The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-03
GEN. RosECRANs.
A Soldiers Recolleetions of His Courtesy.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having no
ticed in your issue of Nov. % an article under
the head of "Chickamauga," by w. S. Furay,
in which a long-delayed need of praise IS
justly bestowed on one of the grandest and no.
blest of men that ever wore star-a man
whom the common soldiery almost worshiped;
man whose patriotism, heroism, courage ana
valor can never be successfully challenged;
man whom we have always believed was cast
in the shade by the green-eyed monster ofJeal-
GUS rivalry, thus obscuring in great measure
the brillancy of his previous military career
and injuring his future usefulness to very
great degree during the remainder OF the
times that tried mems souls"
Well do ! remember when "Old ROsey"
marched his men from Jacinto, Miss, to Iuka
and attacked the rebels on the afternoon
of Sept 10 1862, where we fought one of the
most hotly-contested little battles of the war.
Our left center was at one time forced back
and for a time it seemed that an utter rout
was inevitable; but thanks to the darkness,
which put an end to the conflict, we were en-
abled to hold our position until morning, when
the Johnnies learning of the nearness OF Grant
and his men, sought safety in fight; and all
this time Grant was i'll hearing OF our mus
kerry and never fred gun. Now, to Illustrate
one of the principal causes of difference OF es-
TEEN of commanding officers by the rank and
file Of an army, wish here to relate couple
of little incidents of our soldering. The writer
of this was. by special request of teamster,
detailed to take care of a six-mule team while
the teamster was on the sick-list for few days.
This was during the siege of New Madrid, Mo.
/ had scarcely taken control of the team until
/ was ordered some three miles to the rear, to
the Pest Quartermaster, to bring up some "a
/ tons. The rain was pouring down when l
started in the direction of the Commissary, and
after had arrived, as l supposed, in the vicln-
ity of the Commissary, brought up III front OF a
cluster of tents sat there on my saddle-mule and
hallooed Justify number of times. Presently
the tent-door opened, and out stepped pomp-
ous-looking fellow. / saw at glance that had
stopped at the wrong place. / inquired II he
| could tell me where would find the Post Com
missary.
DO you see those tents over there7"
Yes SIR
! "That is the Post Commissary."
"Yes, SIR
Do you know my rank sir?"
"No, sir
| Z" / am Gen. -, sir. After this, when you
/ desire information of that kind, you will call
/ on nay Orderlies sir"
| believe Gen. - is still living, and
want him to know that his demeanor on that
occasion is indelibly stamped on my memory
Now for the other incident. We were max
! ing rapid march some place IN MISSISSIPPI
| About IL o'clock our canteens were all empty
/ We crossed q little shallow brook One com
| rade took my gun, another my cartridge box
another my hayersack, and | took about six
canteens, besides my own, to fill and overtake
my company. After having filled them, /
! started on the long trot to oveTtake them
| They must have been full halfmile in adj
/ vance OF me by this time. The canteens, full oil
/ water. were heavy. They were pounding me
most numerically on the back, in the short
/ ribs and in the TANKS at every jump. l was
/ about exhausted when General and his staff
came rafting past in sweeping trot The
/ General says: Don't run, soldier; don't run
| / am going to halt the column as soon as get
/ to the front, and you will have ample time to
i catch up; don't run" This was Gen. Rose
Grams This, too, is indelibly stamped ON my
memory. Which do you suppose is the most
/ happy recollection?
These are, of course, very small matters; but
/ there are hundreds aud thousands of such little
! incidents transpiring all the time under such
/ circumstances, and they all have tendency tc
/ fix the likes or dislikes of an army for theiI
commander.
! Now, while I am proud to see my old com.
mander receive in part that praise which Is 81
justly due him, aud / am glad to know that he
! still lives and may know the kindly feeling
/ that still exists in the minds of many of hi;
men, | cannot agree with Mr.. Furay, or the
rebel Gen. Loring, as to the paramount impor
! lance of Chattanooga or Chickamauga. True
the former was very strategic point but t
my mind it cannot compare with either Gettys
burg or Vicksburg. By the fall of Vicksburl
the ConfedeTacy was cut in twain and if Mr.
| Furay will notice the statistics, he will SCI
that Government bonds deprecated from the
/ start until Nicksburg surrendered. That was
/ the turning point, and bonds began to appre
! ciate at that time, and have continued TO appre
ciate until this day. This we believe to be tht
very best indicator Of the public feeling will
reference to the stability of the Government
Z. ii. RoHR, Co. A, 10th Iowa, Edison, Neb.