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[465] finding the enemy too numerous and too well established, does not deem it expedient to renew the fight, and gives the order for retreat. The Federals leave Crow Valley, and in the night reach again the Ringgold road. Johnson and Davis confined themselves, as they had orders to do, to cannonading the enemy's position and engaging with their skirmishers. On the extreme right Harrison has established himself in Snake Creek Gap, which he has found occupied, but Johnston cannot allow the enemy to be master of this passage. Fortunately, he was informed in the evening, at the same time that he heard of the occupation of the defile, of the soon-expected arrival of Cleburne's division. He causes a brigade of this division, under Granberry, to disembark at Tilton, and forwards it upon Snake Creek Gap. On the 26th, at daybreak, he easily dislodges Harrison and drives him out of the gap. The appearance on his right flank of Cleburne's soldiers, whom he thought at Demopolis, finally convinced Palmer of the uselessness of any further effort against Johnston. He could not contemplate taking Dalton by main force, and his demonstration had no further object, since the troops which might have been forwarded against Sherman had just disclosed their presence in front of him. He started his army corps on the 26th, and established himself on the 27th in the valley of the Chickamauga-Davis at Rossville, Johnson at Tyner's Station and Graysville, and Baird at Ringgold. Cruft returned to Red Clay, and Long halted at Cleveland. We will leave them in these positions until Sherman comes to lead them to new combats. Before relating the expedition undertaken by Forrest shortly after the check of Sooy Smith we must conclude in a few words the enumeration we have promised of the demonstrations made to support Sherman's campaign against Meridian. The projected landing in the vicinity of Mobile having been abandoned, Farragut undertook to attack this place with the flotilla alone, so as to retain within its walls the troops which Maury might have been induced to send to Polk's assistance. He appeared on the 20th of January with several vessels in front of Mobile. This demonstration was to enable the Union admiral to reconnoitre the approaches of the place and prepare the extensive naval operation
Philadelphia, Jos. H. Coates and co., 1888.
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