Forty-Six Years in the Army - John McAllister Schofield (reading the story of the .TXT) đ
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Title: Forty-Six Years in the Army
Author: John M. Schofield
Release Date: May 11, 2007 [EBook #21417]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FORTY-SIX YEARS IN THE ARMY ***
Produced by Ed Ferris
Transcriber's note:
Footnotes are at the end of the chapter.
Right-hand-page heads are set right-justified before the appropriate
paragraphs.
Small caps have been transcribed as upper-and-lower-case, except
the page heads.
The dieresis is transcribed by a preceding hyphen.
Non-standard spellings: partizan, despatch, Kenesaw, skilful, practised, intrenchments, brevetted, reconnoissance, Chili, envelop.
LoC call number: E467.1.S35 A2
Submitted May 11th, 2007
FORTY-SIX YEARS IN THE ARMY[Frontispiece]
FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY FALK.
[Facsimile Signature]
J.M.Schofield
NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1897
Copyright, 1897 by The Century Co.
The De Vinne Press.
PREFACEMost of the chapters constituting the contents of this volume, were written, from time to time, as soon as practicable after the events referred to, or after the publication of historical writings which seemed to me to require comment from the point of view of my personal knowledge. They were written entirely without reserve, and with the sole purpose of telling exactly what I thought and believed, not with any purpose of publication in my lifetime, but as my contribution to the materials which may be useful to the impartial historian of some future generation. These writings had been put away for safe-keeping with "instructions for the guidance of my executors," in which I said:
"All the papers must be carefully revised, errors corrected if any are found, unimportant matter eliminated, and everything omitted which may seem, to a cool and impartial judge, to be unjust or unnecessarily harsh or severe toward the memory of any individual. I have aimed to be just, and not unkind. If I have failed in any case, it is my wish that my mistakes may be corrected, as far as possible. I have not attempted to write history, but simply to make a record of events personally known to me, and of my opinion upon such acts of others, and upon such important subjects, as have come under my special notice. It is my contribution to the materials from which the future historian must draw for his data for a truthful history of our time."
Now, in the winter of 1896-97, I have endeavored to discharge, as far as I am able, the duty which I had imposed on my executors, and have decided to publish what I had written in past years, with corrections and comments, while many of the actors in the great drama of the Civil War are still living and can assist in correcting any errors into which I may have fallen.
After my chapters relating to the campaign of 1864 in Tennessee were in type, the monograph by General J. D. Cox, entitled "Franklin," was issued from the press of Charles Scribner's Sons. His work and mine are the results of independent analysis of the records, made without consultation with each other.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. Parentage and Early LifeâAppointment to West Pointâ Virginian Room-MatesâAcquaintance with General Winfield ScottâCharacter of the West Point TrainingâImportance of Learning how to ObeyâA trip to New York on a WagerâThe West Point Bible-classâDismissed from the Academy Without TrialâIntercession of Stephen A. Douglas âRestoration to Cadet DutyâJames B. McPhersonâJohn B. Hoodâ Robert E. Lee. Chapter II. On Graduating LeaveâBrevet Second Lieutenant in the 2d Artillery at Fort MoultrieâAn Officer's Credit Before the Warâ Second Lieutenant in the 1st ArtilleryâJourney to Fort Capron, FloridaâA Reservation as to WhiskyâA Trip to Charleston and a Troublesome Money-BagâAn "Affair of Honor"âA Few Law-booksâAn Extemporized "Map and Itinerary"âYellow FeverâAt A. P. Hill's Home in VirginiaâAssigned to Duty in the Department of Philosophy at West PointâInterest in AstronomyâMarriageâA Hint from Jefferson DavisâLeave of AbsenceâProfessor of Physics in Washington University. Chapter III. Return to DutyâGeneral Harney's AttitudeâNathaniel Lyon in CommandâDefense of the St. Louis ArsenalâService as Mustering OfficerâMajor of the First MissouriâSurrender of Camp JacksonâAdjutant-general on Lyon's StaffâA Missing Letter from FrĂ©mont to LyonâLyon's ReplyâBattle of Wilson's CreekâDeath of LyonâA Question of Command During the RetreatâOrigin of the Opposition of the Blairs to FrĂ©montâAffair at Fredericktown. Chapter IV. Halleck Relieves FrĂ©mont of the Command in Missouriâ A Special State MilitiaâBrigadier-General of the Missouri Militia âA Hostile Committee Sent to WashingtonâThe Missouri Quarrel of 1862âIn Command of the "Army of the Frontier"âAbsent Through IllnessâBattle of Prairie GroveâCompelled to be Inactiveâ Transferred to TennesseeâIn Command of Thomas's Old Division of the Fourteenth CorpsâReappointed Major-GeneralâA Hibernian "Striker." Chapter V. In Command of the Department of the MissouriâTroops Sent to General GrantâSatisfaction of the PresidentâConditions on which Governor Gamble would Continue in OfficeâAnti-Slavery ViewsâLincoln on Emancipation in MissouriâTrouble Following the Lawrence MassacreâA Visit to Kansas, and the Party Quarrel There âMutiny in the State MilitiaâRepressive MeasuresâA Revolutionary Plot. Chapter VI. A Memorandum for Mr. LincolnâThe President's Instructions âHis Reply to the Radical DelegationâThe Matter of Colored EnlistmentsâModification of the Order Respecting Elections Refused âA Letter to the President on the Condition of MissouriâFormer Confederates in Union Militia RegimentsâSummoned to Washington by Mr. LincolnâOffered the Command of the Army of the OhioâAnecdote of General Grant. Chapter VII. Condition of the Troops at KnoxvilleâEffect of the Promotion of Grant and ShermanâLetter to Senator HendersonâA Visit from General ShermanâUnited with his other Armies for the Atlanta CampaignâComments on Sherman's "Memoirs"âFaulty Organization of Sherman's ArmyâMcPherson's Task at ResacaâMcPherson's CharacterâExample of the Working of a Faulty System. Chapter VIII. Sherman's Displeasure with Hooker growing out the Affair at Kolb's FarmâHooker's Despatch Evidently Misinterpreted âA Conversation with James B. McPherson over the Question of Relative RankâEncouraging John B. Hood to become a SoldierâVisit to the Camp of Frank P. Blair, Jr.âAnecdote of Sherman and Hooker under FireâThe Assault on KenesawâTendency of Veteran Troopsâ The Death of McPherson before AtlantaâSherman's error in a Question of Relative Rank. Chapter IX. The Final Blow at AtlantaâJohnston's Untried Plan of ResistanceâHood's Faulty MoveâHolding the Pivot of the Position âAnecdotes of the Men in the RanksâDeferring to General Stanley in a Question of Relative RankâThe Failure at Jonesboro'âThe Capture of AtlantaâAbsent from the ArmyâHood's Operations in Sherman's RearâSent Back to Thomas's AidâFaulty Instructions to Oppose Hood at PulaskiâAt ColumbiaâReason of the Delay in Exchanging Messages. Chapter X. Hood Forces the Crossing of Duck RiverâImportance of Gaining Time for Thomas to Concentrate Reinforcements at Nashville âThe Affair at Spring HillâIncidents of the Night RetreatâThomas's Reply to the Request that a Bridge be Laid over the HarpethâThe Necessity of Standing Ground at FranklinâHood's Formidable Attack âSerious Error of Two Brigades of the Rear-GuardâBrilliant Services of the ReserveâYellow Fever AvertedâHood's Assaults Repulsedâ Johnston's Criticism of HoodâThe Advantage of Continuing the Retreat to Nashville. Chapter XI. The Correspondence with General Thomas previous to the Battle of FranklinâThe Untenable Position at PulaskiâAvailable Troops which were not Sent to the FrontâCorrespondence with General ThomasâInstructions Usually Received too LateâAdvantage of Delaying the Retreat from Duck RiverâNo Serious Danger at Spring Hillâ General Thomas Hoping that Hood might be Delayed for Three Days at Franklin. Chapter XII. After the Battle of FranklinâThe Arrival at Nashville âGeneral Thomas's GreetingâA Refreshing SleepâServices of the Cavalry Corps and the Fourth Army CorpsâHood's Mistake after Crossing Duck RiverâAn Incident of the Atlanta Campaign Bearing on Hood's CharacterâAn Embarrassing Method of Transmitting Messages in CipherâThe Aggressive Policy of the South. Chapter XIII. Grant Orders Thomas to Attack Hood or Relinquish the CommandâThomas's Corps Commanders Support Him in DelayâGrant's Intentions in Sending Logan to Relieve ThomasâChange of Plan before the Battle of NashvilleâThe Fighting of December 15âExpectation that Hood would RetreatâDelay in Renewing the Attack on the 16th âHopelessness of Hood's PositionâLetters to Grant and Shermanâ Transferred to the EastâFinancial Burden of the WarâThomas's Attitude toward the War. Chapter XIV. Hood's Motive in Attempting the Impossible at Nashville âDiversity of Opinions Concerning that BattleâNo Orders on Record for the Battle of December 16âThat Battle due to the Spontaneous Action of Subordinate CommandersâStatements in the Reports of the Corps CommandersâExplanation of the Absence of OrdersâThe Phraseology of General Thomas's Report. Chapter XV. General Thomas's Indorsement on the Report of the Battle of FranklinâCourtesies to Him in WashingtonâPeculiarities of the Official Records in Regard to Franklin and Nashvilleâ Documents Which Have Disappeared from the RecordsâInconsistencies in General Thomas's ReportâFalse Representations Made to Himâ Their Falsity Confirmed by General Grant. Chapter XVI. Sherman's "March to the Sea"âThe Military Theory On Which It Was BasedâDid It Involve War or Statesmanship?âThe Correspondence Between Grant and Sherman, and Sherman and Thomasâ The Effect of Jefferson Davis's Speech on ShermanâRawlins's Reported Opposition to the March, and Grant's Final Judgment On It. Chapter XVII. Sherman's Purpose in Marching to the SeaâHis Expectations that the Change of Base Would Be "Statesmanship," If Not "War"âThe Thousand-Mile March of Hood's Men to Surrender to ShermanâThe Credit Given by Grant to Shermanâ"Master of the Situation"âThe Fame of Sherman's Grand MarchesâHis Great Ability as a Strategist. Chapter XVIII. Transfer of the Twenty-Third Corps to North Carolina âSherman's Plan of Marching to the Rear of LeeâThe Surrender of J. E. Johnston's ArmyâAuthorship of the Approved Terms of Surrender âPolitical ReconstructionâSherman's GeniusâContrast Between Grant and ShermanâHalleck's CharacteristicsâHis Attempt to Supplant GrantâPersonal Feeling in BattleâThe Scars of War. Chapter XIX. The Restoration of Civil Government in the Southern StatesâThe Course Pursued in North CarolinaâAn Order from General Grant in Regard to Cotton and ProduceâSuggestions for the Reorganization of Civil GovernmentâA Provisional Governor for North Carolina. Chapter XX. French Intervention in MexicoâA Plan to Compel the Withdrawal of the French ArmyâGrant's Letter of Instructions to General SheridanâSecretary Seward Advocates Moral SuasionâA Mission to Paris With That End in ViewâSpeechmaking at the American Thanksgiving DinnerâNapoleon's Method of Retreating with Dignity âA Presentation to the Emperor and Empress. Chapter XXI. Reconstruction in VirginiaâThe State Legislature Advised to Adopt the Fourteenth AmendmentâCongressional Reconstruction as a Result of the RefusalâThe Manner in Which the Acts of Congress Were ExecutedâNo Resort to Trial by Military CommissionâThe Obnoxious Constitution Framed by the State ConventionâHow Its Worst Feature Was NullifiedâAppointed Secretary of War. Chapter XXII. Differences Between the Commanding General of the Army and the War DepartmentâGeneral Grant's Special PowersâHis Appointment as Secretary of War Ad interimâThe Impeachment of President JohnsonâMemorandum of Interviews with William M. Evarts and General Grant in Regard to the Secretaryship of WarâFailure of the Impeachment TrialâHarmony in the War DepartmentâA New Policy at Army Headquarters. Chapter XXIII. Assignment to the Department of the MissouriâA Cordial Reception from Former Opponents in St. LouisâOrigin of the Military School at Fort RileyâFuneral of General George H. ThomasâDeath of General George G. MeadeâAssigned to the Division of the PacificâA Visit to HawaiiâMilitary Men in the Exercise of Political PowerâTrouble with the Modoc IndiansâThe Canby Massacre. Chapter XXIV. Superintendent at West PointâGeneral Sherman's Ulterior Reasons for the AppointmentâOrigin of the "Department of West Point"âCase of the Colored Cadet WhittakerâA Proposed Removal for Political EffectâGeneral Terry's Friendly AttitudeâA Muddle of New CommandsâWaiting Orders, and a Visit to EuropeâAgain in Command in the WestâThe Establishment of Fort Sheridan at Chicago. Chapter XXV. The Death of General HancockâAssigned to the Division of the AtlanticâMeasures for Improving the Sea-Coast Defenseâ General Fitz-John Porter's Restoration to the ArmyâPresident of the Board Appointed to Review the Action of the Court Martialâ General Grant's OpinionâSenator Logan's Explanation of His Hostile Attitude Toward General Porter. Chapter XXVI. The Death of General SheridanâHis Successor in Command of the ArmyâDeplorable Condition of the War Department at the TimeâA Better Understanding Between the Department and the Army CommanderâGeneral Sheridan's Humiliating ExperienceâThe Granting of MedalsâThe Secretary's Call-BellâThe Relations of Secretary and GeneralâViews Submitted to President ClevelandâThe Law Fixing Retirement for AgeâAn Anecdote of General Grant. Chapter XXVII. President of the New Board of Ordnance and FortificationsâUsefulness of the BoardâTroubles with the Sioux Indians in 1890-1891âSuccess of the Plan to Employ Indians as SoldiersâMarriage to Miss KilbourneâThe Difficulty with Chili in 1892. Chapter XXVIII. Services of the Army During the Labor Strikes of 1894âMilitary Control of the Pacific RailwaysâUnited States Troops in the City of ChicagoâOrders Sent to General Miles, and his ReportsâThe Proclamation of the PresidentâInstructions to Govern the Troops in Dealing with a MobâThe Duties of the Military MisunderstoodâOrders of the President in Regard to the Pacific Railways. Chapter XXIX. Lessons of the Civil WarâWeakness
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