The Washington herald., 1914-10-03

ter was an especially valuable place for
its depOts housed a full million rations
OF bread much needed by the Confeder-
ates II they were TO remain long in Sher-
mans rear.
The Confederates approached Big
Shanty late in the afternoon Of October
and Immediately depIoyed a brigade
and advanced upon the group of houses
that marked the town. II was a place
OF little importance to the FederalE and
the garrison there numbered few more
than 100 men. These took shelter in the
old wooden railroad station, which had
been loopholed for such an emergency.
\ With tremendous odds against them.
the Federals soon gave I'D the hopeless
struggle. and the Confederates turned
to the work Of destroying the road. While
two divisions tore up the track a third
marched north to Ackworth. six miles
beyond. captured another small garrison
and then Joined in the work of destruc-
ton. This was carried on all night, the
men working by light of huge bon
fires Of railroad ties, over which the
rails were heated before being bent.
sherman Moves from Atlanta.
Previous to October ; Gen. Sherman, ut
Atlanta, had not been certain of the ex-
tent Of the Confederate movement. or Of
its purpose. He, had hesitated to act I'M
til definite news was brought to him.
Fifty years ago today the light came
to him. and he telegraphed to Gen. John
NJ Corse, who was at Rome, Ga, mid
way between Atlanta and Chattanooga.
Hood Is meditating some plan on a
large scale" Then he warned the COM
mander Of the garrison at Allatoona to
capture the place, and concluded: IF
he Hood moves up toward AIlstOona l
shall surely come in force
The message had scarcely been sent
before signal message arrived from
the heights OF Kenesaw Mountain. telling
that the telegraph wires had been cut
both north and south OF Marietta; and
then through the day other bits of news,
indicating the presence of the Confeder-
ates in force along the railway to the
north of Atlanta, drifted to Sherman's
headquarters.
Sherman at once issued orders for
movement OF his army, having previ-
ously directed tbe corps commanders to
send all spare materials and wagons
into the city.
The Twentieth Army Corps, of the
Army Of the Cumberland. under Gen.
Henry W. Slocum, was to hold Atlanta
and the bridges of the Chattahoochee
River. Immediately north OF it. All other
troops were to move toward Marietta as
rapidly as possibly.
The first to take the march was the
remainder OF the Army Of the Cumber-
land, which. in the absence of Gen.
George H. Thomas at CHATTANOOGA, was
commanded by Gen. David S. Stanley.
II crossed the Chattahoochee fifty years
ago today and, bivouacking for the
night at Smyrna Campgrounds. reached
Marietta on October and encamped at
the base of Kenesaw Mountain.
The Army OF the Ohio, under Gen.
Jacob D. Cox-Gen. J. NJ. \Schoaeld be-
ing at Louisville. Ky.-moved on October
a, but. delayed by high water that had
carried away many bridges in the creeks
northeast Of Atlanta, it did not reach
Marietta until late on the 5th.
The Army of the Tennessee, under Gen.
o. o. Howard, followed in the foot
steps Of that of the Cumberland, and
swung on to the right OF Marietta, near
the old battle ground Of CUPS Farm.
On the night OF October the men Of
the three armies first learned OF a bloody
battle on the heights of Altoona Noun
tain, twelve miles north of Kenesaw.
where Gen. Corse and a garrison OF
less than 1000 struggled to hold the
fort" against great odds. and succeeded.
tCopgrisht. IsiL)