Part I - Don's Metal Detecting Forum

file:///I|/civil war books/war of rebellion/38a.txt
has gone to East Tennessee, and that he will not now move infantry,
but will “break the Macon road all to pieces with our cavalry to
•morrow night ;“ therefore you (Stanley) will threaten and demonstrate
against Atlanta, and make feints of attack during to-morrow
and next day. 7 p. in., directed chief quartermaster and commissary
of subsistence of corps not to move their trains to-morrow.
4.45 p. in., directed division commanders to keep up a demonstration
and show of force to-morrow, and to threaten an attack on Atlanta;
also told them that they would not move until further order~, but
to be ready to move on very short notice. Day very clear and hot.
August 18.—4 a. ~.,received dispatch from General Sherman, per
Major-General Thomas, stating that the shelling ~f our lines (at
p resent) isto withdraw our attention from some other point, and to
be on our guard. 4 a. in., received dispatch from General Sherman,
per Major-General Thomas, stating that Hood may attempt to pass
around our left flank to our rear, following the cavalry movemen~t,
and to ascertain whether any infantry has passed out of Atlanta to
the east. 8.20, received report from General Kimball, stating that
there had been no change in appearance of things in his front, and
that there has been no movements of the enemy so far as could
be discovered. Lookout also reports no change. 8.30, received
dispatch from General Thomas wishing to know whether anything
is going on among the rebels in our front or on our flank. 8.30,
reported to General Thomas, “no change of appearance of things
on the enemy’s side.” No changes on the part of the enemy discovered
during to-day. 2 p. in., received dispatch from General
Thomas, dated August 18, as follows:
For the purpose of aiding General Kilpatrick in his operations on the Macon railroad
as much as possible, I desire you to concentrate on your left flank as large a
force as you can, without weakening your lines too much (by daylight to-morrow
morning, 19th), and make a strong demonstration, and attract the enemy toward
you as much as possible, and endeavor to hold him opposite you during the day.
It is hoped that General Kilpatrick will be able to reach the Macon road at Jonesborough
between 12 m. and 2 p. m. to-morrow, 19th, and if he can have from that
time until 10 p. m. to work uninterruptedly, he ought to be able to destroy so much
of the road as to make it impossible to operate it for at least ten days, by which
time it is supposed Hood will be starved out. Similar instructions have been given
to General Garrard, who will operate on the enemy’s flank still farther to your left.
It is also desirable for you to make a similar demonstration on the morning of the
20th, to enable General Kilpatrick to withdraw.
7.30 p. in., directed General Wood to send two regiments (or three,
if he can spare them from his line) to General Kimball’s left, to assist
in a demonstration to be made in the morning in favor of General
Kilpatrick, these regiments to take the place of some of those
of Kimball, to be taken out of their present line; also directed him
to make such a demonstration at daylight as lie made yesterday.
8 p. in., directed General Kimball, in order to favor the movements
of General Kilpatrick, to make a strong demonstratiomi in the mornmug,
to deceive the enemy and make him expect assault; to march
Colonel Kirby’s brigade at dawn. over to the railroad (to the left and
front of. Kimball’s left), where the main body of it will be held in
reserve, while regiments are sent to the left and front to reconnoiter.
922 T1fl~ ATLANTA CAMPAtGN~ V~HA1~. I~.
Also at dawn in the a. m. for one of Taylor’s regiments to move to
the left and occnpy a position abont midway between our present
left and the position to be occupied by Kirby’s brigade, there to
cover the deep ravine on our left. 8.15 p. in., General Newton re~
ports that he has exhausted his inventive powers in the way of mak.’
ing demonstrations, and wishes to know whether he can remain
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