The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-06-03

to withdraw and let Johnston escape.
Hardee was also allowed to escape out of
Savannah. How does it happen that
while commanding the finest army that
ever took the field, Sherman never cap
tured the enemy2 The explanation Of
this invarable failure is found in his
constitutional timidity. This enabled
Sidney Johnston, at the head Of $4,000
men in Kentucky, to fill him with panic
at the head of 10000, and Price to STAN
pede him, when relieved and transferred
to Missouri. The truth is that he never
did anything until he came under Gen.
Grants immediate command, and had
his nerves steadied by Grants pl 'ck. II
is not surprising that so discreet COM
mander should misjudge u bolder nature,
and especially one who, although he had
not studied algebra at West Point, at the
Government expense, was so inGonslder7
ate of Himself as to take up arms for the
defense of that Government when its
enemies held both the State and National
Governments, and when he not only had
no color of authority to protect him and
the men who stood by him, but was in
peril from both Governments, and did
this, too, not only without pay, but spent
all he had in the world to arm his men.
Nor did my brother aspire to the com
mand of the Army of the Te nessee on
the death of Mcpherson, or fail in giving
General Howard support when he was
in that position. Logan, who held an
older commission than my brother, did
assert his right to succeed to this com.
mand, and was somewhat restive and
disContented when it was refused him.
But General Howard expressed himself
to me rs much gratified by my brothers.
course. and said that the support which
my brother gave him was of the greatest
assistance to him. There is, indeed, not
q circumstance from first to last to justify
Sherman's reflection upon my brother,
and confess my surprise that he should
have given utteranCe to it. There was
slight unpleasantness between them at
the outset of their association, growing
out of Sherman's jumping to the conclu-
sion, without the slightest reason, that
my brother had prompted some newspa-
per disparagement of him. My brother
properly resented the imputation, and
Sherman apologized. But the effect of
this, my brother thought was to establish
kind and confidential relations between
them ever afterward. 1t is true that he
felt that Sherman had failed entirely in
any recognition of his military services;
but, as this was a magnanimity of which
all whoserved under Sherman knew him
to be incapable, he did not complain of
it generally, and only on one occasion do
| remember of his showing any feeling
for the Sights which knew from others
had been put upon him by Sherman.
That was with respect to the battle of
Atlanta. There, it will be remembered,
that in consequence of having sent off all
the cavalry to protect the railroad com"
munication, Hardee was ena Nled to march
around Atlanta and fall upon the left
flank and rear of Sherman's army, com
manded by my brother, killing McPher-
son at the first fire, while Cheatham at
tackled him in front. Sherman refused
to credit the nature of the attack when
it was communicated to him by my
brothers aid-de-camp, and delayed send
ing support, saying that Hardee could
not have got there without opening the
city to Thomas, whose corps was in front
of Hardee's position within the city.
This left the fight to be carried on all
day long, until twelve o'clock at night,
by the Seventeenth Corps against alter
nate attacks in front and rear, until 1t
was gradually swung around upon Its
right flank as a pivot, driving out Hardee
from behind il. This the cflrns was en- ,
abled to do by the precaution which my |
brother had taken to seize and fortify |
and arm with artillery a commanding
position on its right flank, The position
enabled him to enfilade the enemy with
terrible effect at every attack. The cap
ture of this position was attended with
loss, for which my brother
was severely censured at the time by
many of the army correspondents, But
this position and the desperate courage |
of the troops under his command saved
the day, and yet his name is not men,
toned in the report of the battle. To
make amends for it, however, very hon
orable mention is made Of some of his
Military annals do not
afford parallel for this, and yet my
brother never spoke of it hut once that |
now recolect, and then with far less feel
ing than was evinced by some of thesub-
ordinates whom Sherman had extOlled
who have often spoken tome on the sub,
ject Truly yours,
MONTGOMERY BLAIR.
Falkland, Montgomery Co., Nd, hGy q.