Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 11.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[208] consumed to accomplish the preceding three, the reader may make for himself an estimate of the time it will take to put us in Atlanta. Let him not forget though that a river is hard to be flanked, and that the rebels are now fighting where they will fight best — at their very doors — while we are at the end of a very long tether.

The attention of the General commanding has been called to certain facts which had already attracted his own attention, and concerning which he orders:

1. In case of skirmish or battle, the wounded must be brought off the field by musicians or non-combatants, distinguished by a badge of white cloth on the left arm. In no case, as long as firing continues, should an armed soldier abandon his command in battle to attend the wounded.--See par. 784, Army Regulations.

2. Hospitals are too far to the rear of their corps or divisions; they should be kept up as close as possible and covered by the shape of ground, and not by distance. The surgeons in charge are responsible that slight wounds and shirking be not the cause of detaining armed men about their hospitals. Each attendant should have at all times about his person the written authority which justifies his presence at the hospital, or in passing to and from the command to which his hospital belongs.

3. Skulking, shirking, and straggling behind in time of danger are such high detestable crimes that the General commanding would hardly presume them possible, were it not for his own observation, and the report that at this moment soldiers are found loafing in the cabins to the rear, as far back as Kingston. The only proper fate of such miscreants is that they be shot as common enemies to their profession and country; and all officers and patrols sent back to arrest them, will shoot them without mercy, on the slightest imprudence or resistance. By thus wandering in the rear they desert their fellows, who expose themselves in battle in the full faith that all on the rolls are present, and they expose themselves to capture and exchange as good soldiers, to which they have no title. It is hereby made the duty of every officer who finds such skulkers, to deliver them to any Provost Guard, regardless of corps, to be employed in menial or hard work, such as repairing roads, digging drains, sinks, &c. Officers, if found skulking, will be subjected to the same penalty as enlisted men, viz: instant death, or the hardest labor and treatment. Absentees not accounted for, should always be mustered as deserters, to deprive them of their pay and bounties, reserved for honest soldiers.

4. All will be styled skulkers who are found to the rear, absent from their proper commands without written authority from their proper commander. Captains can not give orders or passes beyond their regimental limits ; Colonels, beyond brigade limits; nor Brigadiers beyond division limits. The commanding Generals of the three departments alone can order officers of detachments with or without wagons, back to Kingston or any other general depot.

5. If unarmed soldiers are found on horses or mules at a distance from their proper command or train, any cavalry escort, or patrol, will make prisoners of the men and appropriate the horse or mule to the use of the cavalry. Orderlies to general officers on duty will be easily recognized by bearing official orders or receipts for the same. But each general officer should provide his orderlies with an official detail, to be carried with him.

Horses or mules sent to forage or to graze, should be sent by detachment, with arms and military organization, when they will always be respected.

6. Brigade and regimental commanders are the proper officers to keep their officers and men to their places. The Commanding General will, by his inspectors and in person, give this matter full attention, and when the time comes for reports, on which to base claims for reward and promotion, no officer having a loose straggling command need expect any favor.

7. The commanding Generals of the three armies will make this order public, and organize at once guards and patrols to carry it into full effect. By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman.

The above order will be read at least three times to every regiment, battery, and detachment of this command. By order of Major-General McPherson.

After halting two days in the vicinity of Acworth to recruit and await the completion of the bridge at Etowah, the army again took up the line of march southward at six o'clock yesterday morning. They have already found the reluctantly retreating rebels drawn up in one of their usual good positions, and to-night the two armies are again fully deployed and lying in line of battle. The order of the corps had been much modified since the beginning of the campaign, and was as follows: Schofield on the right; next Howard, Palmer, and McPherson, with General Hooker bringing up the rear, for once. McPherson's command extended to the east of the railroad, while the right was several miles to the west of it; all marching on parallel roads toward Marietta. The country between