Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-02-19
New Series, Vol. 81, No 8

ed to be relieved from the command ant
4 was succeeded by Gen. Sherman on Oc
tober II.
1t was expected by the government
that the men to keep Kentucky in the
Union could be recruited in that State
and that the numbers required would b.
but few, but this expectation was doom.
ed to be disappointed. Sherman looked
for a great war, and declared that 10000
men would be required to drive the en-
emy out of the State, and 100000 to put
an end to the struggle in that region.
Most men looked upon this prophetic sa-
gacity with suspicion if not contempt
He was relieved from his command
| by Gen. Buell. on November II and or
dered to Gen. Halleck, commanding the
Department of the West. Gen. Sherman
was placed in command of Benton Bar
racks. AT this time Gen. Grant was in
command of the force to move on Forts
Henry and Donelson in February, 1862,
and just after the capture of these
strongholds Sherman was assigned to
the Army of the Tennessee. In the
great battle of Shiloh Sherman's divis-
| AOA oClNCO do a oOlG vi plNOO- 1HC lOSd
in Sherman's division was 2,023.
1t was through his efficiency during
this action that the enemy was forced to
rapidly retreat upon Corinth. He was
wounded in the hand during the battle,
but he refused to leave the field, and he
richly deserved the praise which Gen.
Grant expressed in his official report
Gen. Halleck declared that sherman
saved the fortunes of the day on the 9th,
and contributed largely to the glorious
victory of the 7th."
Gen. Sherman was always conspicuous
for judgment and dash. He was en-
ployed constantly where promptness and
energy were required. Sherman was
made Major General of Volunteers, to
date from May 1, 1862. On June 9 he
was ordered to Grand Junction, a STRAIT
egic point where the Memphis and
Charleston and the Mississippi Central
railroads met. Memphis was to be a
base, and Sherman was to guard the
roads and keep them in running order.
On July Is, Sherman was ordered to
Memphis with instructions to put it in
a state of defense. In order to secure
himself against the Vaccinations of the
rebellious inhabitants he directed all who
adhered to the Confederate cause to
leave the city. He also effectually sup
pressed guerrilla warfare.
After the Western armies had ad-
vanced to the line of the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad the next step was
to capture Vicksburg and thereby open
to navigation the Mississippi River. in
which programme Gen. Sherman took a
part. On account of the
brilliant services of Gen. Sherman in
this campaign he was appointed brig
adler general in the regular army to
late from July IA, 1868.
On October Gen. Sherman was Or
Tered to take his corps to the relief
If Gen. Rosecrans, who had been forced
back into Chattanooga after the battle
Of Chicamauga He lost no time in do-s
ing 50. on the morning or the 10Th
pursued the enemy by the roads
north of the Chicamauga, arriving at
Ringgold on that day, and everywhere
destroying the enemy's communica-
ions. During these operations Gen.
Burnside was besieged by Longstreet at
Knoxville, Tenn, and was in great ex-
remity.
On December 3, under orders from
len. Grant, which another commander
vas slow to obey, Sherman made forced
marches to Burnside's relief and reach
ID Knoxville not minute too soon.-
After supplying Burnside with all the
assistance and reinforcements he re-
uired, Sherman marched back te Chat
anooga. Toward the end of January,
864, with parts of McPherson's and
iurlbut's corps, then unemployed at
demphis and Vicksburg, he marched to
Jackson and Meridian, where he broke
lp the Confederate combination and de-
troyed their communications.
After Gen. Grant had been made
Lieutenant General and assumed COM
nand of all the armies of the United
tates on March II, he assigned Gen.
herman to the command of the Militia
y Division of the Mississippi, compris-
ng the departments of the Ohio, the
'ennessee, the Cumberland and the
arkansas, in word, of the entire South
Testern region, with temporary head
uarters at Nashville. In letter Of
Iarch 4, 1864, Gen. Grant acknowledge
S to Gen. Sherman his great gratitude
or his cooperation and skill, which so
argely contributed to his own success
On February 10, 1864, Gen. Sherman
eceived the thanks of Congress for his
ervices in the Chattanooga campaign
IN April 10 he received his final in
tructions from Grant to move against
nrIarinn hic fn
ezvous at Chattanooga he made it his
on April %. His forces
onsisted of $4,000 men, with 254 guns,
Thile the Confederate army under john
ton was $1,000 men. Johnston had
ne advantage of fighting behind in
After an assault on May Is Johnston
streated to Cassville, and behind the
,towah on the 18th. Sherman advanced
is line with each retrograde movement
f the enemy and so pressed operations
lat he continually gained ground. Both
rmies habitually fought from behind
e parapets until Sherman ordered an
tack on the fortified lines, June %, but
id not succeed in breaking through.
y changing his position he compelled
ohnSton to retire to another lntrench-
tent, and finally to fall back on At
Inta.
On July IL Sherman began the direct
tack on Atlanta, in number Of Sc
ere sorties the national forces were
ictorious. After an Intellectual cayal-
: movement Gen. Sherman left one
orps intrenched on the Chattahoochee
nd moved with the other five corps on
he enemy's only remaining line Of rail-
,ad, 20 miles south of Atlanta, where
e beat him, occupied his line of supply,
nd finally, on the 1st of September, the
nemy evacuted the place.
Sherman immediately moved forward
ntil he reached the defensive works
lat covered Savannah River. These
ere promptly taken by assault, and