Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-03-25
General George H. Thomas.

| q
ington that we think he had better leav
unwritten, but the following from hi
letter of March Is, in relation to Genera
George II. Thomas, contains sentiment
fitly spoken:
THOMAS AND SHERIDAN.
No better illustration of the persona
popularity of little Phil. Sheridan cal
be had than the quiet way the peopl,
have acquiesced in the promotion of tn,
idol over the real hero of the war.
was very cruel, unjust piece of favor
| itism, but il is a favoritism of the impul
! sive public.
/ have no wish to underrate the ad
mirable qualities of the officer who rode
up the Shenandoah into popular favor
| feel the same enthusiasm over his mil
itary career as that animating the mas
ses. Yet can not, in the face of un
promotion over General Thomas, with
sorrow. Ifit is not turning from the
| gold DER busted to the dust DER giided
| 1t is one of those specimens of injustice
| that disheartens honorable effort. 1t is
all very well to say that our nobler inn
pulses are above the little reward thai
comes OF immediate recognition; never
| theless we are,disheartened when we see
the plaudits follow, and the decorations
given to the less worthy competitor.
General George II. Thomas is one oi
the few about whose name will hang
much of the history of the late war
Taking a prominent part al an early
day, all that he gained was gotten hon.
estly by hard fighting. The Confedracy
was young and strong in its enthusiasm,
number and resources. Recognizing the
necessity of an army, rather than an
officer, he instilled into the troops the
military spirit that comes of discipline,
and not only held his own against the
enemy, but went far towards preparing
the material others came in subsequent
ly to use with success. There is in every
community certain amount of animal
courage or pluck that rushes to the front
on the first call Of arms. If this is taken
hold of, disciplined and drilled, an army
is in hand that can be used with success.
If this is wasted, the second installment
comes to the field with less of the neces-
sary element. General Thomas saw this
at an early day, and if he was only
partially successful his failure must be
attributed to the insane idea that pos
sesses us, that all we have to do is to
create an officer, and not make an army.
His battles and campaigns are studies,
from the fact that we see running
through them a thoughtfulness that
seems to foresee and affect events. He
really organized victory, and, of all who
struggled, planned and fought, seems to
be the only one who could appreciate
the situation, and count on his own re-
sources. Unmindful of the impotence
in his rear, rs the exaggerations at the
front, he moved slowly, but surely, on
to victory.
His brave patience was wonderful. 1t
seemed to wipe out the ambition that
anim8tes most men, and left himself
under a sense of duty, that was as quiet
Thomas is not only the most remarka-
BILE man of our late war, but he makes
study among the men of all time. 1t
lifted him above the petty intrigues and
jealousies of the army. 1t saved him
from personal likes and dislikes, that so
often impair the usefulness of eminent
men. 1t made him calm, cool and un-
moved in the midst OF battle, and at the
most critical moments of the conflict.
l have not the space, nor is there need
of my dwelling on his great deeds dur
ing the war; but I like to 90 back of
them for a study of the mental power
and personal characteristics that distin-
guish this officer. The quiet manner in
which he took command, when his own
ju igment approved the selection. was
not more remarkable than the way in
which he declined promotion that came
without that sanction. Thus when Stan
ton came to the conclusion that Don
Carlos Buefl could not be trusted longer,
and rendered tn = command To General
: ~ H.. Il
reached that point of distrust, respect
fully decliued. This did not come from
an excess of modesty, or any doubt of
his own capacity, but from the sense of
duty that controlled ambition, and made
him leave to Others their several parts,
while he followed out his own.
Again, the success of ShermaN's cele-
brated march to the sea hung on Thorn
as success at Nashville, before all that
was left of the confederate forces under
Hood. Recognizing this fact, the War
at Washington grew fever
ish and impatient. Week after week
passed without a movement, a battle, or
even a skirmish. Orders, threats, even
abuse could not move the man who saw
his enemy wasting away in the frosts of
winter before Notifications he dare not
attack. 1t was during this period that
the report reached the army that some
General was to be sent out to supercede
Thomas. The men and officers, appre-
ciating the situatiOn!and adoring their
broke out in open denunciatiou
that threatened revolt. Gen. Thomas |
sternly repressed this, and to near
friend said: "The Government at WASH
ington has heavy task on hand-much !
as it can stagger under. 1t is doing, and |
has done, the best under the circum-
stances. If any officer comes here to |
me, shall cheerfully report /
for duty, and my officers must do the |
same" And, by the by, the historian !
must not fail to note in the biography |
Of the late President, Abraham Lincoln,
that he ordered, through Halleck, |
Banks to supercede Grant, at Vicksburg,
and Logan to supercede Thomas, at
Nashville.
| could fill my letter with truthful il /
of the great traits in this re-
man. One more will suffice.
And in this day. of questionable gifts
rom patriotic otfice-seekers, it is well
worth recording. At the close of the
war the enthusiastic friends o. General
Thomas made up purse of "A hundred
thousand dollars to purchase for him
nome. In quiet, modest manner-so
luiet and Sc modest that one cannot get
lold even of the refusal to make pop
liar point of-he declined the gift. The
turdy, honest sense of self-reliance and
shrunk from the transaction.
We can well say he is the noblest Ro-
nan of them all.
know that this sort Of thing is not
What you pay me for to write from
Washington. But, unfortunately for
,eu, as folded my foolscap for letter,
General Thomas happened to pass my
windows. AS my eye followed his port
y person, in his blue military cape and
peaked, broad-brimmed military hat, as
lie walked slowly and thoughtfully along,
ny mind took up his eventful past, and
could not help saying what the world
would say. Were the world to pause and