Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/369

Rh kind of "absolute rest the entire day of the 21st " Cleburne's division had enjoyed. When the troops of that division went into action on the 22d, they had been marching, working and fighting continuously for forty-eight hours. Among others, Brigadier-General Lowrey, of that division, in his official report of 22d July, says on this subject:

And as it was, though the plan finally adopted involved a shorter detour, General Blair, in the letter quoted by General Hood, at page 189, refers to the fatigue of Hardee's troops, "from their long, swift march;" and with good reason, for some of the troops which had been fighting McPherson in front of his works all day on the 21st, and which had been withdrawn from their front at ten o'clock P. M., had made the detour by Cobb's mill, had marched thence northeastwardly towards Decatur to the proper point, and turned and advanced in line of battle through dense undergrowth for some two miles, equivalent to more than double the distance over open ground, and were now bearing down upon the rear of the same works.

General Hood also says that Hardee was to march at dusk on the 21st (174-177). But the troops to take part in this movement—infantry, artillery and cavalry—were in different and distant positions on the outer lines, in some instances in direct contact with the enemy. They could not be withdrawn into Atlanta until after dark. Cleburne's situation, with respect to the enemy, was such that he could not draw out until ten o'clock P. M. Captain Williams, Govan's Adjutant-General, has furnished me the hour, entered in his diary at the time. From Atlanta the troops were to move on the same road, and in proper order of march, with sufficient intervals of time to allow the cavalry to get clear, and each successive division to draw out and get in motion before the next following took up the march. According to the order of march, Cleburne's division, which I take it brought up the rear, was to move at one o'clock A. M., although it in fact succeeded in moving half an hour earlier. Captain Buck, Cleburne's Adjutant-General, has furnished me the preliminary and final orders received by Cleburne for the movement. They are as follows: