The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-01

his men, and so methodical was ne In Oil THIS.
and so sedate and digninod withal In manner
and speech that he came to be looked upon by
both Sherman and Grant as slow while In fact
he was simply deliberate and thorough Per-
haps he did not think so RAPIDLY as Sherman
or Meade. or Sheridan, nor act so quickly as
Grant. but he was the superior of either OF
these Generals rs an organizer and providcr
and the equal Of any rs tactician and fighter
upon the field Of battle. In n prolonged wan
or in battle rouirdnce he was quite as likely
as any Of them to win success: and 1t may well
be contended that his virtues and methods
were such rs. In tho long run. could not fail to
bring him into posts of tho greatest promi-
hence and responsibility. 1t is quito certain,
judging from what he actually did and attain
ed. that he would have always acquitted him
self with prudence. sagacty. and dignity.
There was nothing light or trivial in his con-
duct because everything was solid and massive
In his character and mind.
At the outbreak OF the rebellion Thomas was
doubtless. moro or less concerned about his
duty to himself and the country; but there is
not the slightest ground upon which TO found
even n suspicion that he hesitated for a moment
as to the course which he should pursue. ITo
unfaIteringly and promptly gave to the Gov
eminent his loyal support and did not fail
when called upon to invade the sacred soil"
OF his native state. Ho took part with his
regiment of which he had now como to bo
Colonel in Gen. Patterson's advance from Hnr-
pcr's Ferry and was engaged in the action at
Falling Water. which was the first battle OF the
rebellion. There he had for his opponent
Thomas J. Jackson. another ylrginian. after
ward celebrated as Stoncwall Jackson Tho
latter" says tho author. was in sympathy
with tho rebellion. under the sway Of Southern
| innc Il tiy,np 70 hn
perior to all such influences. and heartily sup
ported the national cause"
| We next find Thomas Brigadicr- General Of
| Volunteers. and serving with Sherman under
| Anderson in Kentucky; but 1t seems probable
Notwithstanding his promotion and his actions
in support Of the Government. that he was not
altogether trusted by those in authority at
Washington. for shortly after he had taken an
advanced position in the field, and had prepared
| for n forward movement in the direction of
Cumberland Gap. he was notified that Gen. o.
NJ. Mitchell would supcrscdc him in his COM
mand. This he protested against at once and
fortunately for the country his protest was
listened to, and he was spared an UNNECESSARY
humiliation. Shortly afterward he won the
battle of Mill Spring, and received the prcsi-
dents hearty thanks therefor. Had he then
been permitted Immediately to go forward in
the proposed campaign into East Tennessee
he might have done great things but the STRAIT
! esy OF Mcclellan and Buell. paralyzcd the OPP
eratons in Kentucky till Grant compelled the
| evacuation Of that State by his brilliant cam
paign on the Cumberland and Tennessee Riv-
crs. ending in the capture of Fort Donclson
! and the occupation of Nashville and the inter-
! vening country.
! We next find Thomas going to tho relief Of
| Grant and the Army OF the Tennessee at Pitts
burg Landing with Bucll's army. and here
began n controversy the heat of which
has not yet died out. We refer. Of
course to the discussion which grew up
between the Army of the Tennessee. ard
the Army of the Cumberland then known
rs the Army Of the Ohiol. rs to whether the
| battle of Shiloh would have been national vic
| tory or defeat had the Army Of the Cumberland
| not arrived in time to take part in the opera
| tons of the second day. This controversy has
| been carried on with great deal of acerbty
/ on both sides down TO the present time. The
| rartisnns OF Bucll's army aver that Grant S
army had no defences. was surprised and bad
| ly beaten the first day, and that but for the
timely arrival Of Bucll's advanced divisions.
Grants army would have been destroyed. The
partisans of the latter maintain that they were
not surprised. and that although they had been
driven back they had already rallied. checked
/ the crcmy's advance lcrn re nnforcrd by the
/ arrival of their own dcaciments and had ar
ranged To advance carly the next morning: and
! that they would have been successful in this
| whether Buell. arrived or not. We do not pur-
pose going into the merits of this controversy
/ here. but merely call attention to the fac, that
the circumstances underlying it doubtless had
n potcn. influence in determining the suisse
qucnt relations and feelings Of Grant and
/ Thomas toward each other.
/ II win hr remembered that immediately after
/ this battle. Gen. Hallcck took command Of the
armies concentrated at that place. and. bringing
l forward rcfnforcemcnts in large numbers, dug
his way SLOWLY toward Cornth. He divided his
army into four separate parts Right VIM;
Centre. Loft Wing. and MISUNDERSTANDING
Grant from The immediate command OF hls
troops. ana putting them mostly into the Right
Wing, to the command of which Thomas was
assigned. Grant was nrDunccd as second in
command. but was really sheivcd persistently
. ignored. and left with no command whatever
| No historian has yct told what effect this
had upon the relations AZ that time existing he
tween Grant and Thomas bat there Is reason
for believing that it did not draw them closer
together and that i, may have subsequently,
colorcd the feelings OF each toward the other
1t is certain that no great intimacy ever grew
M between them. and that. on the contrary
WHeN lHtE were uNuln Drought tpStlntT III
/ Chattanooga there WAS noticeable absence Of
cordially amounting 10 colincss between
them aud To- absolute friction between theii
respective surroundings 1t is difficult. il no
/ impossible. t. measure or point out the cilcc
ut all this upon the conduct OF either Grant oil
Thomas. or upon the battle Of Missionar,
Ridge, or upon the campaign of Franklin anC
| Nashville. Nor can we now and here undertake
TO analy2n the feelings Of these distinguished
soldiers toward each other TO show how fai
they were to be blamed therefor, if at all. Will,
il is not probable that moro cordial relations
between them would have essentially changcC
the results of II single battle or campaign W,
cannot suppress tho thought that they Nigh
have prevented all uniricndly criticism on tn,
part Of Grant, and all the soreness caused
thereby on the part Of Thomas.
Passing over the increasing popularity o
Thomas for the part he took in driving Bragg
from kentucky. and in the battles of Stun,
River and the capture of Chattanooga W,
pause to call attention to the fact that Ii,
was offered the command of the Arm!
of the Ohio. in place Of Buell.. bcfor,
the battle Of Perryyille. but instead o
accepting it. protested against tho relief o