Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-04
GENERAL BUELLis VICTORIES
A Modest Hero Of The Union
Army Coming to the Front.

A Modest Hero Of The Union
Army Coming to the Front.
The Chicago Times, in referring to
the appointment Of General Buell. as
visitor to West Point, says:
In the list of persons appointed to
fill the board of visitors of the militia
ny academy Of West Point for the cur
rent year is found a name which forci-
bly, recalls two of the most important
and critical periods of the rebellion
war. In the early spring of 1862, when
Grants forces were at Pittsburg Land
ing, and Beauregard, almost without
assistance from the rebel government
at Richmond, created an army from
the raw material of the country and
concentrated it at Corinth, only a few
miles in the interior. General Buell.,
apparently better informed of the
gravity of the situation and Of Beau
regards purposes than Grant and
Sherman, put his troopsi in motionfrom
Nashville, and marched with all speed
for the point of danger. The fortu-
nate blunder of JEFF Davis, whose ma
lignant hatred of Beauregard impelled
him to send Albert Sidney Johnston
at the critical moment to supercede
the hero of Bull Run in command of
the Confederate forces at Oorinth, and
thus delayed for a PRICELESS day the
meditated attack on Grant, enabled
Buell's advance division, under Mel
son, to reach Savannah, whence it was
quickly transferred by steamers to the
battlefield in the afternoon of the first
days fight. g.
Inc effect of this appearance of
Buell's men, weary from hard march
ing but eager for the fray, among the
beaten, demoralized and almost panic
stricken soldiers of Grant and Sher-
man, was magical. The advance of
the rebels was stayed; the remainder
of Buelrs army reached the front in
time for the renewal of the battle
next morning; victory was snatched
from the very jaws OF defeat, and the
commanders who were saved from ir-
~retrievable disgrace aud ignominious
surrender by hat hurried march of
Buell. over the almost impossible
roads of Tennessee lived 70 gather
most of the laureis of the war, and
labor to make the people forget even
the name Of the genera and his army
who rescued them.
Seven months later Buell. and his
army completed another brilliant SER
welcome scarcely, if at all, less valu-
able TO the national cause-in spite of
difficulties sad discouragements of the
gravest character. Bragg, with a
s.rong, well organized and compact
force, had entered Kentucky aud ad-
vanced toward Louisville. Buell.,
who had been heavily reinforced with
a large body OF recruits, simultane-
ously marched northward from Nash
vile. Then followed the famous
foot race" for which the union gen
ersl was so bitterly ~reproached. He
might have fallen upon Bragg on the
march, and put the possession of
Louisville and the line of the Ohio
river on the hazard Of a battle. His
generals, or some misunderstanding
and seditious busybodies among them,
insisted that he must fight; Bragg
was evidently willing and invited bat
tie, but Buell., conscious that his new
men were imperfectly organized and
wholly un~disciplined, and that the
veteran portion of his forces was out
numbered by the rebels, refused the
challenge and stubbernly resisted the
opportunities of officers for whose
judgment he had no respect. He
reached Louisville, while Bragg,
beaten in the race, turned aside to
Frankfort. At Louisville Buell. found
additional reinforcements of raw
troops, aud these, with the others, he
proceeded to organize and prepare for
service as rapidly as possible.
At this critical juncture the COM
%rlaints Of Buell's generals reached
Washington, aud it was there hastily
determined tn remove him from the
command. The place was offered
General Thoma7, but that gallant SOL
der and true man-the modest Ro-
man Of them all'-remonstrated
against SO unjust and impolitic a move.
Buell. was therefore permitted to COM
plete bis hurried dispositions, and
marched almost Immediately in pur-
suit ofthe rebels. He quickly over
took them, and at Perryville gained a
victory as brilliant and decisive as
any fought during the war. lmmedi-
ateiy upon lis conclusion, he was re-
warded, just as Mcclellan was at Antie-
tam-6v derivation Of command. But
Euell Jared worse than Little Mac"
for he was ordered before a court
martial upon charges preferred by a 1
lot Of politic1 generals, who were as
capable Of understanding as they
we're OF initiating his soldiership. He
was acquitted, OF course; but the ma
lignant hate of which he had been a
victim pursued him to the end, and
finding himself deprived Of all oppor-
tunity Of service, he resigned his COM
mission.
The name to which reference was
made above was that of"D. G. Buell.,
Of Kentucky" Is he who is now to
serve as an official visitor at West
Point the same Don Carlos Buell. who
saved Grants army at Shiloh and
routed the rebels at PerryvilleY
Reeds Gil Edge Tonic cures dyspepsia.