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French was ordered to move his division, capture the garrison, if practicable, and gain possession of the supplies.”
By his own words I will make him condemn what I have quoted from page 257. Here are his orders to me; he was miles away to the west of me:
Not satisfied with the details of the foregoing order, General Hood sent another, more minute in details about the bridge. I will reproduce it:Headquarters army of Tennessee, 7:30 A. M., October 4th, 1864. General--General Hood directs that later in the evening, you move Stevenson back to Davis's cross-roads, and that you bring two of your divisions back to Adams's, and between Adams's and Davis's cross-roads, placing them in such way as to cover the position at Adams's, now occupied by Stevenson; and that your Third division, (say French's,) shall move up the railroad and fill up the deep cut at Allatoona with logs, brush, rails, dirt, &c. To-morrow morning, at day-light, he desires Stevenson to be moved to Lieutenant-General Lee's actual left, and that two of your divisions, at that time at Adams's, to draw back with your left in the neighborhood of Davis's cross-roads, and your right in the neighborhood of Lost Mountain, and the division that will have gone to Allatoona, to march thence to New Hope church, and on the position occupied by your other troops — that is, that the division shall rejoin your command by making this march out from the railroad, and via New Hope. General Hood thinks that it is probable that the guard at the railroad bridge, on the Etowah, is small, and when General French goes to Allatoona, if he can get such information as would justify him, if possible, move to that bridge and destroy it. General Hood considers that its destruction would be a great advantage to the army and country. Should he be able to destroy the bridge, in coming out he could move as has been before indicated, via New Hope. Yours respectfully,
Headquarters army of Tennessee, office of Chief of staff, Oct. 4, 11:30 A. M., 1864.--General: General Hood directs me to say that it is of the greatest importance to destroy the Etowah railroad bridge, if such a thing is possible. From the best information we have
