The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-22


routed from Chattanooga was at Dalton, IN
Northern Georgia, commanded by Joseph f.
Johnston. Bragg was at Richmond advising the
rebel Secretary of War what to do. The plan
was for Sherman to move against Johnston for
Banks to turn back from the Red River, make
| all haste to New Orleans, join Gen. Candy, who
was commanding there, sail to Mobile, get in
rear of the clty,.capture the forts, which were
garris0ned by less than 1000 men, and then
march north or sail up the Alabama River and
threaten Johnston in the rear while Sherman
pressed on from Chattanooga. Sherman could
move on to Atlanta and then march to the Gulf
or to Savannah, sweeping all before him, cut
ting OF the rebel armies in the East from the
supplies gathered in the West.
lie had plan for the Army of the Potomac
to strike at Lees army while Gen. Butler, who
was at Fortress Monroe, made quick move
toward Richmond.
The Ninth Corps was under Gen. Burnside.
1t had returned from Tennessee, and was at
Annapolis, in Maryland. No one could tell
where il was going. Vessels were in the harbor
waiting to take the troops on board. Gen.
Burnside did not know where he was going.
Secretary Stanton did not know. The news
paper correspondents said it was to sail for
North Carolina.
The two commanders separated to meet
year later on the banks of the James-Sherman
returning 10 Memphis, thence going to Chatta-
nooga to prepare for his great campaign-Grant
fastening to Washington.
SHERIDAN.
"I want an officer of fire and nerve to COM
mand the cavalry was Grants remark to Hal
leck
How would Sheridan do?"
Just the man."
The country had not heard of him. Very few
people knew that there was such an officer. The
correspondents in their accounts of the battles
of Stone River aud Missionary Ridge bad given
glowing accounts of what Sheridan's troops did.
From the beginning of the war ne had been
commanding infantry. Now Grant proposed to
put him at the head Of all the cavalry. During
the years 1861 and 1862 the Union cavalry had
accomplished nothing. 1t had been divided
into driblets until Hooker consolidated it. The
Southern people at the beginning of the war
laughed at the ungainly Union cavalry. The
people Of the North do not know how to ride
horses" they said. But they discovered at
Brandy Station in May, 1863, at Gettysburg IN
June, and when Grier5on rode through the
length of the State of Mississippi, coming out
at Baton Rouge, that the cavarymen OF the
North could ride horses.
Grant intended to make the cavalry power
ful arm of the service, and he wanted COM
mander bold, fearless, quick to see and execute.
He had seen Sheridans Division sweep the
slopes of Missionary Ridge as an ocean wave
rolls up the pchbled beach, and Sheridan was
were to protect his flanks and trains, and be
eyes and ears and wings.
AT FORTRESS MONROE.
Before the week was out Gen Grant was at
Fortress Monroe talking with Gen. Butler, ask
ing Gen. Buffers opinions and plans, but not
disclosing his own.
"All the forces that can be spared from points
along the coast will report TO you. You are to
move up the James and seize City Pont-mak
ing Richmond your objective point" were his
orders to Butler. Secure footing as far up
the river as possible"
Read his order to General Meade: Lees
army will be your objective point. Wherever
Lees army goes, you will go also"
To Gen. Halecll he writes: The army will
start with 10 days rations."
He was going to cut loose from Washington.
He knew that if he attempted to keep the rail
road open it would require several thousand
men to protect it. He would cut loose, strike
blow. and reopen communications whenever
necessary.
MOVEMENT OF TIE NINTH CORPS.
What grand display it was-so sudden, so
unexpected-when the Ninth Corps, instead of
going on board the vessels at Annapolis, packed
up everything and marched through Washing
ton-the brigades, solid and compact, moving
down Pennsylvania Avenue, past the White
House cheering President Lincoln, who stood
their hats and hurrahed as they beheld the
benignant face of the great man who had given
freedom to 1000 900 o. their race.
Grant had kept his own counsel. Gen. Burn
side did not know whittier he was going till
the order to march reached him. The great
army was TO be welded together in a compact
mass to strike a crushing blow.
The army had been consolidated into four
Corps-the Second, commanded by Hancock
Filth, Gen. Warren; Sixth, Gen. Sedgwick; ;
Ninth, Gen. Burnside. The Ninth was left in
dependent Of Gen. Meade, because Burnside
had once commanded the Army of the Potomac
1t was a mistake, for it impaired the efficiency
Of the army.
THE TROOPS.
The army numbered 116 836-of which L 900
were cavalry-with 522 cannon.
The army under Gen Lee was encamped
south OF the Rap:dan. Longstreet had returned
from Tennessee and was at G0rd0nsyille. It is
not possible to lind out just how large the Con-
federste army was, for conscripts were con-
stantly arriving, which were put into the old
regiments. His whole force was between
75,G9O and 5000, in three Corps-Longstreet's
Hills aud Ewelfs; with signal officers on
Clark's Mountain overlooking the broad plains
on which Grants army was encamped; with
spies IN the Union camp, reporting every night
to Lee OF what was going on.