The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-02
HHLLEcK'S HDVHNcE ON coRIHTH.
Sp1endidiy- Organized and Equipped Army
That Could Not Show Its Mettle.

Splendidly- Organized and Equipped Army
That Could Not Show It's Mettlc.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE During
the month Of May, 1862, we moved by slow
and tedious parallels towards Corinth. At
first, owing to heavy rains that began during
the night of the first days battle at Shiloh
and continued at intervals through April
and the first half of May the roads were
almost impassable and we were compelled
to march infantry along the foot-paths at the
side of the roads over which the rebel army
fleeing from Shiloh had passed.
We found caissons and broken wagons
abandoned in the hasty flight and occasional
marks of camping grounds, showing that
portion of the fleeing army had camped not
far away from Shiloh, and proving conclu-
sively that the pursuit had been too soon
abandoned.
1t was SAID that there were $4,000 men in
the advancing army, and the scene of one re-
view before Gov. Richard Yates at Monterey
was very imposing, the march continuing
throughout the entire day. The camps around
Monterey presented an inspiring sight,
bands playing, bugles calling, campfires
glimmering from hight to hight.
1t WAS pity that so fine and well-equip-
ped an army should be so handled as to ac-
Halleck was in immediate command, and
doing his mighty best to illustrate the science
of preparation. Money and precious time
were lavishly squandered to make prepara-
tions on scale of magnfcance only equaled
by Fremont in Missouri; preparations for
movements which never came 10 head, or
were made after our willy and more active
foe had eluded the point of DANGER and was
massng his forces at an entirely different
center
At every halt in our slow advance toward
Corinth the army were set to digging
trenches-earthw0rk to protect an army Of
$4,000 from the dangers of sudden assault
by an army of 10000. For although Beau
regard kept The air filled with Tumors of
heavy accumulations of troops and muni-
tons Mt Corinth, 1t is now notorious that
10000 to 10000 were the most he ever had
there. But the lesson at Shiloh had sunk
deep into the mind of the Commanding Cen
eral. From the extreme of rashness he had
gone to the extreme of caution, and our
crafty enemy was not slow to take advantage
of it.
The "works" of Beauregard at Corinth,
the fame of which kept Halleck quaking in
terror behind his intrenchments whole
month, proved to be for the main part but
shallow trenches, over which our men walked
easily latter Beauregard abandoned them),
wondering as they did so what sort of field
glasses our able commander had used that
made them look so impregnable.
Twice during the siege it looked like
Sherman and McClernand were going to take
the bits between their teeth and smash
army like an eggshcll, but no
sooner did the rattle of musketry or boom
Of cannon indicate that trouble had begun
than Halleck's staff could be seen galloping
frantically here and there On foaming steads |
directing the carnage to cease. Pope at
Pennington gained temporary advantage, |
but it was neutraized by the failure of |
proper support
AS an organizer all agreed Gen. HalIeck |
was without peer, except Mcclellan, but |
IS commander OF troops in the field he /
seemed to lack the ability or the nerve" to
20 ahead and execute what he had so ably
planned. This with an army superior in
every point to his adversary.
His hating action, and the lack of har-
mony Of execution between him and his sub
ordinates, reminded one foreibly Of the story
1f the suffering blacksmith and his stutter-
ny helper. Both did well enough in ordinary
but under sudden excitement
we're all abroad One day the blacksmith
laying heated q bar of iron to white heat,
it hastily from the furnace and
aid it on the anvil, calling to his assistant,
who happened just then to be looking in
mother direction The blacksmith became
,xcited at once, and danced and sputtered
lbout the anvil trying in vain to give his
Drder: "Str-str-um-Str- The
assistant, conscious of his dereliction, also
became excited and dancing first on one |
DOT and then on the other, his heavy ham
ner swinging in air over his head, inquired
rantically: "Wh-wh-wh-wh-w
Nowhere, now, answered the boss; "it's
old. ."-EDMUND MARSH, ST. Louis, Mo.