Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-03
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WASHINGTON, July oU.-A call on
General Sherman resulted in a talk
about Archibald Forbes article on
the United States army in the North
American Review for August. The
General expressed a hearty ~apprecia-
ton of the keen perception aud the
great descriptive powers of Mr.. Forbes.
He had read the article with great in
terest and pleasure,
FORBES" ne said, SIS a very close
and just observer. His comparisons
are fair, and his statements are as
easily understood by the civilian as
by the soldier. He puts our organiza-
ton in a favorable light, aud does
justice to the efficiency Of our small
army"
The General took up the topics
treated of by Mr.. Forbes, and, turning
over the leaves Of the magazine, dis
oussed in an of LANDED way the points
made BY the writer. He said that
while it was true that our soldiers
cost $1,000 per annum each against the
fourth or fifth OF that sun paid in
France and Germany for a soldier, the
immense area of our country accounts
for q good part of the expense. We
feed, clOthe and use our men better, it
is true, but the movement of them is
the great cost. To send a recruit from
New York to Mexico costs as much as
a tourist would spend. In France or
Germany he would 60 on a govern.
ment railway without cost, COMPARE
England sends a soldier to Alex
andria, probably, for a fifth of what
we could send one toSanta Fe. Trans
portation is an enormous drain on
our appropriations, not only for the
but for all that ne eats and
wears, and nearly all that his horse
eats also. Then we build posts long
in advance of civilization and rail-
roads. The lumber to build them with
may be bought in Chicago, shipped a
thousand miles BY rail, and then Wag.
oned hundreds OF miles over Geserts
and mountains. The result is hat the
costs 500 to $500 a thousand
feet before it is used to build the quar-
ters for the army. Soon the post at
and ere long every valley neal
it is filled with settlers, and then
the railroad. When that come.
there is soon no need for a post. Such
is the history Of McKsVitt, Concho
and Dodge, recently ordered to be
abandoned, built within a very few
years at immense cost and now use
less.
Yet" said the General, my order
to abandon them started the Senator's
and Representatives of Texassnd Kan
sas right to work to stop the abandon.
ment. The people about the forts
want the soldiers to remain aud spend
their money among them. So | find |
have to abandon my useless posts by
degrees"
The comparisons instituted by Mr..
Forbes between the rewards showered
by the British government upon her
successful commanders, did not stir
the General to any expression OF
dissatisfaction with the lot of the
American officers. He thought that
they were we'll treated, at least while
alive. La the matter of pensions, the
families of British cOnquerors had an
advantage. for they we're often O
tinued to the second aud third gener-
atious. "NoW, my wife" said he,
were | to die, killed on the plains in
an Indian fight, would get no more
than would the wife of a private
soldier. So we are all on an equality
after we are dead" He believed,
however, that in no country were
successful commanders more beloved
and honored BY the people. PROBES
sional politicians are the only men in
the United States jealous Of the emol.
uments aud popularity Of the soldiers
who crushed the rebellion. The people
are now as enthusiastically the friends
and admirers of the Generals Of the
old war as they we're in 1865. There
might be forty Governors or Senators
on a train willing enough to speak to
the people, but let Phil. Sheridan step
on the rear platform, aud all the
shouts would be for Little Phil. to
say something, although he could not
make much more OF a speech than
bis horse. 1t is the same with Han
cock, and would have been the same
with Meade or Thomas. The hold
Grant has on the hearts of the people
is a mystery to the politicians. II
they we're wise, instead Of trying to
get him out Of their way by abusing
him, they would do as the Chinese do
with joss, feed him up with honors
until he became so fat and good ma
tured and lazy, that they med not be
longer afraid Of him.
Il swung around the circle with
President Hayes from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific and back, and | think the
people liked to see me just as we'll as
ever. The popularity Of the soldier is
enduring" continued the General
while that OF the politician is ephem-
emeral at best. What the soldier did
covers a multitude Of mistakes and
%follies, as we'll as a few sins. An un-
timely letter may snuff out the most
successful political leader and lay him
on the shelf. Under the same circum
stances the people forgive the soldier.
and conclude that writing is not hi
trade.
I'VE have gone to the verge Of ex.
~travagance in granting pensions to GU.
%privates, but / believe the people ar,
satisfied that we should err in the di
rection Of too much rather than TO,
little. We soldiers of the war returned
home seventeen years ago, and strov,
to get back into the traces Of civil life
The mass Of them did so, but thou
sands found themselves at a disadyan
tage. The exposures and tolls hal
sapped some Of their vitality, an
camp life left them less able to cop
with business. Every year increase