Hardee, William J., 1815-1873 to Samuel Cooper
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01190 Author/Creator: Hardee, William J., 1815-1873 Place Written: Smithfield, North Carolina Type: Manuscript letter Date: April 5, 1865 Pagination: 7 p. : docket ; 29 x 24 cm. Order a Copy
In a clerical hand, Confederate General Hardee reports to Adjutant and Inspector General Cooper on the operations of his corps of the Army of Tennessee, including the loss of Atlanta and his differences with General John B. Hood, whom he blames for the loss. States that his report is late because, "most of the General officers in that Corps having been killed, wounded or captured in the recent Tennessee Campaign ..." Feels it is necessary to correct misrepresentations made by General Hood. Comments "That I failed to save Atlanta as charged by General Hood is a matter of regret, that I committed errors is highly probably, but that I failed in any instance to carry out in good faith the order of General Hood I utterly deny." Explains in detail the discrepancies between Hood's and his own interpretations of the events of 20-28 July 1864 during the Atlanta campaign. Hood states Hardee did not follow his order on how to move his troops and so delayed the attack. Hardee refutes this and defends himself. "The fate of Atlanta was sealed from the moment when General Hood allowed an enemy, superior in numbers, to pass, unmolested around his flank, and plant himself firmly upon his only line of Railroad." Mentions his corps being attacked by six Federal army corps commanded by General William T. Sherman on 1 September 1864 and defends his position again against what General Hood had reported. Informs that Hood's sum of the losses from 18 July to 1 September was 5247 but remarks, "The casualties in my corps alone during that time considerably exceeded seven thousand in killed, wounded and captured." Endorsed by Hardee on the verso of the last leaf in pencil. Hardee's retained personal copy. Written from camp near Smithfield, North Carolina.
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