No. 129.-Col. William B. Anderson, Sixtieth Illinois Infantry. No. 130.-Col. Charles M. Lum, Tenth Michigan Infantry, of operations May 16 August 27. No. 131.-Capt. William H. Dunphy, Tenth Michigan Infantry, of operations August 27-September 8. No. 132.-Col. Henry R. Mizner, Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, of operations June 4-September 5. No. 133.-Maj. Joel O. Martin, Seventeenth New York Infantry, of operations September 1. No. 134. Col. John G. Mitchell, One hundred and thirteenth Ohio Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 135.-Lieut. Col. Oscar Van Tassell, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry. No. 138.-Capt. Toland Jones, One hundred and thirteenth Ohio Infantry. No. 139.-Col. Henry B. Banning, One hundred and twenty-first Ohio Infantry. No. 140.-Lieut. Col. James W. Langley, One hundred and twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 141.-Capt. James R. Griffith, Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry. No. 142.-Lieut. Col. Allen L. Fahnestock, Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry. No. 143.-Lieut. Col. E. Hibbard Topping, One hundred and tenth Illinois Infantry. No. 144.-Capt. George W. Cook, One hundred and twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry. No. 145.-Capt. William H. Snodgrass, Twenty-second Indiana Infantry. No. 146.-Maj. James T. Holmes, Fifty-second Ohio Infantry. No. 147.-Brig. Gen. Absalom Baird, U.S. Army, commanding Third Division. Brigade. No. 149.-Col. Morton C. Hunter, Eighty-second Indiana Infantry. No. 150.-Col. William P. Robinson, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, of operations July 10-September 8. No. 151.-Lieut. Col. Ogden Street, Eleventh Ohio Infantry, of operations May 7-30. No. 152.-Col. Durbin Ward, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry. No. 153.-Lieut. Col. Frederick W. Lister, Thirty-first Ohio Infantry. No. 154.-Maj. John H. Jolly, Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry, of operations May 7 June 1. No. 155.-Col. Caleb H. Carlton, Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry, of operations June 1 September 8. No. 156.-Col. Benjamin D. Fearing, Ninety-second Ohio Infantry. No. 157.-Col. Newell Gleason, Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 158.-Maj. Cyrus J. McCole, Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry. No. 159.-Lieut. Col. Edwin P. Hammond, Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry. No. 160.-Lieut. Col. Thomas Doan, One hundred and first Indiana Infantry. No. 161.-Lieut. Col. Judson W. Bishop, Second Minnesota Infantry. No. 162.-Lieut. Col. George T. Perkins, One hundred and fifth Ohio Infantry. No. 163.-Col. George P. Este, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, commanding Third Bri gade. No. 164.-Col. William H. Hays, Tenth Kentucky Infantry. No. 165.-Maj. John W. Wilson, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, of operations, May 10August 20. No. 166.-Capt. George W. Kirk, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, of operations Sep tember 1. No. 167.-Col. William A. Choate, Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry, of operations May 10-August 15. No. 168.-Maj. Charles Houghtaling, First Illinois Light Artillery, Chief of Artillery, No. 169.-Capt. Mark H. Prescott, Battery C, First Illinois Light Artillery. No. 172.-Lieut. William P. Stackhouse, Nineteenth Indiana Battery, of operations No. 173. Capt. Milton A. Osborne, Twentieth Indiana Battery, of operations August 14-September 2. No. 174.—Lieut. Joseph McKnight, Fifth Wisconsin Battery.* No. 1. Reports of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, U. S. Army, commanding Military Division of the Mississippi. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, In the Field, Acworth, Ga., June 8, 1864. I have heretofore telegraphed you almost daily the progress of events in this quarter,t and as I propose to delay here to-day and it may be to-morrow to afford time to repair railroad bridge across the Etowah and for other combinations at a distance, I propose now merely to report in general terms the state of affairs for the information of the lieutenant-general commanding the armies of the United States. Having made my orders at Nashville for the concentration of the Armies of the Cumberland, Ohio, and Tennessee at and near Chattanooga by May 5, according to the programme of Lieutenant-General Grant, I repaired to Chattanooga in person on the 29th of April, and remained there until May 6, by which date General Thomas had grouped his army at and about Ringgold, General Schofield his at and near Cleveland, and General McPherson at and near Gordon's Mills on the Chickamauga. May 6, all the armies moved forward, General Thomas on Tunnel Hill, a gravelly range of hills covering the mouth of the famous Buzzard Roost Pass through Rocky Face Ridge; General Schofield along the east of that range approaching Dalton from the north, and General McPherson aiming for Resaca, eighteen miles south of Dalton, through Snake Creek Gap and Sugar Valley. The enemy lay at Dalton, holding the Buzzard Roost Pass, the line of Mill Creek to the north, and his line of railway back toward Atlanta. My purpose was that General McPherson should reach the railway at Resaca, destroy it to Johnston's rear, and then take up a strong defensive position near the mouth of the gap, and to operate on the flank of the enemy as he retreated. General McPherson reached Resaca with little difficulty but did not break the road. As soon as I learned this I left General Howard's corps (the Fourth) with cavalry to watch the Buzzard Roost Pass and moved the whole army to Resaca. From the Rocky Face Ridge the enemy had a full view of our movement and a shorter and better line to reach Resaca, so that when on the 13th May I reached Resaca the enemy had evacuated Dalton and • occupied Resaca in force. I did not hesitate to attack him though strongly intrenched. Sending a division (General Sweeny's) of the Sixteenth Corps with a pontoon train to Lay's Ferry with orders to *Reports continued in Part II. cross the Oostenaula, there to threaten and if necessary attack the enemy's line at Calhoun, I gradually enveloped the enemy in Resaca, and pressed him so hard that he evacuated in the night of May 15 and retreated by the good roads south. He made a short stand at Adairsville and made extensive preparation at Cassville, but on our approach in strength he retreated south of the Etowah River by the Allatoona Pass. The country along the Etowah is rich in wheat fields and in minerals. Occupying Rome and Kingston I delayed until the 23d of May to fill our wagons and replenish ammunition. I knew the strength of Allatoona Pass, having ridden through it twenty years ago, and knew it would reduce our strength by forcing us to operate by the head of a single column. I determined not to attempt it but to pass the range by other more devious and difficult natural roads that would admit of more equal terms with the enemy should he attempt to meet us. Accordingly, on the 23d, General Thomas was ordered to move via Euharlee, Stilesborough, and Burnt Hickory on Dallas; General Schofield to cross the Etowah higher up and keep on General Thomas' left, via Richland Creek and Huntsville, while General McPherson crossed at the mouth of Connasene Creek and moved to the right of Dallas, via Van Wert. General Jeff. C. Davis' division, of General Thomas' army, had occupied Rome from Resaca, moving by the west of the Oostenaula. General McPherson was ordered to relieve General Davis by a brigade of his, and General Davis also marched from Rome via Van Wert. All the columns reached their destined points on the 25th, and we found the enemy in force on all the roads occupying difficult ground, extending along the Dallas and Acworth road, beginning about two miles northeast of Dallas and extending full five miles. As soon as the head of General Thomas' column, General Hooker's corps, could be got well into position, I ordered it to attack violently and secure the position at New Hope Church, which would have broken the line of the enemy in two and given us great advantage. General Hooker attacked well and drove the enemy back to the very road, but a pitchy dark night set in and by the next day the enemy had strengthened his position by strong breast-works that were too serious to attempt. Accordingly I ordered the whole army to deploy forward, conforming our line substantially to that of the enemy, General McPherson and General Davis, who were at and in front of Dallas, to close to the left of General Hooker. The ground was very difficult, being densely wooded and composed of ridges and spurs of flinty ground, very barren as to forage and difficult for roads. It took us nearly a week to feel well up to the enemy, who continued, of course, to strengthen his position, so that by the 31st of May it became necessary for me to order the direct assault or to turn the enemy's works. The railroad and main Georgia road being to our left, I resolved to pass the enemy's right flank and place the whole army in front of Allatoona Pass. General McPherson was ordered to draw off from Dallas and move up six miles and replace General Hooker on our right flank in front of New Hope Church, General Thomas and General Schofield to move to the left, making as much eastward as possible. General McPherson got up about noon of June 1 and the general movement began, but heavy rains set in, delaying us so that General Schofield did not actually envelop the enemy's extreme right until late in the afternoon of June 3; but in the mean time, coincident with the first move that could indicate to the enemy our purpose, I sent direct to Alla toona Pass all my available cavalry, General Stoneman to secure the east end and General Garrard the west end-both of whom succeeded. During the 4th it rained very hard and the night was dark and stormy, but in the morning the enemy was gone and we had full possession of Allatoona Pass and the railroad as far down as Kenesaw Mountain, which is a detached mountain near Marietta. This is what I was contending for, and I now have put a strong construction party at work on the Etowah bridge. Our wagons are back for forage and supplies. General Blair's column is just arriving, and to-morrow I expect to be ready to move on. We hold in some force Dalton, Kingston, Rome, Resaca, and Allatoona Pass. I am fully aware that these detachments weaken me in the exact proportion our enemy has gained strength by picking up his detachments. Johnston has managed to skillfully keep up the spirit of his army and people by representing his retreat as strategy, but I doubt if they can overlook the fact that he has abandoned to us the best wheat-growing region of Georgia and all its most valuable iron-works and foundries. I send you copies of my field orders* which will give pretty good idea of the strategy on our part, and send you a file of Atlanta papers up to the 5th instant. I cannot now undertake to describe our various conflicts, but will do so at a later period. Our losses and detachments are fully replaced by veteran regiments and detachments that have joined, and the two good old divisions of the Seventeenth Corps that General Blair has just brought up. I am, with respect, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. Washington, D. C. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, GENERAL: I have heretofore from day to day by telegraph kept the War Department and General-in-Chief advised of the progress of events, but now it becomes necessary to review the whole campaign which has resulted in the capture and occupation of the city of Atlanta. On the 14th day of March, 1864, at Memphis, Tenn., I received notice from General Grant, at Nashville, that he had been commissioned Lieutenant-General and Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States, which would compel him to go East, and that I had been appointed to succeed him as commander of the Division of the Mississippi. He summoned me to Nashville for a conference, and I took my departure the same day and reached Nashville, via Cairo, on the 17th, and accompanied him on his journey eastward as far as Cincinnati. We had a full and complete understanding of the policy and plans for the ensuing campaign, covering a vast area of country, my part of which extended from Chattanooga to Vicksburg. I returned to Nashville, and on the 25th began a tour of inspection, visiting Athens, Decatur, Huntsville, and Larkin's Ferry, Ala.; Chattanooga, Loudon, and Knoxville, Tenn. During this visit I had *See Part IV. See Parts IV and V, interviews with General McPherson, commanding the Army of the Tennessee, at Huntsville; Major-General Thomas, commanding the Army of the Cumberland, at Chattanooga, and General Schofield, commanding the Army of the Ohio, at Knoxville. We arranged in general terms the lines of communication to be guarded, the strength of the several columns and garrisons, and fixed the 1st day of May as the time when all things should be ready. Leaving these officers to complete the details of organization and preparation, I returned again to Nashville on the 2d of April, and gave my personal attention to the question of supplies. I found the depots at Nashville abundantly supplied, and the railroads in very fair order, and that steps had already been taken to supply cars and locomotives to fill the new and increased demand of the service, but the impoverished condition of the inhabitants of East Tennessee, more especially in the region around about Chattanooga, had forced the commanding officers of the posts to issue food to the people. I was compelled to stop this, for a simple calculation showed that a single railroad could not feed the armies and the people too, and of course the army had the preference, but I endeavored to point the people to new channels of supply. At first my orders operated very hard, but the prolific soil soon afforded early vegetables, and oxwagons hauled meat and bread from Kentucky, so that no actual suffering resulted, and I trust that those who clamored at the cruelty and hardships of the day have already seen in the results a perfect justification of my course. At once the store-houses at Chattanooga began to fill so that by the 1st of May a very respectable quantity of food and forage had been accumulated there, and from that day to this stores have been brought forward in wonderful abundance, with a surplus that has enabled me to feed the army well during the whole period of time, although the enemy has succeeded more than once in breaking our road for many miles at different points. During the month of April I received from Lieutenant-General. Grant a map, with a letter of instructions,* which is now at Nashville, but a copy will be procured and made a part of this report. Subsequently I received from him notice that he would move from his camp about Culpeper, Va., on the 5th of May, and he wanted. me to do the same from Chattanooga. My troops were still dispersed, and the cavalry, so necessary to our success, was yet collecting horses at Nicholasville, Ky., and Columbia, Tenn. On the 27th of April I put all the troops in motion toward Chattanooga, and on the next day went there in person. My aim and purpose was to make the Army of the Cumberland 50,000 men, that of the Tennessee 35,000, and that of the Ohio 15,000. These figures were approximated, but never reached, the Army of the Tennessee failing to receive certain divisions that were still kept on the Mississippi River, resulting from the unfavorable issue of the Red River expedition. But on the 1st of May the effective strength of the several armies for offensive purposes was about as follows: Army of the Cumberland, Major-General Thomas commanding : Infantry, 54,568; artillery, 2,377; cavalry, 3,828; total, 60,773. Guns, 130. Army of the Tennessee, Major-General McPherson commanding : Infantry, 22,437; artillery, 1,404; cavalry, 624; total, 24,465. Guns, 96. *See foot-note Vol. XXXII, Part III, p. 261, +See Vol. XXXII, Part III, p. 521 |