The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-08-24
feved, and Genefal Sherman succeeded
to ths very uhenviabh position oi com.
mAndef Of the daDartmort. =

to ths very uhenviabk position oi com.
mAndef Of the department. =
On the Sd Of November be telegraph
ed 70 General Mcclellan, detailing the
position and number Of his several forces,
showing them to be every where, except
q one single point. outnumbersd.s .sod coo-
cluded his despatch with the emphatic re !.
mark "Our forces are too ANAL to do
good, and too large to be sacrificed"
In reply, Gen. Mcclellan asks: aHow
long could AcCook keep Bucknsr out of
Louisville, holding the rsilroad, with
power 70 destroy il inch b. inch?" Civ
ing no hint Of purpose to send reinforce
msnts, but looking to tie probable aban.
donment OF Kentucky. Previous 70 this,
General Sherman had had an interview
with Secretary Cameron, in presence Of
Adjntsnt General Thomas, at Lexington.
Kentucky, and fo!iy explained 70 him the
situation Of his command, and also of the
armies opposed to him, aud, on being ask.
ed what furce was necessary Tor success
fui forward movement in his departmeus.
answered, "Two hundred thousand men -
BY the ist Of November Adjutant Gener-
q Thomas official report of his converse
ton in all its details, was published in
most OF the newspapers of the country,
giving the enemy full knowledge Of many
important facts relating to Gen. Sher-
man's Department He was too weak to
defend our finea, and the enemy knew il.
He had no hope of reinforcements. and
withal, was evidently in discredit with the
War Department, n being too apprehen-
sive OF the power, strength and resource
of the enemy. He. therefore, felt he
could not successfully conduct the cam
paign, and asked to be relieved. He was
succeeded BY Gen. Buell., who was at
once reinforced, and enabled to hold his
defensive position until Grant, in the fol
lowing spring, should advance down the
Mississippi and up the Cumberland.
den. Sherman was now set down ss
"crazy," and quietly retired to the CON-
mand of Benton Barracks. near St. Louis.
The evidence Of his insanity was bis ans
wer to the Secretary Of War-tha. to
make successful advance against the en-
envy, then strongly posted at all strategic
points from Mississippi to Cumberland
Gap. would require an army Of two hun
dred thousand strong. Tie answer was
the inspiration Or the judgment of a mill
tary genius; but to the mind of Mr.. Sec
rctary Cameron II was the prophecy OF a
false wizard.
At Shiloh he held the key Of the posi-
tion.-Gen. Rossssu said
ale gave Us our first lessons in the
field in the face Of an enemy; and OF all
the meu | ever saw, he Is the most untir-
ing, vigllant and patient. Ne man that
ever lived could surpass him. His enc
mics say that he was surprised at Shiloh.
tell you no. He was not surprised sor
whipped, for be sights by the week. De-
void OF ambition, incapable 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, pla-
cling their hats upon their bayonets, gave
him three cheers. II was touching and
fitting compliment 10 the gallant chieitain
l am thankful for this occasion to do JUS
f; tice to brave, honest and knightly gen.
tleman."
General Grant. in letter to the War
Department. under dase of July s5, 1868,
says: ITO Gen. Sherman / Was greatly
indebted. for his promptness in forward
ing to me, during the siege of Fort Donel-
son, reinforcemenls and sue lies from Pa.
ducah. At the battle of Shiloh. on the last
day, be held with raw troops the key point
of the landing. 1t is no disparagement to
any other officer to say. that l do not be-
| lieve that there was another rivision
Commander on the field who had the skill
and experience to have done it. To his
Individual efforts am indebted for the
success Of that battle.''
A cavalry officer at the battle of Shiloh
related many personal incidents ilustra-
tive of the character of the man. He
says: "Having occasion to report person
ally to General Sherman, about noon of
the FIRST day at Shiloh. found bin dis.
mounted. his arm in sling, his hand
bleeding, his horse dead, himself covered
with dust, his face besmeared With pow.
der and blood. He was giving directions
ss the moment to Major Taylor his Chief
of Artillery. who had just brough, bat
terry into position Mounted orderlies
we've coming and going in haste; staff Of.
fcers we're making anxious inquiries;
everybody but himself seemed exclred.-
The battle was raging terrifcally in every
direction. just then there seemed to be
universal commotion on our right, where
it was observed our meo were giving back.
IL was looking for that" said Sherman,
s'but | am ready for them His quick
sharp eye flashed, and his war-begrimed
face beamed with satisfaction. The enc.
my's packed columns now made their %.
pearancc, and as quickly the guns which
Sherman had so carefully placed in posi-
tion began to speak. The deadly effsc,
on the enemy WAS apparent. While Sher.
man was still managing the artillery, Ma.
Ejor Sanger, staff officer, called his Al
lention TO the fact that the snemy's cav.
airy wore charging toward the battery
Order up those two companies Of infant
ry.' was the quick reply, and the Genera
coolly vent Oh with his guns. The cav
| airy made Eallant charge, bat thei
horses carried back empty saddles. Th,
enemy vas evidently foiled. Our men