River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-07-23

New Orleans, but II was big Job.
There were naval vessels accompanying
the expedition to protect the trans
ports; but, of course, l had no control
Of nny naval vessels. The transports
carried all of the troops in Banks ex-
petition, all of the hcrses, cattle, bat
teries, hard tack and other food, and IL
cost lots of money. i don't remember
anything about the total amount, but
II was immense.
'Then there were two expeditions
against Fort Fisher; one under Gen.
BIiler, 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.
I fioated Schofield's Twenty-third corps
over into North Carolina. In some of
those movements, and they were in a
hurry, l had to grab cars and boats
wherever / could find them. Then
when my cars went west loaded with
troops l had 10 chase aft;r 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 il 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 complimented me very highly
afterwards, and said that he did not
expect to get any assistance for week
or ten doys after reaching his destina-
ton. But there was my fleet; and
wherever a regiment, brigade, division
or army corps was to be moved i had
the transportation ready at the time
and place designated in general orders
from the headquarters of the army.
II have signed many a check for
500, 900 TO 100000, and handed IL 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 ,O0o. 900.
And how much do you suppose / lost
during those busy and trying years of
civil war? I settled my accounts with
the government without having a single
cent missing OF uuaccounted for. That
is what am most proud of In my mill
itary career. OF course IL was a great
commission, responsible position, and
any man might feel proud of having
been placed in such supreme command.
But the system of business was such
that not cent was lost in the dis
bu7sements of all those millions; and
that is certainly something that man
may be proud of, and may even be en-
cused for Dragging about"
while | was chief quartermaster o.
the army of the Potomac l signed al
acquisitions by order of Maj. Gen. Me.
Clellan,' and thus the general com
handing the army was responsible for
everything done by me. Several years
after the war was over. Gen. Mcclellan
wrote me from Orange, y. j., saying
that the treasury department demand
ed 500 from him, on account of a dis
bursement which was not strictly in
accordance with the army regulations.
/ looked the matter up. found that I'M
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
! sent Gen. Mcclellan my check for $50.
and let the matter go without taking
the trouble TO go to the treasury de-
partment and explain the matter. ]
don't often talk about war times, but
you fellows have made me loquacious
because you are such good listeners"
SMITH ID. FRY