The following note was penned entirely in his own hand by Major General John Newton (1823-1895) in the closing days of the Atlanta Campaign. At the time, Newton commanded the 2nd Division, IV Army Corps in Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas’s command. Newton enjoyed the confidence of Sherman and was respected for having successfully commanded the 1st Army Corps after Reynolds was killed at Gettysburg. A few weeks earlier he was credited with helping to win the critical battle of Peachtree Creek. A highly competent engineer, Newton was cautious but not so that he risked his career in late December 1862 by meeting with President Lincoln to voice his lack of confidence in Burnside as the commander of the Army of the Potomac.
Newton composed the note to Lt. Col. Joseph Scott Fullerton (1835-1897), who held the position of Aide-de-Camp and Chief of Staff for Thomas’s IV Army Corps. The note was intended to inform Maj. Gen. Thomas of observed troop and artillery movements in the area and to inquire, essentially, whether they were allies or adversaries. Schofield’s maneuvers seemed to be unknown to Newton, who was in the process of preparing to disrupt the Macon & Western Railroad to the south of Atlanta, becoming involved in the Battle of Jonesborough from August 31 to September 1, 1864.
[Note: This letter is from the collection of Jim Doncaster who made it available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Headquarters 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps
In the Field, August 30, 1864
8 o’clock p.m.
Colonel,
I have the honor to report that Lt. Col. [Porter] Olson, 36th Illinois [Infantry], of my Division reports that he saw a column of troops moving into position north-east of [John A.] Mann’s House at about sundown this evening. 1
Col. Opdycke from his position about 600 yards in advance of the works heard the movement of artillery. The Maj. General Commanding can judge whether this was Gen. Schofield’s troops or not. I incline to think it was not. I am sir, very respectfully your obedient servant, — John Newton, Brig. General Commanding
Lt. Col. J. S. Fullerton, AAG & Chief of staff, 4th A. C.
1 The John A, Mann farmhouse is mentioned in several official dispatches in describing the movements of the 4th Army Corps from Red Oak to the Macon Railroad at Rough & Ready on 30 August 1864. See Marker: The Mann House.
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