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 during 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 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 goose-quill, 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 man 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 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 York, Sept., 1866.
CONTENTS.
| [CHAPTER I.] SHERMAN AS A STRATEGIST. | |
| The most original Character developed by the War.—No Parallel forSherman.—His nervous Energy the secret of his great Success.—Incidentsillustrative of his great Energy.—Restlessness of Mannerand nervousness of Expression in Conversation.—His bad Temper.—Appearancein Battle and under Excitement.—Vigorous Style as aWriter.—He ought to have been a War Correspondent rather than aGeneral.—The Story of his Lunacy.—How it originated.—Method inhis Madness.—Habit of Decision.—How he came to leave the Lawand return to the Army.—His uncontrollable Temper nearly Ruinshim.—The Quarrel with Halleck and Stanton.—Failure as a Tacticianand Disciplinarian.—All his Battles Defeats.—Never won aBattle.—His great strategic Marches.—The Campaign of Atlantahis greatest Achievement.—Joe Johnston a Foeman worthy of hisSteel.—Sherman's Egotism.—His dislike for Correspondents and independenceof the Press mere Affectation.—Nicknames bestowed onhim by the Soldiers.—An inveterate Smoker.—His personal Appearance | Page 17 |
| [CHAPTER II.] THOMAS AS A TACTICIAN. | |
| Sherman and Thomas match Horses.—A Contrast drawnbetween them.—MethodicalHabits of Thomas.—System necessary to his Existence.—Furyof his Anger when aroused.—Great Self-control and Coolnessin Danger.—Illustrative Incidents of his Imperturbability.—Cold-bloodedupon Principle.—He Studies to avoid the display of his Emotions.—PersonalDescription and Habits in Camp.—His tactical Ability.—Affection of his Soldiers for Thomas.—The Bayard of the Army.—Hisuniform Success as a Commander.—Thomas entitled to theCredit of Sherman's March to the Sea.—The Battles of that Campaignfought at Nashville by Thomas.—The Battle at Nashville hisgreatest Action | 58 |
| [CHAPTER III.] GRANT AS A GENERAL. | |
| The proper Conception of his Character.—Grant aCombination of Shermanand Thomas.—Contrasted with Lee.—Resemblance between Grantand Sherman.—Energy of both.—Comparison between Grant andThomas.—The Persistence and Tenacity of each.—Grant's Practicabilityand Magnanimity.—His Taciturnity.—His Idea of Strategy.—Hisnumerous Battles the most successful and important of the War.—Campaignat Chattanooga and Knoxville.—The remarkable Campaignto the Rear of Richmond the most brilliant of the War.—Hisgreat Vice, a Habit of Smoking.—His great Weakness, a Love ofHorses.—Grant and Sherman as Damon and Pythias.—His Generosityto his Subordinates.—Superiority to his principal Leaders.—Whathis Character in the Future will be | 91 |
| [CHAPTER IV.] SHERIDAN AS A CAVALRYMAN. | |
| The Union Cause rich in its Leadership.—The Rebellionvery weak.—Sheridanone of the most able of our Leaders.—A Miracle of War.—AnInspiration rather than a General.—A "Fighting" General.—Reminiscencesof his Youth.—His Career as a "belligerent Cadet" atWest Point.—His Class-mates and their Success.—Sheridan and Hoodcompared.—Sheridan's early Career as a Lieutenant and Failure as aQuarter-master.—A Favorite with both Grant and Halleck.—Sheridana Colonel of Cavalry.—His first Cavalry Victory.—Promoted BrigadierGeneral of Infantry.—Repeated Defeats as a Commander of Infantry.—HisFailures at Stone River and Chickamauga.—Success inPursuit of Bragg from Tullahoma and at Chattanooga.—Promoted tothe Command of all Grant's Cavalry.—His Success in this Capacity.—TheBelligerent in his Organization.—Personal Appearance andHabits.—A modern Scipio | 128 |
| [CHAPTER V.] FIGHTING JOE HOOKER. | |
| General Hooker a Cosmopolitan.—Naturally "a FightingGeneral."—Careerin Mexico.—Difficulties in obtaining a Command.—Hisinspiring Presence.—Critical Account of his "Battle above theClouds."—He manufactures the Clouds in order to fight above them.—HisWeakness consists in his Disposition to criticise every thing.—HisCandor.—Opinion of McClellan.—"The young Napoleon conductingWar in order to get into the best Society."—Hooker's Vanityand Valor.—How he obtained a Command.—Sharp Criticisms in officialReports.—Hooker's Criticism on Sherman.—His untiring Energy.—TheTitle of Fighting Joe offensive to him.—How it was obtained.—PersonalDescription and Habits | 165 |
| [CHAPTER VI.] RECOLLECTIONS OF ROUSSEAU. | |
| Strategic versus fighting Generals.—Strategyalways an Excuse for militaryFailures.—Four fighting Generals compared.—Rousseau naturallya Leader of Men.—His early Career.—He Acts as "the Memberfrom Louisville, Kentucky," in the Indiana Senate.—Always in theMinority and always Popular.—Adventures in Kentucky as a criminalLawyer.—Success as a special Pleader.—Startling Adventure in Defenseof four Negroes charged with Murder.—Election to the KentuckyState Senate.—The true Story of Kentucky Neutrality.—Simon BolivarBuckner and his Schemes.—How they were frustrated by Rousseau.—Denunciationof Neutrality.—Forcing an Issue.—Division ofthe State Guard into two rival Organizations.—Defection of the "LexingtonChasseurs."—How Rousseau obtained Authority to raise Troopsfor the United States Service.—Opposition of the neutral Union Mento his Scheme.—How he overcame their Objections.—Himself andTroops exiled.—Singular Scenes in the neutral State.—Recruiting forboth Armies in the same City.—Sad Divisions created in Families.—ARebel and Union Praying-match.—The News of the Bull Run Disasterin Louisville.—The Secessionists take Possession of the City.—ARiot instantaneously quelled.—A Peace Meeting turned to a WarGathering.—Rousseau'sParade through Louisville.—Buckner's traitorousScheme, and what was to have been effected by it.—Attempt to seizethe City.—Rousseau saves it from Capture.—A neutral Editor's Historyof Neutrality.—Popularity of Rousseau with his People.—Hismilitary Career.—Great Daring at Perryville.—Incidents of thatBattle.—Admirationof his Men for Rousseau.—New Mode of taking Careof Prisoners.—Sherman's Idea of Rousseau's Raid to the Rear ofHood's Army.—Return to political Life.—His Crusade againstSlavery.—Intimacybetween Rousseau and Sherman.—Personal Appearanceof Rousseau | 193 |
| [CHAPTER VII.] PECULIARITIES OF VARIOUS GENERALS. | |
| General Don Carlos Buell.—One of the greatestGenerals, also one ofthe greatest Failures of the War.—Buell too methodical to bepractical.—Weaknessof his Army Organization.—Three Corps Commanderswithout Ability.—Perryville a Battle lost by Jealousy of ourCommanders.—Quarrelbetween Buell and Governor Johnson of Tennessee.—Thetrue Story of the proposed Evacuation of Nashville.—Thomasand Buell compared.—William Starke Rosecrans a great Failure.—Hisutter Incompetency.—His extreme Nervousness unfitting him for aCommand.—His Campaign of Chickamauga one Series of Mistakes.—TheBattle an unnecessary Slaughter.—The worst managed Battleof the War.—Rosecrans not on the Field.—Gordon Granger'sPeculiarities.—HisPredilection for artillery Fights.—His Resemblance toJoe Hooker.—Retort upon Sherman.—"Living off the Country."—HisOpinion of Gideon Pillow and "painted Mules."—Grief at theDeath of Captain Russell.—"Old Steady" Steedman one of the mostpositive Men of the War.—His Boldness and Impudence.—DaringCharge at Chickamauga.—His March from Chattanooga to Nashvilleto ask for Orders.—His Faith in Negro Troops.—Generals Wood andNegley the Victims of Chickamauga.—Military Character of each.—GeneralHoward a Soldier on Principle.—His firm Faith in the Causeand its Success.—Methodical Turn of Mind.—Religious Habits andTraining.—Mayor William H. Sidell as Sherman's Counterpart.—GeneralJohn A. Logan the representative General of the WesternArmy.—His Readiness in Emergencies, and his great personal Daring.—GeneralJohn W. Geary's adventurous Career.—His famousmidnight Battle with Longstreet, and how he defeated him | 242 |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] SOME PECULIARITIES OF OUR VETERANS. | |
| Superiority of educated over uneducatedSoldiers.—Contrast in the personnelof European and American, between Union and Rebel, and betweenEastern and Western Troops.—Superiority of the Union Armies.—Anecdotesand Incidents illustrating the Peculiarities of ourVeterans | 321 |