The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-26

in the army l am satisfied that this was
largely due to the fact that during the
greater part of my service / had good,
wholesome food.
OF course, there were times during the
stress and strain of the great campaigns
under Gems. Grant and Sherman that ra-
tons were scarce, but these periods were
of short duration: besides. in 1853 during
the Nicksburg campaign and the marcheto
the relief of Chattanooga, we inaugurated
Il regular system of living off the country
through which we passed.
This practice of living off the enemy
is as old as war. Before the advent of
| railroads the transportation of supplies for
n large army over long distances was an.
immense task. 1t became absolutely nee
cSSaTy in prosecuting an offensive war
where the territory of the enemy was en-
| tered that the invading army should be
| largely subsisted off the country. 1t was
long the practice in European wars for
cities and towns that were captured to lie
| required to furnish the army of oc"upa
ton large quantities of food and other
| neccSSarics.
Gen. Grant and Gen Sherman found it
necessary for the success of their cam
paigns to adopt the practice of ''forag-
ing. With us foragiDg was reduced to II
| system. Quartermasters We're detailed to
bldht luf SflLuIeS- II HeslFy SiidTu ftlItF
the command of n discreet officer protected
the wagons. and this body constituted the
| foraging party. The Quartermasters were
| under instructions not TO strip the people
of all their food, but to leave sufficient for
each family.
Individual foraging was prohibited by
orders but there were many eases where
| these orders were disregarded. If a pig
| or a chicken happened in the road along
cid n r.ti col, I,, IL a
up by some one and treated as lost arti-
Gle, which belonged to the fortunate find
er. When the army was regularly sup
! piled by the COmmissary Department for
aging practically ceased. 1t can be said
TO the credit Of the Union soldiers that in
their foraging expeditions they did not
mistreat the people personally.
Women. children and old men did not
receive either insult or injury at the hands
Of the soldery.
| 1t mnst be understood that the civil
governments in the States in which we
were campaigning were actively identified
with the rebellion. When the Union army
| got possession of a portion of one Of these
States the civil government, legislative.
executive and judicial. disappeared; the
officers left their seats OF authority and
usually followed the fortunes of the Con
| federate army. This was not always the
case in the Incorporated towns and cities
occupied by the Union forces: but the
| town and city governments did not under
| take TO exercise their pow ers except by
authority of the Commanding General
| The fact is well settled that in time of
war the military authority is absolutely
predominant over the civil government in
the captured country. The orders of the
General in the field is, for the tine being
law.
TEMPORARY TRIBUNALS.
| found it important in managing the
affairs Of my command to establish n tri-
| bunal before which matters of discipline
could be tried and settled; while com
manding my regiment | conferred upon
the Major this authority. and found it to
work well. He sat as magistrate and
heard and decided cases and inflicted pun-
ishment. Shortly after | asspmed com
mand of the brigade | invested one of my
staff officers with the duty and power of
Provost M;lrshal authorizing him not
only to make arrests, but to hear and de-
eide cases.
Now that the brigade was stationed in
n region of the country where the civil
government was in allegiance, / conferred
authority on Lieut.. James f. Graham.
Provost Marshal, to take jurisdiction of
questions arising between private citizens.
While our forces were making every
necessary preparation to protect our rail
road lines the enemy was not idle. Gen
Roddey. with brigade of cavalry, was
constantly threatening Decatur. our most
western point. 1t was here that rail
road from Nashville intersected the Mem
pEis & Charleston Railroad, which passes
through Chattanooga. This line was daily
burdened with heavy trainA carrying sup
plies to Sherman at the front. and its Sc
curity was vital to the success Of the cam
paign.
Maj. S. d. Lee was at Selma, Gen.
Forrest was at Tupelo strong Confeder-
ate force held Corinth, Col. Rucker was
at Oxford, Johnston's Brigade was at Tus-
cumbia, and Col. Reid held Blue Noun
tain. These forces were all under the
command Of Gen. Lee at Selma, who in
turn was under Lieut.. Gen. Polk, Depart
ment Commander. Gen. Joseph e. John
ston expected these forces to perform two