The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-13

pie was iearlully savage on this very point OF our
making soldiers ont OF their late slaves, and Forrest
may have shared this feeling.
PREPARING FOn ATLANTA.
Still greater events were impending. General
Snerman'5 three onicers-Thomas, Mcpherson and
Schoneld were men OF education ana experience,
''who possessed special qualities or mind and
character which, " lie says, "atteu them in the
highest degree for the then III contempla-
ton" Inc number OF troops under lis command
amounted in all to about $50, 900 men, or which he
regarded more than 1S0, 600 lit Tor duty. GEN.
eral Snermans first plan tc take 100, 900 mgn
as compact army for active operations, leaving
80 600 for garrison and u guard the lines OF sup
plies. IA organized three armtes-tne Cumber
land, Tennessee and the Oho-and TO make the
movements swift and mobile as possible he
allowed only one wagon and one ambulance 10
regiment, and compelled each oflcer and soldier
20 carry food and clothing enough for ave
days on his person. The army Of the cum
berland was intrusted to the command OF Gen
eral Thomas the Tennessee TO that or Gen eral
MCPHERSON and the ONO TO that or General Scho-
field. 1t was difficult 70 enforce the regulation IN
reference to the paucity OF baggage. end dear Old
General Thomas could not make ~ his mind 10
sleep on the ground like the soldiers. Sher-
man frequently called his attention TO the orders
upon the SUBJECT rather jestingly tnan seriously.
officers FOR having such Iuxuries, bur- needing
tent himself ana being Gooc natured and slow to
act, he never enforced my orders perfectly. In
addition to his regular wagon train he had big
wagon, which could be converted into an Office,
and this we used TO call Thomas Crcus.'n
Sometimes the General would ind quartermasters
had hidden away tents and mess fixtures OF the
most comfortable description, and these he always
broke up The result OF mis- efforts was that he
doubts II any army ever went forth TO battle with
fewer lmpedmenta.
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
So with 100, 900 men ready IN hand, Sherman
maze ready 10 move against Joseph +. Johnston
who commanded the forces OF the South. Upon
assuming command o. the army or the United
States General Grant issued orders assigning Sher-
man his part In the campaign, which was to work
toward a common centre. In reading this letter
OF General Grant 10 General Sherman written
April 4, 1864, we md the purpose OF Grant was 60
night only the Southern armies. Banks was In
Louisiana, about TO move upon his unhappy and
disastrous Red River expedition. Sgel was in
West Virginia, protecting the railroads. Grant
did not anticipate much from sgel, put, as he
quantity expressed 1t in his letter 10 Sherman,
IT Sgel can't skin himself he can hold leg
while some one else skins.n His only instruc-
tlcns 10 General Sherman we're 'to move against
Johnston's army. to break 1t up, an 10
get into the interior OF the enemys
country as lar as you can inncttng all
the damage you can against their war
resources This letter, written on the 18th OF
April. 1864 demonstrates clearly that President
Grant had no idea at that time OF what II was pos
sibe for sherman to do; that ne had not con-
ceved either the possible fall or Atlanta, or that
brilliant march through Georgia TO the sea which
has given immortality to Shermans name. sher-
man. in replying 10 this letter, a week later lntl-
mated that he might possibly attack Atlanta: but
the best he could hope for march into
Georgia. GEORGIA." he writes "has million OF
Inhabitants II they can live we should not
starven AZ win inspire my command. II success
full with the feeling that beef and salt all that
Is absolutely necessary 10 life, and that parched
corn once fed General Jackson's army on that
very groundn Grant replied admonishing Sher-
man TO beware, lest the enemy, in a it OF despera-
ton, might abandon Richmond ana fal,
back upon him TO crush him. and telling
him tnat II Johnston "shows signs OF joining
follow MIN up 70 the FUR extent OF your ability. T
win prevent the concentration or Lee upon your
front II 1t is in the power or his armT 10 do it, so
instructed Sherman set forth upon the 5th OF May
on his campaign into georgia. the day appointed
by Grant for hts own campaign 10 Virginia. His
army was in light marching trim; he himself had
less accommodation than an ordinary brigade COM
mander desiring, as ne did. to set the army an
example OF being cable to start at a moments no
ilce and to suosist the scantiest food" lie had
obtained records OF the census tables showing the
population and statistics or every county in
Georgia, the number or horses anc cattle and the
probable agricultural resources-a wise pTecau-
ton considering hat be meant 10 live on the coun-
try Mcpherson, he thinks, could have taken Re-
SAGA on The 18th o. May, bnt ne iell back. "sucn
an opportunity sherman says, "does not occur
twice In a single life, but at the critical moment
Mcpherson seems to nave been a little timld; sun
he was perfectly Justified ~ his orders.n
DIssESsIoSs IL THE REBEL ARMY
Tne question has often becn asked why II was
that the Confederate army did not ngnt pitched
battle in the negnborhood OF Cassville. Sherman
himself found at Cassvule al the features OF prep
aratton for grand battle. and among tEcm
long line or fresh intrenchments. Johnston had
under his command three army corps those or
hood. POLK and Hardee numbering IN ali about
10000 men. AFTER the war, he save, he met Ger
eral Johnston, and they talked their battles over
at the friendly clrd table. Johnston said that he
intended 10 fight sherman at Cassulle. and the
action was TO begin In tho morning. While at sup
per, however, General Hood informed him that his
army was enllSded BY the Union arilllery-an
opinion confirmed Dy General POLK and other or
his commanders. Hood ana Polk botn feared they
could not hold their men. General Johnston. says
sherman, awas provoked, accused them OF having
been in conference, with being beaten before bat
lie, and added that nc was unwinng u engage
in a critical battle with army superior to his
own ia numbers. with two or MS three corps COM
manders dissatisfied with the ground and posi-
lions assigned tnem.n Consequently ne retreated
south OF the Alatoona range The close Of May
LETT sherman IN command or this range and
opened up tue way to the Kenesaw Mountains.
the DEATH OF GENERAL POLK
sherman Kept pusnlag his way down toward
Atlanta II was in THIS camnaiga that the rebel
General Leonidas Polk, who had been Bishop OF
the Southern Episcopal Church, lost his Ire. The
story of his death i or the dramatic incidents
or the war, reminding Of the death or the "a
nous French General, MORGAN, who was killed by
a snot from battery whicn had been fred by the