AtthesametimeIcausedtwopontoon—bridgestobelaidacrosstheOostenaulaRiveratLay’sFerry，aboutthreemilesbelowthetown，bywhichwecouldthreatenCalhoun，astationontherailroadsevenmilesbelowResaca。Atthesametime，May14th，IdispatchedGeneralGarrard，withhiscavalrydivision，downtheOostenaulabytheRomeroad，withorderstocrossover，ifpossible，andtoattackorthreatentherailroadatanypointbelowCalhounandaboveKingston。
Duringthe15th，withoutattemptingtoassaultthefortifiedworks，wepressedatallpoints，andthesoundofcannonandmusketryrosealldaytothedignityofabattle。TowardeveningMcPhersonmovedhiswholelineofbattleforward，tillhehadgainedaridgeoverlookingthetown，fromwhichhisfield—artillerycouldreachtherailroad—bridgeacrosstheOostenaula。Theenemymadeseveralattemptstodrivehimaway，repeatingthesalliesseveraltimes，andextendingthemintothenight;butineveryinstancehewasrepulsedwithbloodyloss。
Hooker’scorpshadalsosomeheavyandhandsomefightingthatafternoonandnightontheleft，wheretheDaltonroanenteredtheintrenchments，capturingafour—gunintrenchedbattery，withitsmenandguns;andgenerallyallourmenshowedthefinestfightingqualities。
Howard’scorpshadfollowedJohnstondownfromDalton，andwasinline;Stoneman’adivisionofcavalryhadalsogotup，andwasontheextremeleft，beyondtheOostenaula。
OnthenightofMay15thJohnstongothisarmyacrossthebridges，setthemonfire，andweenteredResacaatdaylight。Ourlossuptothattimewasaboutsixhundreddeadandthirty—threehundredandseventy—fivewounded——mostlylightwoundsthatdidnotnecessitatesendingthementotherearfortreatment。ThatJohnstonhaddeliberatelydesignedinadvancetogiveupsuchstrongpositionsasDaltonandResaca，forthepurposeofdrawingusfarthersouth，issimplyabsurd。HadheremainedinDaltonanotherhour，itwouldhavebeenhistotaldefeat，andheonlyevacuatedResacabecausehissafetydemandedit。ThemovementbyusthroughSnake—CreekGapwasatotalsurprisetohim。Myarmyaboutdoubledhisinsize，buthehadalltheadvantagesofnaturalpositions，ofartificialfortsandroads，andofconcentratedaction。Wewerecompelledtogropeourwaythroughforests，acrossmountains，withalargearmy，necessarilymoreorlessdispersed。
Ofcourse，Iwasdisappointednottohavecrippledhis，armymoreatthatparticularstageofthegame;but，asitresulted，theserapidsuccessesgaveustheinitiative，andtheusualimpulseofaconqueringarmy。
JohnstonhavingretreatedinthenightofMay15th，immediatepursuitwasbegun。Adivisionofinfantry（Jeff。C。Davis’s）wasatoncedispatcheddownthevalleytowardRome，tosupportGarrard’scavalry，andthewholearmywasorderedtopursue，McPhersonbyLay’sFerry，ontheright，Thomasdirectlybytherailroad，andSchofieldbytheleft，bytheoldroadthatcrossedtheOostenaulaaboveEchotaorNewtown。
WehastilyrepairedtherailroadbridgeatResaca，whichhadbeenpartiallyburned，andbuiltatemporaryfloatingbridgeoutoftimberandmaterialsfoundonthespot;sothatThomasgothisadvancecorpsoverduringthe16th，andmarchedasfarasCalhoun，wherehecameintocommunicationwithMePherson’stroops，whichhadcrossedtheOostenaulaatLay’sFerrybyourpontoon—bridges，previouslylaid。InasmuchasthebridgeatResacawasovertaxed，Hooker’sTwentiethCorpswasalsodivertedtocrossbythefordsandferriesaboveResaca，intheneighborhoodofEchota。
Onthe17th，towardevening，theheadofThomas’scolumn，Newton’sdivision，encounteredtherear—guardofJohnston’sarmynearAdairsville。Iwasneartheheadofcolumnatthetime，tryingtogetaviewofthepositionoftheenemyfromanelevationinanopenfield。Mypartyattractedthefireofabattery;ashellpassedthroughthegroupofstaff—officersandburstjustbeyond，whichscattereduspromptly。Thenextmorningtheenemyhaddisappeared，andourpursuitwascontinuedtoKingston，whichwereachedduringSundayforenoon，the19th。
>FromResacatherailroadrunsnearlyduesouth，butatKingstonitmakesjunctionwithanotherrailroadfromRome，andchangesdirectiondueeaSt。AtthattimeMcPherson’sheadofcolumnwasaboutfourmilestothewestofKingston，atacountryplacecalled\"Woodlawn;\"SchofieldandHookerwereonthedirectroadsleadingfromNewtowntoCasaville，diagonaltotheroutefollowedbyThomas。Thomas’sheadofcolumn，whichhadfollowedthecountryroadsalongsideoftherailroad，wasaboutfourmileseastofKingston，towardCassville，whenaboutnoonIgotamessagefromhimthathehadfoundtheenemy，drawnupinlineofbattle，onsomeextensive，openground，abouthalf—waybetweenKingstonandCassville，andthatappearancesindicatedawillingnessandpreparationforbattle。
HurriedlysendingorderstoMcPhersontoresumethemarch，tohastenforwardbyroadsleadingtothesouthofKingston，soastoleaveforThomas’stroopsandtrainstheuseofthemainroad，andtocomeuponhisright，Irodeforwardrapidly，oversomeroughgravelhills，andaboutsixmilesfromKingstonfoundGeneralThomas，withhistroopsdeployed;buthereportedthattheenemyhadfallenbackinechelonofdivisions，steadilyandinsuperborder，intoCassville。IknewthattheroadsbywhichGeneralsHookerandSchofieldwereapproachingwouldleadthemtoaseminarynearCassville，andthatitwasall—importanttosecurethepointofjunctionoftheseroadswiththemainroadalongwhichweweremarching。ThereforeIorderedGeneralThomastopushforwardhisdeployedlinesasrapidlyaspossible;and，asnightwasapproaching，Iorderedtwofield—batteriestocloseupatagalloponsomewoodswhichlaybetweenusandthetownofCassville。Wecouldnotseethetownbyreasonofthesewoods，butahighrangeofhillsjustbackofthetownwasvisibleoverthetree—tops。Onthesehillscouldbeseenfresh—madeparapets，andthemovementsofmen，againstwhomIdirectedtheartillerytofireatlongrange。
ThestoutresistancemadebytheenemyalongourwholefrontofacoupleofmilesindicatedapurposetofightatCassville;and，asthenightwasclosingin，GeneralThomasandIweretogether，alongwithourskirmish—linesneartheseminary，ontheedgeofthetown，wheremusket—bulletsfromtheenemywerecuttingtheleavesofthetreesprettythicklyaboutus。EitherThomasorIremarkedthatthatwasnottheplaceforthetwoseniorofficersofagreatarmy，andwepersonallywentbacktothebattery，wherewepassedthenightontheground。DuringthenightIhadreportsfromMcPherson，Hooker，andSchofield。Theformerwasaboutfivemilestomyrightrear，nearthe\"nitre—caves;\"Schofieldwasaboutsixmilesnorth，andHookerbetweenus，withintwomiles。AllwereorderedtoclosedownonCassvilleatdaylight，andtoattacktheenemywhereverfound。Skirmishingwaskeptupallnight，butwhendaybrokethenextmorning，May20th，theenemywasgone，andourcavalrywassentinpursuit。ThesereportedhimbeyoudtheEtowahRiver。Wewerethenwellinadvanceofourrailroad—trains，onwhichwedependedforsupplies;soIdeterminedtopauseafewdaystorepairtherailroad，whichhadbeendamagedbutlittle，exceptatthebridgeatResaca，andthentogoon。
NearlyallthepeopleofthecountryseemedtohavefledwithJohnston’sarmy;yetsomefewfamiliesremained，andfromoneofthemIprocuredthecopyofanorderwhichJohnstonhadmadeatAdairsville，inwhichherecitedthathehadretreatedasfarasstrategyrequired，andthathisarmymustbepreparedforbattleatCassville。ThenewspapersoftheSouth，manyofwhichwefound，werealsoloudindenunciationofJohnston’sfallingbackbeforeuswithoutaseriousbattle，simplyresistingbyhisskirmish—linesandbyhisrear—guard。Buthisfriendsproclaimedthatitwasallstrategic;thathewasdeliberatelydrawingusfartherandfartherintothemeshes，fartherandfartherawayfromourbaseofsupplies，andthatindueseasonhewouldnotonlyhaltforbattle，butassumetheboldoffensive。Ofcourseitwastomyinteresttobringhimtobattleassoonaspossible，whenournumericalsuperioritywasatthegreatest;forhewaspickinguphisdetachmentsashefellback，whereasIwascompelledtomakesimilarandstrongerdetachmentstorepairtherailroadsasweadvanced，andtoguardthem。IfoundatCassvillemanyevidencesofpreparationforagrandbattle，amongthemalonglineoffreshintrenchmentsonthehillbeyoudthetown，extendingnearlythreemilestothesouth，embracingtherailroad—crossing。IwasalsoconvincedthatthewholeofPolk’scorpshadjoinedJohnstonfromMississippi，andthathehadinhandthreefullcorps，viz。，Hood’s，Polk’s，andHardee’s，numberingaboutsixtythousandmen，andcouldnotthenimaginewhyhehaddeclinedbattle，anddidnotlearntherealreasontillafterthewarwasover，andthenfromGeneralJohnstonhimself。
Intheautumnof1865，whenincommandoftheMilitaryDivisionoftheMissouri，IwentfromSt。LouistoLittleRock，Arkansas，andafterwardtoMemphis。TakingasteamerforCairo，Ifoundasfellow—passengersGeneralsJohnstonandFrankBlair。Wewere，ofcourse，onthemostfriendlyterms，andonourwayupwetalkedoverourbattlesagain，playedcards，andquestionedeachotherastoparticularpartsofourmutualconductinthegameofwar。I
toldJohnstonthatIhadseenhisorderofpreparation，inthenatureofanaddresstohisarmy，announcinghispurposetoretreatnomore，buttoacceptbattleatCassville。Heansweredthatsuchwashispurpose;thathehadleftHardee’scorpsintheopenfieldstocheckThomas，andgaintimeforhisformationontheridge，justbehindCassville;anditwasthiscorpswhichGeneralThomashadseendeployed，andwhosehandsomemovementinretreathehadreportedinsuchcomplimentaryterms。JohnstondescribedhowhehadplacedHood’scorpsontheright，Polk’sinthecentre，andHardee’sontheleft。Hesaidhehadriddenovertheground，giventoeachcorpscommanderhisposition，andorderstothrowupparapetsduringthenight;thathewaswithHardeeonhisextremeleftasthenightclosedin，andasHardee’stroopsfellbacktothepositionassignedthemfortheintendedbattleofthenextday;
andthat，aftergivingHardeesomegeneralinstructions，heandhisstaffrodebacktoCassville。Asheenteredthetown，orvillage，hemetGeneralsHoodandPolk。Hoodinquiredofhimifhehadhadanythingtoeat，andhesaidno，thathewasbothhungryandtired，whenHoodinvitedhimtogoandshareasupperwhichhadbeenpreparedforhimatahousecloseby。Atthesuppertheydiscussedthechancesoftheimpendingbattle，whenHoodspokeofthegroundassignedhimasbeingenfiladedbyour（Union）
artillery，whichJohnstondisputed，whenGeneralPolkchimedinwiththeremarkthatGeneralHoodwasright;thatthecannon—shotsfiredbyusatnightfallhadenfiladedtheirgenerallineofbattle，andthatforthisreasonhefearedtheycouldnotholdtheirmen。GeneralJohnstonwassurprisedatthis，forheunderstoodGeneralHoodtobeoneofthosewhoprofessedtocriticisehisstrategy，contendingthat，insteadofretreating，heshouldhaveriskedabattle。GeneralJohnstonsaidhewasprovoked，accusedthemofhavingbeeninconference，withbeingbeatenbeforebattle，andaddedthathewasunwillingtoengageinacriticalbattlewithanarmysosuperiortohisowninnumbers，withtwoofhisthreecorpscommandersdissatisfiedwiththegroundandpositionsassignedthem。Hethenandtheremadeuphismindtoretreatstillfarthersouth，toputtheEtowahRiverandtheAllatoonarangebetweenus;andheatoncegaveorderstoresumetheretrogrademovement。
Thiswasmyrecollectionofthesubstanceoftheconversation，ofwhichImadenonoteatthetime;but，atameetingoftheSocietyoftheArmyoftheCumberlandsomeyearsafter，atCleveland，Ohio，about1868，inashortafter—dinnerspeech，Irelatedthisconversation，anditgotintoprint。Subsequently，inthespringof1870，whenIwasatNewOrleans，onrouteforTexas，GeneralHoodcalledtoseemeattheSt。CharlesHotel，explainedthathehadseenmyspeechreprintedinthenewspapersandgavemehisversionofthesameevent，describingthehaltatCassville，thegeneralordersforbattleonthatground，andthemeetingatsupperwithGeneralsJohnstonandPolk，whenthechancesofthebattletobefoughtthenextdaywerefreelyandfullydiscussed;andhestatedthathehadarguedagainstfightingthebattlepurelyonthedefensive，buthadaskedGeneralJohnstontopermithimwithhisowncorpsandpartofPolk’stoquittheirlines，andtomarchrapidlytoattackandoverwhelmSchofield，whowasknowntobeseparatedfromThomasbyanintervalofnearlyfivemiles，claimingthathecouldhavedefeatedSchofield，andgotbacktohispositionintimetomeetGeneralThomas’sattackinfront。HealsostatedthathehadthencontendedwithJohnstonforthe\"offensive—
defensive\"game，insteadofthe\"puredefensive，\"asproposedbyGeneralJohnston;andhesaidthatitwasatthistimethatGeneralJohnstonhadtakenoffense，andthatitwasforthisreasonhehadorderedtheretreatthatnight。Assubsequenteventsestrangedthesetwoofficers，itisverynaturaltheyshouldnowdifferonthispoint;butitwassufficientforusthattherebelarmydidretreatthatnight，leavingusmastersofallthecountryabovetheEtowahRiver。
Forthepurposesofrest，togivetimefortherepairoftherailroads，andtoreplenishsupplies，welaybysomefewdaysinthatquarter——SchofieldwithStoneman’scavalryholdingthegroundatCassvilleDepot，Cartersville，andtheEtowahBridge;ThomasholdinghisgroundnearCassville，andMcPhersonthatnearKingston。TheofficerintrustedwiththerepairoftherailroadswasColonelW。W。Wright，arairoad—engineer，who，withabouttwothousandmen，wassoindustriousandskillfulthatthebridgeatResacawasrebuiltinthreedays，andcarsloadedwithstorescameforwardtoKingstononthe24th。ThetelegraphalsobroughtusthenewsofthebloodyanddesperatebattlesoftheWilderness，inVirginia，andthatGeneralGrantwaspushinghisoperationsagainstLeewithterrificenergy。Iwasthereforeresolvedtogivemyenemynorest。
Inearlydays（1844），whenalieutenantoftheThirdArtillery，I
hadbeensentfromCharleston，SouthCarolina，toMarietta，Georgia，toassistInspector—GeneralChurchilltotaketestimonyconcerningcertainlossesofhorsesandaccoutrementsbytheGeorgiaVolunteersduringtheFloridaWar;andaftercompletingtheworkatMariettawetransferredourpartyovertoBellefonte，Alabama。Ihadriddenthedistanceonhorseback，andhadnotedwellthetopographyofthecountry，especiallythataboutKenesaw，Allatoona，andtheEtowahRiver。OnthatoccasionIhadstoppedsomedayswithaColonelTumlin，toseesomeremarkableIndianmoundsontheEtowahRiver，usuallycalledthe\"Hightower:\"I
thereforeknewthattheAllatoonaPasswasverystrong，wouldbehardtoforce，andresolvednoteventoattemptit，buttoturntheposition，bymovingfromKingstontoMariettavia。Dallas;
accordinglyImadeordersonthe20thtogetreadyforthemarchtobeginonthe23d。TheArmyoftheCumberlandwasorderedtomarchforDallas，byEuharleeandStilesboro;Davis’sdivision，theninRome，byVanWert;theArmyoftheOhiotokeepontheleftofThomas，byaplacecalledBurntHickory;andtheArmyoftheTennesseetomarchforapositionalittletothesouth，soastobeontherightofthegeneralarmy，whengroupedaboutDallas。
Themovementcontemplatedleavingourrailroad，andtodependfortwentydaysonthecontentsofourwagons;andasthecountrywasveryobscure，mostlyinastateofnature，denselywooded，andwithfewroads，ourmovementswerenecessarilyslow。WecrossedtheEtowahbyseveralbridgesandfords，andtookasmanyroadsaspossible，keepingupcommunicationbycross—roads，orbycouriersthroughthewoods。IpersonallyjoinedGeneralThomas，whohadthecentre，andwasconsequentlythemaincolumn，or\"columnofdirection。\"TheseveralcolumnsfollowedgenerallythevalleyoftheEuharlee，atributarycomingintotheEtowahfromthesouth，andgraduallycrossedoveraridgeofmountains，partsofwhichhadoncebeenworkedoverforgold，andwereconsequentlyfullofpathsandunusedwagon—roadsortracks。AcavalrypicketoftheenemyatBurntHickorywascaptured，andhadonhispersonanorderfromGeneralJohnston，datedatAllatoona，whichshowedthathehaddetectedmypurposeofturninghisposition，anditaccordinglybecamenecessarytousegreatcaution，lestsomeoftheminorcolumnsshouldfallintoambush，but，luckilytheenemywasnotmuchmorefamiliarwiththatpartofthecountrythanwewere。OntheothersideoftheAllatoonarange，thePumpkin—VineCreek，alsoatributaryoftheEtowah，flowednorthandwest;Dallas，thepointaimedat，wasasmalltownontheotheroreastsideofthiscreek，andwasthepointofconcentrationofagreatmanyroadsthatledineverydirection。ItspossessionwouldbeathreattoMariettaandAtlanta，butIcouldnotthenventuretoattempteither，tillI
hadregainedtheuseoftherailroad，atleastasfardownasitsdebouchefromtheAllatoonarangeofmountains。Therefore，themovementwaschieflydesignedtocompelJohnstontogiveupAllatoona。
Onthe25thallthecolumnsweremovingsteadilyonDallas——
McPhersonandDavisawayofftotheright，nearVanWert;Thomasonthemainroadinthecentre，withHooker’sTwentiethCorpsahead，towardDallas;andSchofieldtotheleftrear。Fortheconvenienceofmarch，Hookerhadhisthreedivisionsonseparateroads，allleadingtowardDallas，when，intheafternoon，asheapproachedabridgeacrossPumpkin—VineCreek，hefounditheldbyacavalryforce，whichwasdrivenoff，butthebridgewasonfire。Thisfirewasextinguished，andHooker’sleadingdivision（Geary’s）followedtheretreatingcavalryonaroadleadingdueeasttowardMarietta，insteadofDallas。Thisleadingdivision，aboutfourmilesoutfromthebridge，struckaheavyinfantryforce，whichwasmovingdownfromAllatoonatowardDallas，andasharpbattleensued。I
cameupinpersonsoonafter，andasmymapshowedthatwewerenearanimportantcross—roadcalled\"NewHope，\"fromaMethodistmeeting—housethereofthatname，IorderedGeneralHookertosecureitifpossiblethatnight。Heaskedforashortdelay，tillhecouldbringuphisothertwodivisions。viz。，ofButterfieldandWilliams，butbeforethesedivisionshadgotupandweredeployed，theenemyhadalsogainedcorrespondingstrength。Thewoodsweresodense，andtheresistancesospirited，thatHookercouldnotcarrytheposition，thoughthebattlewasnoisy，andprolongedfarintothenight。Thispoint，\"NewHope，\"wastheaccidentalintersectionoftheroadleadingfromAllatoonatoDallaswiththatfromVanWerttoMarietta，wasfourmilesnortheastofDallas，andfromthebloodyfightingthereforthenextweekwascalledbythesoldiers\"Hell—Hole。\"
Thenightwaspitch—dark，itrainedhard，andtheconvergenceofourcolumnstowardDallasproducedmuchconfusion。Iamsuresimilarconfusionexistedinthearmyopposedtous，forwewereallmixedup。Isleptontheground，withoutcover，alongsideofalog，gotlittlesleep，resolvedatdaylighttorenewthebattle，andtomakealodgmentontheDallasandAllatoonaroadifpossible，butthemorningrevealedastronglineofintrenchmentsfacingus，withaheavyforceofinfantryandguns。Thebattlewasrenewed，andwithoutsuccess。McPhersonreachedDallasthatmorning，viz。，the26th，anddeployedhistroopstothesoutheastandeastofthetown，placingDavis’sdivisionoftheFourteenthCorps，whichhadjoinedhimontheroadfromRome，onhisleft;butthisstillleftagapofatleastthreemilesbetweenDavisandHooker。Meantime，also，GeneralSchofieldwasclosinguponThomas’sleft。
SatisfiedthatJohnstoninpersonwasatNewHopewithallhisarmy，andthatitwassomuchnearermy\"objective;’therailroad，thanDallas，IconcludedtodrawMcPhersonfromDallastoHooker’sright，andgaveordersaccordingly;butMcPhersonalsowasconfrontedwithaheavyforce，and，ashebegantowithdrawaccordingtohisorders，onthemorningofthe28thhewasfiercelyassailedonhisright;abloodybattleensued，inwhichherepulsedtheattack，inflictingheavylossonhisassailants，anditwasnotuntilthe1stofJunethathewasenabledtowithdrawfromDallas，andtoeffectaclosejunctionwithHookerinfrontofNewHope。
MeantimeThomasandSchofieldwerecompletingtheirdeployments，graduallyoverlappingJohnstononhisright，andthusextendingourleftnearerandnearertotherailroad，thenearestpointofwhichwasAcworth，abouteightmilesdistant。Allthistimeacontinualbattlewasinprogressbystrongskirmish—lines，takingadvantageofeveryspeciesofcover，andbothpartiesfortifyingeachnightbyrifle—trenches，withhead—logs，manyofwhichgrewtobeasformidableasfirst—classworksofdefense。Occasionallyonepartyortheotherwouldmakeadashinthenatureofasally，butusuallyitsustainedarepulsewithgreatlossoflife。Ivisitedpersonallyallpartsofourlinesnearlyeveryday，wasconstantlywithinmusket—range，andthoughthefireofmusketryandcannonresoundeddayandnightalongthewholeline，varyingfromsixtotenmiles，Irarelysawadozenoftheenemyatanyonetime;andthesewerealwaysskirmishersdodgingfromtreetotree，orbehindlogsontheground，orwhooccasionallyshowedtheirheadsabovethehastily—constructedbutremarkablystrongrifle—trenches。OntheoccasionofmyvisittoMcPhersononthe30thofMay，whilestandingwithagroupofofficers，amongwhomwereGeneralsMcPherson，Logan，Barry，andColonelTaylor，myformerchiefofartillery，aMinie—ballpassedthroughLogan’scoat—sleeve，scratchingtheskin，andstruckColonelTaylorsquareinthebreast;luckilyhehadinhispocketafamousmemorandum—book，inwhichhekeptasortofdiary，aboutwhichweusedtojokehimagooddeal;itsthicknessandsizesavedhislife，breakingtheforceoftheball，sothataftertraversingthebookitonlypenetratedthebreasttotheribs，butitknockedhimdownanddisabledhimfortherestofthecampaign。Hewasamostcompetentandworthyofficer，andnowlivesinpovertyinChicago，sustainedinpartbyhisownlabor，andinpartbyapitifulpensionrecentlygranted。
Onthe1stofJuneGeneralMcPhersonclosedinupontheright，and，withoutattemptingfurthertocarrytheenemy’sstrongpositionatNewHopeChurch，Iheldourgeneralrightinclosecontactwithit，gradually，carefully，andsteadilyworkingbytheleft，untilourstronginfantry—lineshadreachedandsecuredpossessionofallthewagon—roadsbetweenNewHope，Allatoona，andAcworth，whenI
dispatchedGeneralsGarrard’sandStoneman’sdivisionsofcavalryintoAllatoona，thefirstaroundbythewestendofthepass，andthelatterbythedirectroad。Bothreachedtheirdestinationwithoutopposition，andorderswereatoncegiventorepairtherailroadforwardfromKingstontoAllatoona，embracingthebridgeacrosstheEtowahRiver。ThustherealobjectofmymoveonDallaswasaccomplished，andonthe4thofJuneIwaspreparingtodrawofffromNewHopeChurch，andtotakepositionontherailroadinfrontofAllatoona，when，GeneralJohnstonhimselfhavingevacuatedhisposition，weeffectedthechangewithoutfurtherbattle，andmovedtotherailroad，occupyingitfromAllatoonaandAcworthforwardtoBigShanty，insightofthefamousKenesawMountain。
Thus，substantiallyinthemonthofMay，wehadsteadilydrivenourantagonistfromthestrongpositionsofDalton，Resaea，Cassville，Allatoona，andDallas;hadadvancedourlinesinstrong，compactorderfromChattanoogatoBigShanty，nearlyahundredmilesofasdifficultcountryaswaseverfoughtoverbycivilizedarmies;andthusstoodpreparedtogoon，anxioustofight，andconfidentofsuccessassoonastherailroadcommunicationswerecompletetobringforwardthenecessarysupplies。Itisnowimpossibletostateaccuratelyourlossoflifeandmeninanyoneseparatebattle;forthefightingwascontinuous，almostdaily，amongtreesandbushes，ongroundwhereonecouldrarelyseeahundredyardsahead。
TheaggregatelossintheseveralcorpsforthemonthofMayisreported—asfollowsintheusualmonthlyreturnssenttotheAdjutant—General’soffice，whichare，therefore，official:
CasualtiesduringtheMonthofMay，1864
（Major—GeneralSHERMANcommanding）。
KilledandMissing。Wounded。Total。
1，8637，4369，299
GeneralJosephE。Johnston，inhis\"NarrativeofhisMilitaryOperations，\"justpublished（March27，1874），givestheeffectivestrengthofhisarmyatandaboutDaltononthe1stofMay，1864
（page302），asfollows:
Infantry……37，652
Artillery……2，812
Cavalry……2，392
Total……42，856
DuringMay，andpriortoreachingCassville，hewasfurtherreenforced（page352）
Polk’scorpsofthreedivisions……12，000
Martin’sdivisionofcavalry……3，500
Jackson’sdivisionofcavalry……3，900
AndatNewHopeChurch，May26thBrigadeofQuarles……2，200
Grand—total……64，456
HislossesduringthemonthofMayarestatedbyhim，astakenfromthereportofSurgeonFoard（page325）
KilledWoundedTotal7214，6725，393
Thesefiguresincludeonlythekilledandwounded，whereasmystatementoflossesembracesthe\"missing，\"whichareusually\"prisoners，\"andofthesewecaptured，daringthewholecampaignoffourandahalfmonths，exactly12，983，whosenames，rank，andregiments，wereofficiallyreportedtotheCommissary—GeneralofPrisoners;andassumingadueproportionforthemonthofMay，viz。，one—fourth，makes3，245tobeaddedtothekilledandwoundedgivenabove，makinganaggregatelossinJohnston’sarmy，fromDaltontoNewHope，inclusive，of8，638，againstoursof9，299。
ThereforeGeneralJohnstonisgreatlyinerror，inhisestimatesonpage357，instatingourloss，ascomparedwithhis，atsixortentoone。
Ialwaysestimatedmyforceataboutdoublehis，andcouldaffordtolosetwotoonewithoutdisturbingourrelativeproportion;butIalsoreckonedthat，inthenaturalstrengthofthecountry，intheabundanceofmountains，streams，andforests，hehadafairoffsettoournumericalsuperiority，andthereforeendeavoredtoactwithreasonablecautionwhilemovingonthevigorous\"offensive。\"
WiththedrawnbattleofNewHopeChurch，andouroccupationofthenaturalfortressofAllatoona，terminatedthemonthofMay，andthefirststageofthecampaign。
CHAPTERXVII。
ATLANTACAMPAIGN——BATTLESABOUTKENESAWMOUNTAIN。
JUNE，1864。
OnthelstofJuneourthreearmieswerewellinhand，inthebrokenanddensely—woodedcountryfrontingtheenemyintrenchedatNewHopeChurch，aboutfivemilesnorthofDallas。GeneralStoneman’sdivisionofcavalryhadoccupiedAllatoona，ontherailroad，andGeneralGarrard’sdivisionwasatthewesternendofthepass，aboutStilesboro。ColonelW。W。Wright，oftheEngineers，wasbusilyemployedinrepairingtherailroadandrebuildingthebridgeacrosstheEtowah（orHightower）River，whichhadbeendestroyedbytheenemyonhisretreat;andthearmieswereengagedinageneralandconstantskirmishalongafrontofaboutsixmiles——McPhersontheright，Thomasthecentre，andSchofieldontheleft。Bygraduallycoveringourfrontwithparapet，andextendingtotheleft，weapproachedtherailroadtowardAcworthandoverlappedtheenemy’sright。Bythe4thofJunewehadmadesuchprogressthatJohnstonevacuatedhislinesinthenight，leavingusmastersofthesituation，whenIdeliberatelyshiftedMcPherson’sarmytotheextremeleft，atandinfrontofAcworth，withThomas’sabouttwomilesonhisright，andSchofield’sonhisrightallfacingeaSt。HeavyrainssetinaboutthelstofJune，makingtheroadsinfamous;butourmarcheswereshort，asweneededtimefortherepairoftherailroad，soastobringsuppliesforwardtoAllatoonaStation。Onthe6thIrodebacktoAllatoona，sevenmiles，founditallthatwasexpected，andgaveordersforitsfortificationandpreparationasa\"secondarybase。\"
GeneralBlairarrivedatAcworthonthe8thwithhistwodivisionsoftheSeventeenthCorps——thesamewhichhadbeenonveteranfurlough——hadcomeupfromCairobywayofClifton，ontheTennesseeRiver，andhadfollowedourgeneralroutetoAllatoona，wherehehadleftagarrisonofaboutfifteenhundredmen。Hiseffectivestrength，asreported，wasninethousand。These，withnewregimentsandfurloughedmenwhohadjoinedearlyinthemonthofMay，equaledourlossesfrombattle，sickness，andbydetachments;sothatthethreearmiesstillaggregatedaboutonehundredthousandeffectivemen。
Onthe10thofJunethewholecombinedarmymovedforwardsixmiles，to\"BigShanty，\"astationontherailroad，whencewehadagoodviewoftheenemy’sposition，whichembracedthreeprominenthillsknownasKenesaw，PineMountain，andLostMountain。Oneachofthesehillstheenemyhadsignal—stationsandfreshlinesofparapets。Heavymassesofinfantrycouldbedistinctlyseenwiththenakedeye，anditwasmanifestthatJohnstonhadchosenhisgroundwell，andwithdeliberationhadpreparedforbattle;buthislinewasatleasttenmilesinextent——toolong，inmyjudgment，tobeheldsuccessfullybyhisforce，thenestimatedatsixtythousand。Ashisposition，however，gavehimaperfectviewoverourfield，wehadtoproceedwithduecaution。McPhersonhadtheleft，followingtherailroad，whichcurvedaroundthenorthbaseofKenesaw;Thomasthecentre，obliquedtotheright，deployingbelowKenesawandfacingPineHill;andSchofield，somewhatrefused，wasonthegeneralright，lookingsouth，towardLostMountain。
Onthe11ththeEtowahbridgewasdone;therailroadwasrepaireduptoourveryskirmishline，closetothebaseofKenesaw，andaloadedtrainofcarscametoBigShanty。Thelocomotive，detached，wasrunforwardtoawater—tankwithintherangeoftheenemy’sgoneonKenesaw，whencetheenemyopenedfireonthelocomotive;
buttheengineerwasnotafraid，wentontothetank，gotwater，andreturnedsafelytohistrain，answeringthegunswiththescreamsofhisengine，heightenedbythecheersandshoutsofourmen。
Therainscontinuedtopoor，andmadeourdevelopmentsslowanddilatory，fortherewerenoroads，andthesehadtobeimprovisedbyeachdivisionforitsownsupplytrainfromthedepotinBigShantytothecamps。Meantimeeacharmywasdeployingcarefullybeforetheenemy，intrenchingeverycamp，readyasagainstasally。
Theenemy’scavalrywasalsobusyinourrear，compellingustodetachcavalryallthewaybackasfarasResaca，andtostrengthenalltheinfantrypostsasfarasNashville。Besides，therewasgreatdanger，alwaysinmymind，thatForrestwouldcollectaheavycavalrycommandinMississippi，crosstheTennesseeRiver，andbreakupourrailroadbelowNashville。Inanticipationofthisverydanger，IhadsentGeneralSturgistoMemphistotakecommandofallthecavalryinthatquarter，togoouttowardPontotoc，engageForrestanddefeathim;butonthe14thofJuneI
learnedthatGeneralSturgishadhimselfbeendefeatedonthe10thofJune，andhadbeendrivenbyForrestbackintoMemphisinconsiderableconfusion。IexpectedthatthiswouldsoonbefollowedbyageneralraidonallourroadsinTennessee。GeneralG。J。Smith，withthetwodivisionsoftheSixteenthandSeventeenthCorpswhichhadbeenwithGeneralBanksupRedRiver，hadreturnedfromthatill—fatedexpedition，andhadbeenorderedtoGeneralCanbyatNewOrleans，whowasmakingadiversionaboutMobile;but，onhearingofGeneralSturgis’sdefeat，IorderedGeneralSmithtogooutfromMemphisandrenewtheoffensive，soastokeepForrestoffourroads。Thishedidfinally，defeatingForrestatTupelo，onthe13th，14th，and15thdaysofJuly;andhesostirredupmattersinNorthMississippithatForrestcouldnotleaveforTennessee。This，foratime，leftmeonlythetaskofcoveringtheroadsagainstsuchminordetachmentsofcavalryasJohnstoncouldsparefromhisimmediatearmy，andIproposedtokeepthesetoobusyintheirowndefensetosparedetachments。Bythe14ththerainslackened，andweoccupiedacontinuouslineoftenmiles，intrenched，conformingtotheirregularpositionoftheenemy，whenIreconnoitred，withaviewtomakeabreakintheirlinebetweenKenesawandPineMountain。WhenabreastofPineMountainInoticedarebelbatteryonitscrest，withacontinuouslineoffreshrifle—trenchabouthalf—waydownthehill。Ourskirmisherswereatthetimeengagedinthewoodsaboutthebaseofthishillbetweenthelines，andIestimatedthedistancetothebatteryonthecrestatabouteighthundredyards。Nearit，inplainview，stoodagroupoftheenemy，evidentlyobservinguswithglasses。GeneralHoward，commandingtheFourthCorps，wasnearby，andIcalledhisattentiontothisgroup，andorderedhimtocompelittokeepbehinditscover。HerepliedthathisordersfromGeneralThomasweretospareartillery—ammunition。Thiswasright，accordingtothegeneralpolicy，butIexplainedtohimthatwemustkeepupthemoraleofaboldoffensive，thathemustusehisartillery，forcetheenemytoremainonthetimiddefensive，andorderedhimtocauseabatteryclosebytofirethreevolleys。I
continuedtoridedownourline，andsoonheard，inquicksuccession，thethreevolleys。ThenextdivisioninorderwasGeary’s，andIgavehimsimilarorders。GeneralPolk，inmyopinion，waskilledbythesecondvolleyfiredfromthefirstbatteryreferredto。