Personal recollections of distinguished generals

Front matter

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Preface

The purpose of this volume is to make more familiar to the general public the actual characters of some of our great military leaders durifig the late war. I have attempted to portray them not as on parade, but in undress uniform, and to illustrate not only their great military qualities, but more particularly their mental peculiarities and characteristics. These pages will be found to contain many facts about some of the great battles which official reports have left untold, with such recollections of our generals as history proper will not perhaps condescend to record, and to embrace singular facts about great campaigns and strange stories of great men. The portraits are freely drawn. They are made from actual studies, if not special sittings, and while taking care to give every beauty, I have omitted none of the deformities or blemishes of my subjects, though I have told in full detail their virtues, and have touched on their faults and vices lightly. I have avoided alike extreme extravagance in praise or censure. Still there is enough shadow to the pictures to give the necessary, if not agreeable contrast to the lights. The. reader must not, however, mistake the stand-point from which I have written. Distance, unfortunately for truth, lends enchantment not only to objects, but to men. The atmosphere of Olympus produces

VI PREFACE.

many phantasmagoria, and the great at a distance exist to our eyes in a sort of mirage. The philosophy of perspective as applied to natural objects is reversed when applied to mankind, and there are very few men who do not grow smaller as one approaches them. Most men are pyramidal in shape only, not proportions. "No man is a hero to his valet." Even Jupiter was ridiculous at times to Homer. Very few generals have appeared great to the war correspondents ; and though very few of the latter can claim to be descendants of Diogenes, they can assert, with equal positiveness, that very few of the generals have been Alexanders, and that "the very sun shines through them." I have written under the disadvantage of being too near the objects drawn ; and those who do not know the subjects as well may imagine I have made them undeservedly Liliputian in dimensions.

Writing contemporaneous history is the most thankless of tasks, and I discover also one of .the least independent of labors. Still I have not written with a goosequill, and there has been some gall in my ink, yet I do not think I have any thing in the ensuing chapters to blot. I do not think I have done any m^n injustice. I have written many sentences and made many assertions which will doubtless be termed strong, but in writing these I am only the amanuensis of truth ; and I write with the firm belief that " historical truth should be only less sacred than religious truth."

I have no doubt, however, that others will think differently after perusing the book. When publishing in Harper's Magazine I was told that the language of some of these sketches offended the subjects, but I have been

PREFACE. VU

unable to find any fact that ought to be stated otherwise. I think it best to say, for the benefit of all who may choose to object or condemn the volume as now published, that I have written nothing that I do not believe to be true — I trust not one sentence that, dying, I would wish to blot, and certainly not one word that, living, I intend to retract.

New Tork, S^t, 1866.

CTigitized byVjOOQlC

Chapter I. Sherman As A Strategist

The most original Character developed by the War. — No Parallel for Sherman. — His nervous Energy the secret of his great Success. — Incidents illustrative of his great Energy. — Restlessness of Manner and nervousness of Expression in Conversation. — His bad Temper. — Appearance in Battle and under Excitement. — Vigorous Style as a Writer. — He. ought to have been a War Correspondent rather than a General. — ^The Story of his Lunacy. — How it originated. — Method in his Madness. — Habit of Decision. — How he came to leave the Law and return to the Army. — His uncontrollable Temper nearly Ruins him. — The Quarrel with Halleck and Stanton. — Failure as a Tactician and Disciplinarian. — All his Battles Defeats. — Never won a Battle. — ^His great strategic Marches. — The Campaign of Atlanta his greatest Achievement. — Joe Johnston a Foeman worthy of his Steel. — Sherman's Egotism. — His dislike for Correspondents and independence of the Press mere Affectation. — ^Nicknames bestowed on him by the Soldiers. — An inveterate Smoker. — His personal Appearance Page 17

CHAPTER IL

THOMAS AS A TACTICIAN.

Sherman and Thomas match Horses. — A Contrast drawn between them. — Methodical Habits of Thomas. — System necessary to his Existence. — Fury of his Anger when aroused. — Great Self-control and Coolness in Danger. — Illustrative Incidents of his Imperturbability, — Cold-blooded upon Principle. — He Studies to avoid the display of his Emotions. —Personal Description and Habits in Camp. — His tactical Ability. — A 2

I CONTENTS.

Affection of his Soldiers for Thomas. — The Bayard of the Army. — His uniform Success as a Commander. — Thomas entitled to the Credit of Sherman's March to the Sea. — The Battles of that Campaign fought at Nashville by Thomas. — The Battle at Nashville his t Action Page 68

Chapter III. Grant As A Oenebal

The proper Conception of his Character. — Grant a Combination of Sherman and Thomas. — Contrasted with Lee. — Resemblance between Grant and Sherman. — Energy of botU. — Comparison between Grant and Thomas. — The Persistence and Tenacity of each. — Grant's Practicability and Magnanimity. — His Taciturnity. — His Idea of Strategy. — His numerous Battles the most successful and important of the War. — Campaign at Chattanooga and Knoxville. — The remarkable Campaign to the Rear of Richmond the most brilliant of the War. — His great Vice, a Habit of Smoking. -*- His great Weakness, a Love of Horses. — Grant and Sherman as Damon and Pythias. — His Generosity to his Subordinates. — Superiority to his principal Leaders. — What his Character in the Future will be 91

Chapter IV. Sheridan As A Cavalryman

The Union Cause rich in its Leadership. — The Rebellion very weak. — Sheridan one of the most able of our Leaders. — A Miracle of War. — An Inspiration rather than a General. — A "Fighting" General. — Reminiscences of his Youth. — His Career as a "belligerent Cadet" at West Point. — His Class-mates and their Success. — Sheridan and Hood compared. — Sheridan's early Career as a Lieutenant and Failure as a Quarter-master. — A Favorite with both Grant and Halleck. — Sheridan a Colonel of Cavalry. — His first Cavalry Victory. — Promoted Brigadier General of Infantry. — Repeated Defeats as a Commander of Infantry. — His Failures at Stone River and Chickamauga. — Success in Pursuit of Bragg from Tullahoma and at Chattanooga. — Promoted to the Command of all Grant's Cavalry. — His Success in this Capacity. — ^The Belligerent in his Organization. — ^Personal Appearance and Habits. — A modem Scipio 128

CONTENTS. Xi

Chapter V. Fiohtino Job Hooker

General Hooker a Cosmopolitan. — Natarallj "a Fighting General." — Career in Mexico. — Difficulties in obtaining a Command. — His inspiring Presence. — Critical Account of his "Battle above the Clouds." — He manufactures the Clouds in order to fight above them. — His Weakness consists in his Disposition to criticise every thing. — His Candor. — ^Opinion of McClellan. — "The young Napoleon conducting War in order to get into the best Society." — Hooker's Vanity and Valor. — How he obtained a Command. — Sharp Criticisms in official Reports. — Hooker's Criticism on Sherman. — His untiring Energy. — ^The Title of Fighting Joe offensive to him.— How it was obtained. — ^Personal Description and Habits Page 165

Chapter VI. Recollections Of Rousseau

Strategic versus fighting Generals. — Strategy always an Excuse for military Failures — Four fighting Generals compared. — Rousseau naturally a Leader of Men. — His early Career. — He Acts as "the Member from Loaisville, Kentucky," in the Indiana Senate. — ^Always in the Minority and always Popular. — Adventures in Kentucky as a criminal Lawyer. — Success as a special Pleader. — Startling Adventure in Defense of four Negroes charged with Murder. — Election to the Kentucky State Senate. — The true Story of Kentucky Neutrality. — Simon Boliv^ Buckner and his Schemes. — How they were frustrated by Rousseau. — ^Denunciation of Neutrality. — Forcing an Issue. — ^Division of the State Guard into two rival Organizations. — Defection of the "Lexington Chasseurs." — How Rousseau obtained Authority to raise Troops for the United States Service. — Opposition of the neutral Union Men to his Scheme. — How he overcame their Objections. — Himself and Troops exiled. — Singular Scenes in the neutral State. — Recruiting for both Armies in the same City. — Sad Divisions created in Families. — A Rebel and Union Praying-match. — The News of the Bull Run Disaster in Louisville. — ^The Secessionists take Possession of the City. — A Riot instantaneously quelled. — ^A Peace Meeting turned to a War Gathering. —Rousseau's Parade through Louisville. — Buckner's traitorous xii CONTENTS.

Scheme, and what was to hare been effected by it. — Attempt to seize the City. — Rousseau saves it from Capture. — A neutral Editor's History of Neutrality. — Popularity of Rousseau with his People. — His military Career. — Great Daring at Perryville. — ^Incidents of that Battle. — Admiration of his Men for Rousseau. — New Mode of taking Care of Prisoners. — Sherman's Idea of Rousseau's Raid to the Rear of Hood's Army. — Return to political Life. — His Crusade against Slavery. — Intimacy between Rousseau and Sherman. — Personal Appearance of Rousseau Page 193

Chapter VII

General Don Carlos Buell — One of the greatest Generals, also one of the greatest Failures of the War. — Buell too methodical to be practical. — ^Weakness of his Army Organization. — Three Corps Commanders without Ability. — Perryville a Battle lost by Jealousy of our Commanders. — Quarrel between Buell and Governor Johnson of Tennessee. — ^The true Story of the proposed Evacuation of Nashville. — ^Thomas and Buell compared. — William Starke Rosecrans a great Failure. — His utter Incompetency. — His extreme Nervousness unfitting him for a Command. — His Campaign of Chickamauga one Series of Mistakes. — The Battle an unnecessary Slaughter. — ^The worst managed Battle of the War. — Rosecrans not on the Field. — Gordon Granger's Peculiarities. — His Predilection for artillery Fights. — His Resemblance to Joe Hooker. — Retort upon Sherman. — "Living off the Country." — His Opinion of Gideon Pillow and "painted Mules." — Grief at the Death of Captain Russell. — "Old Steady" Steedman one of the most positive Men of the War. — His Boldness and Impudence. — ^Daring Charge at Chickamauga. — His March from Chattanooga to Nashville to ask for Orders. — His Faith in Negro Troops. — Grenerals Wood and Negley the Victims of Chickamauga. — Military Character of each. — General Howard a Soldier on Principle. — His firm Faith in the Cause and its Success. — Methodical Turn \)f Mind. — Religious Habits and Training. — Mayor William H. Sidell as Sherman's Counterpart. — General John A. Logan the repr^entative Greneral of the Western Army. — His Readiness in Emergencies, and his great personal Daring. — General John W. Geary's adventurous Career. — His famous midnight Battle with Longstreet, and how he defeated him 242

CONTENTS. XUi

CHAPTER Vni.

SOME PECULIARITIES OF OUR VETERANS.

Superiority of educated over uneducated Soldiers. — Contrast in the personnd •f European and American, between Union and Rebel, and between Eastern and Western Trcjpps. — Superiority of the Union Armies. — ^^ecdotes and Incidents illustrating the Peculiarities of our Veterans Page 321

ILLUSTRATIONS.

FAGK

Sheridan's Hide to the Fbont Frontispiece,

William T. Sherman 16

George H. Thomas 59

Ulysses S. Grant 90

Robert E. Lee > 94

Philip H. Sheridan 129

Joseph Hooker 164

Lovell H. Rousseau 194

Don Carlos Buell 244

William S. Rosecrans , 259

Gordon Granger 269

James B. Stebdman 277

Oliver O. Howard 298

John A. Logan 306

John W. Geary 316

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS

OP

DISTINGUISHED GENERALS.