The National tribune., 1909-04-01

withih striking distance of Johnston's
army less than 10000 artillery and in
fantry. The remaining $4,000, with II
siege pieces and 1S5 field pieces, were
at Chattanooga, Bridgeport. Nashville.
Fort Donelson, Gainesville, Gallatin,
Columbia and along the railroad guard
ing the communications and the bases.
The Army of the Tennessee had a
total present for duty of S5.105, with ~
siege pieces and 224 light guns OF
these about 35, 900 were present in front
of Johnston and the remaining $4,000
Were with Banks in Louisiana, guard
ing West Tennessee, including Mem
phis. Columbus, Cairo and Paducah,
with about 1900 at vicksburg and
Natchez maintaining the freedom of the
Mississippi
The Army of the Ohio had 31,77S
present for duty, with 70 pieces of
heavy and 2f1 Of light artillery. OF
these. two divisions of infantry and
Stonensan's Cavalry were present with
Sherman, and the remainder were hold
ing East Tennessee and eastern Ken
tuclty far back as Cincinnati
Thus of the 233,a51 present for duty
under Sherman's command he had less
than 100. 900 with him in front of John
ston, while the remainder were scat
tered over Tennessee. Kentucky and
Mississippi.
Shernea.s Muirifariousness.
NOtnlnS Sc Wen demonstrates the
Yeaily wonderful qualities of Gen. Will
liam T Sherman as his clear vision as
to all the possible contingencies in his
great department.. covering more area
than two European empires. and his
unfailing attention to the minutest de-
tails. His correspondence with his su-
bordinatcs, gathered in the fourth part
OF Vol 3S of the Rebellion Records has
On every page some demonstration of
this. AT one time. finding that the
troops are arriving at Louisville faster
than they can be sent forward by rail.
ne. gives orders that the railroad shall
be used for the veterans, while the
younger regiments shall be sent around
by the Cumberland River in steamboats,
Next, he is looking TO increase the ca
pacity of the railroads. seizing all the
cars within his reach, and urging his
failroad brigade 10 greater energy in
improving the lines and the efficiency
OF the demonstration. Then he gives
orders to the men who are working
gangs of negros TO cut wood for the
trains, and have 1t piled up near the
track, SO that the engineers can be sup
Piled with the utmost promptness. In
the meantime he IS carrying on lively
correspondence with Stanton, protest
ing against the bothersome routine
Which the Secretary of War insists up
on. and he tells him frankly that if he
viii follow out his (Sherman's) ideas,
8iN " iii save IAhtAt 1LlDFt money the
Treasury than he possibly can by pa
fient scrutiny Of the millions of vouch-
ers of purchase and expenditure.
Then he discusses with the Quarter
master-General the question of the
tents with which his army is TO he fur
nished. and what he says in this CON
nection is interesting:
As to tents: You will need all kinds,
and. as in clothing. must bend a little
to fashion. The Sibley is the best when
transportation is easy, wind high and
wood scarce as on the prairie. The
common wedge is the best when no
board can be ripped Off our neighbor's
houses and fences with which to make
sidings TO the bivouacs. and when OIL
GERS study to have handsome camps
which all general officers will and
should encourage. The tented abris is
OF course, good for a roof as long as
the men can take boards off the fences
and houses Of the people. or can split
ou; Shakes but for men to use these
tents for any time would be wrong, be-
cause II brings their persons too near
the ground. ! prefer no tent at ali fer
marching troops and the common A
tent, without poles, for camp of sew
eral days. weeks or months, but repeat
that in tents there Is a fashion almost
rs despotic as i'm dress"
He also says that as far as armies are
Concerned his entire headquarters
tfdHNDcI tttNibl ~ DE4t NdSOi mas
To do for himself. Aids, officers. clerks
and Orderlies. soldering as we have
been doing for the past two years, with
such trains and impediments. has been
q farce, and nothing but absolute poy-
erty will cure II. / will be glad to hear
Uncle Sam say, We cannot afford this
and that; you must gather your own
grub and wagons. and bivouac and
fight, not for pay. but for seIf-exist-
ence.'"
Therefore, he does not want to be
bothered by any red tape, but to have
an abundance Of ammunition and food
at convenient points under men direct
iy under his orders. and who will issue
and forward his emergency demands,
And so he goes tirelessly thru the thou
sand and one details OF the actual needs
and wants of an army approximating
quarter of million OF men. All this
time ne is watching his enemy with an
eye that never relaxes its vigilance
while moving his troops with unfailing
precision.
Being human. Sherman had his lin