The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-17
SERVICES OF GEN. THOMAS
A Review of the Great Campaigns in
Which He Bore a Conspicuous Part.
He Made No Blunders, and If His Advice Had
Been Followed Johnston's Army Would Have
Been Destroyed in the Summer of "a.
st. Louis Globe-D Democrat.

st. Louis Globe Democrat
1t is g remarkable fact that our civil war
was in progress nearly . year before the
government secured q positive and pro-
nounced victory. The confederates started
with an advantage. and kept it throughout
the early part of the struggle. 1t was not
until January as. 1862. that they received a
really bard and discoursging blow. That
was at Mill Springs. KY. where Gen. Geo.
b. Crittenden was defeated by Gen. Geo.
II. Thomas. All the previous federal sue
cesses had been of q slight and ineffective
nature. but this one was important. The
President recognized it in q congratulatory
order. and the people of the North hailed
1t with JOY and hope. ~Singularly enough.
the hero of it was q man whom the
authorities at Washington had hesitated to
trust because of his Southern birth and
training. The idea prevailed to a consider
able extent that q man could not be a Vir-
ginian and remain true to the Union. but
Thomas proved that such q view was err
roneous. He made no boast of his loyalty,
but simply performed his duty to the best
of his ability, and there was q peculiar fit
ness in the combination of circumstances
which enabled him to achieve the first
substantial triumph for the cause that he
had espoused as q matter of personal
honor.
There were those who persisted in ques-
tioning Thomas's sincerity even after he
had practically demonstrated the injustice
of such q Suspicion. 1t was to the interest
of certain parties to discredit him and to
put distractions in his way. The fact of
4 his aiunol rn,1,forv oh,l;fc x-oa aotah1;ohaA
as soon as he was tried. He was an edu-
Gated soldier who knew how to make war
according to the books, and T.. Yet was
capable of originating plans and methods
to meet contingencies not Taught in the
schools. TIL skill and fidelity with which
he executed every order and improved
every opportunity did not fail to
of the country. He made no
effort TO gain applause. His time was all
occupied In striving to promote the welfare
and success of the troops that he com
manded. He had ambition but not vanity,
In the common meaning of the term. 1t
was not his habit to talk of himself or his
exploits. He must have been pleased to
learn that he was equal to each succeeding
test, and that no one was surpassing him
In point of vigorous and useful service;
but he never said q word about il, and
never complained when others were
praised at his expense, as often happened
IL thO MOI hO q sAuouofA n
his reputation.
WORK IN K~ENTUCKY
The federal operations in Kentucky after
the battle of Mill Springs and before that
of P%erryville were more or less awkward
and unsatisfactory. but Thomas did his
part without the least laundering. His
position was q subordinate one. to be sure.
but it had its difficulties, and he adjusted
4 xha-r - a .-A -r.,&~1- $500 H.
had the respect of his superiOrs and the
confidence of those who served under HIM.
Where others were called to account for inn
proper proceedings. he escaped by reason Of
his fine judgment and his perfect unselfsh-
ness. The course of Buell. was disapproved
by Halleck, and an order vas issued
relieving him and placing Thomas in com-
mand of the army, but the latter would
not accept the place. This was probably
the only case during the war in which such
a promotion was declined. But it was like
Thomas to demonstrate against an order
that he considered wrong. and to ask that
it be not enforced for his benefit. The or
der was accordingly withdrawn. and Buel
retained his position. with Thomas as sec
ond in command. The time was q critical
one. and Thomas saw the necessity of rru-
dence and harmony. He put himself aside.
in other words, believing that to be the
honorable and patriotic thing for him to do.
1t Stones river, where the federal army
go narrowly escaped destruction, it was
Thomas who did the most effective fighting
and prevented the enemy from gaining an
absolute victory. He was second in COM
mand. but first In point of service. The
mistakes of others did not demoralize him.
He had = certain work to do. and he did it
with a perfect understanding of all the con-
ditions. The plan of battle had to be
changed from the offensive to the defensive,
but it made no difference to him: he was
equal to the situation In the latter respect
M nall M ~ Ahn rD~ Tha-4 NJ
fault to be found with any of his move
ments. He seized every chance of
success and made the most of 1t. While
others stood waiting to decide between
two alternatives, he calmly chose the right
one and went forward. 1t was apparently
easy for him to foresee the results of given
operations, and 70 anticipate the strategy
of his adversary. He did not ride up and
rical fashion and making heroic speeches,
but his soldiers believed in him all the
same. and were willing to go wherever he
ordered or desired. His manner was mod
TO make himself conspicuous. but he as
sumed a leading position i'm every instance
by sheer force of his great ability.
HIS EFFICIENCY AT CHICKAMAUGA.
The story of Chickamauga is another il
lustratlon of the splendid manner in which
Thomas improved his opportunities. But
for his tenacious courage and self-reliance
in that case the Union cause would have
suffered a reverse of the most lamentable
order. His superior officer deserted the
field, 1t will be remembered. under the i'm
preston that the day was lost, and left him
to do the best he could in the way of re-
treating. But he did not retreat. He saw
no necessity for giving up the fight. There
was still a chance to turn defeat into vic
tory, or at least to modify the impending
calamity. and he determined to prolong
the struggle. He gathered his % 900 troops
together from all parts of the field. and
successfully resisted for nearly six hours
the repeated assaults of q force
twice as large as his own. In
all war history there is moth
ing more picturesque and impressive
than this resOlute and desperate proceed
ing. Thomas was thrown upon his own re-
sources, and compelled to act independent
Iy OF the commander-ln-chief. He was
aware that the other portions of the army
had been overpowered and driven back.
and that he could expect little or no as
sistance from them; but that did not derer
him. He believed he could hold his ground.
and it turned out that he was right. There
could have been no blame attached to him