The Washington herald., 1914-06-02
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago
June lSs-Federa Under Gen Sherman Practically Completed
Fankng Movement that Was Force Gel Army to
Retreat Kenesaw Mounta. 0.y Twe.ty Miles from Atlanta
tCop55iSbt. Nll)

his rife without exposing his head The
skids supporting this upper layer were
six or eight feet long and served to
protect the men from falling logs in case
the head logs were thrown back out Of
place by artillery fire.
As soon as the breastworks were under
way working parties felled all of the
trees for several yards In front of them
These were cut down with their tops
toward the enemy and formed a barrier
through which 1t was impossible to ad-
vance with even a semblance Of military
order.
Cavalry at Allatoona.
On May 9. at the end OF a five DAYS
contest. the two armies occupied prac-
tically the same positions as when the
nshting began. excepting that gaps in
the lines had been filled and organiza-
tons more carefully perfected.
Gen. Sherman was satisfied that he
could make no headway toward his OBJ
1ective. Marietta, in direct attacks. with
out great loss to himself. so he deter
mined to move slowly and cautiously to
the left. under cover Of his breastworks.
and to gain possession OF the railroad
between Allatoona and Marietta
On June i the Army Of Tennessee un-
der Gen. James E. MACPHERSON moved
from Dallas nearer New Hope Church,
supporting Gen Thomas Army of the
Cumberland at the Federal center. and
there was a corresponding shift to the
left along the whole line. The move
ment, though slow and cautious Was
regular. and by June the Federals were
In possession of the main roads leading
toward Allatoona Pass and the towns of
Allatoona and Acworth
Zen. Sherman ordered the cavalry di-
visions under Gems. George Stoneman
and kenner Garrard against AtIlatoona.
the former by the direct road and the
latter by road which swung around TO
the north and then down over Allatoona
Mountain. Both these forces reached
the town in the afternoon and reported
to Gen. Sherman that the way was open.
The occupation Of AIlatoona practical
ly completed the Federal movement, and
orders were at onoo issued to repair the
railroad to that point. The great bridge
across the Etowah River. which the Com
federates had burned. was ordered re-
built. and Gen. Sherman prepared to
abandon his position in front Of New
Hope Church, and. leaving the Confed-
crates to do what they might, to move
In mass to the railroad.
Losses of 10000 in May.
The losses in the Union and Confed-
crate armies in each OF the engagements
In the Atlanta campaign cannot be ac-
curately determined. Official returns of
the casualties were made each month.
For May the Federals reported a loss
Of 1.sS killed and wounded and 1886
wounded. The wounded were sent back
Chattanooga. A careful analysis in
dicates that the actual casualties were
greater than reported at first, or were
2,5sl killed and missing (the last includ-
Ing the captured) and Ss26 wounded, a
total of Il. III
The Confederates reported a loss of
~ killed and 1872, wounded. This did
not include loss of 70 killed and 3l
wounded in Gen. Wheeler's cavalry or an
unreported loss in Gen. Jackson.s cav
airy Neither did it include the captured.
Gen. Sherman estimates that his army
took about 3245 prisoners in MAY. Add
ing wheeler's loss and loss of 3,245 can
tured, the corrected Confederate casual
ties would be approximately 4oss killed
and missing Including captured) and 5,ol3
wounded, a total of 9,o52.
Tomorrow, Grants Assault ut
Cold Harbor.
Copyright. ts4.l