could spare from the Department of the South. This is my view, but before giving positive orders I want to make a yisit to Washington and consult a little on the subject. All Canby can do with his present force is to make demonstrations on Mobile and up the Appalachicola toward Columbus. He cannot possibly have the force to require the transportation your letters would indicate he has called for, or to consume the supplies. Either line indicated would cut off the supplies from the rich districts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi equally well. Whichever way Sherman moves he will undoubtedly encounter Hood's army, and in crossing to the sea-coast will sever the connection between Lee's army and this district of country. I wrote to Sherman on this subject, sending my letter by a staff officer. He is ready to attempt (and feels confident of his ability to succeed) to make his way to either the Savannah River or any of the navigable streams emptying into the Atlantic or Gulf, if he is only certain of finding a base open for him when he arrives. The supplies Canby was ordering I presume were intended for the use of Sherman's army. I do not deem it necessary to accumulate them in any great quantity until the base to which he is to make his way is secured. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Ú. S. GRANT, Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, CITY POINT, VA., October 4, 1864. Atlanta, Ga.: General Wilson has been ordered to report to you, and that he may have rank to command your cavalry I have asked that he be brevetted a major-general, and assigned with that rank. I believe Wilson will add 50 per cent. to the effectiveness of your cavalry. Major-General SHERMAN, Atlanta: U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, GENERAL: Your letter of the 20th ultimo,* inclosing a communication from General Schofield in regard to the question of command between himself and General Stanley, has been submitted to the Secretary of War, and I am directed to reply as follows: When the President of the United States has, under the act of April 4, 1862, assigned an officer to the command of an army, army corps, or department, no other officer of the same grade, although senior in rank, can assume or exercise the command of such army, army corps, or department. Suppose a general commanding in the field should attach to an army corps a division commanded by an officer ranking by seniority the commander of that corps, the former could not assume command of the corps by virtue of that seniority, because, in the language of the Sixty-second Article of War, it has been "otherwise specially directed by the President of the United States." Suppose there be assigned *See Part II, p. 413. to a department or army an army corps commanded by an officer ranking the department or army commander, the former could not claim to command the latter, because the President has "otherwise specially directed." The commander of an "army" is of higher rank than the commander of an "army corps," and the latter must yield when the two act together. So where two or more army corps act in the same department the commander so assigned by the President must command the whole, without regard to seniority. The case, however, is different where two corps in the same army or department "shall happen to join or do duty together," and not under the immediate orders of the department or army commander. Under such circumstances the corps commander of the highest rank would command the whole until "otherwise specially directed by the President of the United States." The same reasoning applies to two divisions which "shall happen to join or do duty together" beyond the direct authority of their corps commanders. Although General Stanley's claim to the command of the joint forces on the occasion alluded to is not sustained, it was nevertheless General Schofield's duty to acquiesce in your decision, and obey General Stanley's orders; and the Secretary of War is gratified to find in his conduct on the occasion, and in the tone of his protest, the spirit and subordination so commendable in the good soldier. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Smyrna Camp-Ground, October 4, 1864—6.10 a. m. I have not yet heard from General Elliott, except indirectly through one of General Vandever's scouts. Has he reported to you yet, and have you yet received any information of Hood's whereabouts? General Vandever's scout brings a story that a citizen told him that Hood, with a large force, was at Powder Springs last night, and was moving north via Dallas. I have received no other information of such facts. D. S. STANLEY, Major-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General D. S. STANLEY, I heard from General Elliott last night. He was on the Sandtown and Allatoona road, and reported he would push for Dallas to-day. Hood is reported with infantry at Powder Springs and Dallas; his cavalry upon our road above Marietta. I will be up to-day and move to Kenesaw. Cox and Howard moved at daylight, and will reach Smyrna to-night. Send word to Vandever to move his force to Kenesaw, leaving a picket in Marietta. 5 R R-VOL XXXIX, PT III W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. SMYRNA CAMP, October 4, 1864-8.30 a. m. Major-General SHERMAN: Shall I move to the west of Kenesaw and tell Davis to follow? CHATTAHOOCHEE BRIDGE, October 4, 1864. General D. S. STANLEY, S[myrna]: Yes, move to Little Kenesaw and west of it, taking a strong position. If you can communicate with Elliott tell him in my name to interpose with his whole cavalry force between Dallas and Allatoona and strike toward any force in the direction of Acworth. General Howard is here and General Cox expected every moment. I will push them forward tonight to Smyrna Camp. Leave a small brigade there until Howard or Cox arrives to cover your trains and keep communication. I will either be at Smyrna or Marietta to-night. Please answer. W. T. SHERMAN, HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Smyrna Camp-Ground, October 4, 1864-10.15 a. m. Major-General SHERMAN, Chattahoochee Bridge: I will move in a few minutes, leaving a brigade at this point. Elliott has already passed west of Marietta, and is moving to attack the rebel force at Big Shanty. D. S. STANLEY, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General D. S. STANLEY, En route for Little Kenesaw: I have a message from General Davis, and have just ordered him up to take position on your left. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. LITTLE KENESAW MOUNTAIN, October 4, 1864-5.30 p.m.. Major-General SHERMAN, Marietta, or Smyrna Camp-Ground: We arrived here at 3.30 p. m. and have camped in the old rebel works in the vicinity and south of Little Kenesaw. From top of the mountain I could see the rebel troops burning the road, all of which has been reported to you from other sources. Prisoners sent in by General Elliott report that they still have six days' rations. They say Stewart's corps is burning the road and Hardee's and Lee's corps are in the vicinity of Pine Mountain. General STANLEY: D. S. STANLEY, SMYRNA CAMP-GROUND, October 4, 1864. To-morrow I will concentrate the whole army at Kenesaw and move upon the enemy wherever he may be. Howard is here and Cox is at the river. Instruct Elliott, if you can communicate with him, to harass as much as possible the corps burning the railroad, and build fires as indications of a large force about Kenesaw. Hood left a considerable force down about Campbellton, and has with him doubtless the best part of his three corps. Howard and Davis will come up on the Mari etta and Sandtown road. General STANLEY: W. T. SHERMAN, SMYRNA CAMP, October 4, 1864. Make a feint on Pine Mountain in the morning with a view to prevent an attack on Allatoona, which I wish to avoid. My opinion is they don't want to fight, but want to interrupt our communication. W. T. SHERMAN, HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., October 4, 1864-8.30 p.m. General SHERMAN, Smyrna Camp-Ground: I think that the mass of the rebel army is north of the line from this to Pine Top. I think I can go there without much opposition. I ordered General Davis to-day to come up on my left to the position opposite the one from which he assaulted on the 27th of June, but he was not within two miles of this an hour after dark. I have been giving him orders. Is this in accordance with your wishes, or will you give them direct? General STANLEY: D. S. STANLEY, SMYRNA, October 4, 1864. I ordered General Davis to-day to move up on your left, connecting with you. I suppose it will require an order from me to put both corps under your command. I will be up in the morning early and will make the necessary orders; in the mean time General Davis will execute his orders and act in concert with you. Howard will come up on his left, and Cox on the right of the mountain. I propose to threaten the enemy's right, to interpose between him and his line of retreat, and desire a movement on Pine Top to deter him from attacking Allatoona before we get all ready. General Elliott is ordered also to act in concert with you. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Smyrna Camp-Ground, October 4, 1864-10.15 a. m. General WHITAKER: The command will prepare to move in the following order: First, will be the Third Division, with battery and ten ambulances following; second, the First Division and ten ambulances; next, the ammunition trains, and after them the remaining batteries of the artillery brigade; next, corps, division, and brigade headquarters trains; next, hospital trains and ambulances; next, regimental wagons. Division commanders will bring in their pickets at once. By command of Major-General Stanley: WM. H. SINCLAIR, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. (Same to General Wood and Captain Bridges.) HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, I arrived at the crossing last evening at dark; was only able to put one division across during the night. My troops and ammunition are all over and encamped on the road leading to Nickajack. This road leads through the rebel works at Nickajack and runs from there into the Marietta road. I have just returned from General Stanley's headquarters. He is moving for Little Kenesaw and advised me to move on this road to that point. My supply train is still on the other side of the river and rations are due the troops to-morrow night. Should I move without it I should fear its coming up. Please report this information to the general commanding. General DAVIS: JEF. C. DAVIS, Brevet Major-General. CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER, October 4, 1864-2 p. m. I want your division up toward Marietta, joining on to General Stanley on his left. Your trains will be safe, for Kilpatrick is off to your left. Still you should leave a guard with them. Howard's troops are now passing up to Smyrna. I want as strong a force up to the left of Kenesaw as possible to-night. Hood is at Dallas; his cavalry is on our road and Elliott is after them. W. T. SHERMAN, |