GENERAL: I will attend General Thomas’ army to-morrow and hope to reach Adairsville. You had better mass your men a little in front of Calhoun, and when you know Thomas is advancing south of Calhoun keep abreast or a little ahead of him. I presume you are
Read MoreFrom Captain L. M. Dayton to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – May 16, 1864
GENERAL: I am directed by the general commanding to say that General Davis was ordered to cross and operate with you, predicated upon information given him from your dispatch bearer, who stated positively that the Farmer’s Bridge was over the Oostanaula.
Read MoreFrom Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – May 16, 1864
GENERAL: I met your staff officer on his way to Resaca, he told me his business. The information he gave me concerning the bridges places [me] in some doubt as to what I had best do, and your intention to return to Ray’s [Lay’s] Ferry increases my perplex
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General George H. Thomas – May 16, 1864
GENERAL: Dispatch a good division down the old Rome road which passes down the west of the Oostanaula, four miles west of this to Farmer’s Bridge, which is eight miles north of Rome. There will be found General Garrard’s train of artillery which he will l
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
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General Henry W. Halleck – May 14, 1864
We have had hard fighting all day. Johnston purely on the defensive. The place has small detached redoubts, and in immense amount of rifle trenches. We have close the enemy well in, gaining ground slowly but securely all day. The country is very rough and
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – May 14, 1864
GENERAL: You will move your whole command down the valley toward Rome in one or two columns by Dirt Town or Dry Creek. If you can possibly cross Oostanaula make a strike for the railroad anywhere north of Kingston. Do this in your own way, but do it thoro
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General James B. McPherson – May 14, 1864
GENERAL: As I wrote you last night I intended to cross the Oostanaula south by our left, but Schofield has swung round so far to the north or left that time will be lost. The pontoons will be in an hour or so at a point on Snake Creek its mouth, with Capt
Read MoreFrom Colonel Robert H. G. Minty to Captain Robert P. Kennedy – May 13, 1864
CAPTAIN: I have to report the following information brought in by my scouts this evening: Martin’s division is north of Coosa River, probably three miles from Rome on the Summerville road. A picket of fifty men stand at Farmer’s Brigade, across Armuchee C
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General George H. Thomas – May 13, 1864
I want the pontoon bridge laid at the best point near Ray’s [Lay’s] Ferry, near the mouth of Lick or Snake Creek. I inclose a sketch* made to-day by a seemingly intelligent officer. As soon as I know the pontoons have started down the road I will send all
Read MoreFrom Major General James B. McPherson to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – May 12, 1864
Commanding Cavalry Division, Villanow:
GENERAL: The indications are that the enemy is evacuating Dalton. If this should prove to be really the case, I desire you to push a strong column down forward Rome to threaten that flank. Hold your command in rea
Special Field Orders from Major General William T. Sherman to – May 12, 1864
May 12, 1864.
The object of the movement for to-morrow is to interpose between the enemy and Resaca, and to break his communications.
I. Major-General McPherson will move his column directly on Resaca occupying in force the hills on this side of Cam
From Major General James B. McPherson to Major General George H. Thomas – May 11, 1864
Commanding Department of the Cumberland:
General Garrard has reported, and has been directed to remain at Villanow watching the road toward Rome and La Fayette until further orders.
JAS. B. McPHERSON,
Major-General, Commanding.
HDQ
Read MoreFrom Major General George H. Thomas to Major General James B. McPherson – May 11, 1864
Garrard at Villanow at 9 a. m. He is to report to you. Notify him of this fact, and notify me when he does so.
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General James B. McPherson – May 11, 1864
GENERAL: The indications are that Johnston is evacuating Dalton. In that event Howard and the cavalry will pursue, and all the rest will follow your note. I will be down early in the morning. Try and strike him if possible about the forks of the road. Hoo
Read MoreFrom Major General James B. McPherson to Major General William T. Sherman – May 10, 1864
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatches of 10 [.30] a. m. to-day. Brigadier-General Williams has reported his division at the west end of the gap, and I have directed him to leave one brigade there to guard the trains and t
Read MoreFrom Brigadier General Kenner Garrard to Major General James B. McPherson – May 10, 1864
GENERAL: Inclosed I send you an order just received.* I send one brigade to-night, and will with the other to-morrow, and be at Villanow by 9 a. m. to-morrow. My wagons and artillery are just up. As I have a large force from my other brigade on the road t
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General James B. McPherson – May 10, 1864
GENERAL: I have yours of last night and have talked to Captain Audenried. I regret beyond measure you did not break the railroad, however little, and close to Resaca, but I suppose it was impossible. We find in Buzzard Roost Gap an almost impassable obsta
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General Henry W. Halleck – May 10, 1864
I am starting for the extreme front in Buzzard Roost Gap, and write this dispatch that you may understand. Johnston acts purely on the defensive. I am attacking him on his strongest fronts, viz, west and north, till McPherson breaks his line at Resaca, wh
Read MoreFrom Brigadier General W. L. Elliott to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – May 10, 1864
GENERAL: Major-General Sherman has directed Major-General Thomas to order your division to proceed without delay to Villanow, Ga. You will report receipt of these instructions and your arrival at Villanow.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedien
From Brigadier General W. L. Elliott to Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick – May 10, 1864
You will proceed without delay and report with your division to Major-General McPherson. The inclosed instructions for General Garrard to march with hid division from La Fayette to Villanow you will forward to him by a force sufficient to make their recei
Read MoreFrom Captain L. M. Dayton to Major General George H. Thomas – May 10, 1864
GENERAL: By direction of the general commanding, you will please order Major-General Hooker to support General McPherson at Snake Creek Gap, directing your nest division to General Geary to watch the road Geary is occupying. The general directs me also to
Read MoreCircular from Major General James B. McPherson – May 10, 1864
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, Numbers 1.
Harris’ House, May 10, 1864.
The commanding general desire to warn the officers of this command against any useless and wasteful expenditure of artillery ammunition, as on account of the limited transportati
From Brigadier General Kenner Garrard to Major General William T. Sherman – May 10, 1864
GENERAL: I will move on to-day through Ship’s Gap. I have heard nothing from General McPherson, but know that his troops passed through Gordon’s and Ship’s Gaps. My artillery and wagons are not up. I should receive orders from General McPherson somewhere
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General John M. Schofield – May 10, 1864
GENERAL: I shall attack Johnston through Snake Creek Gap. I will take your three infantry division along, but for the time will have to leave Stoneman to guard the point now occupied by you and to keep u a delusion as long as possible. I propose to leave
Read MoreFrom Major General James B. McPherson to Brigadier General Kenner Garrard – May 9, 1864
Remain at La Fayette until further orders. Patrol on to Villanow and down toward Rome. Get up your forage as soon as possible.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. B. McPHERSON,
Major-General, Commanding.
From Major General James B. McPherson to Major General William T. Sherman – May 9, 1864
GENERAL: General Dodge’s command moved up and skirmished with the enemy at Resaca this afternoon. While that was going on one company of mounted infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips’ regiment, succeeded in reaching the railroad near Tilton Station, but w
Read MoreFrom Captain L. M. Dayton to Major General George H. Thomas – May 9, 1864
GENERAL: The general commanding directs me to say to you that he has no instructions for to-day other than those agreed upon last night, except for you to cause to be extended signals to General McPherson, and to improve all possible means of watching the
Read MoreFrom Major General James B. McPherson to Major General William T. Sherman – May 9, 1864
GENERAL: I inclose dispatch+ just received from Stevenson at Decatur. Roddey it seems has crossed the Tennessee River with about 5,000 men, estimated, and is endeavoring to cut our lines of communication. Gresham must be in the vicinity of Athens and Pula
Read MoreReport from Major General Oliver O. Howard regarding General Garrard – May 9, 1864
General Garrard had just arrived at La Fayette, with horses fatigued and short of forage, and wished to remain there until his forage train came up from Chattanooga.
Read MoreFrom Brigadier General William D. Whipple to Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick – May 9, 1864
GENERAL; The major-general commanding the department directs that you improve all possible means of watching the effect on the enemy of McPherson’s movement through Snake Creek Gap until Garrard is up, which will be surely to-day. Should the latter road b
Read MoreFrom Major General James B. McPherson to Major General William T. Sherman – May 8, 1864
GENERAL: Sweeny’s division, of Dodge’s command, has passed here for Snake Creek Gap, which I hope to have possession of this evening. Veatch is closed up on Sweeny; but divisions came through Ship’s Gap road. Osterhaus’ division is here, having come throu
Read MoreFrom Major General James B. McPherson to Major General William T. Sherman – May 6, 1864
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two dispatches, per Captain Audenried, and will endeavor to carry out my part of the program faithfully. My troops will be up to this point to-night and will camp at the point designated to-morrow night.
Read MoreFrom Brigadier General Kenner Garrard to Major General James B. McPherson – May 6, 1864
I will camp beyond the Tennessee River to-night; will camp near Chattanooga to-morrow night, and be in person in that place to report. I lost one day by rain and mud, having artillery with me and a forage train.
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General James B. McPherson – May 5, 1864
SIR: The enemy still lies about Dalton, and from all appearances is on the defensive, guarding approaches mostly from the north and west. He occupies in some force the range of hills known as the Tunnel Hill. By to-morrow night our forces will be about as
Read MoreFrom Major General William T. Sherman to Major General George H. Thomas – May 4, 1864
Dodge’s two divisions are coming in by the cars. Logan’s three divisions are closed up on Geary, who is crossing the mountain at Whiteside’s. I will send General Corse down to-morrow to meet General Garrard, and lead him across by Whiteside’s, the Coal Mi
Read MoreFrom Brigadier General Kenner Garrard to Brigadier General William D. Whipple – May 4, 1864
Please say to General Sherman and General Thomas that we are just passing through Decherd, and will commence the ascent of the mountain to-night. Our artillery and forage train were delayed one day by the rains and mud. I will reach Stevenson in the short
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