PART V.-VOL. XXXVIII. CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN, FROM JULY 1, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.* UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. NEAR KENESAW, July 1, 1864. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: " General Thomas offered General Crittenden a good division-Butterfield's, in Hooker's corps-but Crittenden declines, on the ground that, he formerly commanded a corps in the same army. A division is the legitimate command of a major-general, and he having declined I am released of the promise made through you to give General Crittenden a command. W. T. SHERMAN, NEAR KENESAW, GA., July 1, 1864-9.30 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.: General Schofield is now south of Olley's Creek, and on the head of Nickajack. I have been hurrying down provisions and forage, and tomorrow night propose to move General McPherson from the left to the extreme right, back of General Thomas. This will bring my right within three miles of Chattahoochee and about five of the railroad. By this movement I think I can force Johnston to move his army down from Kenesaw, to defend his railroad crossing and the Chattahoochee, when I will, by the left flank, reach the railroad below Marietta; but I cut loose from the railroad with ten days' supplies in wagons. Johnston may come out of his intrenchments and attack General Thomas, which is what I want, for General Thomas is well intrenched, parallel with the enemy, south of Kenesaw. I think Allatoona and the line of the Etowah are strong enough for me to venture on this move. The movement is substantially down the Sandtown road, straight for Atlanta. W. T. SHERMAN, *For Correspondence, etc., from May 1 to June 30, 1864, see Part IV. (3) Major-General SHERMAN: FRANKFORT, KY., July 1, 1864. I have just been relieved from the command of a gallant division in the Army of the Potomac at my own request, because most of the corps commanders were my juniors. Gladly as I would serve under you, yet I do not desire the command of a division in an army where I have commanded a corps and where most of the corps commanders are my juniors. T. L. CRITTENDEN, Major-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General CRITTENDEN, Frankfort, Ky. : I think you make a great mistake in declining a division, which is a major-general's command. You could not expect a corps commander to be removed to give place to you. Still, you had the offer of a good division, which is now withdrawn, and General Thomas says he has no other command to offer you. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, A. ANDERSON, General Supt. of Military Railroads, Nashville: I hear Mr. Taylor, the new superintendent, spoken of very highly. Bear in mind that these are war times and all must incur some risk. We here will do our share, but if the road or wires to the rear are interrupted, the repair must come mostly from your end. Keep Colonel McCallum advised that he must be prepared to lose half a dozen or more trains every month by guerrillas and dashes at the road which cannot be prevented. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General SHERMAN: NASHVILLE, July 1, 1864. We have made and continue to make large preparations for contingencies, loss of trains, and the like. We receive five to eight new engines per week and average over thirty cars per week. In July the number of cars received will be much greater. No pains, effort, or ex pense will be spared on our part. A. ANDERSON, Capt. C. R. CASE, LOST MOUNTAIN SIGNAL STATION, GA., Chief Signal Officer, Department of the Cumberland: Have opened with Captain Daniels, chief signal officer, Twenty-third Army Corps, south 40 degrees east, seven miles distant. Had fair view of Atlanta this evening. See fires in Marietta. No other rebel fires in sight. HOWGATE, Lieutenant, Acting Signal Officer. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General THOMAS: Let your artillery and skirmishers stir up the enemy a little this evening and to-morrow morning. I fear they are getting too strong on General Schofield, who has gone farther toward Ruff's Mill than I contemplated. (Same to McPherson.) W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. O. O. HOWARD, Commanding Fourth Army Corps: GENERAL: Let your artillery stir up the enemy this evening and tomorrow morning. It is feared they are getting too strong on General Schofield. By command of Major-General Thomas: (Same to Palmer and Hooker.) WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. O. O. HOWARD, In the Field, July 1, 1864. Commanding Fourth Army Corps: GENERAL: In the directions given this evening to stir up the enemy with artillery I should have said skirmishers and artillery. I desire how to make that correction. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General. (Same to Palmer and Hooker.) HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS, In the Field, near Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., July 1, 1864. Major-General STANLEY, First Division, Fourth Army Corps: GENERAL: You will relieve General Newton's troops as soon as it is dark to-night, extending your line on the left as far as Sutermeister's battery. By order of Major-General Howard: J. S. FULLERTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, In the Field, July 1, 1864. Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland: I am informed by General Baird that he has already relieved not only General Geary but also a part of General Williams' command, and General Williams has notified him this morning that he is about to draw out the rest of his force. I do not understand this or upon what grounds it is expected that all the men of Baird's division are to be forced into the lines. If ordered by proper authority it will be done, but I will not allow of it otherwise. Respectfully, JOHN M. PALMER, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. J. M. PALMER, Commanding Fourteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: Major-General Thomas has seen your note of this a. m., and directs me to say that he has no objection to your relieving, by General Baird's division, one brigade of General Williams', but that you will do no more. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SOUTHARD HOFFMAN, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, -Surg. G. E. COOPER, Near Kenesaw Mountain, July 1, 1864. Medical Director, Department of the Cumberland: First. I recognize the authority of the Surgeon-General or Assistant Surgeon-General to assign to duty and relieve from duty officers of the medical department with this army, provided that they report to me. that such officers are assigned to or relieved from duty in my army. The commander of an army cannot exercise the proper control over it unless he has authority to regulate all its details. Second. I consider the general hospitals wherever established under the control of the Surgeon-General U. S. Army, but should he desire the services of any medical officer of this army with any of the general hospitals, he must procure such by proper application and orders through the army commander to which such medical officers belong. Any other proceeding is ruinous to discipline as well as an efficient working of the details of army administration. Third. The Sanitary and Christian Commissions have done much good when we have been fortunate enough to deal with sensible and public spirited agents, but it has occurred to me that frequently complaints have been made when there has been no earthly necessity for them, and many obstacles to the efficient working of the medical department interposed, either absolutely or by insinuation, which has caused much embarrassment, and ultimately resulted in unnecessary suffering to the wounded and sick of our armies. Both institutions have done much good, but they would do much more if their agents confined themselves to their legitimate duties under the direction of the medical department of the army, the alleviation of the suffering of our sick and wounded soldiers, and not to pointing out whenever officers of the medical department have neglected their duties. It has been my experience to observe that when a new bureau or separate department of the military servicehas been or attempted to be established that the officers of that bureau make a point to decry all other departments which might interfere with its complete success. So with the Sanitary and Christian Commissions. They have caused much trouble and could be easily dispensed with for the good of the service, as their duties are legitimately those of and should be performed by the medical department. Very respectfully, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, Major-General SHERMAN: Stoneman reports the enemy's cavalry in strong force west of Sweet Water toward Villa Rica. He thinks it will not do to cross to the east of Sweet Water, leaving the enemy in his rear. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, Major-General SHERMAN: J. M. SCHOFIELD, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General SCHOFIELD: It is not reasonable to suppose Joe Johnston will keep at Villa Rica anything more than a cavalry force of observation. If General Stoneman deems it impossible to occupy the position of Sweet Water Town, |