The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-09
Butler, Banks, Sigel and Rose.
Grams Severely Censured.

The General-in- Chief on the Fighting
Qualities Of the East and West.
THE CLOSING SEEM rs.
dc. DC. &c.
ByhpouARrgRs ARMIES or TIM UNITED STATES, I
WASHINGTON D. G., July ~, 1855.
SrR-I have the honor submit the following report
OF the operations of the armies Of the United States from
the date of my appointment TO command the same:-
TIE PLAN OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL
From an early period in the rebellion had been i'm
pressed with the idea that active and continuous opera
lions of all the troops that could be brought into the
field regardless of and weather, necessary
TO speedy termination Of the The resources OF
enemy and his numerical strength far inferior
to ours but offset to this we had vast territory
with population hostile TO the government to garrison
and long lines of and railroad communications to
protect to enable us supply the operating armies.
The armies in the East and West acted independently
and without concert like balky team, two pull
ing together enabling the enemy to to great advantage
interior lines Of for transporting troops
from east west reinforcing the army most vigorously
pressed and TO urough large numbers during seasons
OF inactivity part TO TO their homes and do the
work Of producing for the support Of their armies II
was q question whether numerical strength and
resources we're than balanced by these dsad
vantages and the enemy's superior position.
From the first / firm in the conviction that no
peace could be had would be stable and conducive
the happiness Of the people, both North and South until
the military power OF the rebellion entirely broken.
therefore determined, FIRST, the greatest
Der troops practicable against the armed force Of the
enemy; preventing him from using the same force at
different against first and then another Of
armies and tho possibility Of repose for reftng and
producing necessary supplies for carrying resistance
Second hammer continuously against the armed force
OF the enemy and his resources, until by attron,
II other way there should be nothing left to HIM
but equal submission with the loyal section Of our
country TO the constitution and laws OF the
land
These views have been kept constantly in mind and
orders given and campaigns made carry them out.
Whether they might have better In conception and
execution is for the people, who mourn tho loss of
friends fallen and who have to pay the pecunary cost
say All say ia that what have done has been
done conscentiousy the best Of my ability, and In
what conceived be for the interests Of the whole
country.
srTukrroy IN NAY, 1884
At the date when this report begins the situation OF
the contending forces about follows-The Mis-
sipp river strongly garrisoned by federal troops
from st. Louis Missouri to its mouth. Tho line OF the
Arkansas also held thus giving armed possession
OF all of the Mississippi north OF that
few points in Southern Louisiana from the
river held by us together with small garrison
and near the mouth Of the Rio Grande All the balance
OF the territory Of Arkansas Louisiana and Texas
In the almost undisputed possession OF the enemy
with army of probably not less than so 900 effective
men, that could have been brought into the field had
there been sufficient opposition TO have brought
them out The let.alone policy had demoralized
this force so that probably but little than
one half Of II present in garrison at any
time But the half 40 900 men, with tho bands
of gueras scattered through Missouri, Arkansas and
much OF the population compelled the of large
number OF troops 10 keep navigation open tho river
aud to protect the loyal people TO the west Of it. To the
Of the Mississippi held substantially with the line
~ the Tennessee and Holson rivers running eastward
include nearly all OF tho State OF Tennessee. South Of
Chattanooga small foothold had been obtained In Geor.
ga sufficient protect East Tennessee from ncursons
from tho encmys force ut Dalton, Georgia. West
Virginia substantially within our lines Virginia,
Potomac river small area about the mouth OF James
river covered by the troops at Norfolk and Fortress
Potomac lying along the Rapidan In the possession
Of the enemy Along the seacoast fooholds had been
North Carolina Beaufort Folly and Morris Islands Hi
ton Head Fort Pulaski and Port Royal In South Caro-
,na Fernsndns and - augustine an FLORIDA Key
all tho important ports were blockaded by the navy.
The accompanying map copy of which was sent 70
General sherman and other commanders In March, 1884,
shows by red lines the territory occupied by At the
beginning Of the rebellion and at the opening OF the
campaign Of 1894 while those In blue are the lines
which II was proposed 70 occupy
Behind the Union lines there were many bands OF
guerllas and large population disloya 70 the govern
men making necessary 10 guard every foot Of road or
river used in supplying armies In the South reign
Of military despotlsm prevailed which made every man
could not bear arms in the ned acted As rovoss for col
ecting deserers and returning them This enabled the
The enemy had the bulk OF his forces east
Of the mississippi into armies commanded by Gene
rails r T. Lee and :. r. Johnston. his abest and best
generals The army commanded by Lee occupied the
south bank Of the Rapidan, extending from Mine
westward strongly inirenched covering and defending
Potomac The army under Johnston occupied strongly
ntrcnched position az Dalton Georgia. covering and sdc
Atlanta eso 81 s nns.r Nsnr
raj w. Sherman. In addition 10 these armies he had
large cavalry force under Forrest in Northeast Missis
sppi: considerable force, OF oil arms In the Shenan
doah valley and the western part OF Virginia and
remo eastern part of Tennessee and also confronting
garrisons, and holding blockaded ports
where wc had no foothold upon land.
These armies and the cities covered and defended
by them tho man objective points Of the cam
Major General w. T. Sherman who was appointed to
the command OF the military division Of the Mississippi,
sssipp river 10 Acghanics and the department Of
Arkansas west Of the Mississippi, had the immediate
command Of the armies operating against Johnston
Major General George q. Meade had the Immediate
command OF tho Army OF the Potomac, from where
exercised general supervision Of the movements Of all
our armies.
GENERAL surRMAy's INSTRUCTIONS
General Sherman instructed 10 move against
Johnstons army to break up and 10 so into the in
terror OF the cney's country a. Tar he could, inf CT
ing all the damage he could upon their war resources
II thu enemy his front showed signs OF 10 ming Lee,
70 follow him up 10 the full extent OF his ability, while
would prevent the entration Of Ice upon him IL
In the power the Army OF tho Potomac 10 d. go
More specific written Instructions not given for
che renson that had talked with him The plans
OF the campaign aud satisned that he understood