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Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 21. (ed. Reverend J. William Jones)

recent appearance of Hughes' Life of General Joseph E. Johnston, and the announcement of the placing in the hands of the printers of a Life of General Leonidas Polk, by his son, Dr. William Polk, were the subject of a conversation recently among a few veterans of the Army of the Tennessee, and some facts were mentioned that are deemed of sufficient interest to be placed on record through the columns of your valued paper. To those who participated in the memorable campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, under Joe Johnston, and the failure to give battle at Cassville, is a most fertile source of discussion and of regret. And this was the point of conversation on which the group of talkers lingered the longest. The enthusiasm that swept through the army, when the announcement was made that it had reached the chosen battle-field, possessed anew the hearts of these old veterans; the cheers that went up from each command as Old Joe's ringing battle order was read to the troops reverberated

oined French's division. General Polk had so little confidence in the representations of the weakness of the line at the point referred to, that he did not go there in person. But for General Hood's invitation, Major-General French would not have been called to the conference, and consequently, when General Hood urged the untenability of his line, and supported it by bringing one of Polk's division commanders, French, to confirm him (although Polk's other division commanders, Loring and Walthall, offered no objection), and in the absence of Lieutenant-General Hardee, General Polk could only reply upon the report of his chief topographical engineer, Captain Morris, and Major-General French, and sustain Lieutenant-General Hood in his opinion that the line could not be held after an attack. General Polk was too noble and patriotic to care for his personal fame, and made no effort during his life to put himself properly on record for his connection with the abandonment of the line a

West found that Captain Morris had reached General Polk's headquarters, and the captain, in turn, wvening about sunset General Hood rode up to General Polk's headquarters, with Major General French, the appointed hour Generals Johnston, Hood and Polk met at the latter's headquarters. General Hard was ordered to procure these immediately. General Polk communicated detailed instructions, but appked him where the column was marching to? General Polk said they were retreating to beyond the Etonment of the intended battle at Cassville? General Polk asked who had made the statement, and, when was not due to any representations made by General Polk, but the objections made by Lieutenant-Genef his line, and supported it by bringing one of Polk's division commanders, French, to confirm him (although Polk's other division commanders, Loring and Walthall, offered no objection), and in the abion to fight a battle there was abandoned; that Polk and Hood had insisted that they could not hold [29 more...]

General Joseph E. Johnston's campaign in Georgia. Some letters written by him that have never before been published. Lieutenant-General Leonidas Polk at Cassville. The recent appearance of Hughes' Life of General Joseph E. Johnston, and the announcement of the placing in the hands of the printers of a Life of General Leonidas Polk, by his son, Dr. William Polk, were the subject of a conversation recently among a few veterans of the Army of the Tennessee, and some facts were mentioGeneral Leonidas Polk, by his son, Dr. William Polk, were the subject of a conversation recently among a few veterans of the Army of the Tennessee, and some facts were mentioned that are deemed of sufficient interest to be placed on record through the columns of your valued paper. To those who participated in the memorable campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, under Joe Johnston, and the failure to give battle at Cassville, is a most fertile source of discussion and of regret. And this was the point of conversation on which the group of talkers lingered the longest. The enthusiasm that swept through the army, when the announcement was made that it had reached the

that his position was enfiladed, and that he could not hold it. General Polk thereupon sent his inspector general, Colonel Sevier, to ascertain about it; this officer reported back that, in his opinion, General French was warranted in his apprehension. General Polk requested Colonel Sevier to proceed to General Johnston's headquarters and place the facts before him, which this officer did. General Johnston was loath to believe in the impossibility of holding that part of the line, for, thoposed, it could be made tenable by building traverses and retiring the troops some little to the rear. He instructed Colonel Sevier to have General French build traverses; this General considered them useless, and persisted in his inability to hold his position. Colonel Sevier reporting this back to General Polk, in the absence of Captain Walter J. Morris, engineer officer of General Polk's corps (off on some duty), the General sent Major Douglas West to the position of General French's divi

Excuse this very rough sketch. The diagram was given in the Picayune. It is more than thirty years since my last effort of the kind. The part of Hardee's left thrown back, is Bate's division. I think your battery was near the angle. In the map in the book, the country road, east of Cassville, is omitted. It is necessary to the understanding of the intended offensive movement. The position sketched was taken in the afternoon for defence, the attack was intended near noon—when Sherman was at Kingston, and Hardee near it. For it, Hood was to march by his right flank on the country road, east of and parallel to that to Adairsville. When his rear was opposite A, Polk was to move towards Adairsville, in order of battle, until he met the enemy, when he became engaged, Hood was to face to the left and take the Federals in flank. Before the time came to order General Polk forward, General Hood, moving towards Adairsville on the country road, upon a wild report, turned back, a