ARMY OPERATIONS. 



47 



Many dwellings and all the outbuildings and 

 farming utensils were destroyed. 



The expedition of Gen. Sherman was gen- 

 erally supposed to be designed for the capture 

 of Mobile. But, however that may have been, 

 no official statement has been made. As it ad- 

 vanced toward Meridian, a force was detached 

 from the army of Gen. Johnston, formerly 

 commanded by Gen. Bragg, near Dalton. in 

 Georgia, and sent to reenibrce Gen. Polk. Two 

 divisions of Gen. Hardee's Corps, under Gens. 

 Stewart and Anderson, composed this force. 

 To counteract this movement of the enemy, 

 another was set on foot by Gen. Grant, then in 

 command at Chattanooga. This consisted of 

 an advance of the Fourteenth Corps, under 

 Gen. Palmer, upon Dalton. It commenced on 

 February 22d. The divisions of Gens. Jeff. C. 

 Davis, Johnson, and Baird participated on the 

 right, or direct road to Dalton, and the division 

 of Gen. Stanley, under command of Gen. 

 Crufts, on the left. This latter division had 

 been encamped at Cleveland, and formed a 

 junction with the main force between Ring- 

 gold and Tunnel Hill. The advance of the 

 main force passed to the left of the Chicka- 

 mauga battle-field, over Taylor's Ridge and 

 through Ringgold Gap. A small force of the 

 enemy was seen here, who retired. Ringgold, 

 twenty-three miles from Chattanooga, was oc- 

 cupied that night. On the next day the col- 

 umn moved at daylight, and during the fore- 

 noon there was constant skirmishing with the 

 cavalry of the enemy. At noon Gen. Crufts 

 made a junction, and the whole corps moved 

 forward in line of battle, with cavalry in ad- 

 vance and on the flanks, until it reached the 

 vicinity of Tunnel Hill. On the ridge were 

 four pieces of artillery, under Gen. Wheeler, 

 which soon opened fire. These were dislodged 

 in a short time by the 2d Minnesota and 

 9th Indiana batteries, and the ridge occupied 

 about 4 P. jr. The advance continued and the 

 cavalry force pressed forward in pursuit of the 

 few scattered enemies, until it was checked by 

 a cross-fire from six guns, at Rocky Fall, in a 

 gorge through which the railroad and turnpike 

 passes. The enemy succeeded in holding that 

 position for the night. On the next morning, 

 after considerable heavy fighting, the corps ad- 

 vanced into the town and captured about a 

 hundred and fifty prisoners. The movement 

 was immediately continued upon Dalton, dis- 

 tant seven miles from Tunnel Hill. The corps 

 descended through the gaps into the Rocky Fall 

 valley, the division of Geri. Crufts being on the 

 left, Gen. Johnson on the right, Gen. Baird on 

 the left centre, and Gen. Davis on the right 

 centre. During the whole forenoon there was 

 lively skirmishing, and the enemy's force evi- 

 dently increased in numbers. Gen. Palmer 

 advanced cautiously within two miles of Dal- 

 ton, when it appeared that preparations had 

 been made by the whole of Gen. Johnson's 

 army to receive him. Considerable activity 

 was perceptible in the interior of the enemy's 



works, and their cavalry began to hover about 

 the flanks of Gen. Palmer's corps. Deserters 

 reported that two divisions which had started 

 toward Mobile had returned. Gen. Palmer 

 now fell back to Tunnel Hill. His loss in the 

 expedition was about three hundred and fifty 

 killed and wounded. That of the enemy is 

 unknown. Some prisoners were taken by Gen 

 Palmer. On March 10th he had fallen back to 

 Ringgold. 



The movement in East Tennessee consisted 

 merely in an advance toward the position of 

 Gen. Longstreet, who was then reported to be 

 retreating into Virginia. He finally joined the 

 army of Gen. Lee with his command. 



In the Department of the South, authority 

 was given to Gen. Q. A. Gillmore commanding, 

 on December 22d, 18G3, to undertake such oper- 

 ations as he might deem best on a conference 

 with Admiral Dahlgren commanding the naval 

 force. On the 13th of January the President 

 wrote to Gen. Gillmore as follows: 



EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 13, 1564.^ 

 Major-General GILLMOEE: I understand an effort is 

 being made by some worthy gentlemen to reconstruct 

 a legal State Government in Florida. Florida is in 

 your department, and it is not unlikely you may be 

 there in person. I have given Mr. Hay a commission 

 of major and sent him to you with some blank books 

 and other blanks to aid in the construction. He will 

 explain as to the manner of using the blanks, and 

 also my general views on the subject. It is desirable 

 for all to cooperate; but if irreconcilable differences 

 of opinion shall arise you are master. I wish the 

 thing done in the most speedy way possible, so that 

 when done it be within the range of the late procla- 

 mation on the subject. The detail labor will of course 

 have to be done by others, but I shall be greatly 

 obliged if you will give it such general supervision 

 as you can find consistent with your more strictlv 

 military duties. A. LINCOLN. " 



On January 14th Gen. Gillmore proposed to 

 the War Department to occupy the west bank of 

 the St. John's River in Florida, and establish 

 small depots there preparatory to an advance 

 west. On the 22d of January he was informed 

 by the Secretary that the matter was left en- 

 tirely to his judgment and discretion with the 

 means at his command. On January 31st Gen. 

 Gillmore again wrote to the Secretary that the 

 objects to be obtained by the operations were : 



1st. " To procure an outlet for cotton, lum- 

 ber, timber, &c. 



2d. "To cut off one of the enemy's sources 

 of commissary supplies, &c. 



3d. " To obtain recruits for my colored regi- 

 ments. 



4th. " To inaugurate measures for the speedy 

 restoration of Florida to her allegiance in ac- 

 cordance with the instructions which he had 

 received from the President, by the hands of 

 Major John Hay, Assistant Adjutant-General." 



On the same day Gen. Gillmore issued the 

 following order : 



HEADQUAKTEBS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH. ) 

 HILTON HEAD, S. C., January 81, 1864. ) 

 GEKERAL ORDERS Xo. 16. In accordance with 

 the provision of the Presidential Proclamation 

 of Pardon and Amnesty, given at Washington 

 on the 8th day of December, in the year of our 



