The National tribune., 1907-07-04
PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.
Continued from page two.)

Gen. Patterson as Adjutant- General
when l assumed command. As soon as
possible had him made a Brigadier-
General and gave him the command va
Gated by w. 7. Sherman. Take him
for all its all. he was probably the best
general officer l had under me. He
had excellent ability, sound judgment.
ana all she instincts of soldier. He
was persectly familiar with all the de-
talis OF His duty, an excellent organizer
and adr.iinistrative officer. and one of
the mos3 conscientious and laborious
men aver knew. l never found it
necessary TO do more than give him
general anstructions. for il was certain
that all Hetails would be cared for and
nothing 4eglected. l always knew that
an ordeS given to him would be fully
carried Tut. were it morally and phys
ically ~sSible. He was one of the cool
est and most imperturbable men in
danger whom / ever knew-iike all his
race. l shall have occasion to revert
to him hereafter and will now only add
that he was treated with the grossest
injustice chiefly. fear. because of his
devotion to me.
Buell. was in California. a Lieuten-
ant-Colonel of the Acknowledgements
Department I had him appointed
Brigadier-General and sent for him at
once. He possessed a very high repu-
tation in the Mexican war, and | found
him to be AN admirable soldier in every
regard.
John Sedgwick.
ITO Sedgwick / gave a brigade Not
knowing him well. l did not at first ap-
prcciate his high qualities, but soon dis
covered them and gave him the first
vacant division-that originally COM
manded by Stone. He was one of the
best and most modest soldiers we had.
Possessing excellent ability and judg-
mcnt, the highest bravery, great skill
in handling troops, wonderful powers
in instructing and disciplining men, as
well as in gaining their love, respect,
and confidence, he was withaI so mod
est and unobtrusivc that it was neces-
sary to be thrown closely in contact
with him to appreciate him. He was
thoroly unseliisf, honest. and true as
steel. His conduct during the battle
of Charlottesville in stormng the
works on Marye's Hights. and after
wards holding his own against tremen-
dous odds. was remarkable and most
brilliant feat of arms.
Hancock received a brigade early in
the formation of the Army of the Po-
tomac. He was a man of the most
chivalrous courage, and of a superb
presence. especially in action; he had a
wonderfully quick and correct eye for
ground and for handling troops: his
judgment was good. and it would be
difficult to find a better corps COM
maner.
John Reynolds was Commandant
of the Corps of Cadets when the war
broke out. He gained a high reputa-
ton in the Mexican war as an officer
of light artillery. and was among the
first whom l caused to be appointed
Brigadier-General He was splendid
soldier and performed admirably every
aSCipnp6 rSfo i'm
proving, he was, when killed at Get
tysburg, with Meade and Sedgwick, the
best officer then with the Army of the
Potomac He was remarkably brave
and intelligent, an honest, true gentle
man.
Meade was also one of my early ap-
pointments as Brigadier- Hei
was an excellent officer; COOL brave
and intelligent; he always did his duty
admirably. and was an honest man. AS
commander of an army he was far su-
perior to either Hooker or Burnside.
Rufus Ingalls,.
"Col. ingalls, was, in my experience,
unequaled as Chief Quartermaster in
the field
when first assigned to the COM
mand in the Department of the Ohio,
1 applied for Fitz-John Porter as my
Adjutant-General, but he was already
on duty with Gen. Patterson in the
same capacity and could not be spared
Soon afterwards / obtained Maj. Seth
Williams, who had been on duty with
Gen. Harvey at ST. Louis. and he re-
mained with me as my Adjutant-Gen-
eral until l was finally relieved from the
command of the Army of the Potomac.
l never met with better bureau Off
GER; perhaps never with SO good one. |
He thoroly understood the working of
A1infanf GpnnraHS ~
was indefatigable in the performance
of his duty, made many and valuable |
suggestions as to the system of returns, |