Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-19
Written for The Evening Star.
SHERMAN AND ATLANTA.

Written for The Evening Star.
SHERMAN AND ATLANTA.
Lights Thrown on the Old Warriors Charac-
ter by Recent Researches.
A FORTHCOMING OFFICIAL yoLrMr-rHr MANAGE
NESr OF the CONFEDERATE REooRps-sHrR-
MANS CHARACTERISTICS As REVEALED IL MS
LETTERS AND DIsPArcuEs-HIs PLACE N
HISTORY.
Until THE CAMPAIGN OF GFrIYS-
~ burg. Vicksburg aud Chickamauya were
reached not much importance vas attached by
the general public to the official publications
relating 10 the late war. Interesting and in
valuable rs they are to historians and miscel-
ianeous writers for the daily press ana periodi-
Gals. 1t iss fact that the best informed had but
vague notion OF their scope. and the mass did
not even know that such = series o. books was
being compiled by the government. But the
volumes relating 10 these great events brought
seouta marked change, and the War Records
sprang into instant and almost universal popu-
larity. Their immense historical yAlua WAS n,
once clearly perceived. Current issues were
read with avidity and Forthcoming pnmbars
watched for with eager exVecancy: besides
winch there was retrospective overhauliug OF
previous volumes.
great demand for the War Records fnevi-
tably followed. He who conld not secure the
publications considered himself a greatly IN
jured individual and felt that his natural sphere
OF usefulness was limited for want of them.
considerable portion of the correspondence OF
the War Department is in answer TO applIca-
lions FOR sets OF these books many of then,
from influential quarters Most OF these re-
quests have to be denied for the reason that
regular assignments have about exhausted the
MED edition. though a few remain for sale al
bare cost under a law of Congress and an oc-
casional application in favor of a public library
or historical society is approved by the Secre-
tary. The first five volumes are entirely out of
print
None Of the previous volumes. bowovor
ABOUT seventy IN sli-eNceed in interest those
relating TO the Atlanta campaign, now being
issued 10 penehciaries by the board OF publica-
ton. Five books were required TO cover the
period beginning with Shorman's advance from
chattanooga and ending with the CAPTURE of
Atiahta: lhey average a little over 500 pages
eacn, 4,ioO pages in ALL or these the reports
OF the federal military officers alone make
ZfO pages. while the confederate rcports iii
only 4oo pages There are 800 pages Of Union
anu ohIy oZ' pages OF confederate correspond
ence.
THE CONFEDERATE RECORDS
Inc meagerness of the confederate records.
though greatly to be regretted is easily ac-
counted for: Many valuable papers were lost
OF DESTROYED in the chaos of the closing days,
10 disgnsted individuals, cast down by fa,lnre
anu only intent on tho surest aud quickest
methods OF getting out of their difficulties
ana ria OF responsibilities, old letter
DOCKS ana reports were OF small Consequence.
ana In the general dissolution doubtless sone
were lncontnentiy dumped into the fire and
OTHERWISE disposed Of in the readiest manner
possible. Many Others were carried arav 10
their homes by leading officials and generals
terhaps some may have been deliberately de-
stroyed Tor a purpose, bat Undoubtedly the
mann cause OF loss WAS carelessness. Still the
major part OF tine confederate records were nr,
served ana secured when the haal tastrophe
occurred Others have been found and secured
since. While not as full and complete as those
OF the federals, after all they embody a pre,tv
iair inside history OF that side OF uiost Of the
great CAMPAIGNS.
Ii may be remarked parenthetically that the
coaIederates never Kept up the official record
OF tneir aialrs. civil and military. with that
completeness OF detail which was the practice
OF tae Union government They hadn I the
knack and lacked the necessary facilities ar
necessity their forte was fighting not book
heepihg. Inc north was COURAGEOUS and
methoulcal In one As in the other. When the
soutuerners got licked Ia a battle they thought
II the part OF Wisdom to say very little about N
ihe north, on the contrary entered III any
tning. with more minuteuess into making IN
the onlclal record of a defeat than a victory
NO other Single campaign OF the war devel-
oped such mass OF oEiicIad records as this one
o. Atlanta. especially III the Particular OF re-
ports and orders. Gettysburg does not canal
II; Nicksburg falls fan behind, and Grants cam
palgn To the crossing of the James, shorter but
more important In every wdy shows nothing
like II. The prolific cause y. this is found I'm
the COMMANDER of the Union army. Gen Grant
onIy wrote letters and orders when absolutely
necessary; Sherman on tine contrary, fired on
long letters, orders IN detail and addresses
to the army on the least provocatlon
In this respect he may be likened to a train
oi sunpcwder-when the match was applied he
sometimes faifly exploded. He seemed 10 act on
the honest assumption tina. he was not merely
military leader, but the retained advocate Of
his Cause and the soldiers In the con-
troversial arena as well. His brain an
pears TO have been teeming work
shop, filled with u miscellaneous assert
meut of IDEAS mostly practical and slwavs
brilliant, and when any occasion opened its
doors they actually tumbied over each other IN
the race Tor utterance. His ie;tcrs-apd
even Held orders-sclntillase not only with
War, put law, politics and sometimes
even religion. and everything emanatlug from
his pen giowed with an earnest patriotism lie
fought the battles of his country with the pen
as well as the sword. Nowhere does Sherman
appear to better advantage than in these ATTAIN IA
volumes. His character was paradoXical and
eccentric In u marked degree.
sHERMAS's CHARACTERISTICS
Nervous impulsive and sometimes errstic he
certainly was. yet every moment in this ad-
vance was characterized by caution on Sher-
mans part which is held by some TO be dis
creditable under all the circumstances. Bltit ia
to be observed that he won his objective i'm four
months. with loss of only 37,OsI men killed
wounded and missing, intiicting fully an equal
If not a greater loss upon the enen. +. But in
his personal movements lie was as actire-I NAV
say versatile and proiiiic-as on paper Hopeful
aud buoyant he was verywhere-eonsuiting
directing. exhorting. let us keep the ball
rolling is paragraph In a letter to a suborii-
nate. Come over and We will look over the
maps and papers" he writes to another ION
the contrary, | am always glad TO have YOUR
views" to the third. Il will be over on that
wing all day today and SO on. In fact, his
part was very much like that of a boss con-
tractor with several jobs on hand, and he did
his work thoroughly and well.
He was watchful aud noticed everything
gong on, as was perhaps his duty. His inGorse-
ments are found on medical reports, supply
acquisitions, applications for leave and other
papers. down To the smallest detail of military
service. He observed ali the Jealous contro-
yersi"s going on in the army, and was not at all
averse to taAlng a haad in some of them him
Sell he mad strong opinions on all subjects
anu was al no pains to conceal them. He was