History of the United States of America . ntain regionwas Chattanooga. Its chief value, how-ever, lay in its defensive relation toEast Tennessee, because from thatpoint a column could easily be thrownupon the communications of any hos-tile force which had passed through themountain gaps to ravage the interioiof the state. Accordinglv, it was thekey of ail that was behind, and closedup that region from assault. But forpenetrating Central Georgia, Atlantaformed the true, proper starting was essentially the door ofGeorgia, as Chattanooga of it were taken possession
History of the United States of America . ntain regionwas Chattanooga. Its chief value, how-ever, lay in its defensive relation toEast Tennessee, because from thatpoint a column could easily be thrownupon the communications of any hos-tile force which had passed through themountain gaps to ravage the interioiof the state. Accordinglv, it was thekey of ail that was behind, and closedup that region from assault. But forpenetrating Central Georgia, Atlantaformed the true, proper starting was essentially the door ofGeorgia, as Chattanooga of it were taken possession of byour forces, only cavalry could be usedfurther south, and their raids wouldhave to be hurried, brief, and alwavsdangerous. Even a movable columnof infantry, as in the case of Shermansmarch from Vicksburg to Meridian(p. 404), wTould encounter great peril, asan army in Atlanta could harass itsreal Between these two main points,Chattanooga and Atlanta, extend theAlleghanies, ridging the whole face ofthe country into a mountainous forma-. Ch. XIII.] SHERMAN MOVES FROM CHATTANOOGA. 469 tion. Lookout Mountain, MissionRidge, Taylors Ridge, Johns Moun-tain, Dug-Down Mountain, and otherparallel ranges, break up the regionlying between the Tennessee and theChattahooehie. So long as Chatta-nooga was Shermans base, the rebelscould fight him with great advantageto themselves. But, Atlanta once ac-quired, it would become the new, ad-vanced position from whence to operate,and his rear would be entirely secure. It was no light task which Shermanhad before him, to pass over a track of138 miles by the route of the railroad,and overcome the numerous obstaclesin his path. Opposed to his advancewas the rebel army, under J. E. John-ston, second only to that of Lee in Vir-ginia, and officered by experienced lead-ers, as Polk, Hardee, Hood, and point of numbers, Shermans forcewas much superior. He had nearly1 00,000 men, with 254 guns. Of these,60,000, with 130 guns, were in ThomassArmy
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