The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-04-19

duced demoralizing effect. Gen. Frank
Blair, whose corps was engaged in the
battle around Atlanta on the 22d Of
July, 1864, when my friend and class
mate, Gen: Mcpherson. was killed.
states in letter to a prominent officer
Of the Army of Tennessee that the Con-
federate troops, on that day, did not
fight with the spirit they should have
displayed. 1t was nevertheless report
ed to me. at the time Of this engage
ment, that they had fought with gall
lantry, and / SO telegraphed to the au-
thorities at Richmond. The truth is,
no troops handled as these had been
from Dalton to Atlanta could have at
tackled with extraordinary vigor, and I
do assert that $4,000 men of the Lee
and Jackson school will always prove
equal to $4,000 of the Johnston school;
moreover, that the small army / COM
manded at Franklin was equal to that
which was turned over to me at Allan
Ia, although 1T numbered only about
one-half in effective strength, for the
simple reason that forward march of
about $50 miles, together with a diff
ferent mode Of handling it, had con-
tributed to the Improvement Of its NOR
Gle and the restoration of it's pristine
spirit. These conclusions have reach
ed after long and careful considera-
ton Of the subject. 1t has been my
fortune to serve, during the war, in
tenant TO that Of Commander-in-Chief.
Having therefore been under fire with
both small and large bodies OF men,
and having carefully observed the eff
feet OF such fire upon troops with and
without breastworks, the principles
will. in my opinion, stand the test of
| time.
Bad Influence Of Intrenchments.
In January, 1874, 1 addressed the fol-
lowing communication to Lieut.-Gen
Stephen ID. Lee, who served a long
period in Virginia, and subsequently in
the Army Of Tennessee:
New Orleans, Jan. II, 1874.
General: Your position during the
different campaigns in Virginia, doubt
less enabled you to observe and form
an opinion of the general effect Of in
trenchments upon an army. Since the
close OF the revolution / have conversed
with many officers Of the Army of
Northern Virginia upon this subject
and have been informed that when Gen
Lee was forced, as a dernier resort to
use breaStWorkS around Petersburg 1t
had q depressing effect even upon the
stern veterans who made up that grand
! old army; that 1t could easily be dis
cerned when the troops were called
uron TO leave the trenches, and again
| give battle in the open field. During
three years service in the Virginia
army. as regimental. brigade and di-
vision commander, under the orders of
| Gems. Lee, Jackson and Longstreet,
was never required to throw up even
temporary breastworks for the protec-
| ton of my troops. The battles OF
Gaines's Mills. Second Manassas, Fred
ericksburg. Sharpsburg. Chancellors-
| Vile and Gettysburg were all fought by
the Confederates without the aid Of
such defenses. The officers and soldiers,
who served in the Virginia army, know
OF the great self-reliance and spirit of
fnvincibiiity which peryaded it's ranks,
and how correct the appreciation of
Gen. Lee when he said, There were
lnever such men In an army before:
they will go anywhere, and do anything
III properly led Those who come after
| US will seek the cause Of the extraordi-
nary results accomplished by the Army
of Northern Virginia in comparison
with other armies Of the South. The
personnel Of all the Confederate armies
being about the same, the question must
arise. and will be discussed, as to
whether there was not something in the
handling OF the troops or in the STRAIT
egg and tactics adopted and carried out
by the distinguished leaders Of Virginia,
which produced soldiers equal to twice
the number of the enemy.
| Il, OF course, admit the necessity Of
Qualifications for the protection of GER
tain harbOrs depots and important CEN
tiers, which should, however, never be
allowed to become pitfalls for large
bodies, but be well provisioned, and
sarrisoned only by a sufficient number
and whilst also admit the necessity OF
tfntrenc nm emf under s,,ch rirc,, M a ncA