New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-26
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE WAR.
Some Incidents at Shiloh Recalled by q
Participant.

TO the Editor q The Tribune.
sir. The unwilling OF The statue OF General sher-
man next month IN Washington with your recent
Illustration and notices OF H. Will recall many
pleasant reconections OF him 10 those who had
the pleasure OF serving under him He had the
fift OF commanding a strong attachment from the
private soldier. and many one found he possessed
o warm heart despite his assumed sternness The
attachment seemed equally strong with those who
saw much OF him and those who saw little and
their faith In his ability equally strong be
iieve no other organization saw so much o. him
o. 90 our Battery a. Chicago Light Artillery. We
first came under his command on Monday al
shiloh Our own division had ceased 20 exist for
the zine being and We had only enough men aud
horses left from the previous day 10 man three
rsns We fought all day under his D rsonal 6irec-
fio1, and every word and action OF his were ioted
ly u.s. An observer might have thor-at ana !ndlf-
ferert the danger bat for tie fact that be could
r1t keep his cigar lighted. He used not only his
cwn rel-hes but nearly al the battery could sup
flJ THAI .ighj he came over 10 Where We we're
a. position. near the shiloh Meeting House chatted
f.e.y f1T some time. and oNpresrel his sausfac-
t,a uitl our work In words that would have won
CIT hearts u his deeds OF the day lad not al
ready done Il. We much Of him in after
,svs on the march he seldom Dasseo without
,r-d on the battlefield be always spent much o.
Dis tine with Us. VIC were often interested listen
e. o. ais examination O. prisoners and dcserters
Prom his questions we judged that the compo-
tIro- Cf every division of the enemy was
lnovn to him. and We could generally judge by
ther- when he had found a larger force
a front ~ us than he expected. During the .leEe
a. Eicksburg We saw him al least once daily til
Dis duties az the prevented his visits ours
vss NOT only the nearest point 10 the encmy's
lire but we had a aue telescope. which he used
freely a stI! greater attraction were the Sopound
PARROTS which we had IN addition 70 our own guns.
n was a new arm In the Western army, and its
rerre and accuracy 81 IRE General Sherman was
never tired Of watching. Al later period. in a
letter 10 a member OF the battery. be said they
did more execution than any other gun at the
feee and iu the published diary OF a Nicksburg
resident ] read they were the only shots dreaded
tv the Inhabitants. though the writer erfoneously
called them -f1-pOunders.
Al the greatest Of all gossiping clubs. the night
Is campfire General Sherman was often the sub
Set every word lock or action being freely COM
td upon As real our COMMITS i b Sgo 5,i in
ness of perception and promptness ~ iolloElhs tie
thought Tie following though small aiialf'
Al a. closing IN on vicksburg. the Fifteenth
~r--1 crossed The Big Bla ok River at Bridgeport
FSrry our division. the second. General Prank
7. Blair. was In The leac, Wlth the pontloohs, 70
f5n1d Il 6efendcd by a force Of the enemy. We
could see by Tie Size of Tie esrthwork and by the
FIRE OF cts defenders that there was only sInall
force bqt barred our progress as efeo1q9 5 as
was uuf0rdahle, and though several eenehCs 49, 49,.
Geployec ATOMS the hank. tneh hIe NAG no 49,
failed 90 hnl its marx. ana wounded men oIsg-
cirE themselves along or being carried were
numerous and the precious hours were passing
rEat We were 40 nearer laying pontoon hIllGe
than when FIRST got there. when General SheI-
r7pr rofe uu lu advance Of the other ctNlsloils-
Without waiting FOR General Blair. who was beside
our battery 20 finish his report, General sherman
turned tC captain and said: W o0d. run a sec
zion down there and shell those fellows OUT. Inc
words were hardly cut Of his mouth before we
were on our usv IS FAST as the horses could run,
rnd took position an a corner OF the ferry house
Tho Nref rounds were a little high, ana Durst
beyond them. The second and third knocked the
earth from the TOP Of the parapet down on them
END burst their heads. Then shlu thdl
once had been white showed up on the UlAA .
Of rife and their defence was at an enc. A
rnntoor boat WAS Sculled across and brought back
fhe dcferdc-s-a lieutenant ana about hIteen men
] never any prisoners receive so much allen
ton many comp imeuts, they were en- 2af--
RAISED by o. ard evidently failed 70 see they 'uao
done anything uncommon I wish could reneul-
her what regiment they belongeo TO ano me name
a the lieutenant for I think theirs was the best
hit OF work that came under my observation curing
d -
Bedford n Y Sept 20 1903.