New-York tribune., 1879-05-10


SOLDIERS.
General William B. Hazen, in n conversation
given below, relates many "reminiscences of Shiloh.
Chickamaugl and other battles Of the rebellion.
He praises highly the conduct OF the troops Shiloh
the main incidents Of which have been recalled by
the recent court-martal. Tie also gives bis impress
sious II tine military qualities Of Grant, sherman.
Garfield, Logan. Albert sidney Johnston and other
well-known commanders.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE REBELLION
: In the course of familiar chat. the other
day, on the and events OF the war General " b.
Hazen gave interesting "reminiscences Of his
periences at Shiloh ana Mu1reesboro and the march
"tnrOugh Georgia 70 the sea" He sad "When the
war broke cut was a tutor in the West Point Military
Academy. The Government ordered ne TO Cleveland,
OIO, wheri I raised the 4lst OHIO R. giHcut IN the
month of October. and became Colonel ofi5 took the
regiment to Lousy join Buel's Army
into action during the Civil War the field OF Shiloh
under Nelson.
What your recollections Of Shiloh ~" was in
Buel's Army al shiloh commanded brigade there,
composed Of NY Olo regiment, the 6tu Kentucky and
the 9th Indiana. The only regiment in the brigade
which had ever been IN action the 9th Indiana,
which had served in Wes Virginia. They behaved
what different the others firing began.
but on the whole they ali gallant Of fellows.
We were on what may be called the skrmish line from
the time we moved out oi Pitsburg Landing Ny brig
ade opened the battle Of that day, and first
serious blow. Ny men stood up splendldly. At that
battle Buell. had brigades ana I therefore
nanded ouetenth Of the army; had oneth Of all fEe
losses IB the battle about 23OO killed
and wounded and 40 Of them mne.'
"Did the bows finch at all P'-" No troops ever be-
haved better The trouble In this country about an
army IS that you have to spend much time getting It
together and under control That is the the
gO Id Il I bppu n zpfu im
looking at the armies there. They keep them control
and discipline all the time, and therefore lose nothing
when war cOmmences.'
"You were made a Brigader-General after shiloh -
"Yes; but not confirmed by the senate till after Muir
freesboro. Next. siege Of Corinth, and
my brigade was engaged again. l taken III with
malaria, and had to take and medicine. The bri
next went into the battle Of Psrryve, which hap
pend on Brags's retreat out Of Kentucky"
After that. II remember you at the battle Of
Murlrresboro -" There" said General Hazen. held
the left Of the Iine-the hinge, speaz,
the ony part OF the line that not lost Ny brigade
had been reinforced by the HON IlDoi5 Regiment.
lost 400 out OF 1,JO0 men. Two days after, BreCk
enridge attacked us, and mad the line
lost heavily but ny recovered tie ground and ned
IT,"
Then I am Informed, you went 20 Chattanooga ~
yes held the left OF tie line the oppO-
site Chattanooga while army crossed below. Next,
was in action at Cucsamauga ROsecrans's army.
" BY the way. General, what do you think OF Albert
Sidney Johnston 81" cannot speak win any conf
his ability. know that Jefferson Davis ana
others held that he the greatest genius the
Rebel army SAL, you cannot tell anything about
man before a war. IL has to out during and ioi-
lowing war. Mere intellectual estimates Of' military
chieitaus uHuustwor,hy It is my notion however,
that Johnston not the great OF the COuied-
eracy."
was Rosccrans strong officer r'-" am afraid not
IN, ~H.. Ia ff5
mead. commanded a brigade in PameI's Division at
Chickamauga He good soldier and better ci-i-
zen. wonder that the Democrats dolt run man ike
thar for President. Ar Cuckamauga was the left,
winch dId give way went 10 General Palmer after
POlks front failed, aud asked his permis
20 over 10 the right, which was hard pressed.
and support IL. lie allowed me- 70 do So Host 400
men ont OF my brigade at Chickamauga. Ny troops
there assisted repe The last Rebel assault and IL
one or the terrible crises OF the war"
" Garfield figured at ChickRmauga. What do you
think OF him l"We, he Is a strong either sol
der or Congressman. You can't put Garfield into a
place where he will show high qualities. Gen
eral Thomas vas a remarkably nue man. There
lack Of promputude about HIN, but he seemed be
slow 20 more impetuous people. You asked II he
Grants equal IcaunOt say. have not known
Grant well until recently while abroad He strikes
as very true, upright man, and lie must have been
very great soldier AT the Battle OF Chckamauga, my
brigade had considerable do with SAVING first
day concentrated several batteries on the Gordon
Springs Road when Polk attacked us. General Thomas
told me personally whefe 70 t"Ae NY command Oi IDe
troops we had magnificent material. Those West /
ern boys preferred to stay in tue Army rather thn 90
What was the next combat you were IN l'-"After we
fell pack 10 Chattanooga took deieus position;
my DuntD had meantime oeen hyi ~ easeu W the 4ut-
f0n of new troops, and consisted OF eight or uine rrs
ents The lst, 6tl, At 80 and Ia ONO, TIC 6tA
Indiana, ana the D y ana -5l heuJdth!.
was n re any difference between your troops and
ratera ~" SOt much. The American boy makes a |
s,r,rf soldier. perhups the Northern boys the /
best. NJ Kentucky troops " re also very good
q, I n tr VIZ Rebeen r. Ye,. We must aGmitit
he or and strength ot the South Oh the Scces
iva, Chczamauga 4 rebel victory P'-"Yes II was /
the most serious defeat We had I'D the western army
Except for tOugh material II would nave been
s"repIS ~ a. ocbeT cIn.eiv be.sred l1T n@rlIos
i've weeks. Meantime General Thomas replaced Rose
Grams % ,'.- ne ~ icce - ynrL 70 do worth relating
October Sa'f tnek e ROO or my brigade at in the
morning h.ty-twO boats, ana noated down the Itn-
No, see River quiey. The enemy did not discover us
Ne s,izrd Browns Ferry beyond the enemies ,et and
tine elect that movement was % raise the siege
Chatarocga There were 1900 in the boats ana 500 /
marched yerand. Longstreers corps was then put IN
motion across Lookout Mountain 10 meet ur, ANA tno
second day ailerward Joe HooAer arrived Win ms .
4 evrnth and Twelfth Corps aud attacked Longstieet
Longsreet va, repused and his line retired. Hooker
made good the already restored line OF supply lIoS'
about thirty men N my night movement.
.Can you give me an idea, General OF the relative |
soldier" said General Hazen. takes 10 dlse pine
| finally better than any mar ever saw Al uist nc /
pr, gainst &C. He Is such an intelligent man tLat no
learns t0 understand wny lie should be dsci lined AS
~ the officers they derediu quality General sherman
was aways Of ideas who trusted very much 20 MS
officers General Thomas was equally trusIIul ana per
baps OF fewer on the whole, my rccOhectons ol
ne var are wherever wanted my men 10 co. they
went Tne political relations OI such a war as Jlat /
soneWhat affected people. SUI All parts OI our army
so fT as nv mind runs we're Trustworthy. In tie /
W.s..rr Army particularly the liked their work.
| suppose that Grant must have come on the Hei !
about tnis Ime r. SOL, , /
YES Gran, came to Chattanooga about the 10Th OF
Noveu5rr ~G3, aud although did not know him Wen !
for come years struck g once VIA tho cohPre-
heu.ivn manner IN which he took mold ol the mlut"ry
Ur1blem on The 23d Of Nov cm6er Woods ana SAcfl-
danis visions went cut 10 Orchard huub hy troops /