The National tribune., 1905-11-23

possesses a. clear head, an equable tenn
per. and great propulsive power over
MS men. He Is also hard worker, and
whatever hes touches. gOesoeasily.
The Third. Brigade Of this division
has for a short time been commanded
by Col. Force. I only know that Logan,
MCPHERSON and Grant all thing well Of
him.
Gen. Macarthur.
Next In rank among McPherson's
Division Generals Is Macarthur. He has
been In the reserve throughout the cam
paign, and has had little opportunity Of
proving his mettle. He Is shrewd,
than brilliant. good at hard knocks, but
not q great commander. Two Of his
Bridadiers however, have gained very
honorable distinction in this campaign,
namely, Ransom and Croker, who
commanded Quimby's Division at Port
Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, and Cham
pion Hill. Croker was sick through
out, and as soon as Quimby returned to
his command had to go away, and 1t is
feared may never be able to come back
He is an officer Of great promise and
remarkable power. Ransom has COM
the siege. and has exceeded every other
Brigadier in the zeal, intelligence and
efficiency with which his siege works
were constructed and pushed forward.
At the time OF the surrender his trench
es were so well completed that the en-
gineers agreed that they offered the
best opportunity In the whole OF our
lines for the advance of storming col
umns. Capt. Comstock told me that
10000 men could there be marched
under cover up to the very lines Of the
enemy. In the assault Of May 20 Ran
bravery with which he exposed himself.
No young man in all this army has
more future than he.
"The Third Brigade Of McArthur's
Division, that OF Gen. Reed, has been
detached during the campaign at Lake
not been able to make Gen. Reeds ac-
quaintance.
Gen. Quimby.
1.-THE Third Division Of the Seven
tcenth Corps was commanded during
the first of the siege by Gen. Quimby.
This officer was also sick, and I dare
say did not do justice to himself. A
good commander Of q division he is not,
though he is a most excellent and esti-
by the soldiers with much affection.
But he lacks order, system, command,
and Is the very opposite Of his success
sor. Gen. John e. Smith, who, with
much less intellect than Quimby. has
great deal better sense, with firmness
q freedom from personal irritability
and jealousy. (which must soon produce
the happiest effect upon the division.
Smith combines with these natural
qualities ofia soldier and commander a
conscientious devotion not merely to
the doing, but also to the learning Of
his duty which renders him q better
and better General every day. He is
also fit to be intrusted with any indie
pendent command where judgment and
discretion are as necessary as courage
and activity, Tor In him all these quail
ties SEEM to be happily blended and
balanced ~
"Of Gen. Matthias, who commands
the brigade In this division so long and
SO calamity commanded by the late
Col. Blootnsr, hear the best accounts,
but do not know him personally. The
Medical Inspector tells me that no
camps in the lines are kept in SO good
condition as his, and Gen. Sherman,
under whom he lately served, speaks
OF him as q very valuable officer. The
Second Brigade IL commanded by Col.
Sanborn, q steady, mediocre sort of
man; the Third by Col. Holmes, whom
l don't know personally. but who made
noble fight at Champion Hill and
saved our center there from being
broken.
Gen. Herron's Division is the newest
addition to the forces under Grant, ex-
cept the Ninth Corps. OF which I know
organization exceed those OF the West
ern troops. Heron is driving, ener-
getic sort Of young fellow, not deficient
either In self-esteem or In common
sense, and. as 1 Judge, hardly destined
to distinctions higher than those he has