The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-05-28
The First Shot in Reply to sherman.

Hon. Montgomery Blair is ont in a
letter defending his brother, Gen. Frank
Blair, from the censures of Gen. Sher-
man. He reviews the decisive action
taken by Gen. Blair in arresting the re-
bellion at its outbreak in Missouri, no
tices his intrepidity al Chickasaw Bluffs,
and then adds:
/ recall two other signal occasions
when the force nnder my brothers com
mand failed TO secure the fruits of well
fought fields, by reason of Sherman's
timidity. One was al Chattanooga.
Having crossed the river and beaten the
enemy in front of them, the Fifteenth
corps was in Il position 20 intercept
Bragg's army in full retreat before
Grant, but Sherman ordered the corps
to be Withdrawn and let Bragg escape.
Again, at Bentonville, where; while
Johnston was attempting and failed to
crush Slocum, my brothers corps, by
rapid marching in the direction of the
firing, was enabled to get into his rear.
90 as to have eflectually cut off his re-
treat, the division commanded by Now
er being actually in camp which john
ston had left to attack Slocum, he was
obliged by Sherman's order to withdraw
and let Johnston escape. Hardee was
also allowed to escape out of Savannah.
How does it happen that, while COM
nanding the finest army that ever took
the field, Sherman never captured the
enemy? The explanation of this invar-
liable failure is found in his constitution
al timidity. This enabled Sydney
Johnston, at the head of $4,000 men in
Kentucky. to fill him with panic at the
head of 10000 and Price TO stampede
Missouri. The truth is that he never
did anything until he came under
Grants immediate command, and had
his nerves steadied by Grants pluck. 1t
is not surprising that so discreet a COM
mander should misjndge a bolder nature,
and especially one who, although he
had not studied algebra at West Point.
at the Government expense, was so in
considerate of himself as to take up
arms for the defense of that Govern
ment, when its enemies held both the
State and the 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.
Mr.. Blair points out the Gnimus Of
Sherman's attack on his brother. Sher-
man supposed that Gen. Blair had
prompted some newspaper disparage-
ment of him; this caused a GOODNESS
which was partially healed.
Still it is true that Sherman had fail
ed entirely in any recognition of his mill
itary services; but, as this was mag
nanimity of which all who served under
Sherman knew him to be incapable, he
did not complain of it generally, and
only on one occasion do I 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 remember that, in consequence
Of having sent off the the cavalry to
protect the railroad communication.
Hardee was enabled TO march around
Atlanta and fall upon the left flank and
rear of Sherman's army, commanded by
my brother, killing Mcpherson at the
first fire, while Cheatham attacked him
in front. Sherman refused to credit the
nature of the attack when it was COM
municated to him by my brothers aide
de-camp, and delayed sending 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 alternate
attacks in front and rear, until it was
swung around upon its right flank 9s a
pivot, driving ont Hardee from behind
it. This the corps was enabled to dc
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 capture ot
the position was attended with consid
cradle loss, for which my brother was
severely censured at the time by many
of the army correspondents. But thi,
position and the desperate courage ot
the troops under his command saved
the day, and yet his name is not men
! toned in the report of the battle. TC
make amends for it, however, very hon
orable mention is made of some of hi
subordinates. Military annals do no
afford parallel for this, ard yet my
brother never spoke of it but once that
now recollect, and then with far les
feeling than was evinced by some of tn,
subordinates whom Sherman had extoll
ed who have often spoken to me on th'
, subject.
It is said that the conduct of Sher
man at and about Atlanta will be severe
criticised.
Terrible Accident at Insane Asylum