Night before last a body of enemy’s cavalry, estimated at about three brigades, was reported moving toward Covington and Augusta. Our cavalry is pursuing, but the information is sent you that you take measures for defense.
J. B. HOOD,
General.
Report from Major General William T. Sherman about Garrard’s Raid on Covington – July 23, 1864
In the mean time Wheeler’s cavalry, unopposed (for General Garrard was absent at Covington by my order), had reached Decatur and attempted to capture the wagon trains, but Colonel (now General) Sprague covered them with great s
Read MoreFrom General John B. Hood to James A. Seddon – July 22, 1864
The army shifted its position last night, fronting Peach Tree Creek, and formed line of battle around the city with Stewart’s and Cheatham’s corps. General Hardee, with his corps, made a night march and attacked the enemy’s extreme left at 1 o’clock to-da
Read MoreReport from Confederate Major-General Joseph Wheeler’s Cavalry – July 22, 1864
On the night of the 21st, pursuant to orders from General Hood, I moved around to the enemy’s rear to attack him in conjunction with Lieutenant-General Hardee, who also moved upon their flank for the same purpose. My orders from General Hardee were to att
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General Henry W. Halleck – July 21, 1864
GENERAL: Yesterday at 4 p. m. the enemy sallied from his entrenchments and fell suddenly and heavily on our line in the direction of Buck Head. The blow fell upon General Newton’s division, of General Howard’s corps, and on General Ward’s, Geary’s, and Wi
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General James B. McPherson – July 21, 1864
GENERAL: I have yours of 8.45 last evening and regret much the wound which will deprive us of the services of General Gresham. I was in hopes you could have made a closer approach to Atlanta yesterday, as I was satisfied you had a less force and more infe
Read MoreFrom Major General James B. McPherson to Major General Grenville M. Dodge – July 21, 1864
Brigadier-General Garrard’s cavalry is ordered on an expedition by Major-General Sherman which will occupy them at least two days. This will leave Decatur defenseless, and the way open for a small body of the enemy’s cavalry to dash into our rear. You wil
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General Henry W. Halleck – July 20, 1864
GENERAL: I have a dispatch from General Grant. Answer him in my name that Major General Smith has the very orders he suggests, viz, to hang on the Forrest and prevent his coming to Tennessee. I will, however, renew the order. I advanced from the Chattahoo
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – July 20, 1864
GENERAL: After destroying the bridge at McAfee’s, which I suppose is already done, you will send to General McPherson’s guard at the bridge at Roswell your wagons, led horses, and baggage, and proceed rapidly to Covington, on the main wagon and rail road
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General George H. Thomas – July 19, 1864
GENERAL: I have this moment received yours of 3.30, and am very glad to hear that Howard has the means to cross over to Schofield in case of need. We have had some skirmishing and abundant evidence that the whole of the rebel army is about Atlanta. The fo
Read MoreSpecial Field Orders from Major General James B. McPherson to – July 19, 1864
In order to carry out Special Field Orders, Numbers 39, headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, a copy of which is inclosed herewith,* the following movements will take place to-morrow:
Read MoreSpecial Field Orders from Major General William T. Sherman to – July 19, 1864
In the Field, near Decatur, Ga., July 19, 1864.
The whole army will move on Atlanta by the most direct roads to-morrow, July 20, beginning at 5 a. m., as follows:
I. Major-General Thomas from the direction of Buck Head, his left to connect with Gene
From Major General William T. Sherman to Major General Henry W. Halleck – July 18, 1864
We moved to-day rapidly and General McPherson reached the Atlanta and Augusta road at a point seven miles east of Decatur and four miles from Stone Mountain. General Garrard’s cavalry at once set to work to break up road and was re-enforced by Brigadier G
Read MoreSpecial Field Orders from Major General William T. Sherman to – July 18, 1864
In the Field, near Cross Keys, Ga., July 18, 1864.
The movement of the army to-morrow, July 19, will be as follows:
I. Major-General Thomas will press down from the north on Atlanta, holding in strength the line of Peach Tree, but crossing and threa
From Colonel W. S. Jones to Captain Gordon Lofland – July 18, 1864
July 18, marched in the direction of Stone Mountain, supporting General Garrard’s cavalry; reached Atlanta and Augusta Railroad, near Stone Mountain, about 3 p. m., being the only infantry that reached the road. Destroyed about three miles of railroad and
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General James B. McPherson – July 18, 1864
I am at Sam. House’s, a brick house well known, and near Old Cross Keys. A sick negro, the only human being left on the premises, says we are eleven miles from Atlanta, five from Buck Head, and a sign board says ten miles to McAfee’s Bridge and eleven to
Read MoreFrom Major General James B. McPherson to Major General William T. Sherman – July 17, 1864
GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose herewith a sketch* of my position, together with a report from Brigadier General K. Garrard, giving the position of his troops and his operations for to-day. We have met nothing but cavalry, and few of them, except in
Read MoreSpecial Field Orders from Major General William T. Sherman to – July 17, 1864
Memoranda to Special Field Orders, Numbers 36: The map composed of two parts of the official compilation made at Marietta July 5 and 11, 1864, is the best and will be the standard for orders issued from these headquarters. As a general rule, old road will
Read MoreFrom General Joseph E. Johnston to Jefferson Davis – July 16, 1864
Your dispatch of to-day received. The slight change in the enemy’s dispositions made since my dispatch of the 14th to General Cooper was reported to General Bragg yesterday. It was a report from General Wheeler that Schofield’s corps had advanced eastward
Read MoreFrom Jefferson Davis to General Joseph E. Johnston – July 16, 1864
A telegram from Atlanta of yesterday announces that the enemy is extending intrenchments from river toward railroad to Augusta. I wish to hear from you as to present situation, and your plan of operations so specifically as will enable me to anticipate ev
Read MoreSpecial Field Orders from Major General William T. Sherman to – July 14, 1864
In the Field, near Chattahoochee River, Numbers 35.
July 14, 1864.
Preliminary steps having already begun, the following general plan will be observed and adhered to:
I. Major-General Thomas will prepare to cross his army at Powers’ and Pace’s Fe
From General Joseph E. Johnston to General Samuel Cooper – July 14, 1864
General Wheeler reports Dodge’s corps, with two brigades of cavalry, on this side of the river near Roswell, and Howard’s and Schofield’s corps also on this side, intrenched midway between Roswell and the railroad. A body of Federal cavalry crossed the ri
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General James B. McPherson – July 12, 1864
GENERAL: I have received your dispatches of last night. You may put in motion at once the Fifteenth Corps and trains for Roswell, leaving General Blair with such artillery and wagons as he may need to await the return of General Stoneman, and to make in t
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Lieutenant General U.S. Grant – July 12, 1864
DEAR GENERAL: I have written you but once since the opening of the campaign, but I report by telegraph to Halleck daily, and he furnishes you copy. My progress was slower than I calculated, from two chief causes, an uninterrupted rain from June 2 to about
Read MoreReport from Major General William T. Sherman about Atlanta Campaign – July 10, 1864
General Garrard Moved rapidly on Roswell, and destroyed the factories which had supplied the rebel armies with cloth for years. Over one of these, the woolen factory, the nominal owner displayed the French flag, which was not respected, of c
Read MoreFrom Brigadier General Kenner Garrard to Major General William T. Sherman – July 10, 1864
Your dispatch in regard to the reported force near Acworth has just been received. Communications, except by telegraph to Marietta, come very late; those by telegraph and my courier line in two hours. I will make full investigation to-day in regard to wha
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – July 9, 1864
Dispatch received. One division of Thomas’ moved for Roswell last night by the river road. Two divisions of McPherson, Dodge’s corps, are now moving for Roswell via Marietta. Hold fast all you have made, and fortify until re-enforced.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Journal of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph S. Fullerton, 4th Army Corps – July 9, 1864
July 9.- 2 a. m., received instructions from department headquarters to move the division to Roswell Factory at daylight, and to move without wagons. 2 a. m., directed General Newton to move his division to Roswell Factory at daylight (4.30) this morning,
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – July 8, 1864
I have been to our extreme right and all well. Be active at daylight to-morrow to draw attention as far down the river as possible. The moment I hear you have made a lodgment on the south bank I will send a division up to re-enforce you, and it will be fo
Read MoreFrom General Joseph E. Johnston to Jefferson Davis – July 8, 1864
SIR: I have received your dispatch of yesterday. Our falling back was slow. Every change of position has been reported to General Bragg. We have been forced back by the operations of a siege, which the enemy’s extreme caution and greatly superior numbers
Read MoreFrom Brigadier General Kenner Garrard to Major General William T. Sherman – July 7, 1864
GENERAL: I have nothing special to report. All day to-day I have been inspecting the country near here and find I can take position to advantage north of Roswell and about two miles from the town, and command all the roads between that place and the Etowa
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General Henry W. Halleck – July 7, 1864
General Garrard reports to me that he is in possession of Roswell, where were several valuable cotton and woolen factories in full operation, also paper-mills, all of which, by my order, he destroyed by fire. They had been for years engaged exclusively at
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – July 6, 1864
GENERAL: I have just received your note announcing that you have possession of Roswell. This is important; watch well the crossing there, but not in force; keep your main force concealed somewhat. General McCook has just started for some point between Rot
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General George Stoneman – July 5, 1864
DEAR STONEMAN: I have your note, which is very satisfactory. I have heard of your general success from other quarters. I will instruct General Barry to give you a good four-gun battery, if he can get one from some of the commands. Our left is now on the r
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General Henry W. Halleck – July 5, 1864
On the 3rd we pursued the enemy by all the roads south till we found him in an intrenched position which had been prepared in advance, its salient on the main Marietta and Atlanta road about five miles south of Marietta, and the wings behind the Nickajack
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General George H. Thomas – July 4, 1864
I have no doubt that the enemy will attempt to molest our rear with his cavalry, and that he has reserved Roswell fortified for that very purpose. To counteract his designs I have ordered Garrard, with his whole cavalry, to proceed to Roswell, take the pl
Read MoreFrom General Joseph E. Johnston to General Braxton Bragg – June 27, 1864
GENERAL: I have endeavored by my telegram to keep you informed of the course of military events in this department. I have not been able, however, in that brief style of correspondence to explain the mode of operating by which we have been pressed back so
Read MoreReport from Confederate Scout J. M. Glass – June 24, 1864
Says I left the Federal lines on 18th instant in company with J. C. Moore; passed around to the left of the Federal army; first came up to rebel cavalry two miles this side of Marietta; was at Colonel Hill’s headquarters till morning of 20th instant. That
Read MoreFrom Major General Frank P. Blair, Jr. to Lieutenant Colonel William T. Clark – June 23, 1864
The morning of the 19th [June] developed the fact that the enemy had fallen back from Brush Mountain to a line extending from the base of Kenesaw Mountain northeast, covering Marietta. My line was advanced at once to the crest of Brush Mountain. The 20th,
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to General U. S. Grant – June 18, 1864
DEAR GENERAL: I have the doubt you want me to write your occasionally letters not purely official, but which will admit of a little more latitude than such documents possess. I have daily sent to Halleck telegraphs which I asked him to report to you, and
Read MoreFrom Colonel Robert H. G. Minty to Captain Robert P. Kennedy – May 16, 1864
CAPTAIN: At 5 a. m. yesterday, the 15th instant, I marched from camp on Dry Creek. At about 8 a. m. my advance struck the enemy’s pickets near Farmer’s Bridge, on Armuchee Creek, and drove them in. The advance vedettes and a few of my scouts charged over
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – May 15, 1864
GENERAL: I regret exceedingly you did not avail yourself of the chance I gave you to cut the railroad. At the time you reached the bridge, Martin’s cavalry was all that was on that flank, and they widely scattered. Forrest on the 6th was retreating before
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