Evening journal., 1910-11-08
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
One Of General Sherman'S
Lost Opportunities
BY "HOIIand."


How many opportunities General
William Tecumseh Sherman felt that
he lost no one knows probably. Yet
TO one man-like Sherman. a veteran
OF the Civil War-the General once
admitted that his lost opportunities
were several I'm number, and he out
lined I'm some detail how he lost a
splendid opportunity I'm North Caro-
LIMA. after he had made his famous
march from Atlanta to the sea, to
capture General Joseph r. Johnston's
army, bag and baggage, more than a
full month before that intrepid Con-
federate leader surrendered his forces
10 his Union opponent
"Some time about the middle of the
seventies OF the last century, a sol
diers reunion was TO be held in my
county town. said James n. Brown,
now a resident Of ST. Louis, and a
veteran Of the Tenth Illinois, Volun-
teer Infantry. "and thinking that the
presence of General Sherman would
be a drawing card, | visited him at his
home in St. Louis, to invite him to
attend our reunion; but owing TO a
previous engagement he was prevent
ed from accepting II was at the time
jefferson Davis, and he had lust sent
Alexander II. Stephens letter to the
Secretary OF War a few days before.
He had retained a copy of the letter,
which he read to me, making vigorous
comments the while on Davis's con-
duct.
with my regiment had followed
Sherman from Atlanta to the sea, and
Inf In ha a 10 vii
of '65, or, as some would put It, the
very early spring; so, while we were
discussing various incidents of the
war, It occurred 10 me to ask the Cen
eral about a strategic movement made
by the Union army in North Carolina
that had always puzzled me more or
less.
ct will be remembered by those
present that General Joseph e. John
ston attacked the left wing of Sher-
mans army at Averysboro, ~ c. on
March 10, 1865, and handled it pretty
roughly.
"The Seventeenth Corps, under Cen
eral Francis p Blair, was on the right
of the army and headed straight for
GoldsborO, n. c., some twenty-five
miles east, where we hoped to meet
the commands of Schofield and Terry
coming up from the coast. orders
were given to Blair to change his
course, which he did, marching all
night and gazing a position near the
Confederate left. Then, about noon of
March 2l, orders were given to Gen
eral Joseph A. Mower, commanding
the first division OF the Seventeenth
Corps to force a crossing over the
swamp which protected Johnston's
left. This was accomplished, and,
much to our surprise, we found our
selves at Johnston's headquarters
where we recaptured some of our own
men who were held as prisoners.
Mower learned from our men that
the Confederates were surrounded
Sherman's ianks resting on Mill
Creek, a deep stream-and that the
only way Johnston could retreat was
across a narrow bridge, and this was
under the fire of our men. He at once
sent a stan officer to Sherman to ex-
plain the situation and ask reinforce
menis. Sherman. instead Of reinforc-
ing, ordered a withdrawal, which was
being made just as Wade Hampton's
cavalry attacked Movers right, and
the Confederate infantry his left. This
opened the pocket and let Johnston
out
81 led up to this situation and ask
ed General Sherman why he gave the
order TO withdraw. In his vigorous
manner he replied;
81 thought Mower was mistaken in
his position. ! knew him to be a
brave hard fighter but looked on him
as reckless, and I could not believe
Johnston would ever permit himself
to be caught in such a position. l also
knew that II Mower was where he said
he was. Johnston would not surrender
without desperate fight, which
meant that many of your boys would
be left I'm the pine woods of North
Carolina 10 the tender mercies Of the
Confederates My spies had reported
that Lee was reinforcing Johnston,
how much they could not tell. | did
not know what Schofield and Terry
were doing down at Newbern, and II
was possible that / might be forced
back to the sea shore somewhere.
also thought / could maneuver John
ston out of his position and, after
making a junction with our army at
Goldsboro. give him attention later
on.
"'But II I had known the exact sit
uation, the General concluded in his
clear-cut, characteristic style. I would
have sent a division to reinforce Now
er. and sent orders to press the enc
my all along the line TO prevent his
sending troops against Mower. and
! Johnston would have been forced To
surrender before night,-One Of my
| lost opportunities, Mr.. Brown,
Had Sherman reinforced Mower, a
move which would undoubtedly have
resulted I'm the capture of Johnston
and HIS whole army, IN the windup tc
that wonderful campaign through the
Carolinas, Il can easily be imagined
that Sherman's name would be placed
at the very head of the list of great
| strategists.
Copyright, 1910, by E. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell Ol
"The Only Time John sherman Was
Accused OF PecuIatiOn,"