The capture of Atlanta occasioned, as well it might, a panic among the rebel chieftains at Richmond. They saw, and saw clearly, that unless Sherman could be defeated, their confederacy would be shorn of half its territory and more than half its strength. In this emergency, Mr. Jefferson Davis left the rebel capital, on a tour of inspection in Georgia. In the course of this tour Mr. Davis exerted his well-known talents as an orator, to fire once more the Southern heart and to strengthen the Southern cause. His most important speech was delivered at Macon, on the twenty-third of September. But the only effect of his eloquence was to disclose the increasing weakness of the Confederacy. Yet it must be admitted that the expedient, undoubtedly suggested by Mr. Davis’s military experience and ability, which the rebels now adopted to recover their lost ground, was extremely ingenious. They determined that Hood’s army should move rapidly to the rear of Atlanta, cut off all communications between that city and Chattanooga, subsequently isolate the latter city from Nashville, and thus leave Sherman’s army, destitute of supplies, in an enemy’s country, from which it would, necessarily, be compelled to retire with all expedient haste.
The prosecution of this scheme was not long delayed. On the second of October General Hood was across the Chattahoochee, leading his forces toward Dallas. This was to be the point of rebel concentration. On the fourth the rebels captured Ackworth and Big Shanty, and destroyed the railroad between the two places. Then they advanced on Allatoona Pass, which is five miles north of Big Shanty, and about thirty miles from Atlanta. That position was one of great strength, and its possession was most important to Sherman. Moreover, it was a storehouse of Federal supplies. The rebels were aware of its value, and confident of its capture. But in this instance they were not dealing with a blind foe. General Sherman had already divined the entire plan of the rebel campaign, and had taken measures, not only to frustrate the designs of the foe, but to turn their temerity to his own advantage. The work of interrupting National communication between Chattanooga and Nashville had been committed to the rebel General Forrest. It was arranged that General Thomas, operating before Nashville, should oppose this movement. General Corse, who was at Rome, was directed to reinforce the garrison of Allatoona Pass, and to hold it until the arrival of the main body of the Union army. In obedience to this command General Corse immediately threw in a force of nine hundred men, increasing the garrison to seventeen hundred.
GENERAL HOSPITAL AT SAVANNAH, GA.
BATTLE OF ALLATOONA, GA.
On the morning of October 5th, the rebels, seven thousand strong, and led by General French, attacked Allatoona. A stubborn fight ensued, lasting about six hours. General Sherman, pushing on from Atlanta, reached Kenesaw Mountain while the battle was in progress. The National troops holding Allatoona, though largely outnumbered, fought with the greatest desperation, and successfully maintained their position, until, on the approach of reinforcements, the rebels fell back, entirely discomfited. Their loss in this spirited engagement was upwards of one thousand men, killed, wounded and prisoners. The Union loss was about five hundred.
THE GREAT REBEL BLUNDER.
General Sherman occupied the Pass, after the battle, and from that point kept watch upon Hood, secretly hoping—while pretending anxious pursuit—that the rebel general would be lured away into Northern Alabama and Tennessee. The sequel satisfied the hopes of the Union commander. Passing by Rome and Kingston, the rebels moved north, and next threatened Resaca, which was held by Colonel Weaver, with a garrison of six hundred men. Colonel Weaver’s reply, on being summoned to surrender, is memorable: “In my opinion,” he said, “I can hold the fort. If you want it, come and take it.” But Hood was burning with bolder designs, and the determined little garrison of Resaca was passed by unmolested.
On the fourteenth of October, General Sherman’s forces arrived there, slowly pursuing Hood. On the same day Hood captured Dalton, continuing there the work of destruction which had marked his entire advance. Thence, closely pushed by Sherman, he passed, by way of Lafayette, into Alabama, halting at last at Gadsdens, on the Coosa river, seventy-five miles from the latter city. But the halt lasted only for a few days.
Early in November, having received reinforcements from Beauregard—then at Charleston—Hood resumed his march, and entered Tennessee. The pursuing army of Sherman was now at Gaylesville; and here the pursuit ceased. The enemy had fallen into the snare, and it only now remained for the invincible General Thomas to deal him his deathblow. That blow was struck, within a very brief period of time, at Nashville. It will be proper, however, before describing those memorable battles, to recount the more immediate movements of General Sherman, and the destruction of Atlanta.