Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-07-23
BOARDING ONE OF THE FLEET.


manager TO offer obstacles to the move
ments of the armies. 1t would have
been somewhat hazardous, for men
we've frequently convicted of disloyalty
and sent to prison on slight provoca-
ton. When the life of the nation was
at hazard, we gave little thought-to The
views or opinions of individuals. We
went right ahead and did business in
our own way. Ser. a.... a .. ...
Il do not now remember how many
transports were employed in carrying
the expedition of Gen. Banks around to
New Orleans, but it was a big. job.
There were naval vessels accompanying
the expedition to protect the trans
ports; but, of course, had no control
Of any naval vessels. The transports
carried all of the troops in Banks eX-
petition, all of the horses, cattle, bat
teries, hard tack and other food, and it
cost lots of money. | don't remember
anything about the total amount, but
it was immense. ..#
S'Then there We're two expeditions
against Fort Fisher: one under Gen.
Butler, and the other under Gen. Terry.
/ moved the Eleventh and Twelfth corps
from Virginia to Tennessee. sent the
Ninth corps to the relief of Knoxville.
tioated Schofieid's Twenty-third corps
over into North Carolina. In some of
those movements, and they were in a
hurry. had to grab cars and boats
wherever l could find them. Then
when my cars went west loaded with
| troops had to chase after them with
my most vigorous assistants, in order
to get them back for future movements.
Oh. if we didn't work in those days, no
| fellows ever worked. The men in the
field never knew how it happened that
| things went so smoothly. When Gen.
Sherman reached Savannah he found
my fleets outside awaiting him with
mails, provisions and ammunition. The
cid man compiimented me very highly
afterwards, and said that lie did not
expect to get any assistance for week
or ten days after reaching his destina-
ton. But there was my fleet; and
wherever a regiment, brigade, division
or army corps was to be moved had
the transportation ready at the time
and place designated in general orders
| from the headquarters of the army.
Il have signed many check for
| 100000 to 100000, and handed it over
to my assistants to disburse in accord.
ance with specific orders previously
written by me. During the last year
of the war | signed checks for 81 900, 900.
And how much do you suppose lost
during those busy and trying years of
civil war? | settled my accounts with
the government without having a single
cent missing or unaccounted for. That
is what l am most proud of in my mil
itary career. OF course it was a great
commission, a responsible position, AMI
any man might feel proud of having
been placed in such supreme command.
But the system of business was such
that not a cent was lost in the dis
bursements of all those millions; and
that is certainly something that man
may be proud of, and may even be ex-
cused for Dragging about"
"While I was chief quartermaster Of
the army of the Potomac l signed all
acquisitions by order of Maj. Gen. Nc
Clellan,' and thus the general com.
manding the army was responsible for
everything done by me. Several years
after the war was over, Gen. Mcclellan
wrote me from Orange, n. j., saying
that the treasury department demand
ed $50 from him, on account of a dis
bursement which was not strictly in
accordance with the army regulations.
I looked the matter up, found that un-
der strict constructions of the regula-
tions the order was not proper. No
one but namby-pamby would have
found fault with the disbursement. No
soldier would have objected to it. But
inasmuch as the critical clerk in the
treasury objected to that small amount
l sent Gen. Mcclellan my check for $50.
and let the matter go without taking
i, the trouble to go to the treasury de-
partnent and explain the matter.
don't often talk about war times, but
you fellows have made me loauacious
because you aEc such good listeners"
SNITH D. FRY.