For several days after the Battles of New Hope Church, near Dallas, Georgia, Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston held his army in position against Gen. William T. Sherman's opposing force. On today's date in 1864, certain that Sherman was attempting to flank his army and take the Western & Atlantic Railroad, his lifeline to Atlanta, Johnston ordered his army to withdraw southeast to a position where his communications with Atlanta could be protected.
At 1:00 AM on the 5th, Great Grandfather Nathan Oakes's division, Patrick R. Cleburne's, marched in a downpour on dark and muddy roads to a new Confederate line, which included Kennesaw, Lost, and Pine Mountains. Cleburne's Division was ordered to the line on the northwestern edge of Kennesaw Mountain, near Gilgal Church. On the 8th, Johnston will again shift his line to cover the roads leading south from Ackworth. Cleburne's Division, however, remained at Gilgal Church until the 16th.
Sources: Pat Cleburne: Confederate General, Howell & Elizabeth Purdue; The Army of Tennessee, Stanley F. Horn; The Confederate Veteran,Vol. 5, 1897
No comments:
Post a Comment