The National tribune., 1892-04-14


Fifteenth. Sixteenth and Seventeenth-in
place of the former division organization. Az
ter the conquest Of western tennessee ana
northern Mississippi was completed, the SIX
teenth Corps was left to occupy this region
while Grant advanced upon Vicksburg with
the others mentioned; hence the Sixteenth
did not, as an organization, take part in the
Vicksburg campai gn.
Early in 1861 two divisions of the corps pro-
ceeded to Sherman's rendezvous at Chatta-
nooga. and subsequently participated IN the
Atlanta and Carolina campaigns. The other
two dvisons-the First and Third-were in-
tended for the same field of action, but after
participating in Sherman's preliminary Meri-
dian raid were "lent" to Banks, pursuant to
orders from Washington. and against the
wishes Of both Sherman and Grant. About
this time the corps commander, Gen. Hurbut,
resigned, and the detachment went on its way
to the Red River from Vicksburg early in
March under command Of Gen. A. J. Smith,
the senior division commander. Thereafter
it was known in military orders as the " De-
tachment, Army of the Tennessee until the
Fall of that year, whom, having been increased
somewhat in numerical strength, it was reor-
ganized as the Sixteenth Corps, in three divi-
sionS, and the two divisions with Sherman
were consolidated with other parts of the
Army of the Tennessee, and dropped their for
mer corps designation.
After Gen. Shermau's concentration for the
Atlanta campaign, Gen. A. J. Smiths detached
command was practically the only effective
field force of infantry left for the protection of
the entire Mississippi Valley, and during a sim
gle year its field of operations extended from
Pleasant Hill. La, to Nashville, Tenn. and
from Kansas City, Mo, to Mobile, Ala. By
frequent incursons into this vast territory
the enemy sought to divert Sherman and en-
barrass him in his Georgia campaign; conse-
"a aud hnna IN
emergency force relied upon to meet these en-
terprises of the enemy wherever they were
undertaken, and it never failed to justify the
con fdcncc thus reposed in it.
It's reputation for foraging to which Com
rade Tinker refers resulted from necessity
rather than from any unusual propensity in
that direction. as he would, seemingly, have
the reader believe Operating whore lines of
transportation were meager or destroyed, hur-
rying from one threatened point to another,
where, frequently, adequate supply-trai
could not be provided, it was expected to do as
it did most of its marches, subsist chiefly.
sometimes entirely. off the hostile country,
rarely receiving more than quarter rations,"
or one cracker day per man, from the regu-
lar conmissary supply. But as they were re-
quired to subsist of the country, the men no
doubt made it point to do SO with effect
that is, to leave nothing upon which the en-
envy could subsist hostile force in the region
which they trayersed. This was facetiously
and graphically termed "starving out the re-
belion."
If there have ever been any slanderous doubts
advanced, Comrade Tinker, as to the fighting
qualities and achievements of the corps, | have
never heard them. But should you hereafter
hear any such, suggest that they may be met
by calling attention to the effects usually ex
perienced by the enemy from its battle blows;
as, for instance, at Pleasant Hill, where its
closing onset sent Dick Taylors confident bat
talions flying from the field Of their anticipated
triumph in broken masses, or that hour-and
a-haf's work at Tupeo. which plueked Forests
fiery Mssissippians of their laures, and efectu-
ally tanned their fighting spirit or the irretriev
able destruction and ruin which its assaults bore
to the ranks of Hoods army before Nashville,
not to mention results on other fields Of less
importance from itary standpoint.
Should it be objected that its valor is not
evidenced by as high percentage of losses as
that Of some other corps, the apt reply would
be, We did not give the enemy time to supply
the omission, aud seldom showed them our
backs to shoot at. This much may be affirmed
without disparagement to tho men of other
organizations.
The corps received its fair share of recogni-
ton at Headquarters, rs the orders and reports
of Thomas, Sherman and Grant sufficiently
show Yet there are many facts and incidents
connected with its career which illustrate its
fighting vim and exceptional success and are
essential parts Of the truth of history that are
either nnnotieed but family suggested in
the official reports, and which the writer has
never seen mentioned in print. They ought
now to he put upon record, ere the witnesses and
participants pass away So let us hear from
more comrades of the old Sixteenth Army
Corps.-A. w. CLYDE, eth Iowa, Ashley, N. ID.