| The Western & Atlantic
Road, known as the State Road, as it is the property of the State, now
fulfills an important part in this War. Leading or 138 miles from
Atlanta to Chattanooga, it constitutes General Bragg's principal, it
may almost be said sole, line of communication. And if seriously cut
it may be the cause of compelling his army to fall back still further
abandoning Tennessee to the Enemy. Atlanta gone, Braggs Army must go
until it and the State of Georgia then will become the theatre of War.
General Bragg must therefore be backed up by the whole power and
energy of Georgia for the Security of Atlanta and the Road. |
| Raids may be made on this line
of 138 miles from either the Alabama Side threatening the road from
Resaca to Atlanta; or from East Tennessee, through the Mountains,
threatening by one route the Road from Dalton to Chattanooga, or
passing East of the Connasauga River to Spring Place in Murray County,
and thence by New Echola to Resaca, or through Coosawattee and Pine
Log to Etowa Marietta and Atlanta. Of course General Bragg will take
every precaution to prevent a Raid through his lines. Still a party
may succeed in getting through and do immense damage before being
captured or driven off. The object of a raid being the destruction of
public and private property the raiders must move with celerity
burning and destroying as they go, and if met with firm resistance
they must be repelled, as they have no time to waste in besieging or
storming works. They make up their minds to surrender if encountered
by a superior force or headed off, but before that destruction to the
utmost extent is their purpose. Time taken them therefore is an
important element and rapidity of movement essential. The larger and
important bridges on the Road will be their aim, but they take also
the smaller ones lying in their way. |
| On the State Road I found
Sixteen bridges proper, and will speak of them in their two fold
importance as structures, and as exposed military points. |
| Proceeding from Atlanta, up
the Road, we made at Seven Miles the Chattahoochee Bridge. This is the
largest and most difficult structure on the Road, and if destroyed
would take some months for its restoration. Being however so near to
Atlanta where no doubt a force will be assembled as soon as possible I
propose only one strong company for its guard. The same company can
also furnish the guard for the State property in Atlanta. |
| At 40 miles from
Atlanta we come to the Alatoona bridge, a small affair over an injured
aqueduct. Easily repaired and not much exposed. A watch only will be
necessary here as at present. |
| At Etowah, 46 miles we
cross another large and expensive structure resting on high stone
piers, also if destroyed requiring time for reconstruction. It is
moreover exposed on both sides, from Alabama through Etowah Cliffs; or
on the East from Pine Log. For the guard of this bridge I propose four
companies and 4 pieces of Artillery. To aid the guard of this
Bridge we may, reasonably look for 300 men from the Etowah Iron Works,
and 600 men from Rome. |
| At 50 miles we come to
the bridge over Pettis Creek. Third rate in structure and importance.
One small company and perhaps one piece of Artillery will be
sufficient here. |
| At 85 miles we come to
the Resaca bridge as it is called, over the Ostanoula River. This
bridge, by pacing, I take to be 420 feet long, approached by a trestle
work of over six hundred feet. This bridge is of importance as a
structure, and of first importance as inviting attack. I think it the
most exposed bridge on the Road. For this bridge I propose 4
companies and 5 pieces of Artillery. |
| At 107 miles we reach
the tunnel. This might be blown up, but will require either some time
to mine it so as to lay the powder advantageously for serious damage,
or a large quantity of powder to damage it without mining. A small
guard company should be kept here to give notice in event of an
attempt to mine, a work of some time. It is hardly to be supposed the
raiders will have a large amount of powder with them to do serious
injury without mining. |
| At 115 miles we come to the
Catoosa Platform and four bridges within 2 miles. As structures they
are not of serious character, but they are much exposed. Five
companies, and three pieces of Artillery at least will guard the
bridges and the pass to them. |
| At 120 miles we have the two
bridges at Graysville within half a mile of each other. One company,
and one piece of Artillery at each will answer. |
| At 122 miles we have two more
bridges within half a mile of each other. For each one company and one
piece of Artillery. Should General Bragg give us 20 pieces of
artillery the surplus can be given to the exposed points. |
| At Boyce's Station, the
bridges General Bragg prefers to have under his own charge. |
| Every bridge should be floored
over to facilitate the passage of men and Artillery from end to end
rapidly and especially at night. Already has the want of sufficient
flooring cost the life of one man and and seriously maimed another. If
one stumbled be impossible to pass your men through in the event of
attack without injury to some of them, and not at all your Artillery.
The cost will be but little in comparison to the life or limb, and the
additional possibilities for defence that will be afforded. |
| The roadway should be strongly
stockaded near the bridges and earth works thrown up for the
obstruction of the enemy and for the protection of our own men, except
at the Etowah and Chattahoochee bridges where they will not be
necessary, to prevent any one getting at the bridge to apply the
torch. Fighting behind well constructed field works, our men will be
able to hold at bay and defeat the plans of largely superior numbers.
Stock gaps should also be made on the road in front of the stockades
to prevent Cavalry suddenly rushing in. Barriers also should be at
hand in case of attacks to close the roadway that the guard may not be
shot at inside of the work. Pikes might also be arranged conveniently
in the stockade to aid in repelling an attempt to climb in. |
| At each bridge I explained to
the Gentlemen with me the arrangement of stockades and earth works, so
that dispose the Regiments as you may deem fit and there are officers
in each understanding the general principals of the defences ???. It
would be well to give one part of the Road to one Regiment and the
other end to the other. The Colonel should command, one at Resaca, the
other at Catoosa Platform. The Lieutenant Colonels and Majors being
placed at the other points of relative importance. In Atlanta I
procured six copies of Mahans works on field works, all I could get
and distributed three to each Head Quarters for study. |
| Pickaxes, shovels and barrows
and a few cross saws, spikes, hammers and nails will be required, but
an exact bill of them cannot be made out until the precise character
and size of the works is established but a general estimate may be
made by apportioning the different tools among 10 men as a unit of
calculation. By judicious dispositions the bridges may be safely kept
against any ordinary raid that may be sent. We have a reason for
thinking that the important bridges will be aimed for, therefore we
should guard them well, and not dilute our strength so much as to make
it probable that the guard after ineffectual resistance may be
captured as well as the bridge burnt. In addition to the permanent
guard s of each bridge there should be called out about three thousand
men for local defence to guard Atlanta and the line of the Road at
convenient points out side of the roads. Measuring the vital necessity
of Atlanta and the State Road to the Army in Tennessee and
consequently to the State of Georgia I cannot urge upon your
Excellency too strongly the necessity of bringing to bear every
resource at your command for their Security. |
| Having a deal of work pressing
upon me I am obliged to write to Your Excellency rapidly to secure the
work but I think I have touched upon the important points you desired
covered by my examination. Should I have omitted any, further
explanations will be furnished on your indication of their necessity.
I suggest my presence on the road as I think it was the most important
service to be rendered to the State. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obt Servt |
| Henry C Wayne |
| Adjt & Ins General |
| PS It would be well to have ready duplicate
timbers of the bridges in case of damage or destruction. |