The Atlanta Journal Constitution Presents
The Atlanta Constitution
August 21, 1864
VOL. 5 - No. 21 (235)
"Front Page"
Raid Near Jonesboro
Federals Tear Up Track, Are Driven Off;
Wheeler Fails to Capture Dalton
While Gen. Joseph Wheeler raided north Georgia this week, trying to cut Gen.
W. T. Sherman's supply lines from Chattanooga, Tenn. federals under Gen. Judson Kilpatrick
made an unsuccessful raid on the railroad (to Macon) from Jonesboro.
On the Atlanta front, federals continued to bombard the city but Sherman's army
did not engage in any major clash with outnumbered Confederates under Gen. J. B.
Hood.
Atlanta, observed one newsman, "reminds one very much of Goldsmith's
'Deserted Village' although many families have been compelled to remain here
despite the danger from the missiles which the enemy continue to hurl into the
heart of the city, and the horrid results of this barbarous practice of the
federal commender..."
About 4 p.m. Sunday last, Wheeler's Calvary approached Dalton and demanded its
surrender. But Col. Bernard Laiboldt refused and with troops, including
convalescents, Laiboldt successfully defended Dalton against two attacks,
reporting 50 casualties through Tuesday.
Wheeler has moved off, destroying track between Dalton and Loudon, Tenn.
It is supposed he is aiming for Knoxville, Tenn.
Taking advantage of Wheeler's absence, Sherman decided Tuesday to send
Kilpatrick on a circuitous raid against Confederate communications south of
Atlanta, hoping to force Hood to withdraw.
Ordered to destroy the railroad between Jonesboro and Griffin, the Kilpatrick
force left Sandtown (west of Atlanta) on Thursday night and reached Jonesboro
Friday night. After destroying about a mile of track and burning the
depot, Kilpatrick was struck by Confederate cavalry and moved southeast about
midnight Friday, with Gen. W. H. Jackson's cavalry in pursuit.
At Lovejoy yesterday, Confederate infantry blocked Kilpatrick's attempt to
recross the railroad and move west and the federals are attempting to fight
their way back to Sherman's left from Decatur.
On Monday night, some 200 federal Calvary men burned the Fairburn depot and tore
up some track.
In skirmishing around Atlanta, Union General Grenville M. Dodge was wounded
severely in the head Friday.
Transcribed by Brenda Pierce - December 2002 -
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