Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-09-10

OF regret tnaI ne naQ De0E wrongly duO
upjustly represented to Gen. Halleck, and
most loyal support. Gen. Smith conducted
the expedition up the Tennessee
river to Savannah, Eastport and
Pittsburg Landing, gave all the orders and
instructions up to within fe. daye of the
battle of Shiloh, when his health, shat
tered by the merest accident, compelled
him to relinqnish the command again to
Gen. Grant who quickly resumed it where
Smith had left off, accepted the situation,
made few or no changes and fought on the
ground which had been selected by Gen.
Smith the bloody battle of Shiloh. Dur
ing this fercely contested battle he dis
played the GOODNESS, personal courage,
forethought and delberation which afrer-
ward made him famous among men. Yet
was he traduced, slandered ard wronged,
not only by the press universally, but by
those who were in positions of authority
over him. You, however, who were
at the battles front stood by him, true
and loyal always, and to his dying
day he loved the Army of the Tennessee
above all others, by reason of their loyalty
to him in these, the darkest days of his
eventful life. Nor was the end yet. After
this great battle three armies were assem-
bled on that bloody field-BuelPs, Pope's
and Grant's-and Gen. Halleck came in
person from st. Louis to command the
whole, with the declared purpose to as
sumo the offensive. These armies were
recognized. Buel's army became the
center, Pope's the left, and Gen. Grants
was broken up-one part under Gen. Geo.
ii. Thomas was styled the right, while the
other under Gen. McClernand composed
the-Easerve. Gen. Grant was absolutely
left out in the cold, with title, "Second in
n0Fsa nr1A rrrt 10 A l,x.-
history. All moved forth to Corinth, con-
suming the entire month OF May, and dur
ing that month became esmented the per-
sonal friendship between us which lasted
till the end. Not one word of complaint
came from him; no criticism on the acts of
his superlors or government. Yet the
trembling eyelid, the silent tears and
averted hesd told that his big heart was
troubled. He knew that every officer and
soldier that had followed him with su II
noble courage and simple faith at Bel
mont, Forts henry and Donelson and Shi-
loh felt Tor him, respected him and under
stood the load of neglect, if not positive
insult he was car ying. He knew and
felt that - was in the way of
the eomma. general, as it were
nth wheel 10 coach with
no real authority, no command, no
positive right to order or even advise his
former suboTdinates. But 1 am sure be
knew he was ever welcome to our biv-
ouacs, and that we understood and appre-
ciated the entire situation. Then occurred
the most questionable strategy of the
whole war. That magnificent army of
nearly 100 900 of the best men on this con-
tinent, who cou'd, ii united, have
marched to Vlcksourg or to Mobile, was
deliberately scattered. Gen. Buell., with
the army of the Cumberland, which
Thomas had rel oined, was sent eastward
wards Cnattanooga, and the others were
scattered defensively from E4stpoit to
Memphis. Gen. Grant was sent to CON-
mand the district of Memphis, and Gen.
Halleck himself, being summoned to
Washington, cast about for now COM
mander for the Army of the Tennessee.
He offered the post to most worthy quar-
termaster, who had the good sense to de-
cline, and, himself being compelled to
leave, the command at the West devolved
on Gen. Grant, not by selection but by
virtue of his superior commission. Thence
| forward his career was ever onward and
upward, and when on the 4th day of July
1858, Vicksburg surrendered to him and
tie mighty Mississippi "went uuvexed to
the sea-" the whole country arose and
recognized in him the agent who was
destined 10 guide and lead US all to
stances were all kn6 En to you, but at the
time were little appreciated, and were, in
truth, the fires designed by Providence to
test the ability, courage and endurance OF
him on whom a whole epoch in history
was destined to hinge. Others have told
| the whole story of the war and still thers
are repeating and celebrating it. Even be
himself, almoss in his dying hours, was
engaged in recording his experience
aud We all await the publication
| with great interest. 1 have seen
| some Of the manuscript, and have been
| told OF the rest, but prefer to await the
| whcle publication, certain that whatever
he has recorded of his own knowledge will
stand the test of time. And l am sure
that he himself will have reeogniz I'd the
truth, and will have recorded the fact tina
his campaign from Belmont to Vicksbur!
were the most valuable of his whole life
In that brief period he d scovered tn,
power that was in him.
Gen. Sherman continued at great length
in his eulogy of the great American chief
tain.