The National tribune., 1909-04-22

his Railroad Brigade AS Johnston re-
treated from Kenesaw he stripped the
railroad in his rear Of its iron and sent
it further south. where it was badly
needed.
| Sherman to Halleclf.
Imperious and self-suff1cient as Sher-
man always seemed, he needed sym
pathy and encouragement, as every man
does Gen. Grant kept telegraphing
him kindly and appreciatively, which
helped much to hold up Sherman's spir-
its, but after the reverses at Kenesaw
he sent the following telegram to Hal
leck:
Headquarters Military Division of the
Mississippi, in the Field. near Chat
tahoochee. July 8. 1864.
Gen. Halleck, Washington, D. c.:
Il telegraphed to you and Mr.. Secre-
tary Stanton answers. Drop me word
now and then of advice and encourage
| ment. I think I have done well to
maintain sucn an army In this country
| fighting for 60 days. and yet my losses
are made, up by the natural increase.
The assault I made was no mistake. /
had to do it. The enemy, and our own
army and officers had settled down into
the conviction that the assault of lines
formed no part. of my game, and the
moment the enemy was found behind
anything like a. parapet, why, every
| body would ydeploy. throw up counter
works and, take It easy, leaving it to the
| Old Mani to turn the position. Had
the assault beent made with one-fourth
more vigor r(mathematfcallyl. would
have put the head of George Thomas,s
| whole army right thru Johnston's de-
j ployed line on the best ground for go
1 ahead while my entire forces We're
well In hand on roads conyerging to my
then object, Marietta. Had Harker and
i McCoolS not been struck down SO early
the assault would have succeeded, and
then the battle would have all been in
our favor. on account of our superiority
of numbers and initiative. Even as it
was Johnston has been much more eau
tious since and gave ground more free
ly. His next fighting line Smyrna
camp ground} he only held one day,
write me a note occasionally, and
lsuggest anything that may occur to you,
as am really in. the wilderness down
here; but will fight any and all the
time on anything like fair terms, and
that Is the best strategy, but 1t would
not be fair to run up against such para
pets as find here.
wv. T. Sherman, Major-General."
Gen. Crittenden.
There was temporary ripple Of in
|terest In the case of Gen T. Z. Critten-
i
Army Of the Cumberland from the be-
ginning, and, II spite of some short
lcomings. was held in high esteem as a
brave, honorable officer and a we'll
deserving friend of the Union. Gen.
ICrlttenden had shown himself an excel
lent brigade and division. commander.
but had failed to give satisfaction as
4 the commander Of a corps. There was
treason for complaint as to his manage
lment Of his corps at Stone River and
tChickamauga, SO that when the Army
tof the Cumberland was reorganized his
tcarps and 7McCook's were consolidated,
land both the commanders left without
| q job. Crittenden. who really wanted
to serve the Union and for whom Stan
lton had a very warm side. was given
the command Of a division in the Army
lof the Potomac, but had resigned II on
account of his superiors being nearly
all junior to him in rank, a thing no
Regular Army officer could abide. Then
Stanton asked Sherman to give him en-
ployment. and at Sherman's instance
Thomas offered Crittenden ButterfieId's
Division in the Twentieth Corps. To
lthis offer Gen. Crittenden replied:
.st. Frankfort. KY, July I, 1864.
t"Maj-Gen. Sherman:
Il have inst been relieved from the
command of a gallant division in the
Army of the. Potomac at my own re-
| quest because most OF the corps COM
manders were my juniors. Gladly as I
would serve nnder you, yet do not de-
Esire the command of division in an
. army where have commanded a corps
and whera most of the corps command
lers are my, juniors
1T L. Erfttepden. Major-Generalp
And Cen. Sherman answered him..
Headquarters Military Division of the
I Mississippi. in the Field, near Ken
| esawprJulsf1 1864.
Gen. Crfttenden. Frankfort, KY:
II thirR1 y0d make great mistake in
Idecliningo division, which is a Major
4 Generals command. You could not ex-
to give pfaee ito you. StilI. YOU had
the offerilof a good division, which is
now withHrawh. and Gen. Thomas says
he has ntS other command to offer you.
w. Z. Sherman. Major-General, Com
InAAdihg""
! A few emonths later Crittendeu re-
signed hfs' commission as Major-General
of Volunteers. Later he was appointed
Colonel of the 3ed U. S., and died in
1893. ;',s
Il CTo be continued