The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-23

ke ping mo lines III repair or IN Opr0UnX |
them. Ocn jherman's campaign. instead OF
proving. M VI did. agreat success. would have
resulted in disaster and defeat. Nothing has
since occurred 10 induce me tnaltrr my opinion. |
II " n fact OF which the public cannot be
allowed 10 remain longer in Ignorance, that the
Drpartm'nt Of Military Railroads. by means OF
single track railroad running through the |
country Of u vgilant, active and most vindic.
tive enrmy. kept urn. Shcrman's vast army OF
ov, 30 900 men and 10000 animals well tur-
nlshed with supplies VI all kinds from n base
NJ least 800 mites distant. IL In n fact none the
less that Grn: sherman has chosen to be silent
regarding this service. Ho certainly could not
have sun red any eclipse Oi his great lame;
on the contrary, h.. would have addel To i fresh
more generous and recognized u 9 truth. IIc il
the nature of the cnsc. H. ia one Of the greatest
II il in no spirit IT envy or drtrution that
make thi. stat cement, but because believe that
in Justice to large class Of deserving men VINO.
M has been said. ran greater risks and made
greater sacrillrrs than the ordinary soldier, the
truth should no longer be- concealed;
| have already mentioned that the railroad
from Chattanooga to Atlanta. from its great
length. and from the nature Of the country
through which i passed. WIS very much at the
mercy OF the armed scouts " tho enemy. IL
will hs readily understood that in consequences,
II required immense Nntrhlulnrss IA well IA vast
industry ON the part OF tho officers and men ~
tho department to maintain IL IN work ting order.
81 the Kind Of work that had ~ De done many
examples might bc given. shall content myself
with one. No ono better knew the value Of the
railrond to sherman ant his army than the Con-
fcdernle Con. Hood When. therefore, IN Oto-
mans rear. he set his whole army at the workof
Destruction. Ten miles of the road were de-
stroycd Mt Big Shnnty. and twenty-five miles
moro wore destroyed north OF Hosaca In nll
there were destroyed thirty-hve miles ot track
and AS lnea feet Of bridges. and some OF our
men were either Killed or captured. SO perfect
were the Arrangements Of the department, how
ever that Hood had scarcely had time to lenye
when tho mon were ut work at each end of the
break at Big shanty. This gap was speedily
closed. and u large force was soon NJ work at
both ends OF the larger zap north ~ hrsnn.
tra
great disadvantage. The rails for the most
part were brought from Atlanta aud Nashville
In seven and a half lays. howrvcr-sp energrl-
cally and self sacrilenisly was the work per-
formed-trains were running over the whole
As an illustration ~ the nature and magnl-
tude Of the work accomplished In the military
division Of the Mississippi alone. in supplying
that there were laid or relaid 433 mites in
length Of track, There were huilt or rebuilt
We're in use 26O locomotives and 1888 cars.
There were employed llO35 mon. and the
whole expenses reached the enormous sum II
500 662 ISL So much money was surely not
spent for nothing.
1t would not no dificult TO multiply ex-
nmples, all Of them tending To show tho i'm
uortAnce OF tho railroad department and the
service which il rendered To- the armies ~ the
field. | might detail the work done In the East,
In PENNSYLVANIA. IN Maryland, in virginia, and
enlarge on what was accomplished 10y the use
o ialiIohus '..tn In W., 'aiL'r ,,,'i I'.r s,nt
in the West. beyond the Mississippi. and show
the work that was done in Missouri and Arkan-
sls. in requiring what the Coniedcrats had de,
stroyed | might lingcr ut Chattanooga, ana
| show how by this department large rolling
m"nt II over S2Oo0oo. Knight dwell upon the
| results accomplished in North Caroinl, and
show how the railroads were repaired; ana
! turned to account in the concentration Of the
! Union forces at Goldshoro; how mt Morehea
| city wharf was constructed. covering 1862
| feet ana consuming 100000 cubic feet OF timber;
how the road was opened 10 GoldsbOrO, and
from Goldshoro To Raleigh. might 60 70 Ten
nessee and show how the entire Fourth Army
| Corps, IN 300 cars. was Transported from ~,
| tors Station TO Nashville a distance OF 313
miles. All this, however. would Ice tedious and
unprOftable \ better and more satisfactory
| idea Of the importance OF the department. and
Of the actual part II played in the war. may Ice
! gathered from pcrusal OF the following
AZ one time there were employed in the de-
! partmnnt q aGl men. From first to last we
| Spernted los miles Of road and made use u
| 4i9 locomotives aud $3.50 cars. OF bridges. We
hui in all. 1877 io5 lineal fcet. or over - miles.
! or track. we laid or rebuilt 6il miles. The eN-
| penses Of the department are scarcely less -ug-
! gestlye. They reach the high figure Of si2 1872
li55j. Theses figures speak for themselves
! they need NO. comment
1t WINS the intention II Secretary Stanton that
| the department should form a powerful nuXil-
| IL was conducted with this end in view. and
| that IL succeeded IN accomplishing what II was
| called into eX -tcnee for, even Gen. sherman
! will not venture to deny.
l make these statements and put these facts
any feeling II my own. but because | feel It n
! duiv too long deferred. Ia do Justice 10 a cla-s
! OF mon who. because they were not a'tuRl SOLE
| dieis. have uorn -hamefuliy neglected and tx
| nnred. and denied that mood Oi urni - which II
always due 10 those who faithfully perform
II rem,.u, To- be added that 'be Government
I wis singunrIy fortunate" in securing "a" ser
/ and capahility Among those ON whom relied
o- my principal assistants. ! would nam" \.
nariaton. w. w. Wrrh,. cnicf Fneincer 81 H.
Construction torps. and ". II, Nhton. WHO
ma rnnrgc Oh tn" accounts ON VIZ H.lurlurh
| 70 these gentle men. ami io an others engage i
ia the department. the country owes a derp
drtt ~ gratitude.
man. iu his sef-laudatnry Memoirs. did nu'
even hint alta railroad Department. The tol-
2ybns IN s the sn6ie @"f orrS s' IN ss5 rM
Lincoln appointed. and without the dread of
West Point before him, civ ian and non-mlli-
Secretary Of War. and Secretary stanton ala. u
his own Judgment, cr"nte now department
"The United States Military Railroads." yer,
much 10 tho annoyance ana disgust ~ the OIL
GERS OF the regular army. Inls was Rlarlhl
innovation which these military gentlemen
could not possibly brook; and further. the Sec
rotnry had the audacity 10 appoint rs director
and general manager Of the new department
u civilian and non-mitary man. whom h'
placed under his own direct control ana tptalli
| indnpendpnt OF the army. whose duty Ii WAS l.
furnish such transportation rs was required by
the Generals in command, the mOdus operand
bclng entirely his own.
cOmiums from me In history he will stand AZ
the great war Minister whose memory viii h'
| reycrcd long after the recollection OF those -
higher prrtensions shall have passed away.
In conclusion ! have only - say that sub
nit thenboy, TO the decision Of my countrymen
with the full faith that the neglected depart
menl viii receive At their hands all the credl
that is due.
u. c. McCALLUM.
Late NIaor-General Of Volunteers
DISTINCTION scandal.