i'i(i:si;.NTKi) m- ts < s 5 I o 2 THE 3 y>- MOUNTAIN Campaigns IN GEORGIA^ OR- War Scenes on the W. & A. Qyo-Mvv, ^o««,lli l* > ■ • • • SIXTH EDITION. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord 1890, Bv JOS. M. BROWN, In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. D. C. Thk Maitiiews-Northrui' Co., Complete Art-Pkinting Works, Buefaui, N. Y. 1895. PREFACE THE AUTHORITIES principally consulted in preparing the text of this publication are Johnston's "Narrative," Sherman's "Memoirs," Cox's "Atlanta," the "Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War," and magazine articles b}- General S. G. French and Major George S. Storrs, and the daily files of the Atlanta Inttlligcnccr, issued during the years of 1863 and 1864. The cuts, which were prepared b}' Mr. A. R. Waud, who personally visited all of the battlefields depicted, and by Messrs. T. de Thulstrup and Joseph Fleming, have been drawn with scrupulous regard to historic accurac}-, as well as artistic skill, and engraved b}' Matthews, Northrup & Co., of Buffalo, N. Y., Fleming, Brewster & Alley, of New York City, and others. The maps, drawn and engraved by Matthews, Northrup & Co., of Buf- falo, N. Y., are based on the authority of Sherman's maps of the Atlanta Campaign, with corrections when proper, and speak for themselves as models of their kind. If there be errors of fact, or aught else subject to criticism herein, it is hoped that lenient judgment will be passed, when it is taken into consideration that the matter has been prepared during only such time as could be snatched from that required for super- vision over the freight and passenger tratific of a railroad, the most of whose business is competitive. Atlanta, Ga., January, 1886. -H MOUNTAIN (mpfmmm, (isl\ mi^ \M '^•^ ^ or Waryeene/ on tKe-W-6-A-> N NONE of the campaigns of the gigantic "War between the States" was there a more notable display of adroit, wary, far-reaching strategic genius, and g| prudent, patient, watchful care on the part of the great commanders; of zeal- ous, skillful and fearless leadership by their field officers, or of more heroic bravery, fortitude and cheerful endurance by the soldiery, than in those of 1863 and 1864, during which the world became familiar with the names of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Rocky Face, Dalton, Resaca, Allatoona, Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Rosecrans, Thomas, McPherson, Schofield, Hooker, Corse, Blair, Harker, Kilpatrick, Stoneman, and a half score of others scarcely less famous, on some or all of these fields directed and led the hundred thousand and upwards, who followed the "bright starry banner" of the Union; while Bragg, and afterwards Johnston, with Hardee, Hood, Polk, Longstreet, Cleburne, Breckenridge, Buckner, Forrest, French, Walthall and Wheeler, with brother-chieftains as valiant and devoted, showed that the South had sent her brainiest and bravest to endeavor, with their fifty thousand men, to stem the tide of invasion which was rolling through Georgia, the Keystone State of the Confederacy, against Atlanta, which was then, as now, considered the " Heart of the South." To the essayist, wishing to immortalize with his pen the great deeds of great men, here is opened one of History's favorite chapters; to the artist, eager to depict the romantic and picturesque in warfare, here, too, is displayed the scenery which thrills the emotions; while to the patriot, who delights to speak of the achievements of men who dared face death for their country, their cause and their flag, here is shown the theatre of their toils and their glory. With these few reflections, let us now turn immediately to the record of the stirring events between Chattanooga, Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta, which twenty-two years ago were the cynosure of the eyes of the civilized world. Early in September, 1863, General Rosecrans succeeded in capturing Bridgeport, Ala., thus securing a crossing over the Tennessee River. 12 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. He then pushed Thomas and McCook, with their corps, across Sand Mountain and Lookout Mountain, into Georgia, and obtained possession of the passes leading into McLemore's Cove, from wliich West Chickamauga Creek flows northeastward, and, joining the main Chickamauga, empties into the Tennessee River just east of Chattanooga. This made their position in Chattanooga a perilous one for the Confederates, inasmuch as Rosecrans's movements, if carried out successfully, would have se- cured for him possession of Dal- ton and Rome, and thus broken Bragg's communications with At- lanta, and forced him to have retreated through East Tennes- see, and left Georgia at the mercy of the Federal arms. As one of the Southern news- papers of that day said, of the game of military chess which was then being played, "The enemy attacked with his Knight both our Queen, Atlanta, and our Castle, Chattanooga. Did it re- quire a moment to decide what should be the move?" Bragg accordingly evacuated Chattanooga on September 7, 1863, and retired to a position between Ringgold and Graysville, on the Western & Atlantic Railroad, and La Fayette, in Walker county, west of the railroad. His main army was posted along the road leading from Gordon's Mil! to La Fayette, facing the passes through which Rosecrans was about to make his entrance into McLemore's Cove. On the 9th of September, the Federal army occupied Chattanooga. During the next ten days there was almost daily skirmishing, and, on some occasions, vigorous fighting, at various points between Ringgold and La Fayette. There was also a sharp cavalry contest at Catoosa Springs, near the Western & Atlantic Railroad, September nth, which resulted in the retreat of the Confederates to Tunnel Hill, where they received re-enforce- ment.s. At Ringgold a heavy cavalry fight also ensued on September nth. The Con- federates were at first driven into the town; but here r.dlied, and, under General Forre.st, repulsed the Federals, and drove them off in disorder. The two armies were maneuvering for position — Rosecrans being resolved to hold Bragg off, until he could secure such a disposition of his own as was essential to success : GErJ, WM. T. SHERMAN, IV J A' SCENES ON T El E IV. &- A. 13 while Bragg, on the contrary, was determined to force an engagement at the earliest attainable date, with the object of crushing Rosecrans's army, in a general engagement, if it were at all possible. It is not practicable, in our limited space, to give scarcely any of these movements in detail. On the 1 8th of September ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^' "'''""* was fired the first gun of what is known as the great battle of Chickamauga. The position of the two armies that morning, in brief, was as follows : Rosecrans occupied the northwest bank of West Chicka- mauga Creek, his line extending along its sinuous course for a dozen miles or more, guarding all the fords, bridges, or other places of transit, for the purpose of preventing a crossing by the Confederate army. The Confederates were on the southeast side of the creek, which is very muddy and gener- ally quite deep ; and Bragg's idea was to force his way over, at various points, and fight the bat- tle on the Chattanooga side of the Creek. At Reed's Bridge, in Catoosa county, Ga., some seven miles west of Ringgold, a detachment of Michigan cavalry was stationed, with orders to prevent any advance by the Confederates. Having been there for a day or more, their commander determined, that morning, to send about 200 mounted men across the bridge, for the purpose of making a reconnoissance, and developing the Confederate position. At the same time he ordered that the planks be loosened, so that, when the cavalry returned, these could be dropped into the creek, and the bridge thus practically destroyed. The detachment crossed the stream, as ordered, and the work of loosening the planks was commenced by the others. The scouting party, however, had scarcely begun deploying on the east side of the creek before the Confederates, who had been watching them some couple of hundred yards distant, at the edge of the woods on the summit of the elevation rising from the bridge, opened fire, from a couple of pieces of artillery. The very first discharge secured the range of the bridge, and a bombshell exploding upon it, knocked up some of the planks, GtN. JObEPM E. JOHNSTON. 14 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. and killed one man, and wounded two others. Almost at the same instant a volley of musketry was fired from the s;ime position. The work of destruction of the bridge by the Federals instantly ceased, and there was a stampede for cover to the forest near by. The detachment of cavalry on the east bank, seeing the folly of attempting to cross the bridge under a raking fire, galloped northeastward, down the creek, endeavoring to find some other crossing place. After going about a mile and a half and finding no regular ford, they swam their horses through the stream, anti thus escaped. In the meantime, the Confederates charged across the bridge, dispersed the cavalry, and immediately turned do\vnward, towards Alexander's Bridge, about one mile and a half distant, antl, after quite a struggle, possession of this was also secured. Later on, during the day, crossing was effected at several other points. Accordingly, the next morning found Bragg's army, in line of battle, on the northwest side of West Chickamauga Creek. The struggle then began, which continued with such desperate fury, and resulted in such distressing carnage to both sides, during the next three days. Bragg's object seems to have been to crush Rosecrans's left wing, and secure posses- sion of the road leading through Missionary Ridge, via Rossville, to Chattanooga. The result of the battle is well known. Rosecrans's army was routed and driven back to Chattanooga; and, but for the stand which General Thomas took, on Snodgrass Hill, and his heroic defence of that position, and the check which he gave to the Confederates at that point, the defeat of Rosecrans would have been a crushing one, and the sweep of the Confederate advance may have extended back to Kentuck)', and have almost changed the fate of the war. " But great battles are fought behind the stars." The struggle at Snodgrass Hill was desperate and bloody in the extreme, and was characterized as being " unquestionably one of the most terrific musketry duels ever witnessed " ; but Thomas, having been re-enforced by Granger and Steadman, who had moved, without orders, to join him, held this position until all the rest of the Federal line of battle had been routed, and only retreated on the evening of the 20th, under orders from General Rosecrans himself. The total losses sustained have never been definitely ascertained ; but it is generally estimated that there were over 26,000 men killed and wounded in the two armies, during these bloody three days, on and near the banks of the Chickamauga, or " River of Death," as the Indians had prophetically named it. Among the killed was the Federal General Lytle, the author of the famous and beautiful poem, " I am dying, Egypt, dj'ing." Of his death, the jYtis/n'tV/f Union, a few days after the battle, said : " He, with hundreds of his loyal soldiers, has consecrated witli his life-blood the soil of Georgia to the Republic. Let us solemnly pledge ourselves that the State thus baptized by blood so dear shall never pass from the possession of the Union. It is our heritage and the heritage of our children forever, signed to us in the name of freedom and sealed with the blood of patriots " JI'.iA- SCENES ON THE W. & A. 10 The Confederates captured 8,ooo prisoners, 51 cannon, over 15,000 stand of small arms, about 40 standards, and an enormous amount of army stores. The battle-field was principally in a level, thickly-wooded plain, where it was hard to use artillery with much effect, and where the movements of large bodies of troops were veiled in obscurity. It is stated that there were numerous instances of where portions of one army's Ime were driven back by its enemy, and these, in turn, would soon find themselves caught by a cross-fire, or almost surrounded by a counter successful movement by the other side. THE FIRST GUN AT CHICKAMAUGA. Septonbcr iS, iSO}. The Confederates openinj,' fire upon the Federal cavalr>-, who had begun the destruction of Reed's Bridge. The Strength of Rosecrans's army, during the three da\-s' struggle, was 64,392 men. Bragg opened with 33,583 the first day; but, during the second, was re-enforced by Long- street's corps, which had just arrived from Virginia, and which made his total force engaged 47,321. Longstreet's troops arrived via the Western & Atlantic Railroad, and deployed from the trains at Ringgold and Greenwood, just below, and hurried into the midst of the fray. As the result of this battle, the Federal army was driven back into Chattanooga ; and the Confederates occupied Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, from which 16 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. latter they could overlook Chattanooga, and by the possession of which they were enabled to break Rosecrans's communications by rail with Nasiiville. They also re- occupied Bridgeport. Thus matters continued for two months, during which there was great suffering among the Federal soldiery, in Chattanooga, on account of the difficulty in getting provisions, stores, etc., across the country in wagons. By the end of that time, however, the Union army had been very largely re-enforced, and General Grant had come to Chattanooga and taken personal command. He also had with him Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas, McPherson, Hooker, and other leaders of national reputation for marked ability. In the meantime, Bragg had sent Longstreet's corps to Knoxville, for the purpose of reducing that point, and repossessing East Tennessee. This movement had weakened his numbers at Chattanooga very materially ; so that when, on the morning of November 24, 1863, General Grant made his attack upon Bragg, with about 65,CX)0 of the best-equipped and bravest soldiers in America, the latter con- fronted him with a line extending about seven miles from the crest of Lookout Mountain, across the gap between that and Missionary Ridge, and thence along the summit of Missionary Ridge, almost to the present Boyce Station, on the Western & Atlantic Railroad, with a total force of scarcely more than 35,000 men. During the forenoon of November 24th, Hooker's corps, covered by the fire of heavy guns on Moccasin Point, cUmbed through the clouds, concealing its movements, up the sides of Lookout Mountain, which was held by Walthall's brigade of Confederates. The Confederate force, during the early portion of the fight, consisted of 1,489 men. Durin"ov. ac. iJSii. i One of the relics of this bloody struggle is the Jobc house, which stands in the northern end of the pass, on the west side of the railroad. On the tlay of the battle, some of Hooker's men took slicltcr in this, and. from the windows and doors, maintained a hot fii'c upon the Confederates on the ridge and in the pass. The latter in return kept a storm of bullets pouring upon the house, the numerous marks of which are still plainly visible. The ne.xt day, the Confederates, who had retired to Tunnel Hill, v/ere assailed by the Federal forces with a courage almost amounting, it is said, to rashness ; but they held the posi- tion, and the Federals then re- tired to Ringgold, and afterwards to Chattanooga, tearing up the railroad behind them, thus leav- ing the beautiful Chickamauga Valley as a sort of neutral zone between the hostile forces. From that date, there was comparative quiet between the two armies for nearly three months ; but, on the 23d of Feb- ruary, 1864, the Federals made a movement in heavy force, with the intention of securing posses- sion of Dalton, if possible, while the Confederate army was weak- ened by the absence of Hood's corps, consisting of Cheatham's, Cleburne's and Walker's divisions, which had been sent to Mississippi to re-enforce General Polk. Just here it is proper to state that, during the winter. General ]>ragg had been relieved, at his own request, from the command of the Confederate army of Tennessee, and the Richmond government, in compliance with almost the open demand of Southern popular opinion, had appointed General Joseph E. Johnston to succeed him, and he had proceeded to Dalton and assumed command December 27, 1863. Later on, General Grant had been appointed Lieutenant-General of the armies of the United States, and had transferred his head-quarters to Virginia; and had designated General Wm. T. Sherman as his successor over the Department of the Mississippi, which included Tennessee and Georgia. General .Sherman enteretl upon his duties March 18, 1864, General Thomas having liad temporary charge of the I'ederal forces at Chattanooga, after General Grant proceeded east, just as General Hardee had temporarily commanded the Confederate army at Dalton, after General Hiagg's retirement. i;«!THHur fc Cw., MH-rfliNiiNa wjNkS, euF»Aiu>, k.t. 22 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. The Federal columns, February 23d, united in front of Ringgold, and advancing, attacked the Confederate cavah)-, and, after a sharp fight, drove it from the village of Tun- nel Hill to the heights beyond; but were here checked by the artilleiy fire, and fell back. The next day, the Federal army advanced in three columns, and compelled the Con- federates to retire. The latter took position in Crow Valley (lying east of Rocky Face Ridge and north of Mill Creek Gap). The Federals encamped in the valley immediately west of the pass through which the railroad runs. On the morning of the 25th, the Federal skirmishers engaged Stewart's and Brecken- ridge's divisions in Mill Creek Gap, and desultory firing was maintained throughout the day. This culminated in a determined but unsuccessful attempt to storm the position that afternoon. During the same afternoon a very obstinate fight took place between the two armies, the divisions of Davis and Johnson attempting to drive the Confederates from Mill Creek Gap, while Cruft's and Baird's divisions, with Long's cavalry, attacked five brigades of Hindman's and Stevenson's divisions, east of Rocky Face Ridge, with the intention of defeating these, if possible, and then attacking in the rear the Confederate force which was holding Mill Creek Gap against Davis and Johnson; but at night the Federals gave over the attempt and fell back. During this same day, the Confederate guard, posted in Dug Gap, west of Dalton, was driven from it by a regiment of Federal mounted infantiy ; but the next morning Granbury's Texas brigade made an impetuous charge, and recaptured the position. General Johnston says that in this engagement, "The Federal army had four divisions and six regiments — probably at least seventeen brigades; it encountered seven Confed- erate brigades on the 25th, and eleven on the 26th." General Thomas's report of these operations sustains General Johnston's estimate 01 the Federal force. There was no other engagement between the two armies, until Sherman opened the " Atlanta Campaign," during the first week in May, 1864. On the 2d day of this month, the Federals made a close rcconnoissance of the Con- federate outpost at Tunnel Hill, under the protection of a strong body of infantry, cavalry and artillery. They also began repairing the Western & Atlantic Railroad, between Chattanooga and Ringgold, which had been torn up the previous winter. It may be here remarked that the Western & Atlantic Railroad was the means of securing the fall of Atlanta, and, therefore, to a great degree, the overthrow of the Southern Confederacy. It was .Sherman's only channel for supplies for his immense army, and, during the campaign, he hugged it with a tenacity which showed that he considered it indispensable to success. His flank movement through Snake Creek Gap was to gain possession of it at Resaca, in the rear of Johnston at Dalton ; his mii\-c against Calhoun, south of Resaca, via Lay's Ferry, had the same end in view. Such, likewise, was his object, indirectly, in the skillfully-planned and masterly march and struggles about New Hope Church, and such was his immediate aim in the movement southwest of Marietta, after the failure of his grand and heroic assault upon Kennesaw Mountain. 24 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. One hundred and forty-five car-loads per day of supplies were needed for the subsistence of his army, during the campaign, and over this railroad they were transported from Chattanooga. To insure its preservation, as he progressed farther and farther southward, he placed garrisons to protect each bridge. Johnston, too, was fully alive to the supreme importance of this line to both armies, and, while his constant endeavor was to protect it behind him, it was also his most ardent desire to find some means for breaking it in Sherman's rear; and thus forcing upon the latter the alternative of retreat or starvation. To this end he and the Governor of Georgia made the strongest appeals to the Richmond government for Forrest's cavalry to be brought from Mississippi and kept actively at the work of destruction upon the railroad bridges, etc.; using the argument that it was better to take the risk of Federal raids in northern Mississippi than to lose the opportunity of forcing into disastrous retreat the invading army which was driving its advance like a wedge of steel into the very heart of the Confederacy. These entreaties, however, were without success, and the Western & Atlantic Rail- road, despite Sherman's constant apprehensions of the realization of Jolmston's wish, remained the chief means by which the invasion was sustained, and crowned with the fall of Atlanta. As a prominent Federal authority said, after the war, to a Western & Atlantic official, " The Union element cannot be too thankful for the fact that your road was in existence." " Then," was the remark, " the W. & A. road should be the pride of every true American, if by reason of its existence the Union was saved." At the date of the opening of the great Atlanta Campaign, Sherman had a total force of 98,797 men and 254 cannon, divided as follows: Army of the Cumberland, under Major-General Thomas, 60,773 rnen, and 130 field guns; Army of the Tennessee, under Major-General McPherson, 24,465 men, and 96 guns; Army of the Ohio, under Major- General Schofield, 13,559 men, and 28 guns. These were further subdivided into 88,188 infantry, 4,460 artillerymen, and 6,149 cavalry. Johnston had 42,856 men and 120 cannon ; the men being divided as follows : infantry 37,652, artillerists 2,812, and cavalry 2,392. He says of his cannon, however, that only about one half of them were effective for service, because of the bad condition of the horses, by reason of the scarcity of food during the winter. Within a few days Sherman was re-enforced by about 14,000 cavalry, which swelled his total effective force to 112,819 men. All of these figures are official. Added to these were the re-enforcements which the two armies received during the campaign, which were as follows: By Sherman, Blair's corps, 9,000 men at Acworth, June 8th, besides " new regiments and furloughed men " not enumerated ; by Johnston, Canty's division of 3,000 at Resaca, May 9th, Lorin^'s of 5,000, at the same point. May nth, and French's of 4,000, at Cassville, on May i8th — these three comprising Polk's corps — also Martin's division of cavalry, 3,500, May 9th, Jackson's division of cavalry, 3,900, at Adairsville, May 17th, ami Quarles's brigade of 2,200, at New Hope Church, May 26th. / ( / ^^ Al ' ' . ' ^'r^fsrrinBi ?/ POLK 'Afapo/ihe' %^IB^^ \il D.iil.am ^ Big SHafnty .■^^^^-5b»^i?- Hope fe^urch?""^ ^^^ ^^^TV -S5|^"^^^ !.;.L.-,/ p A^ d, D IsN AG CulpsFgrm^,R'^ff>>l!al/\|.Jy3^.tSK -"^ \ (A \| " — ^(^^ ,w/fc^^Lja-~-^ V '9+'<^-^-^^;i?l^ TsronEJiWri \ Draketo-v,?,L. _ Brown.villk VS"'' -J/^ -V / i^- \>lla 1 1 U- ofaiajli Tfef-jH'*?^^ H AiR a\l s o n>:ii ^^^^^Si^v.i.^ 3^'' J~CX 'o^ T„„,,r.F,//»>-^^^- vi'i' -"■'?i'^"-^^/V^>>^^^ slBucKalnan 'I ^ ^t^^^^-^i--;:^' ^V ■e<«"\f#l'>»»^ X^-<^^';:,r1)«,D E.-A A\L\B MATTHEWS, NORTHRUP k CO.. ART-PRlNTlSi; WolLKS, BITKFALX. N- V C A R/R 0_L ATLANTA X TAc E'^st and ii'eu of Ahibania and tke Marietta and North Georgia railroads have been btnlt since the tear. 26 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. While fighting around Kennesaw Mountain, General Johnston also received re-enforce- ments of over 3,000 Georgia militia, which Governor Joseph E. Brown, the "War Gov- ernor" of Georgia, placed at his disposal. During the entire campaign, Goxernor Brown, now United States Senator from Georgia, and President of the W^cstern & Atlantic Railroad Company, very zealously and energetically seconded General Johnston in evcrj' attempt to check and repel Sherman's invasion of the State. The highest number of men which Johnston had at any time was 59,248, at Kennesaw Mountain. Of the opening of this campaign. General Johnston says: "On the 5th, the Confederate troops were formed to receive the enemy: Stewart's and Bate's divisions, in Mill Creek Gap, in which they had constructed some slight defensive works — the former on the right of the stream, Cheatham's on Stewart's right, occupying about a mile of the crest of the mountain; Walker's in reserve; Stevenson's across Crow Valley; its left joining Cheatham's right, on the crest of the mountain; Hindman's, on the right of Stevenson's; and Cleburne's, immediately in front of Dalton, and behind Mill Creek, facing towards Cleveland. " On the same day the Federal army was formed in order of battle, three miles in front of Tunnel Hill, and in that position skirmished with our advanced guard until dark. It was employed all of the next in selecting and occupying a position just beyond the range of the field-pieces of the Confederate advanced guard, on which it halted for the night. * * * "At day-break, on the 7th, the Federal army moved forward, annoyed and delayed in its advance by dismounted Confederate cavalry firing upon it from the cover of successive lines of very slight entrenchments, prepared the day before. Its progress was so slow, that the Confederates were not driven from Tunnel Hill until eleven o'clock A. M., nor to Mill Creek Gap until three P. M. In the afternoon the Federal army placed itself in front of the Confederate line, its right a little south of Mill Creek Gap, and its left near the Cleveland road." — (Johnston's Narrative, pages 304, 305.) General Sherman says of Johnston's position: "From Tunnel Hill, I could look into the gorge by which the railroad passed through a straight and well-defined range of mountains, presenting sharp palisade faces, and known as 'Rocky Face.' The gorge itself was called the ' Huzzard Roost.' We could plainly see the enemy in this gorge and behind it, and Mill Creek which formed the gorge, flowing toward Dalton, hati been dammed up, making a sort of irregular lake, filling the road, thereby obstructing it, and the enemy's batteries crowned the cliffs on either side." — (Memoirs, Vol. II., page 32.) About four o'clock the ne.xt day, Gearj-'s division of Hooker's corps assailed the Con- federate outpost in Dug Gap; but two small regiments of Reynolds's Arkansas brigade, nf Cleburne's division, under the cominand of Colonel Williamson, held the position, until they were joined by Grigsby's Kentuckians. The constant firing indicated a serious attack; so much so that Lieutcnant-Gcneral Hardee hastened to take personal charge of the defence. The Federals were repulsed at this point, and at Mill Creek Gap, and likewise in their attack upon the Confederate posi- tion on the crest of the mountain, about a mile and a half north of the gap. 3 > S -Q 28 MOUNTAIN CAJ/J'A/OW'S IN GliORGIA. General J. D. Cox, of Slicniian's arm}', thus refers to this attempt on Dutj Gap: "Geary's division of the Twentieth Corps made a strong effort to earry the summit of Rocky Face at Dug dap, but were foiled by the same physical difficulties which baffled all other attempts along this palisaded riilge. The skirmishers advanced, scrambling over the rocks and through the undergrowth, till, already blown and nearly exhausted, they found themselves facing a perpendicular wall with only cliffs and crevices leading up through it, the narrow roadway which had been their guide being strongly held by the enemy and intrenched. A gallant effort was made to reach the crest, but the smaller force of Confederates was led by Ceneral Hardee in person, and held their natural fortress." — ("Atlanta," page 35.) On the 9th, another attempt, more vigorous and by a larger force, was made upon the outposts upon the crest of Rocky Face Ridge. This attack was leil by Harker's brigade of Newton's division (Fourth Corps), supported b}' tlie rest of the division, and by Judah's division of the Army of tlie Ohio. The Federals were driven back with loss, after making five assaults. Of this struggle, General Cox tlius writes: "The view of the combat above was an exciting one. The line of blue coats could be seen among the rocks, nearly at right angles with the line of the ridge, the men at the top in silliouette against the sky, close up to the Confederate trenches, where their charges were met with a line of fire, before which they recoiled, only to renew the effort, till it became apparent even to the most daring that it was useless to lead men against such barriers." — (".\ti.axta," pages 37, 3S.) Similar assaults were also made, in strong force and with great vigor, upon Stewart's and Bate's divisions in Mill Creek Gap ; but the Confederates maintained their position. On this same day quite an important fight occurred at Resaca, between two brigades of Confederates, under General Canty, and the Army of the Tennessee, under Major-Gen- eral McPherson, who had made a flank movement through Snake Creek Gap, for the purpose of capturing the town and railroad briilge, in Jnhnston's rear, wliich lasted till dark, and resulted in the repulse of the Federals. During the night. General Johnston sent down General Hood with three divisions, under Generals Hindman, Cleburne and Walker, di.d, finding tnese too strong for him, McPherson retreated to Snake Creek Gap and intrenched. Snake Creek Gap, which played so important a part in this movement, and in shaping tiie general results of the campaign, cannot be better described than in the following quotation, also, from General Co.x : "Snake Creek is an insignificant branch of the Oostanaula, running southward between high and rugged ridges, which, on the east, are nearly continuous with Rocky Face, and are known by the general name of Chattoogata Mountains. On the west the parallel range is called Horn Mountain. A watershed half way from Tunnel Hill to the Oostanaula separates the sources of Mill Creek from those of Snake Creek, and this divide is properly the gap. The whole pass, however, is known by the name, and is a wild and picturesque defile, five or six miles long. Hardly a cabin was to be seen in its whole length. The road was only such a track as country wagons had worn in the bed of the stream or along the foot of the mountain. The forest shut it in, and only for a little while at midday did the sun enter it. Near its southern extremity * * * it reached the more open country bordering the river, which here runs for a little way nearly west, and roads branch off to Resaca, eastward, and southward to Calhoun, turning the south end of i ^^^.^l&/ '?:«SS^.;, ■:;:,,_..:. /-ji^b^ _ > 30 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. the precipitous ridges, which guard Dalton on the west. Resaca itself stands in tlie ellrow at the junction of the Connasauga with the Oostanaula, and on the north bank of the latter stream. Camp Creek, another small stream, flows into the river just west of the village, and the high plateau bordering it and the more rugged hills between it and the Connasauga a little further north, made it a very strong place for the intrenched camp which the Confederate commander had prepared there." — ("Atlanta," pages 35, 36.) General Sherman says of this engagement that McPhcrson : "* * * had not done the full measure of his work. He had in hand twenty-three thousand of the best men of the army, and could have walked into Resaca (then held only by a small brigade), or he could have placed his whole force astride the railroad above Resaca, and there have easily withstood the attack of Johnston's army, with the knowledge that Thomas and Schofield were on his heels. * * * Such an opportunity does not come twice in a single life; but at the critical moment McPherson seems to have been a little timid. Still he was perfectly justified by his orders, and fell back, and assumed a defensive position in Sugar Valley, on the Resaca side of Snake Creek Gap. As soon as I was informed of this, I determined to pass the whole army through Snake Creek Gap, and move on to Resaca with the main army." — (Sherman's Memoirs^ Vol. II., pages 34, 35.) During the next day, another attempt was made upon the Confederates at Mill Creek Gap ; but resulted in a Federal repulse. On the evening of the nth. General Johnston ordered General Wheeler to move, at daylight the next day, around the end of Rocky Face Kidge, towards Tunnel Hill, with all his available cavalry, to ascertain if the movement southward by the Federal army had been a general one. General Hindman was instructed to support Wheeler with his divi- sion. The Confederates encountered Stoneman's cavalry at this point, and drove them back, with a loss to the latter of 150 men and some 400 loaded wagons. This rcconnoissance confirmed the impression that almost the entire Federal army was marching toward Snake Creek Gap, on its way to Resaca. Accordingly, Dalton * was evacuated the next day by the Confederate army, which retired to Resaca. " The Federal army approaching Resaca on the Snake Creek Gap road, was met about a mile from the place by Loring's division, and held in check long enough to enable Hardee's and Hood's corps, then just arriving, to occupy their ground undisturbed. As the army was formed (in two lines) Polk's and Hardee's corps were west of the place and railroad, facing to the west; the former on the left, with its left resting on the Oostanaula. Hood's corps extended from Hardee's right across the railroad to the Connasauga, facing to the northwest. "There was brisk skirmishing all the afternoon of May 13th on Polk's front, and that of Hardee's left division — Cheatham's." — (Johnston's Narrative, pages 309, 310.) Early the next day, the skirmishers became engaged along the entire line, begin- ning on the west. "Those of Polk's corps, from some unaccountable mistake, abandoned their ground, which was regained only by great personal efforts on the part of their field *0n August 15, 1S64, Dalton was captured by Wheeler's cavalry, who were raiding Sherman's communications. The Confederates secured 200 prisoners and destroyed considerable army stores, etc.. and then went northward. Dalton was also captured by Hood's army, on its grand retrograde movement, after the fall of Atlanta. There was a sharp fight south of the town. The Confederates here captured the garrison, a regiment of negro troops. This was on October 13, 1S64. / ' WAR GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA. 33 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. officers. * * * Avigorous assault was made up,.,! I liiulman's division; but the assail ants were repulsed." Later on during the day, Lieutenant-General Hood was ordered to attack the Federal left, with Stewart's and Stevenson's divisions. This movcnu-nt began about six o'clock in the afternoon, and was conducted bj- the Confederates with a.lniirable precision and vigor and before dark the Federal left was driven from its ground. ' Late in the afternoon, the Federals, under McPherson, however, drove Polk's advanced hnes from the lull in front of his left, which commanded the Western & Atlantic Rail- road bridge over the Oostanaula. During the night, the Confederates, under the direction of Colonel Prcstman the chief engmeer, made a road, and placed a pontoon bridge across the river, about a mile above that commanded by the Federal artillery. On the 1 5th, sharp skirmishing commenced early, along the whole line, and continued tliroughout the day. Several determined attacks were made upon Hind- man's position ; in the last, espec- ially, the assailants exhibited the utmost bravery, many of them reaching the Confederate in- trcnchments. The Federals here charged across a broad meadow, from the cover of a wooded ridge, and assaulted the Confederates on the opposite ridge; but, after a blood}^ struggle, were repulsed. Seeing that they would be sub- jected to a destructive fire in crossing the valley again, a large portion of them took refuge be- hind the steep sides of a sort of spur ridge in front of the main one, and there remained until after tlark, before \-enturing back to their former positions. About noon, a strong force of I'ederal cavalry captured the hospitals of Hood's corps which were located east of the Connasauga River. Major-General Wheeler, with Allen's and Hume's brigades, made a gallant attack, and drove off the Federals, however, and pursued them two miles, capturing two standards and s.-me jirisoners. 34 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. Dunng the forenoon. Major-Gcncral Stevenson was directed by Licutenant-General Hood to advance and mask a four-<.un battery some eighty yards in front of his Hne of mfantry, wh.ch was near the U'estern & Atlantic Railroad, north of Resaca. Before Stevenson had arranged properly to support it, General Hood ordered him to open its fire. Th.s was done, and a furious attack was immediately made upon it by Hooker's corps, winch was facmg Hood's at this point. The guns were abandoned by the Confed- erates, and a very sp.nted fight for their possession ensued, ui,ich resulted in the Federals bemg dnven back from them by the fire of the Confederates ; but they found shelter in the ne.ghbonng ravme. From this position, their musketry commanded the location of the baery equally as well as did that of the Confederates. A very hot fire was kept up by bo hs>des,wh,ch prevented either from removing the guns, and they were consequently left between the two armies until dark, and afterwards seized by the Federals These were the only field trophies they captured during the entire campaign to the Chattahoochee River. At about four P. M. General Stewart, whose division was on the Confederate right, was ordered to attack the Federals, and endeavor to force their line back. General St:venson was to support him with his division. Hearing of the Lay's Ferry movement, bv Sher- man, however, General Johnston revoked the order for this assault. The last order did not reach Stewart in time. His troops left their intrenchments and dashed forward in the face of a terrible fire. Not being supported by Stevenson, who had received General Johnston s order, Stewart's men were repulsed with loss. During the afternoon. General Johnston received notice that the Federals had secured possession of Lays (or Tanner's) Ferry, nearly three miles west of Calhoun, and were crossing the Oostanaula River in force. His communications with Atlanta, therefore, being rendered too hazardous. Johnston evacuated Resaca during the night.* The Confederate army, in withdrawing, crossed the river on the railroad bridge and on the pontoon bridge one mile above it. General Stewart's division covered the retreat remaining m position after the retiring of the other troops on their left had opened to the Federals the way to Resaca and their rear. General Stewart himself, it is said was the last man to cross the pontoon bridge, which was then destroyed The movement which forced this action on Johnston's part, resulted in a fight at Lays (or Tanners) Ferry, on May ,4th, whereby the Federal forces secured a crossing, but took no further forward step. The course of the river, almost parallel to the Western & Atlantic Railroad, protected this advance from Johnston's power of discovery or successful resistance. On the 15th, Jackson's brigade of Confederates assaulted the Federals, who were encamped east of the Oostanaula, but met a bloody repulse. * There was also a vigorous fight at Resaca between the Confederate cavalry and the Federal garrison October 12 1864. The Confederates were repulsed. The next day a portion of Hood's infantry, under General Stewart, appeared before the town, and, in Hood's name, demanded its surrender. The demand was refused, and, finding an assault hazardous, Stewart moved northward against Dalton. 3Li MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. On the i6th, the Federals, under RlcPherson, advanced from the ferry, towards Calhoun, drivinc; back the ca\ah\- ; but soon came in collision with a portion of Hardee's corps and. in turn, sustained a repulse. It may be proper here to state that after the war, in disinterring the dead at Resaca, there were found the remains of one hundred and seventy Confederates* and seventeen hundred and ninety Federals. General Sherman, in his dispatch to General Halleck, May 15th, said : "I cannot estimate our dead and wounded up to this hour; but it will not fall much short of three thousand (3,000)." Johnston fell back to Adairsville : but. finding that the breadth of the Oothcaloga Valley exceeded so much the front of his army, properly formed for battle, that he could obtain no advantage of ground, ordered the troops to move to Cass\-ille. During the afternoon of the 17th, the Federals struck the Confederate rear-guard at Adairsville ; but, after a sharp conflict with Wheeler's cavalry and Cheatham's division of infantr}', were checked. During the night the Confederates evacuated this position. Johnston, correctly supposing that the Federal army, in pressing the pursuit, would divide, so as to secure passage over more than one road, ordered a vigilant watch kept, with the intention of endeavoring to crush one wing before the other could come to its relief. The Federal movement being as he foresaw, he ordered Polk to engage, in front, the column coming down the road by the railroad, and Hood to attack it in flank when Polk's firing began in front. Hood, however, acting on erroneous information about the Federal movement, made a different disposition of his line. So much time was lost in correcting this mistake, that the intended attack was given over, as its success depended upon its being properly timed. This was one of the lost opportunities of the campaign. Of this movement, General Sherman saj's: "Thomas's head of column which had followed the country roads alongside of the railroad, was about four miles east of Kingston, towards Cassville, when, about noon I got a message from him that he had found the enemy, drawn up in line of battle, on some extensive, open ground about half way between Kingston and Cassville, and that appearances indicated a willingness and prepara- tion for battle. "Hurriedly sending orders to McPherson to resume the march, to hasten forward by roads leading to the south of Kingston, so as to leave for Thomas's troops and trains the use of the main road, and to come up on his right, I rode forward rapidly over some rough gravel hills, and about six miles from Kingston found General Thomas, with his troops deployed ; but he reported that the enemy had fallen back in echelon of divisions, steadily and in superb order, into Cassville." — (Memoirs, Vol. II., pages 37, 38.) On the 19th of May, Johnston took position near Cassville for what he intended should be the great battle of the campaign. Of this he sa)-s : "The Confederate army was drawn* up in a position that I remember as the best that I saw occupied during the war — the ridge immediately south of Cassville with a broad, open, elevated valley in front of it, completely commanded by the fire of troops occupying its crest. The * There is now a Confederate cemetery just above Resaca. Several hundred Southern soldiers here "sleep the sleep that knows no waking." WAR SCENES ON THE IV. & A. 37 eastern end of this ridge is perhaps a mile to the east of Cassville. Its southwest end is near the railroad, a little to the west of Cass Station. Its length was just sufficient for Hood's and Polk's corps, and half of Hardee's, formed, as usual, in two lines, and in that order from right to left. The other half of Hardee's troops prolonging the line, were southwest of the railroad on undulating ground, on which they had only such advantage as their own labor, directed by engineering, could give them. They worked with great spirit, however, and were evidently full of confidence. This gave me assurance of success on the right and in the center, where we had very decided advantage of ground." — (Johnston's Narrative, page 322.) During the afternoon, the Federal artiller)' commenced firing upon Hood's and Polk's troops. This, with a hea\-y skirmish fire, continued until dusk. CAPTURE OF A FEDERAL WAGON TRAIN, Near Cassville, Ga., May 24, 1864. The bciutiful \iIlTgL rf Ciss ville \\as between the two lines The contest about the \illage was \er\ severe especiallj between the bTtteiic- which weie pasted on the iidges confiontmg each other Sharp skirmishing and fighting oc curred on the streets Man\ of the houses were riddled with balls, and the fine college buildings, especially, were pierced through with shot and shell. Some of the dwellings were also fired by these and consumed. 38 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GliORGIA. At a council of war, held that night, Generals Hood and Polk expressed to General Johnston their fears that they could not hold the positions assigned them, because of a possible enfilading fire from a Federal battery on the (opposite ridge. General Hardee stated that he could hokl his position, although it was a less favorable one, so far as the nature of the ground was concerned. Johnston was very unwilling to abandon the position without a battle; but finally, in deference to the judgment of two of his three Lieutenant-Generals, consented to do so ; and accordingly fell back to the Etowah River, and crossed it the next day. On the 22d of the month, General Wheeler was instructed to go north of the river with his cavalry, and ascertain the move- ments of the Federal arm\'. He soon received information that Sherman was moving westward, as if to cross the Etowah near Stilesboro and Euharlee, and on the 24th, in the vicinity of Cass- ville, encountered the troops guarding a large supply train. A sharp fight ensued between Wheeler's cavalry and the Feder- als, which resulted in the capture of 182 prisoners, about 200 wagons, with army stores, etc. The Confederates brought across the Etowah River 70 of these loaded wagons, with their teams, contents, etc., and burned the rest. The information sccuretl by Wheeler showed that Sherman had e\identl\- determined not to move directly against the very strong position at Allatoona Pass, on the Western & Atlantic Railroad ; but to pro- ceed, via Dallas and Burnt Hickory, against Marietta. This movement was a difficult one, being through a rough, densely-wooded country, with few roads and these very indififerent, ;uul, furthermore, away from the railroad, his main channel for su[)plics. On the 23d, therefore, Lieutenant-General Hardee was ordered, by General Johnston, to march, by New Hope Church, to the road leading from Stilesboro through Dallas to Atlanta, and Lieutenant-General Polk to move to the same road, by a route further to the left. Lieutenant-General Hood was directed to follow Hardee the next da\-. Hardee's MATTHEWl, NQHTHRur 4 C 'XMTiNS wuia, luFfAu:. n. r 40 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS (N GEORGIA. corps reached the point designated to them, tiiat afternoon. Polk's was then within four or five miles of it, to the east, and Hood's within four miles of New Hope Church, on the road to it from Allatoona. On the 25th he reached New Hope Church early in the day. Learning that the Federal arni\- was in close pro.ximity, its right at Dallas, and its line extending towards Allatoona. General Hood was ordered by General Johnston to form his corps parallel to the road by which he had marched, with his centre opposite the church. General Polk was instructed to place his in line with it, but about five miles from this position, on the left : and General Hardee was ordered to occupy the ridge extending from General Polk's corps across the road leading from Dallas toward Atlanta, his left division, Bate's, holding that road. During the afternoon, Hood's advanced lines, consisting of one regiment, encountered a portion of Hooker's corps. A gallant fight ensued; but the Confederates were driven back to Stewart's division. Late in the afternoon, heavy cannonading was opened upon Hood's center division, Stewart's, opposite New Hope Church. This was soon supple- mented by an attack in line of battle by Hooker's corps, in such deep order that it pre- sented a front equal only to that of Stewart's first line, of three brigades. The firing at once became general, and the Federal advance was very steady and resolute, until witliin some fifty paces of the Confederate lines. Here, however, they paused, and then fell back. They again advanced, and pushed as near the Confederate line as before ; but so desperate was the resistance, and so hot the fire of musketry and artillery, that the assailants were again compelled to retire. While the combat was raging, a shell from one of the Federal batteries burst between Generals Johnston and Hood, who were standing but a few yards apart, near the church ; but fortunately neither of them was hurt. In this action portions of two Confederate brigades (Clayton's and Baker's) were partially sheltered by some fallen timber, which, finding near their line, they had hastily thrown into position. The other brigade ( Stovall's Georgians) had no protection. The night, whicli came on, was very dark, with heavy rains; and there was much con- fusion in both armies, as they were endeavoring to assume position, facing each other, among the thickly-wooded hills, and each industriously working, though in the darkness! to strengthen its ground against any sudden a.ssault by its enemy. General Sherman says : " I slept on the ground without cover, alongside of a log, got little sleep, resolved at dayli-ht to renew the battle, and to make a lodgment on the Dallas and Allatoona road if possible, but the mornmg revealed a strong line of intrenchments facing us, with a heavy force of infantry and guns. The battle was renewed and without success."— (Memoirs, Vol. II., page 44.) That morning, the Confederates found the Federal line extending much further east than it was the day before. In the afternoon, quite a sharp fight occurred between a large body of P^ederal cavalry and Avery's regiment of Georgia cavalry. Although desperately wounded. Colonel Avery continued to command, and maintained the contest until the arrival of re-enforcements, who held the position. s 3 2 ? ^ o 3 3 42 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. The Pederals kept rapidly extendi,,.,, tl.eir line to their left, the Confederates beinc. forced thereby to counter movements, which soon brou^d,t on another engagement Late in the afternoon of the 2;th, a bloody struggle ensued between Cleburne's div-ision of Hardee s corps, aided by a portion of Wheeler's dismounted cavalry, and the Fourth Army corps of Pederals, under command of General Howard, in columns six lines deep near P.cketfs Mill and the road leading from Burnt Hickory. The latter assailed the Confederates with great cour-' age, and pressed forward with fortitude under fire, which will ever be remembered with admiration b\- those who met them. The two forces, neither having intrenchments. were once within twenty paces of each other ; but. at length the Federals were compelled to give way before the terrific storm of bullets; and fled for refuge to a ravine near by. About ten o'clock that night, ascertaining that many of the Federal troops were in the ravine before them, the Confederates charged and drove them out, taking some 232 prisoners. The scene of the struggle was in a dense wood, with thick undergrowth, broken by hills and ravines, where nothing could be observed at a distance, and where neither side could see what was going on, except at the immediate point of conflict. The acknowledged loss of the Federals in this combat was about 1,500 men. Cleburne's loss was 85 killed and t,6t^ wounded. * Among other trophies, the Confederates cap- tured some 1,200 small arms. General Johnston records the following touching incident of this fic^ht^ ii^^:^^:^:^:'^^'''^ "'^"' --' '--^ "-^ '■- «^i-^ «f -^iierly delotion'-- On the morning of the 28th. the Confederates, having formed the idea that the g ate, port,.,n of t e I-ederal army had been withd,-awn towa,-ds the position in front of the Confederate r.ght, detenm'ned to seize the works opposite their left, and thus turn She,mans nght; but, after meeting hot resistance fn.m a,-tille,-v and infant.-v were repulsed with a loss of several hund,-ed me,i. This assault (by IJate's division of IIa,-dee's co,-ps) was made upon Lo..an's corps battcrj, .h.ch had been run out near the skirmish line, were captured by the Co.ifeder- i i = o ■ 8? C 75 " O s s s I' ^ ^ ™ H O "■ "., c S S CD ", o i o BATTLE OF PICKETT'S MILL — FIRST VOLLEY FROM THE CONFEDERATES. Gen. Patrick R. Cleuurne, Near New Hope Church, west of the Western ^ Atlantic Railroad. Gen. U. O. Howard, Commanding Confctlerate Stales Forces. May 2y, iSb4. Commandine United States Forces. ates; but tliey could not take them off. The assaulting columns were caught by both a front and a cross fire from the breastworks. The Federal General Cox says that "the enemy" charged up to the intrenchments "with the most determined courage, and, though suffering terribly, was not driven back till he had inflicted considerable loss upon us, some of our bravest and best officers being among the killed and wounded."' He further says: " The night following (May 29th) another effort was made against McPherson, aiul the alarm ran down the whole line. Nearly ail of Johnston's batteries opened from riglit to left, and skirmish lines were pushed up close to Sherman's works. The night was dark, anti along the centre, where the valley was open, the flashing artillery from the hilltops, and the flying and bursting shells made a magnificent spectacle, but it endetl in display. It drew lire enough from McPherson to prove that he was still there, and this was probably all that the enemy intended by it." Of the general operations during this period, the tw^o great commanders bear witness as follows: "The Federal intrenched line was extended daily towanl the railroad in the direction of Allatoona. We endeavored to keep pace with this extension, to prevent being cut off from the rail- road and Marietta. But, from the great inequality of force, two or three miles of the right of ours was occupied by dismounted cavalry in skirmishing order. The enemy's demonstrations against this part of our front led to skirmishing with Wheeler's troops, in which the latter captured above a hundred prisoners between the ist and 4th of June. The infantry skirmishers of the two armies were incessantly engaged at the same time, from right to left, when there was light enough to dis- tinguish and aim at a man." — (Johnston's Naruai ivk, page 335.) GENERAL U, S. GRAMT, Crimniander of the Federal Army at the b.^ttle of Missionary Ridi^e " Meantime Thomas and Schofield were completing their deployments, gradually overlapping Johnston on his right, and thus extending our left nearer and nearer to the railroad, the nearest point of which was Acworth, about eight miles distant. All this time a continual battle was in progress by strong skirmish lines, taking advantage of every species of cover, and both parties fortifying each night by rifle-trenches, with headlogs, many of which grew to be as formidable as first-class works of defence. Occasionally one party or the other would make a dash in the nature of a sally, but usually it sustained a repulse with great loss of life. I visited personally all parts of our lines, nearly every day, was constantly within musket range, and though the fire of musketry and cannon resounded day and night along the whole line, varying from si.x to ten miles, I rarely saw a dozen of the enemy at any one time, and these were always skirmishers dodging from tree to tree, or behind logs on the ground, or who occasionally showed their heads above the hastily con- structed but remarkably strong rifle-pits." — (Sherman's Memoirs, Vol. II., page 45.) On the 4th of June, the Federal army being concentrated principally on its left, near the railroad, and covered by its long line of intrenchments, the Confederates abandoned AUatoona and Acworth, and fell back to a new position, near Kennesaw Mountain, their left wing resting on Lost Mountain, and their right extending east of the Western & Atlantic Railroad and behind Noonday Creek. Of this change of base. General Sherman says: "On the ist of June, General McPherson closed in upon the right, and, without attempting further to carry the enemy's strong position at New Hope Church, I held our general right in close contact with it, gradually, carefull}', and steadily working by the left, until our strong infantry lines had reached and secured possession of all the wagon roads between New Hope, Allatoona and Acworth, when I dispatched Generals Garrard's and Stoneman's divisions of cavalry into Allatoona, 46 MOUNTAIX CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. the first around by the west end of the pass, and the latter by the direct road. Both reached their destination without opposition, and orders were at once given to repair the railroad forward from Kingston to Allatoona, embracing the bridge across the Etowah River. "Thus the real object of my move on Dallas was accomplished, and on the 41)1 of June I was preparing to draw off from New Hope Church, and to take position on the railroad in front of Allatoona, when deneral Johnston himself having evacuated his position, we effected the change without further battle, and moved to the railroad, occupying it from Allatoona and Acworth for- ward to ISig Shanty, in sight of the famous Kennesaw Mountain. * * * * "With the drawn battle of New Hope Church, and our occupation of the natural fortress of Allatoona, terminated the month of May, and the first stage of the campaign." — (Sherman's Memoirs, \'o\. H., pages 46, 49.) Thus fell Allatoona, which General Sherman calls "the H 3- - > ^ H " - n > ^ ?3 " a. '± O OJ s 68 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. man shody while standing, could be seen by the enemy, and so Lieutenants Harris and Murphy of Guibors battery, with their men, crawled on their hands and knees while withdrawing the left section and lowered those two pieces over a declivity by means of ropes." From Marietta, Johnston fell back to a new position, which had been prepared by Colonel Prestman. This consisted of what General Sherman calls one of the strongest pieces of field fortification he ever saw. It ran from the Chattahoochee River south of the Western & Atlantic Railroad, up through the hill country, across it, thence joining the river again some two or three miles above,— its entire length being several miles. Sherman thought that in the hurry of evacuation Johnston's army would be in considerable confusion ; hence, pressed his col- umns forward with great energy, to crush the Confederates, if possi- ble ; but it was -soon demonstrated that Johnston had prepared against this very contingency by throwing up a long east and west line of intrenchments, which cross- ed the railroad at Ruff's Station, and also another, crossing it at Smyrna. These delayed the Fed- erals so very much that the pursuit accomplished nothing in the re- sults Sherman wished. Sherman's opinion of John- ston's shrewdness and forethought in this matter was expressed in a dispatch, wherein he said: "We ought to have caught Johnston on his retreat, but he had prepared the way too well." There was a sharp fight at the works at Ruff's, July 3d: and the 4th of July was celebrated by quite a struggle at the intrenchments at Smyrna, in which the Federals were repulsed. General Noyes of Ohio here lost his leg, and General Sherman says: "I came very near being shot myself." The Federals, however, made a strong demonstra- tion against the line near the Chattahoochee; but, being met b\- a heavv fire, were compelled to draw off. During the ne.vt few days, with a strong array confronting the Confederate fortifications, several columns were also thrown out by Sherman, north ami south of Johnston's position, for a number of miles each way, which resulted in securing the possession of one or two crossings over the Chattahoochee. Accordingly, after some fighting at several points, Johnston evacuated this position, and crossed the Chattahoochee River, burning the railroad bridge. 5*nfilPllP' V"" 70 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. The two armies, now almost in tlie snijurbs of Atlanta, hctjan prcparini;- for what would have been a tedious siege, when, on the 17th of July, General Jnlmston was relieved of the command of the army, and General Hood appointed to succeed him. This change of commanders by the Confederate government amounted to a change of programme; and Sherman, being almost intuitively aware of it, changed his tactics accordingly, and, instead of assaulting or making offensive movements against the Confederate lines, assumed a strong position on Peachtree Creek, northward of Atlanta. On the 20th of Jul}-, General Hood made an impetu- ous assault upon the Federal army; but the Confederates were worsted in the battle, and sustained considerable loss. The heavy battle of the 22d of July, between Atlanta and Decatur, in which General McPherson and the Con- federate General Walker were killed, gained no advantage to the Confederates ; nor did the battle of Ezra Church, on the 28th of July. The mistake which was made in removing the pru- dent and sagacious Johnston, and abandoning his defen- sive tactics, substituting therefor an aggressive policy by an army which had scarcely more than half its enemy's numbers, is one which, in the present day, finds almost no one to defend it. " But turn the page, let War's dread name Be buried with his dead; O'er every scar let peaceful Fame Her downy mantle spread: Beat into useful plowshares now The once blood-dripping sword. And from each council-chamber vow To banish fierce discord ! " So let us cease the recital of the deeds of strife and of ruin, which, over twenty years ago, were enacted with the thunder of cannon, the waving of banners, and all the "gorgeous panoply of war," amid the craggy mountains, and forest-covered hills and valleys, and by the rushing rivers of North Georgia. High in the Temple of Fame glitter the names of Chickamauga, Ringgold, Resaca, Allatoona, Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta, and of the heroes, who, around them, fought for their Union, their cause, and their flag. Whether mistaken or true Mere their teachings let us presume not to judge. Sufficient it is that over two hundred thousand men, upon these fields of carnage, bared their breasts to sustain their convictions, and eighty-eight thousand shed their blood in defence of what they thought was right. The long struggle is ended ; the wail of humiliation is hushed, and the luizza of proud triumph is over; the cypress has draped the coffins of the vanquished, and the laurel has crowned the victor's brow. DEATH OF GEN J B McPHERSON In Battle of Atlanta, Jul> 2 1864 The " lost cause " is but a memory : its last trumpet-note has died away upon the air, its last tattoo has beat, its cannon, dismounted, no longer boom forth even the funeral minute guns. Its starry-cross flag, sanctified by the blood of the loved and the brave, is cherished only as a relic of a past day, glorious to fame, but forevermore departed. The reality of its existence was like that of its lone bark, the Alabama, which fearlessly went forth upon the world's broad ocean, cleaving a way to historic glory ; but, finding among all the nations no friendly fleet to join her, at last, before the guns of her enemy, went down beneath the stormy billows, carrying with her, her power and her flag; but leaving behind a name whose like the stars have never shone upon. So beneath the waters let the heart-burnings over the strife and woes of the past be buried. The tempest of blood which drenched our land has ceased ; its sulphurous clouds have rolled away, and the beams of the sun of reconciliation and restored union are lighting the sky over mountain and dale. - The echoes of the storm are fast being stilled in the ears of those who once invoked it ; but yet, like the voice of thunder, they roll forth to the world the defiance of American manhood to whomsoever dare strike " the 72 MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGNS IN GEORGIA. old flag" or " tlic lantl wc h)\-e " ; and in the hearts of tliose who once strove, there rules, for the dead of either side who gave their lives for their convictions, the sentiment which one wrote of the humble grave in Allatoona Pass, ere he knew under which flag its occupant had shed his blood : " In the railroad cut there's a lonely grave Which the track-men hold sacred to care : They have piled 'round it stones, and for it they save Every flower, when their task calls them there. "Away from the home of his love, Away from his sweetheart or wife, Away from his mother, whose prayers went above, He gave for his country his life. " We know not if, wearing the blue, he came 'Neath the ' bright starry banner ' arrayed. And, dying, that it o'er the mountain of fame Might forever in triumph wave, prayed. ''Or we know not if, 'neath the South's cross flag He rush'd forth, his country's defender. Valiant, smote those who her cause down would drag. And only to death did surrender. " That, God only knows ; and so in His hand Let the secret unfathomed e'er rest ; But this we know that he died for his land, And the banner he thought was the best. " Heav'n pity the dear ones who pray'd his return, Hcav'n bless them, and shield them from woes, Heav'n grant o'er his grave to melt anger stern, And make brothers of those who were foes ! " THE OPINIONS OK GEN. WM.T. SHERMAN AND GEN. JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON ABOUT THE ''Mountain Campaigns in Georgia, or JFar Scenes on tlie IV. & A." FROM GEN. \V. T. SHERMAN. 912 Garrison Avenue, Jos. M. Brown, Esq. St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 18, 1886. Westeni b' Atlantic R. R., Atlatifa, Ga. My Dear Sir : I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January T4th, with the embel- lished pamphlet entitled " The Mountain Campaigns in Georgia," and take great pleasure in complimenting you on having made so condensed and valuable a souvenir of the old State Railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta. The maps are admirable, the illustrations are characteristic, and the text as near the truth as can be compressed in so small a space. I am willing to endorse what you record — that the Atlanta Campaign of 1864 would have been impossible without this road, that all our battles were fought for its possession, and that the Western & Atlantic Railroad of Georgia "should be the pride of every true American," because, "by reason of its existence the Union was saved." I infer you have prepared this costly pamphlet to induce travel by this route, and I will add that the scenery will fully repay every lover of nature's beauty and sublimity ; that every foot of it should be sacred ground, because it was once moistened by patriotic blood ; and that over a hundred miles of it was fought a continuous battle of one hundred and twenty days, during which, day and night, were heard the continuous boom of cannon and the sharp crack of the rifle. I sincerely wish for you, and all like you, all success, prosperity and happiness, in these days of peace, made possible by the deadly struggles between Chattanooga and Atlanta in the summer of 1864. With great respect, your friend, W. T. SHERMAN. FROM GEN. JOSEPH E.JOHNSTON. Washington, D. C, Jan. 18, 1886. Jos. M. Brown, Esq. Mv Dear Sir: Your letter of the 14th, and the beautiful "War Scenes" that came by the same mail, were received this morning, and I thank you for them most cordially, not only for the pleasure they have already given me, but because you put before the public an excellent historical sketch in so attractive a form as to secure for operations most interesting to me the attention of our Southern people. I have seen no publication relating to the war so attractive in style and appearance. With friendly regards to your brother, I am. Yours very truly, J, E. JOHNSTON. I E JL "09 MjOUHT^IN (A>^P41GH5 g (JEOI^I^ (H^nANOOG^D^UON-^TLTO 1863-1864 ^ ^ ^^^^^' ■^"^^"Ss* K v/>?^ '*^,- Price 35 Cents. established 1861. Incorporated 1887. Commenced Bust nes6 under state Chadter, May 1, 1888. TkLowry Banking Co. OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, Successors to w. m. & r. j. lowry. bankers. This Bank ooe« a oeneral bankiho business, and re- spectfully 80ucits th6 accounts of in- dividuals, banks and corporations gener- ALLY. Capital Paid in, $350,000. Surplus, $130,000. Liability, Same as National Banks, $700,000. BOARD OF directors: JOEL HURT, President East Atlanta Land Co. ST. JULIAN RAVENEL, of St. Julian Ravenel & Ca JOS. T. ORME, Treasurer City of Atlanta. J. H. PORTER, President Merchants Bank. S. M. INMAN, of S. M. Inman & Co. THOS. D. MEADOR, late of Oglesby & Meador Grocery Co. ROBERT J. LOWRY, President Atlanta Home Insurance Co. Bills of Exchange drawn direct on the principal cities of Europe and other countries. Letters of credit available on all parts of the world. COLLECTIONS A SPECIALTY. NO INTEREST PAID ON DEPOSITS. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis R'y A.ND WESTERN & ATLANTIC RAILROAD TO • CHATTANOOGA AND ATLANTA. BATTLEFIELDS LINES.— " LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND KENNESAW ROUTE." Murfreesboro, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Ringgold, Rocky- Face, Dalton, Resaca, AUatoona, Big Shanty and Kennesaw Mountain battlefields on these lines. ONE CENT PER MILE TRAVELLED. Dedication of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park, Chattanooga, Tenn., September 19 and 20, 1895. TICKETS, LIMITS, ETC. From Cincinnati, Ohio, round trip, open, non-signature tickets to Chattanooga, Tenn., will be sold on September 8th, 9th, loth, nth, and i6th, 17th, i8th and 19th, good going from Cincinnati on date of sale only, with final limit, October 13, 1895. From Louisville, Ky., round trip, open, non-signature tickets to Chattanooga, Tenn., will be sold September 8th to 19th, inclusive, good going from Louisville on date of sale only, with final limit, October 13, 1895. The following are the rates to Chattanooga: RATES. From Mt. Vernon, 111 $8.40 " Ashley, 111 8.75 " East St. Louis, 111 9.90 " St. Louis, Mo 10.40 From Cincinnati, Ohio, $7-25 " Louisville, Ky., 6.35 " Evansville, Ind 6.70 " Carmi, 111., 7-45 NOTE.— Passengers purchasing through round trip tickets to Chattanooga on September 8, 9, 10, or II, 1895, at Cincinnati reading via this line, or tickets reading via Cincinnati and this line, will be allowed stop-overs at Louisville to attend the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic. Cotton States and International Exposition, Atlanta, Ga. The Cotton States and International Exposition opens September 18, and closes December_3i, 1895. The Exposition will be more varied in interest and comprehensive than any other exhibition ever presented in the United States except the World's Fair at Chicago. RATES TO ATLANTA. Tickets will be sold from Chattanooga to Atlanta and return on September 20th, 21st and 22d, limited for return to ten days from date of sale, at rate of $2.75 for the round trip. STOP-OVERS. Stop-overs will be allowed at any point on the line of the WESTERN & ATLANTIC RAILROAD for the purpose of visiting the old battlefields. For tickets, descriptive pamphlets or other information, apply to S. E. HOW^ELL, M. S. RELFE, J. L. EDMONDSON, Passenger and Ticket Agent. Traveling Agent, Traveling Passenger Agent, Cor. Ninth and Ma^icet Stj. Union Depot, Or. Chattanooga, Tenn. JOS. M. BROWN, CHAS. E. HARMAN, Traffic Manager. General Passenger Agent, Atlanta, Ga.