The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-06-03
GENERAL SHERMAN.
Extracts from His MemOfrs-.Per.
sOnal RecOlecllOns or the War
Of the Rebellion.
A Book which will be Read with
Interest by Every SOldlcr.-ln-
eidcnlS and Anecdotes.

THE QUESTION OF SUPPLIES FOR THE
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
The great question of the campaign
was one of supplies. Nashville, our
chief depot, was itself partially in
hostile country, and even the routes
Of supply from Louisville to Nashville
BY rail, and by way of the Cumber-
land river, had to be guarded. Chat
tanooga tour starting point was one
hundred and thirty-six miles in front
of Nashville, and every foot Of the
way, especially the many bridges,
trestles and culverts, had to be strong
ly guarded against the acts OF local
hostile population and of the enemy's
cavalry. Then, of course, AS we ad-
vanced into Georgia, it was manifest
that we should have to repair the
railroad, use 1t, aud guard it likewise.
General Thomas army was much the
largest of the three, was the best pro-
vided, and contained the best corps
OF engineers, railroad managers, and
repair parties, as we'll as the best
body of spies and provost-marshals.-
On him we were therefore compelled
in great measure to rely for these
most useful branches of service. He
had so long exercised absolute COM
mand and control over the railroads
in his department that the other arm
les were jealous, and these thought
the army Of the Cumberland got the
lions share of the supplies and other
advantages Of the railroads. l found
. good deal Of feeling in the army of
the Tennessee on this score, and there
fore took supreme control of the roads
myself, placed all the army comman-
ders on an equal footing, and gave to
each the same control, SO far as or
ders oftransportation for the men and
stores we're concerned. Thomas spies
brought him frequent and accurate
reports of Joseph Johnston's army at
Dalton, giving its strength anywhere
between forty to fifty thousand men,
and these were being reinforced by
troops from Mississippi, and by the
Georgia militia under General G. w.
Smith. General Johnston seemed to
be acting purely on the defence, so
that we had time and leisure to take
all our measures deliberately and
fully. ! fixed the date of May 1st
when all things should be in readiness
for the grand forward movement, and
then returned to Nashville, General
Schc6eld going back to Knoxville,and
Mcpherson to Huntsville, Thomas re-
naming at Chattanooga. l assumed
the strength of the army to move from
Chattanooga into Georgia, at one
hundred thousand men, and the num-
ber Of animals to- be fed, both for cav
airy and draught, at thirty-fve thou
sand then, allowing for occasional
wrecks Of trains, which were very
common, and for the interruption of
the road itself by guerrillas and reg
ular raids, we estimated it would re-
quire one hundred and thirty cars, of
ten tons each, to reach Chattanooga
daily, to be reasonably certain of an
adequate supply. Even with this
calculation, we could not offord to
bring forward hay for the horses and
mules, nor more than five pounds OF
oats or corn per day for each animal.
l was willing to risk the question oi
forage in part, because expected to
find wheat and corn fields, and good
deal of grass, as we advanced into
Georgia at that season of the year.
The problem then was to deliver at
Chattanooga and beyond, one hun.
dred and thirty carloads daily, leav.
ing the beef cattle to be driven on the
hoof, and oil the troops in excess Of
the usual train-guards to march by
the ordinary roads. Colonel Ander
son promptly explained that he die
not possess cars or locomotive!
enough to do this work. then in
structed and authorized him to hole
on to oil trains that arrived at Nash
| vile from Louisville, and to ALLOW
none to 60 back until he had secured
enough to fill the requirements of ou
problem.
LUxURIEs ON TEE MARCH TO ATLANTA
Each division and brigade was pro
vided fair proportion Of wagons 70
q supply-trsin, and these were limite,
in their loads to carry food, ammuni
tion, and clothing. Tents were fol
hidden to oil save the sick and wouu
ded, and one tent only was allowed t
each headquarters for use as an Office
These orders were not absolutely en-
forced, though in person l set the e1
ample, and did not have . tent, nc
did any officer about me have one
but We had wall tent flies, withou
poles, and no tent furniture Of IN
kind. We usually spread our flie
ever saplinRs, or on fence rails {