov. Harris, Of Ten
nessee.
Gen. Sherman was quick to act upon
the warning he received. Fifty years
ago today he dispatched Wagner's dI-
vision Of the Fourth Corps back from
Atlanta to Chattanooga and Gen. Corse's
division Of the Sixteenth Corps to Rome
The following day he was to learn OF
Hoods movement across the Chatta-
hoochee and to take further steps to
protect the long line OF railroad between
Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Tomorrow-ButIcr troops fight
north of tie James.
cODgnsht laD