The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-20

Every subordinate performed his part.
Hood was surprised, and his men realizing
their situation lost their elan. He was
beaten at all points the second day, and
his army of $1,000 men became a mob.
Thousands were captured in the pursuit,
other thousands, seeing that the cause was
lost. deserted. When the remnant was rail-
lied on the banks of the Tennessee IL was
no longer a force to be feared-only a few
thousand men. Hood wrote a defense and
died heart-broken HIS was the greatest
army that, to that date, had been PRACTICAL
ly annihiliated. To Thomas as a leader be-
longed the glory. His already large and
well-flled cup was now running over.
These are the salient points in the book
Of Prof. Coppee. 1t would have been well
had he left the grand recital free from
~extraneous matter. Probably General
Thomas was not promoted as early as his
merits deserved. He should have been
major general in the regular army before
others, particularly Meade, but commits
sions, this or that rank. could not have
added a laurel to the fame Of Thomas. An
admiring posterity will never ask whether
he was the first or last major general, be-
cause it has accorded him a place with
Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, and has
placed his achievements in the list OF the
greatest Of the war. Much less was it nee
essary for the author TO make several
filings at General Grant. The lieutenant
general was terribly in earnest, and he
could not understand the delay at Nashville
He did not send General Logan to supersede
Thomas, but directed him to report to him
Grant from Nashville. When the first
days battle was fought Logan was on his
way to Nashville TO see about matters, as
was his duty. Nor is IL necessary to cen-
sure the Lincoln government for relieving
General Buell. after the battle OF Perry
vile. He might have been the able soldier
Prof. Coppee represents him to be. but q
general who was within three miles OF q
battle in which half OF his army was en-
gagged all day against fearful odds with
appalling losses and only escaped disaster
without rendering assistance. should not be
spoken of in commentator in the biogra-
ply Of George II. Thomas. The editor. too.
would have rendered the splendid character
of General Thomas a service by erasing the
paragraphs in which, for the moment, that
and loyal man expressed an
noyance because he was not promoted at
the time when IL Is now admitted he should
have been
General Thomas did not live long to en-
Joy the plaudits OF the country he had
served 50 well. He died suddenly in his
headquarters in San Francisco. March q.
1870. In two months he would have been
ffty-four years Of age. He was sincerely
mourned all over the country. No more
truthful Characterization OF Thomas can bs
found than the closing words of Gen. Arson
G.. McCook in an GRAFTON shortly after his
death:
His patriotism was not circumscribed by
the narrow limits of his native State, but
IL was as broad and catholic as his own
a eat nature. Virginia, the mother OF States
and statesmen, has been the birthplace or
many whose fame and virtues are the
common heritage OF the Republic, but the
state of Washington, OF Jefferson, OF Mad
ison. OF Marshall and OF Scott never brought
forth a nobler son. a better citizen a truer
soldier or a more unSelfiSh patriot q
George II. Thomas"