The National tribune., 1898-11-24

on Fort Sumter.
When the army was formed for the de
tense Of Kentucky against the rebels
Buell. was one OF the officers that Gen
Robert Anderson requested should b.
made Brigadier-G General and assigned t.
him.
Upon Gen. Anderson's retirement, ant
the relief OF Gen. Sherman, Gen. Buel
was assigned 10 the command of the
Department osi Ohio, which extended
from the Big Sapdy River to the Cumber-
| land, and involved nearly the whole State
of Kentucky and, East Tennessee.
Problems of the highest Importance con-
fronted him, fofi he Was expected to con
solidate and strengthen the Union men OF
Kentucky, holbsthatState in the Union,
and successfully drive out the rebel army
under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, who
was then thought to be the ableSt COM
mander the Southern Confederacy had.
For awhile hfs operations commanded
the highest apbiauseg He was undoubt-
ediy fine organizerJi but he lacked Nc
Cielian talenttfoT winning the enthuSi-
astic admiration Of bis men. He. wanted
to make his troops into Regulars at once,
and insisted upon the last letter of drill
and discipline, whore such men as
Thomas were content with so much drill
and discipline as would make the men
efficient fighters. alFs
Still, he had his ,talue, and he infused
into the Army of the Cumberland, as it
subsequently came to be called, spirit Of
organization and discipline that con-
t1nued to the last ar 1ade it one of the
most perfect fighting 1chines that ever
existed. But he held the great body of it
all Fall and Winter, confronted all the
time by a much smaller force under
Albert Sidney Johnston at Bowling Green,
only a few miles away.
However, the Winter was illumined by
the glorious victory Of Gen. Thomas,
Ior hi .2.,,
Gen. Garfield's lesser success at Paint
Greek. Finally Gen. Grants victory at
Fort Donelson turned Albert Sidney John
ston's flank, and caused a precipitate re-
treat through Nashville, which Buell. occu-
pied.
Then came the battle OF Shiloh. Buell.
had been advancing ieisurely across the
country to join Gen. Grant, and his ad-
vance division arrived on the battlefield
as the conflict ended on the evening of
Sunday, April g. The next morning he
had large portion of his forces in hand,
and advanced to reopen the battle in a
magnificent formation, with every portion
acting IN perfect unison. The rebels were
driven from the field, but no pursuit was
made to make the victory crushing.
During the advance on COrinth he COM
manded one OF the grand divisions of
Halleck's army. After the rebels re-
treated, he was ordered to proceed east
ward and capture the great objective of
ms ny--GhattdnOOpa. lie went with
his customary delberatiOn and slowness
but before he got near his objective the
rebels under Bragg had massed an army
there SO strong as to block the execution
of his design.
Then Bragg resolved to take the initi-
ative, fank Buell. on the left and force
the whole Union army back to the Ohio.
Gen. Thomas had warned Buell. of this
intention, but Buell. would not believe il.
When at last convinced, the Army of the
Ohio was concentrated with great quick
ness and skill, and the celebrated race for
the Ohio began. For days the two armies
marched side by side.
Buell's Generals wanted him to give
battle, and his men were angrily dis
contented that he did not do So But he
remained obdurate, and succeeded in get
ting his army to Louisville before Bragg
received reinforcements and then turned
upon his enemy, who began a retreat.
The ill-managed battle of Perryvile fol-
lowed, fought by portion of his army,
while Buell., only three miles away, with
the rest, took no part, and Bragg escaped
back to Tennessee with his booty.
This brought the dissatisfaction of the
Administration and the army with him to
a elimination, andhe was removed. The
command was Offered to Gen. Thomas
who declined cit because it might be
thought that he had intrigued against his
commander, apd Gen, zen, Rosecrans was APP
Gen. Buell. was, subsequently twice
IA