The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-07
GEN. HOODS STRATEGY INDICATED.

Had the life OF Gen. Hood been spared few
months longer, the task upon which he had
been long engaged, OF vindicating his military
reputation from the only criticism ever made
unon IT, would have been discharged by him
self, In his own frank and manly style, and
with that exactness and fidelity that has been
his characteristic through his whole career.
That criticism imputed to him desperate
rashness and impetuosity, o false estimate OF
the opposing forces, and lack OF prudence
and calculation and method In his plans Of
assai,lts and defenses 1t has always ap-
psared to us, with some knowledge 81 the cir
cu,ustances Of Gen. Hoods movements, that
thia criticism was unjust, and that his STRAIT
epy was the only one by which the Confed-
CRATES. under the peculiar circumstances,
could win effective victories and substan-
tial results. A friend furnishes US with
O confirmation Of this opinion In an extract
from speech delivered BY Montgomery
Blair, some years ago, at the Virginia Springs
wherein be refers to the two occasions In the
war. when the Confedsrates approached near
est to decisive victories and when the Cabinet,
Of which Blair was member experienced
the greatest alarm for the cause OF the Union
This admission by Mr.. Blair Is historically
so important, and bears such high testimony
in vindlcation of the strategy and vigor Of
our late lamented cheFtain that we have
deemed 1t appropriate to reproduce 1t i'll our
columns:
He said 1t was twice in the power of our
Southern commanders to have achieved great
At Shiloh nhey Gull it Pittsburg Landing1. n
away. when he Confederate forces halted. the
Federals were ready tosurrender. Thirty min,
utes more Of aettye firing and pushing would
command. Half of his troops had already
thrown down their arms and were ss "a,
themselves under the river hanks inc gun
boats were firing, but their shot pasaed over the
Oonfederates. fhs bluffs along the river re-
CURED too high elevation OF the cannon. He
had heard that the shells from the boats burstea
among the high officers ia the rear If tho Con
feierate army and led them to think their sol
fiiers were suffering severely ia their approach
by he river, and ordered halt.
He mentioned q sally from Atlanta by Hood.
killing Con Mcpherson, one OF the mos, talent
ed officers OF the Federaarmy. The death his
advance of Hood threatened the United states
forces with destruction. sherman and his
| generals were aware u tho crisis and not hope.
| fnl Il happy Issue. He weakened hls limo at
other points, and crowded Hood with fresh
| troops TN his terrible advance was slaekened
| and stopped.
/ III nlIt inc eHtbEptlsR ~ ~ IDIu
| been shown by his subordinates. the ranks OF
the Federas Weekend by ne e. men sent to
| GsneraI ID. Chief. would have hesn broken
through nnd Sherman put to flight. or COLLAPSED
| into surrender. Mr.. Blair said his brother
| Cen Frank Blair drew for him the battle Held
| and assured him that the movement Of Hood
would be rated. among military men. as prob
| ably the most brilliant 81 the war ano that the
escape Of the Union army from ruin was OWING
mors ~ sllpinene#s in some Southern officers
| than from any skill In the Federal generals.