New-York tribune., 1879-11-28
"REMINISCENCES OF GEyERAL THOMAS

STORIES WHICH wERE TOLD by CAMP FiREs-TEs-
TnIOyY TO THoMAs's FIRMNEss AND FORE
THOUGHT.
IRON REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBCSE.l
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-S tories of the war,
and especially incidents Illustrating the pecuiarties Of
General Thomas a and commander formed
the staple OF gossip among the veterans Of his army
lately assembled here to do honor TO HIS memory
When General -lOcum and General Ketcham met at
the reunion they exchanged hearty greetings In the
social cMt which followed they were both reminded
OF an episode in which they next 10 General Thomas
himself. the chief actors Ia March. 1853. Lieu
tenant Porter, Of the Indiana Volunteers two puvaes
and wagon-naster became detached from
their train when out on f0raging expedi
tiOn, and were captured by party OF gueril-
las. The Lieutenant in n house signing
receipts for the grain with which his wagons
loaded when tine foremost wagon, tanning the
two unarned privates and the started off
ahead OF q cir The Lieutenant rode to halt
the and his approach forced TO surrender
To a party which had already captured the wagon. The
four prisoners made 10 ride unti midnight when
the party halted and prepared to camp The hands
Of the prisoners then tied behind them, and
they made TO stand in row
two three yards their capt0rs At signal the
latter drew their revolvers and fred the prisoners
Three shot dead az the nrst ire, but Lieutenant
Porter was not hit. H. spraug away the darkness,
threw himself bank Into the river having first
succeed freeing his hands He finally reached camp
in safety.
When the circumstances OF this atrocity made
known TO General Thomas his Indignation knew no
bounds. After considering the matter he decided upon
a novel method Of retaliation. and which subse-
quent proved 20 be most ehecual preventative
OF guerilla murders This levy $50, 900 the
property of the rebel citizens living within circuit Of
ten miles Of the place where the murders were COM
mitted, tue proceeds 10 be devoted to relev-
ing the families of the murdered men, Gen.
cral S0cum charged with rne execut OF this
orier and detailed Colonel Keieham, the we'll
known Representative In Congress OF the XIith New
York District 10 make the assessments and seize prop
crty 10 cover named IL better method OF
collecting should suggest itself Doubts were ex-
pressed with regard 10 the success OF the effort; 4;
but Colonel Ketcnam proceeded vigorously In
his work that he was enabled 10 collect and
sell property TO the valuc Of $685. Genera
s,ocum. in reporting the r"snlt To General Thomas.
paid Colonel keicham a high compliment for skill and
energy He also recommended that after the sum NJ
$4,000 to the FAMILY OF eacn OF the dead soldiers
should have ncen paid and 10 few hundred dollars
sessrd upon persons who had afeIwari proved 10 he
friendly had been repaid Tie remaindrr' about ToOS.
should be divided among the families of two other
hands oI ne gueriiias. 0 this done.
lie told for the sake of the
he one who taught b. parallels as did Mr. Lincoln;
but he had military habit Of speech concise. pthy and
ep. aTammatc. His reply to General sherman. whe
criticised his abundant baggage at he did not propose
10 without food 10 eat and bed tO sleep ~.
familiar 10 all and characteristic or the man.
II his cnnsiderate attention 10 the
tort and health OF his men that earned
for him the famous nickname Of Pap" When IL Is
dcred that perhaps twOtns OF the gaps IN the ranks
OF regiment at the close Of campaign are due not 10
the bullets OF the enemy but 10 the thOughtessnoss
incompetence OF those in charge OF the heath aud
strength Of the army, his 10 This respect fully
rants the admiration and love from bis old subOrdnates
OF hieh the demonstration was an expression.
At the same time he 100 20 ii ami Just General
10 permit this desire for comfort 10 degenerate INTO in
tory fOraging for Injuries "On one OCCASION" said
General Negley the other night. while the army
Murree-borO. the g neral sent Tor To insist
a stricter discipline IN my division. There had been
the town. and before ,he bricks cooled the
soldiers had carried them OF to The for chlmneys
II possible that The fire had been OF incendiary
origin such accidents happen often near camps. Al
must be stopped or the first thing you know they'll
carry of the whole town."
said distinguished naval officer at the reunion
" Thomas an Oi-fHsnlOned sort Of a man. He
minded me % Zach Taylor. He took the refuse winch
shermBn left behind and worked 10 retreat
ing before Hood unit! he got ready 20 hght,
and then he cleaned him out. Personally. he a
kind, quiet who would hear what you had q say
and treat everybody we'll In some respects be was Ike
Admiral FOOte though lie wasn't so heavy religion
and temperance. But he was Shld man, moral man;
Ia short. he was an Old-fashioned man."
Another gentleman Ced features OF similarity
between General Thomas and General Washington.
Both Nircnans. OF imposing presence OF incOr
ruphe integrity, endowed with solid rather than brill
Tor defence than Tor attack. and both Paps,'" lie
ID