The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-09-15

afterwards dispatched, with force of
seven thousand men, composed Of vol
unteers and Kentucky home guards,
to occupy Muldrough's Hill, n stratc-
getic point south of the Rolling Fork
Of Salt River. There his home guards
left him, the reinfOrcements designed
to strengthen his command were neces-
sarily sent elsewhere, and he found
himself with scarcely five thousand
troops, in an unfriendly part of the
country, confronting rebel army of
twenty five thousand men under Gen
cral Buckner.
While affairs were in this position,
General Anderson was relieved, and
Gen. Sherman succeeded TO the very
unehviable position Of commander of
the department,
On the Sd of November he tele-
graphed to Gen. Mcclellan, detailing
the position and numberof his several
forces, showing them to be every
where, except at one single point, out
numbered, and concluded his despatch
with the emphatic remark: "Our
forces are too small to do good, and too
large to be sacrificed"
In reply, Gen. Mcclellan asks
GLOW long could McCook keep Buck
ner out of Louisville, holding the rail
road, with power to destroy it inch by
inch ?'-giving no hint of purpose
to send reinforcements, but looking TO
tho probable abandonment of Ken
lucky. Previous to this Gen. Sher-
man had an interview with Secretary
Cameron, in presence of Adjt-Gen.
Thomas, at Lexington, Ky, Ond fully
explained to him the situation of his
command, and also ofthe armies OPP.
posed to him, and, on being asked
what forces were necessary for q sue
cessful forward movement in his de-
partment, answered, 1.-TWO hundred
thousand men," By the lst of Nov
ember Adj't Gen. Thomas's Official re-
port of this conversation, in all its de-
tails, was published in most of the
newspapers of the country, giving the
enemy full knowledge of many impor-
tant facts relating to Gen. Sherman S
department. He was too weak TO de-
tend our lines, and the enemy knew
it, lie had no hope of reinforcements,
and withal, was evidently in dscredit
with the War Department, as being
too apprehcnsive of the power,
strength and resources Of the enemy.
He, therefore, felt he could not sue
cessfully conduct the campaign, and
asked to be relieved. He was succeed
cd by Gen Buel, who was at once re-
iniorced, and enabled to hold his de-
fensive positions until Grant, the fol-
lowing spring, should advance down
the Mississippi and up the Cumber-
land.
General Sherman was now set down
as "crazy," and quietly returned to the
command of Benton barracks, near ST.
LOUIS. The evidence of his insanity
was his answer to the Secretary Of
War-that to make q successful ad.
vance against the enemy, then strong.
ly posted at all strategetic points from
Mississippi to Cumberland Gap
would require an army two hundred
thousand strongl The answer was
the inspiration or judgment of mill.
tsry genius; but to the mind of Mr.
Secretary Cameron it was the prophc-
cy of a false wizard.
At Shiloh he held the key Of the po.
sition. Gen. Rosencrans said:
Gle gave us our first lesson in the
field in the face OF an enemy; and Of
all the mon | over saw he is the most
untirng, vigilant and patient. Nc
man that ever lived could surpass him
His enemies say that he was surprised
at Shiloh. tell you no. He was not
surprised nor whipped, for he fights
by the week. Devoid ofambition, in.
capable of envy, he is brave, gallant
and Just. AT Shiloh his old legion
met him just as the battle was ended
and at the sight of him, placing thcil
hats upon their bayonets, gave hin
three cheers. 1t was touching anC
fitting compliment to the gallant
chieftain. | am thankful for this oc
casion to do justice to brave, hones'
and knightly gentleman.
Gen. Grant, in letter to the Wal
Department under date of July 26
1868, says "To Gen. Sherman 1 wa'
greatly indebted for his promptness il
forwarding to me during the seige o
Fort Donclson reintorcements anC
supplies from Paducah. At the battle
OF Shiloh, on the first day, he helC
with raw troops the key-point of the
: landing, 1t is no disparagomeht tC
any other officer 10 say that | do no
believe there was another ditisior
commander on the field who had thu
skill and experience to have done it,
To his individual efforts | am indebt
cd for the success of that battle"
A cavalry officer at the battle o
Shiloh relates many personal Incl
dents illustrative of the character O
the man, lie says Having occasion
to report personally TO General Sher
man about noon of the first day o
Shiloh, l found him dismounted, hi
arm in a sling, his horse dead, him
self covered with dust, his face be
smcared with powder and blood; h'
was giving directions at the momen
to Major Taylor, his chief of artillery
who had just brought battery int
ncsitinn Mnnnted nrdnrlies MerI