The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24
OUR CIVIL WAR GENERALS
FEW OF THE OLD DIVISION COM
MANDERs ARE NOW LIVING.
Ranks of the Union Leaders Rapidly
Thinning-Anecdotes Recalled by
"Baldyv Smiths Death.



upon a new era in our national history than
the bulletins which announce to us from
day TO day the death Of the men who fig
ured prominently in the command OF our
army during the civil war. The three chief
commanders long ago passed away, and
since their deaths the ranks of the men
who actively upheld the Union have been
thinning with steadily increasing rapidity.
The deaths of Gen. Benjamin f. Butler.
General Franklin. and Gen. William Far
rar Smith removed among the last OF the
men who inaugurated and conducted sepa-
rate campaigns. There are now living but
fourteen major generals who held that rank
during the civil war. and Of these only one
or two ever commanded Independent divi-
sions or corps. AS these figures pass from
the scene OF present-day affairs many con-
trasts between the way In which they met
and solved the problems of their day, and
the methods followed at the present time
are presented. Much Of the picturesqueness
of civil war times has disappeared In our
ordinary life, and this Is even truer In the
case Of our military and naval establish
ments. For instance. in connection with the
death of General Smith. Baby Smith he
was always called by his intimates, IL win
be pleasant to recall as a key 10 the mans
character, the courage and resourcefufness
with which he conducted his campaign with
the Army or the Potomac In the action lead
Ing up 10 the attack on Richmond. No more
picturesque incident stands out from the
history OF the civil war. Smiths command
was movable column" consisting Of Ia
600 infantry, sixteen pieces of artillery and
squadron OF cavalry, and he was ordered to
join the Army Of the Potomac. On June he
engaged the enemy for nine DAYS and on the
18th retired to Bermuda Hundred. The next
day he was ordered to attack Petersburg.
enemy early next morning. Some rife pits
were captured, and Smith formed lines In
front OF the fortincations of Petersburg.
ACTED AS SCOUT.
The eneTny's artillery was strong and
well served. and Smith could not bring up
his own guns. He had no engineer officer
TO make a reconnaissance Of the enemy's
line to discover Its weak points, and 50
"Baldy'' Smith became his own scout.
crawling on his hands and knees for two
hours. He coaxed his men forward. in small
bodies, gradually getting his guns into po-
sition. and this way they fought until
O'Clock In the evening when a general as
cipal fortihcations TO the key OF the Confed-
eracy were taken. Smith lost go men In
round numbers, 500 Of whom were negroes
be took sixteen guns, six being captured by
the black troops. who fought CALAMITY.
Hancock's troops had been ordered to oper-
ate with Smith at this battle, but the in
structions were defective and the corps was
delayed Smith always believed that the de-
rass him.
or General Smith, General Grant once
said: Smith. while very able officer, is
obstinate and is likely TO condemn what
ever Is net suggested by himself" He was
not ayerse to criticising his superiors in
command, and this fact did not add 10 his
popularity In certain quarters. He was
ngntsr' not diplomat, and, as a result. his
II was In the Virginia peninsular cam
paign that his real active service began,
--s'ss4 out of which there arose the famous
controversy which was ended but three
years ago. After the battle OF Chickamauga
on Sept n. 1868. General Rosecrans drew up
his army lear the southern side of Chatta-
nooga. Tenn. The railroad connecting Chat
tanooga Nth Bridgeport. which formed the
then only available base of supplies from
the North. left the city. GROSSLY Chatta-
; river closely 20 the north end of Lookout
mountain. passed through a tunnel and
Lookout valley. All passes in the mountain
were abandoned, for the Union line was be-
hind Chattanooga creek and Lookout valley.
RosEcRANS AT CHICKAMAUGA.
General Rosecrans. in command at Chat
fanooga, was in dangerous position. and
the condition of his army. shut OF as it was
from its base. was described by General
Grant in his Memoirs as follows:
This country afforded but little food for
his (Rosecrans's) animals, nearly 10000 of
which had already starved. and not enough
were left to draw a single piece Of artillery,
or even ambulances to convey the sick The
Tor q considerable time, with but few other
supplies except beef from Nashville across
came SO exhausted OF food for cattle that by
the time they reached Chattanooga they
wre much in the condition Of the few ami
mails left alive there. Indeed. the beef was
50 poor that the soldiers were in the habit
OF saying with a faint facetiousness that
they were living on half rations Of hard
bread and beef dried on the hoof.'"
Grant arrived at Chattanooga on Oct. q,
and the next day General Smith, who was
then chief engineer OF the Army of the Cum
connoitered the position which the former
said he had discovered at the mouth of
Lookout valley. General Smiths plan was
TO surprise the enemy. seize the hills south
build pcntoon bridge, recover the lines of
communication, and gain control of the riv-
pused assidy smith n to Sa Command add the the
forces which were TO capture the heights
and Lookout valley.
The move nent. carried out on Oct q. was
successful md the army relieved, which
allowed General Sherman 10 reach Chatta.
noosa. and made possible the victory Of
Missionary Ridge. Thanks were rendered tc
General Smith and his officers. and in gen.
erai orders No 26S. issued on Nov. z. 1863
General T:scmas. who had succeeded Rose
TO Brie. Gen. w. F. Smith. chief engi.
neer. should be accorded great praise fol-
the ingenuity which conceived and the abil.
1ty which executed the movement al
Browns ferry. When the bridge was thrown
at Browns terry on the morning of the 9th
the suFpriSe was as great to the army
within as to the army besieging 1t from
without"
FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY.
The enemy made no further attempt tc
gain Lookout valley. For more than thirty
years the glory for this movement belonged
90 General Smith. A few years ago. how.
eyer. the atlas Of the Chickamauga and
Chattanooga National Park Commission
was issued. and In IL was the legend which
asserted that at daylight OF Oct n tn,
river line Of communication with Bridge
port was opened by execution of a plan fol
recovering Lookout valley. devised by Gen
Rosecrans-" Badly" Smith declared thi.
was Incorrect, and asked for an investiga
ton
On Aug. %. 1900, board OF army officer.
met at Governors island, in New York har
Dor. TO consider the matter. From the find
tngs OF the court IL would appear tina
"Baldy Smith had stolen General Rose
crans's thunder. Among other things tn,
report Of the board said:
THE board failed TO find evidence tina
Smith was the originator OF plans for IN,
relief OF Chattanooga by military opera
lions TO he conducted on Lookout valley
but abundant evidence that the plan which
contemplated crossings OF the Tennessee
OLA