New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-12

-
Rosecrans, and in part Of the BIeuhsr D;v;.;os
! which was brought 70 me from TIE Potomac 49,
| in charge Of Gsnersl Rosecrans On their ~
into ny Department that officer tslegnphsd to NJ
10 follow:
mile. ous u Winchester sfser thirty dsa day. ~isss I've
:ssy WITH ti's Y. s
fo'sss. Horses much jsdsd and nearly sawed -
i w s. R0sEceAss
i "Bdssdisr General ID n e
| To realize how severe this exposure was Il L w.u
TO recall the fact that this Winter and Spring ~
marked - . memorable seasou Of 5xfssor1iSU
rains. The interval between this time and the SA
Of May, when they entered my department at Ron.
ney, was occupied BY Gen. Rosscrsns in spdssyor.
ing 70 get just such supplies % would az In 4,
he field. Notwithstanding his exertions thew vsss
ill, in many rsspects, III Supplied and unit ior ss,.
VI CO. II was necessary TO provide shoes for sevs,si
tn ousand while they were being pressed forward
fro N Romney TO Petersburg, and fully oue-half n.
plaza with about 300 men, On the way ID exscusss
prow sed campaign In Southern Virginia, when tba
corps finally joined me on the afternoon of NAV IL
certain 'ly in wretched condition o. regarded health
and co, ufort, but as Gen. Rosecrans described Them.
"full ~ energy'-a ane, solderly corps-in ny
udgmes T. 1t least equal IN tactical condition 70 ~
yoIl,nteA corps ia the ssrvics.N l3asE ARE'
On tho morning after it joined me I moved viii
this coru' upon Frsuklin 70 tho rslief Of Gea
Schenck q, I'd Miroy, who had been pressed back
upon this D lace by superior force under Jackson.
The comma 1ds OF Gens; Scbenck ana Miiroy we're
composed Of Ohio and Virginia troeps. They M
passed the entire Winter Ia active fold service.
more or less in collision with the enemy; and i
H. cir rscsnt Q, agreements with Jackeoas fooe had
behaved with steadioess and gallantry thash-
fco,ed tie high est honor their officers and them.
selves The Ell tire force assembled at TINS place,
therefor. consi ted Of the Blcnker division ths
brigades Of G.na Schenck aud Milroy, aud lghs
brigade Of Ohio nd Virginia troops under ColonA
pow Esig. Gen. -Ciuseret.
Tho trscps had l stely becn under forced marches.
living upon iucomp ete and scanty rations, being Er
DAYS together scantily supplied with beef on Their
insufficient diet had materially sfected theis health.
and the Medical Dire ctor reported the entire con.
mand in condition Of starvation and incipisas
scuryy." ....
In this osadition received orders from tho Pred.
dent directing mo to iaarch TO the relief o. Zen.
iianks. A. daylight the next morning tho troops
were on the march. Ia king the road TO Petersburg,
a, which place were felt the tents and k0spsscks,
with the baggage and provision trains Of my com.
uand, reeerying for absolute necessities bot four
wagons ~ each regiment Ammunition and rali0us
Tor three days made The ;basiS for transporsaoa
allowed. %
The slacri.y and good feeling with which shi
order was executed, and the cheerful manner IN
which the undertook the march, were got
evidence OF their high moral condition, and shows
that they were In sound discipline and fully undsr
the control Of their officers. Making bat one dsy's
halt and this at tho instance Of tue Medical Dree
tor and crossing the Shenandoah Mountains BY
niuht march in Q storm OF cold rain, my c0rp
attacked Jacksons column 1t Strasturg, acknowL
edged TO DO in greatly superior force AID drove hia
ia disorder duripg tho next eight days to Port
Republic.
Tue road was strewu with arms, blsnkets, and
clo.Lipx. thrown away 10 their haste, abandoned
by their picks,s where they bad been surprsd, and
tie WOODS and roads lined BY their strs2glers, ~
aolo TO keep up with tho rapid retreat. For nins
days We kept n kSbt OF the eneny-tce pursuit IN
Ierrupsed oUly by the streams where tho enemy
succeeded IL destroying the BRIDGES, for which our
advance was Ia continual contest with bis rear.
believe that 10 officer in the command. with any
xpereuee OF troops, will hsssate " say tha no N
;aatry in their condition. could have marched loagf
or displayed more ardor or willing endurance than
aId ours.
AZ council Of general officers held the day bsfses
the battle Of Cross Keys, IL was the slnoas unani
nous opinion that the trooPs could net be carried
further. Tue question before the council distinctly
was, whether or not, Ia their exhausted connioa
and the absolute want Of provisions they could b
.atey moved Onward another march, upon the cse.
.ainty that ii We were able to do 10 the enemy
W ould DO reached within that distance and = stss
fought. Except upon tho certainty OF battle Der
would no, have JUSTIFIED an advance; oGt
upon this incentive, the troops Were ordered forward
Inc next day into Y country where every advantage
was with tho enemy; and ct Cross Keys attacked
him on sight, and il couesssdly twice their nuber.
They fough: bis battle gsanty and upon their isse
ration Lay down upon the hard fought heid ire aud
hungry, and at daylight The next morning were
again ia pursuit OF Jackson, who escaped OILY ~
means OF sue bridge watch lutervened between kiin
and destruction. Further pursuit with this fa,gned
uud ir0latad iorre was impossible, and, indeed. was
for hidden by the President, who also Photographed
Many thai k TO YOURSELF officers and tor tbs gAiAs
baltic Of Isss Sunday
and who slso oi US the honor to say further, in
telegram explaining why additlous could not 30
made 10 car corps:
- You fought Jackson alone and wonted him"
Withdrawing now with the troops To hiddletown,
and being longer III expectation OF im@ediste
conflicts with the euemy, addressed myself TO wast
Was necessary for the strictsr dsci pne rs well ~
for the conIort of the corps This work was In
rogrsss when, on tie Hth Of June, | was relieved
OF % command. That did not myself consider The
ROOFS in "demon.ized " coDdition, is evidenced
by the fact that In reply 10 telegram OF the 25,h,
from tho Secretary Of War, desiring TO know bow
soon could be ready to march with then-ny I'M
precision being that tue movement was 10 bs upoa
Ri chmond-i gave two days Ms the time los
necessary preparations
Daring their recent marches had enforced juS
that degree o! discipline which judged il prudsiS
To require under Iher circumstances of extraordinary
pryuIious preerring that tue Rebels should feel tue
penalty of war; rather than give by iilined severity
n check to the ardor OF volunteer trocIe already
making 30 many sacrifices for loyalty. And ioued
my judgment fully JUSTIFIED By tneir conduct. Tbey
were Always prompt III obedience, patient IN suier-
Ing, brave aud efficient in action. That they were
in bad condition and greatly needed rect aud sup
plies, Is undoubtedly true; but their copduct, 70
4Uoye briefly given, sufficient TO show that Ihey
were not drnOraaz, d; e1d IL the same lime II VIII
be admitted that /. was good morale which WAS
not destroyed by hardships 70 loag continued aud
Aud This campaign. briefly "a it is here givea,
makes il also clearly evident that General Lscn
whom is withheld u control over his msIns Of sup.
I ly cannot keep his troops in condition to be e.