The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-30
The Army OF the Cumberland.


operations in middle Kentucky and middle
Tennessee. including the battles OF Mill
Springs. Perryville. stones River Chicka-
manga and Chattanooga. are discussed by
Gen. ii. n. CIsT. who was staff officer first
under Gen. Rosccrans and afterward under
Gen. Thomas. We may say at once that the
literary execution Of the volume is not particu-
larly creditable TO the writer. nor by any means
on the level reached by most of the companion
narratives. But. so far as regards the substan-
tial accuracy OF the account Of m interesting
campaign-and this Is not only the main point
but perhaps the sole point 10 be seriously con-
silered in tentative essays Of this kind
| which merely aim TO furnish materials
to the future historian-much can be said
| in favor Of this book. The author had certainly
| opportunities Of ascertainng the whole truth;
| indeed with tho exception of the Commander
| in Chief no one Ia so likely as an officer on his
staff to possess knowledge of all the essential
| facts We shall listen. therefore with much
interest to what Gen. Cist has TO tell us regard
| ing the performance Of Gen. RoseTans in the
| capacity OF General commandments more
because the judgment formed by the authori-
ties at Washington has been lately traced in
no slight measure. to an extraordinary letter
secretly written to Mr.. Chase by Gen. Garfield.
| who enjoyed at the time the most confidential
relations with Rosecrans. being. as we'll as the
| author of This voIums nm or,cer IN his staff
Gen. Cst does not express in words his opin-
ion Of Gen. Gnraelds conduct on the occasion
mentioned; but he allows US TO divine it clearly
enough by implication. since he does not hest
tate TO pronounce the management OF the cam
paign. from the time Rosecrans took command
up TO his supersession after ChickamauGa as
! in high sense commendabe. and in no wise
omen To the criticism OF accommodated STRATA
al. -
dious civilian. As to the so-called battle Of Mid
die Creek whose lmportance was 40 absurdly
magnified during the political CAMPAIGN OF
1880. This Is reduced by Gen. Cist to its
true Dimensions as skirmish OF no
considerable moment, attended with small loss
of life and with little iniury TO the enemy as
regards the capture OF prisoners. This is a
somewhat prosaic account of an action which
stump speakers SloriGed as heroic, but It han
pens to be sustained by facts; and it is note
worthy that although his superior officer COM
mended Garfield graciously enough. the latter
was never again requested to command forces
in the field. but was relegated to staff duty
which. rs we now know. he interpreted TO mean
discharge OF the functions Of false friend and
secret traducer OF his commanding General
That, according to Cen Cist. whose narrative
Of the campaign conducted by Gen Rosecrans
IL probably the most trustworthy yet produced
is about all that Garfield had to do with the
Army OF the Cumberland. and may be said to
sum up his military record
OF widely different importance WIS the battle
fought and won by the Union troops on Jan
ls. 1862 nj Mil Strings This victory which
was the first OF the lustrous achievements for
which we are indebted to Gen. Thomas. was
the earliest complete success of the war 1t
was grievous surprise to Gen. Albert Sydney
Johnston who by it found his line broken. his
position on Bowling Green liable to be turned
on the right flank and ZollikofTcr's army on
which he had counted as one Of the COM
ponents OF his force demolished. This dis
aster, coupled with the losses on his left In
western kentucky and at Fort Henry COM
PEELED the Southern General TO abandon Bowl
ing Green and withdraw his main command
. into Tennessee. According to our author
2 Gen. 4. 5. Johnston at no time previous TO this
retreat had sufficient number of troops To
withstand the advance OF the Federal forces
After the fal of Fort Donelson tho total
strength at his command was barely AZ, 900
men whereas nj thai time Gen. Bue,ls army
amounted 10 over IS OOl to say nothing of tho
largo torre operating under Grant
tits difficult to see how the battle o. Perry
Vile on Oct. 8. lSG2 can be represented as in any
sense n Federal victory On the following ri,,bt
the rebel forces retired leisurciv and in good
order, having ACCOMPLISHED what Gen. Cist de.
b clures was Rragc's intention VIZ not - rpht or
general engagement al Perryville. but merely
To- check the advance Of Bunlls army and tim.
gain time TO draw supplies and men together
and leave the Staie Moreover althourh
Bragcs entire command in Kentucky nj this
time did No.. exceed 10000 whereas Bueu r.,
ported his effective strength fore the cnooro-
ment nj rs 600 vet the Federal loss in tho bal III,
. was 43lS AGAINST $500 on the other si1o