Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-10

jury to the proper discipline OF the
army. Written complaints OF officers
as To- injustice done them in regard TO
promotion he would sometimes turn
over to an aid -de-cump with the
phrase. "SuuGe him. colonel. suage
him." meaning that kind letter
should lie written in reply. But he
dislikcd exceedingly that the disap-
pointed men should he allowed TO
reach his tent and make complaints in
person.
on one occasion an officer came with
a grievance and would not be satisfied
without an interview with the com
handing general. He went 10 the
generals tent and remained some
time. Immediately upon his depar-
turc Lee strobe to the adjutants tent
with flushed face and said. why did
YOU permit that man to come to my
tent aud make me show my temperT
Slow Progress Up Red River.
The Red river expedition. which was
To tie M large contingent of Federal
troops i'm the southwest for weeks. had
originally tcen planned TO accomplish
its work the last days I'm March and
early i'm April. The troops in detach-
mrutS were To be ut Alexandria the
nth Of March and proceed TO Shreve-
port i'm the northwestern part OF Loui-
siana.
one column captured Alexandria the
18th. but the leader OF the movement.
General y. T. Banks. did not arrive
with the main body of land troops
until near the end OF the month. A
fleet. under Admiral ID. ID. Porter,
which was to ascend Red river, found
difficulty in passing the rapids above
Alexandria and no progress could he
made The column which captured
Alexandria was commanded by Cen
eraI \. J. Smith. His Confederate op-
ponent. General Richard Taylor. re-
treated mp the river by slow stages.
guarding every pass TO Shreveport
ON March II General J. \. Mowers
command marched against Taylors
cavalry ut HenderSon's Mills. twenty
three miles up. and captured II on
tire hy brilliant stroke. thus de-
privinc Taylor OF an Indispensable
body of scouts. He retreated toward
Shreveport
banRS fcsS COuCGntIdtC.
The slow progress OF the Federals
M Red river gave the enemy ample
time 10 concentrate for the defense OF
the key point. The Confederate gen /
eral i'm chief west Of the Mississippi !
was General +. Kirby Smith. At the /
first embarkation Of Federal troops /
for the voyage early in March Smith /
bad ordered scattered dctachments. ,
even from so far as southern Texas. /
to rally to- the defense of western |
Louisiana. From Shreveport as Il cen
ter he hoped To lure the separate col
rmns Of FederalS tn within striking
liStauce and cripple them before they
,ould unite. Onc-third of Ranks force
WAS on the WAY from Little Rock.
Ark Its commaIidcr. General Freder
OK steele. made all possible haste. but
General Sterling Price Skillfully ma
on his front with 5000 Con
-elerates and Kept him ut Il distance
rom any point OF Junction Steele had
I5.O1n men. Ranks about 35.tOo. and
Smith about 1000 with which to op
pose both Banks and Steele.
Banks Difficult Task.
General Ranks found himself NJ Al
xanJriI. FIR from his supply base and
With loss thNu 5000 fighting men. lie
,ad u hundred guns md fleet which
night or might not Lee able TO lend
prompt aid General Steele had not
cached Red river at all. but was slow
= lighting his way in that direction.
The taSl, brforr BANKS was a serious
rt.-tu march hundreds of miles across
.W TMu