The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-12

Gen. Sherman's plan was to have at the
| front an army of fully 100000 men TO en-.
gage the forces of Gen. Joseph Il. John
stOn, then strongly intrenched near Dali
ton, Ga, in highly defensibe position.
The return of these three great armies
on April 10. 1864, showed an effective
force present for duty as follows: Army
of the Cumberland. SS.SS3: Army of the
Tennessee, "a ,951; Army of the Ohio, 49,
242.
Grand total present for duty was $780,
OS2, but large proportion of these troops
were required for the defense of the long
lines of railroad and the garrisoning of
| important points to the rear which it was
necessary to hold securely to make sure
of unfailing supplies for the fighting
column as it advanced into the enemy S
| country.
Gen. Sherman took into his own hands
the control of the railroads and the ques-
ton of supplies. He found that the equip
ment of the railroad south of Nashville
consisted of 60 locomotives and GO freight
cars. With these the armies in front could
be supplied. but nc large accumulations of
military stores could be made. Gen. Sher-
man directed that the trains arriving at
Nashville from Louisville should be held
for service on the railroad south until 40
additional engines and 400 additional cars
were provided. This policy was pursued
until the required transportation was Sc
cured.
Hon. James Guthrie, formerly Secretary
of the Treasury. then President of the
Louisville 4 Nashville Railroad. soon dis
| covered that his trains were being held
at Nashville. He wrote Gen. Sherman.
| objecting to this proceeding, stating that
he could not carry forward the necessary
supplies from Louisville to Nashville if
deprived Of 40 locomotives. Sherman
wrote Mr.. Guthrie, explaining that he
was compelled to have more locomotives,
and cars, and urged him TO replace his;
transportion with engines and ears coIn-
ing into Jacksonville, Ind. This was
done, and in short time the munitions of
war for great campaign were piled up
in Nashville, Chattanooga and other
points.
The month of April, 1864, was busy
period with all those who were to take
part in the operations against Gen. John
stOn's army. The fact that Gen. Grant
had been placed in command of all the
armies Of the United States, and was
with the Army of the Potomac in Vir-
ginia, inspired every soldier in the West
with the belief that all the armies of the
Union would move against the COnfeder-
ate forces upon n settled plan, and hav-
ing engaged the enemy, would keep I'D
the fight until the rebel forces would
realize the hopelessness of the struggle
and cry out enough.
The following letter from Gen Grant
TO Gen. Sherman will clearly show the
comprehensive plans which he had laid
out for the armies during the three weeks
he had been in control of all the forces
Of the Union.
GRANTS EXPLANATION OF HIS PLAN.
Washington, ID. c., April 4, 1864.
General: 1t is my design, if the enemy
keep quiet and allow me to take the I'M
tiative in the Spring campaign, to work
all parts of the army together, and some
what toward common center. For Your
information / now write you my program
as at present determined upon.
l have sent orders to Banks, by private
messenger, to finish up his present expedi-
ton against Shreveport with all dispatch;
to turn over the defense of Red River to
Ten. Steele and the navy, and to return
your troops to you, and his own to New
Orleans; to abandon all of Texas, except
the Rio Grande, and to hold that with not
10 exceed 1000 men; to reduce the num-
Der of troops on the Mississippi to the
lowest number necessary to hold it, and
to collect from his command not less than
1900 men. To this / will add 5000
from Missouri. With this force he is to
commence operations against Mobile as
soon as he can. 1t will he impossible for
him to commence too early.
Gilmore joins Butler with 10000 men.
and the two operate against Richmond
from the south side of James River. This
will give Butler $4,000 men to operate
with, w. +. Smith commanding the right
wing of his forces, and Gilmore the left
wing. l will stay with the Army of the
Potomac, increased by Burnside's Corps
of not less than $4,000 effective men, and
operate directly against Lees army wher-
ever it may be found.
Sigel collects all his available force in
two columns, one, under Ord and Averill
to start from Beverly, Va, and the other.
under Crook, to start from Charleston on
the kanawha, to move against the Vir-
GINA & Tennessee Railroad.
Crook will have all cavalry, and will
endeavor to get in about Saltville, and
move east from there to join Ord. His
force will be all cavalry, while Ord will
have from 10000 to 1900 men of all
arms.
You l propose to move against John.
ston's army, to break it up, and to get into
the interior Of the cnemy's country as
far as You caa, inficting all the damage
you can against their war resources.
l do not propose to lay down for Won
plan of campaign, but simply to Law
down the work ii IS desirable to have done.
and leave yon free to execute it in yonr
Gy.v