USA > New Mexico > Men of our day; or, biographical sketches of patriots, orators, statemen, generals, reformers, financiers and merchants, now on the stage of action > Part 14
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him from attempting any serious danger to Sherman's commu- nications. When Sherman commenced his grand "March to the Sea," he placed all the troops he could spare in Thomas's charge, with instructions to lure Hood westward and fight him, if he would fight, near Nashville. The bait took, and Hood, deceived by Thomas's feigned retreat, moved confidently for- ward to destruction. His first decided check was at Franklin, near Nashville, on the 1st, where, after nearly twelve hours of the most desperate fighting in the vain attempt to carry the in- trenchments which General Schofield's troops had hastily thrown up, the rebels abandoned the field, having sustained a loss, in killed, wounded and prisoners, of 6,252, and thirteen general officers either killed or wounded.
Thomas's army, heavily reinforced, now held Nashville, which Hood-unable to assault-sat down to besiege, on a line of hills four or five miles south of the city-evidently expecting that he would be able to starve out the Union forces. After repeated and vain attempts to provoke Hood into an attack, General Thomas determined to assume the offensive himself. Nashville lies in a bend of the Cumberland river, and Thomas's line being stretched across the bend, his right and centre were guarded by the gunboats. His plan for handling Hood, pre- supposed two days' work. On the first day, by a bold demon- stration on his left (Hood's right) he hoped to attract the rebel general's attention and force to that wing, and then, with the aid of the gunboats, roll back his left wing upon the centre and, having reached around the flank and rear, to crush the centre also. On the second day he proposed to attack the rebel right until it gave way and then crush it. This programme was car- ried out almost to the letter ; the close of the first day's fighting found the Union troops in possession of Hood's most advanced position, sixteen pieces of artillery, some 1200 prisoners, large
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quantities of small-arms and about forty wagons. That night Hood abandoned his now untenable fortifications and planted himself, with shortened lines, across the Granny White and Franklin turnpikes-and towards him, early on the following morning, pressed the Union army. It was not, however, until 4 P. M., that the blow fell upon the rebel general-then the Union cavalry swept around his flank, and the Union bayonets swept the entire front of his lines with the force of a whirlwind. Thirty minutes of desperate hand to hand fighting-and Hood's troops were fleeing wildly, hopelessly, from the field-pausing not until they had reached the farther bank of the Tennessee. 10,000 rebels killed and wounded, 13,189 prisoners, 2207 de- serters, 80 cannon, with gun-carriages and caissons, 3079 small arms and numbers of battle-flags, were the glorius results of this great victory. General Forrest's defeat, by the Union General Milroy, at Murfreesboro, and Breckinridge's discom- fiture at the hands of General Stoneman, in East Tennessee, completed the work which General Sherman had left for his gallant lieutenant to perform.
Thomas, having now thoroughly purged the State of rebels, prepared to send his troops into winter-quarters; but this not meeting with the approval of General Grant, he undertook a complete recruiting and re-organization of his army, which was soon furnished with plenty of work in various quarters. General Schofield's command was sent to Wilmington, North Carolina, and after the capture of that place, joined General Sherman at Goldsboro; General Wilson's magnificent cavalry column passed through Selma, Montgomery, West Point, Columbus and Macon ; General Granger's and General A. J. Smith's corps, assisted at the reduction and capture of Mobile; and Stoneman, with a fine cavalry force, operated in south- western Virginia, threatening Lynchburg and entering Salis-
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bury, North Carolina, where they captured an immense amount of rebel stores, etc., and cut off Johnston's communications.
In January, 1865, General Thomas received a well-merited promotion to the rank of major-general in the regular army ; and, when the army was reduced and re-organized, by general- order of June 27th, 1865, he was appointed commander of the Military Division of the Tennessee, embracing the States of Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama.
In this difficult position he has administered the affairs of the district with admirable skill and patriotism, repressing incipient rebellion, aiding the administration of justice and encouraging the loyal. In December, 1867, President Johnson attempted to win him to support him in his war upon Congress, offering him as a bribe a brevet lieutenant-generalship and the command of the new Department of the Atlantic, but he was too stern a patriot to be won in this way, and his reply did him great honor.
General Thomas has a tall and finely proportioned person, a fair complexion, a keen blue eye, and a frank and winning countenance. He is beloved by the troops who have served under him, and who speak of him affectionately as "Pap" Thomas; and they have the most unlimited confidence in his goodness, skill, and ability to do any thing which mortal man can accomplish. Pure in aspiration, blameless in life, calm, thoughtful, modest, amiable, patient, persevering, a complete master of his profession, inexhaustible in resources, thorough in preparation, deliberate but energetic in action-General Thomas may well rank as the third soldier of the Republic !
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE.
O achieve success where all before him had failed, to retain command where, from unreadiness, incapacity, or lack of skill and foresight, all his predecessors had been compelled to relinquish it, and without extraordinary brilliancy or genius, still, by his soldier-like bearing and his manly and irreproachable conduct, to win the esteem and respect of all who were under his command, such are the claims which the last commander of the army of the Potomac presents to our regard. GEORGE GORDON MEADE was born in 1815, during the temporary residence of his parents at Cadiz, in Spain. His father, Richard W. Meade, was a citizen of Philadelphia, and, while engaged in mercantile pursuits in Spain, was intrusted by the United States Government with the adjustment of certain claims against that country. He filled the offices of Consul and Navy Agent of the United States most creditably, and the cession of Florida-to prevent whose secession the son subse- quently contributed so much-was the result mainly of his efforts. Shortly after his birth, the parents of young Meade returned to Philadelphia, where his youthful days were spent. When a boy, he attended the school at Georgetown, taught by the present Chief Justice Chase. The parents, having two sons, Richard W. and the subject of this sketch, determined to devote them to the service of their country. The elder was, therefore,
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educated for the Navy, which he entered in 1826, while George was destined for the Army, and accordingly entered the Military Academy, near Philadelphia, and, in 1831, the Academy at West Point, whence he graduated with honor in 1835. The same year we find him a second lieutenant in the third artillery, in Florida, in the Seminole war. The state of his health induced him to resign his commission in 1836, and he became engaged in civil engineering; but, in 1842, he again entered the service as second lieutenant in the corps of Topographical Engineers, and in that capacity served in the Mexican war. During this campaign he served on the staff of General Taylor, and after- ward on that of General Scott, distinguishing himself at Palo Alto and Monterey, and receiving, as an acknowledgment of his gallantry, a brevet of first lieutenant, dating from September 23, 1846; and also, upon his return to Philadelphia, a splendid sword from his townsmen. During the interval between the Mexican war and the rebellion, having been promoted to a full first lieutenancy in August, 1851, and to a captaincy of engi- neers in May, 1856, he was engaged with the particular duties of his department, more especially in the survey of the northern lakes; but upon the call to arms in 1861, he was ordered east, and upon the organization of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, under the three years' call, Captain Meade was made a brigadier- general of volunteers, and assigned the command of the second brigade, with General McCall as division-general, his commis- sion dating August 31, 1861. After wintering with the division at Tenallytown, and helping to erect Fort Pennsylvania, they crossed the Potomac into Virginia during the early part of 1862, and became a portion of the Army of the Potomac. When this army began to move upon Manasass, during March of that year, General Meade's brigade formed a portion of the second division of McDowell's first army corps, and with this corps he remained
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after that general was made commander of the Department of the Shenandoah. On the 18th of June, 1862, General Meade's rank in the regular army was advanced to that of major of topographical engineers, and subsequently he was confirmed with the same rank in the newly organized engineer corps of the United States army. About this time the division of Penn- sylvania Reserves was added to the Army of the Potomac, on the Peninsula. General Meade took part in the battle of Me- chanicsville, June 26, 1862, and in the battle of Gaines' Mills, June 27, he fought so bravely as to be nominated for a brevet of lieutenant-colonel of the regular army for his distinguished services. After the capture of Generals McCall and Reynolds, he took charge of the division. In the battle of New Market Cross Roads, June 30, General Meade was struck by a ball in his side, inflicting a painful wound; but quickly rose from his bed of suffering, and was again at the head of his division. During the Maryland campaign he also distinguished himself at the head of the Pennsylvania Reserves. At Antietam, when General Hooker was wounded, General Meade took charge of a corps, and fought bravely the remainder of the day, receiving a slight wound and having two horses killed under him. During the fearful battle of Fredericksburg, he held charge of the second division of the first army corps, and fought in Franklin's left wing. He led his men boldly up to the rebel works, and doubtless would have captured them had he been properly sup- ported ; but after losing his brigade commanders, several of his field and line officers, and fifteen hundred men, he, with the rest of the army, was obliged to retire to the other side of the river.' Two days after this eventful battle, General Meade superseded General Butterfield in the command of the fifth army corps. To enable him to hold this, he was promoted to be a major- general of volunteers, with rank and commission from Nov. 29,
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1862. In the second day of the action at Chancellorsville, the corps of Meade and Reynolds were held in reserve by General Hooker, and on them he relied for covering the crossing of the Rapidan, when it was finally decided to withdraw to the north bank. They performed their part admirably and with but little loss. Lee's army, now re-inforced and flushed with recent vic- tories easily achieved, took the offensive once more, and speed- ily made its way into Maryland and Pennsylvania, followed by Hooker. On the 28th of June, 1863, the Army of the Potomac was in the vicinity of Frederick, in Maryland, when a messenger arrived from Washington, relieving General Hooker, and invest- ing General Meade with the command of the army. Selected thus suddenly, without solicitation on his own part, and by the unanimous desire of the other corps commanders, he assumed command with a deep sense of the responsibilities thrust upon him, and made the best disposition of his troops in his power for the speedily impending battle. The following is a copy of his general order issued upon this occasion :
" HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "June 28, 1863.
" General Order, No. 66.
"By direction of the President of the United States, I hereby assume the command of the Army of the Potomac. As a sol- dier, in obeying this order, an order totally unexpected and unsolicited, I have no promises or pledges to make. The coun- try looks to this army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved, and let each man deter- mine to do his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providence the decision of the contest. It is with just diffidence that I re- lieve, in the command of this army, an eminent and accom- plished soldier, whose name must ever appear conspicuous in the history of 'ts achievements; but I rely upon the
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hearty support of my companions in arms to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the important trust which has been confided to me.
"GEORGE G. MEADE, "Major-general Commanding.
"S. F. BARSTOW, Assistant Adjutant-general."
General Meade at once put his columns in motion, and in three days his advance and that of the enemy met at Gettys- burg, and commenced the conflict. The meeting at that place was by accident, but the advantages of the position were such, that instead of withdrawing his advance, upon meeting the enerny, he ordered his whole army up to their support. Three days of terrible warfare, and great loss of life upon both sides, resulted in the defeat of the enemy, and the abandonment of the northern invasion. It was the first substantial victory gained by the Army of the Potomac, and though the editors of the northern papers, and some of the impatient members of the Government, were inclined to blame General Meade for not making more ardent pursuit, and falling upon the foe, who was represented, as usual, as thoroughly demoralized, subsequent events have shown that, in this case, " discretion was the better part of valor." Pursuit, vigorous and effective pursuit, was made, and a considerable portion of the enemy's train was cap- tured, but his retreat had been at the same time swift and orderly, and so thoroughly disciplined were the rebel troops, that an attack upon them by any pursuing force which could be brought up promptly, must inevitably have resulted in a disas- trous repulse. The problem whether the attack should have been made, however, is one of a tactical nature, requiring for its solution special and professional knowledge. It is, therefore, one of those questions regarding which public opinion is neces- sarily worthless. One thing is certain, the emphasis with which
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the corps commanders pronounced against the assault, should carry with it great weight, understanding, as they did, the rela- tive situations of the opposing forces.
After Lee had crossed the Potomac, General Meade hoped to bring him to battle before he should pass the mountains, but at Manassas gap, where an excellent opportunity occurred, his plans were frustrated by the dilatory movements of a corps commander, who had the advance. For some time after this, the opposing armies lay in a state of inactivity, near the Rapi- dan, from the necessity of heavy detachments being drawn off to other points. In October, Lee attempted, by a flank move- ment, to sever Meade's communications ; but the latter was too quick for him. Making a retrograde movement as far as Centreville, to meet this effort, he followed Lee in return, and thus the two armies resumed nearly the same position as before the movement commenced. In the fighting accompanying these operations, the Union army had the advantage, and at Bristow station, the rear-guard, under Warren, by a rapid movement won the field, and defeated the enemy. Late in November, Meade undertook the boldest move that the Army of the Poto- mac had ever yet made. Leaving his base, with ten days' rations, he crossed the river, hoping to interpose between the wings of Lee's army, now in winter quarters, and stretched over a wide extent of country. The enemy, however, was found to present so formidable a front at Mine Run, behind intrench- ments, that it was thought best to forego the contemplated at- tack, and our forces were again withdrawn to the north bank, and went into cantonments for the season. When General Grant, as lieutenant-general, assumed the direction of all the forces, his headquarters were with the Army of the Potomac. General Meade retained the immediate command of that army, and during the severe campaigns of 1864-5, led it on the bloody
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fields of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the region round about Petersburg and Richmond, winning the approval of his great commander, who in recommending his confirmation as a major-general in the regular army, spoke of him in these emphatic words:
" General Meade is one of our truest men, and ablest officers. He has been constantly with the Army of the Potomac, confront- ing the strongest, best appointed, and most confident army of the south. He, therefore, has not had the same opportunity of winning laurels so distinctly marked, as have fallen to the lot of other generals. But I defy any man to name a commander who would do more than Meade has done, with the same chances. General Meade was appointed at my solicitation, after a cam- paign the most protracted, and covering more severely contested battles than any of which we have any account in history. I have been with General Meade through the whole campaign; and I not only made the recommendation upon a conviction that this recognition of his services was fully won, but that he was eminently qualified for the command such rank would en- title him to."
Congress confirmed the appointment, dating his commission from August 18th, 1864. At the close of the war General Meade returned for a brief season to his home in Philadelphia, where he was received with the highest honors. He was soon after appointed to the command of the military division of the Atlantic, in which were included all the States on the Atlantic coast, and which was perhaps the most important of the military departments. His management of this department was able and judicious, but without many events of note. He acted prompt- ly and wisely, under the direction of the lieutenant general, in suppressing the Fenian movement for the invasion of Canada. When, in the autumn of 1867, President Johnson
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having become dissatisfied with General Pope's administration in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, in consequence of that general's furthering rather than hindering the enforcement of the congressional plan of reconstruction, he removed him and transferred General Meade to the command of that military district, he mistook as he had so often done before, his man. General Meade is thoroughly loyal, and obedient to the laws, and finding that the congressional plan was the law of the land, he obeyed it as strictly, and promptly, as his predecessor had done; even taking measures, such as the removal of the State provisional officers of Georgia for contumacy and insubordina- tion, at which General Pope had hesitated. He has maintained a dignified and honorable course in regard to the Constitutional Conventions of the States of his district, and whatever may be his own political views, he has sought only to administer the laws faithfully, without fear or favor. The Constitutional Con- vention of Florida, which at one time was on the point of breaking into two impotent factions, was, by his counsels and efforts, harmonized, and the successful future of the re-organized State assured.
The personal appearance of General Meade is correctly de- scribed by an English writer, who was, introduced to him soon after the battle of Gettysburg. "He is a very remarkable look- ing man-tall, spare, of a commanding figure and presence; his manners easy and pleasant, but having much dignity. His head is partially bald, and is small and compact ; but the fore- head is high. He has the late Duke of Wellington class of nose ; and his eyes which have a serious, and almost sad expres- sion, are rather sunken, or appear so, from the prominence of the curved nasal development. He has a decidedly patrician and distinguished appearance. I had some conversation with him and of his recent achievements he spoke in a modest and natural
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way. He said that he had been very " fortunate;" but was most especially anxious not to arrogate to himself any credit which he did not deserve. He said that the triumph of the Federal arms was due to the splendid courage of the Union troops, and also to the bad strategy, and rash and mad attacks made by the enemy. He said that his health was remarkably good and that he could bear almost any amount of physical fatigue. What he complained of was, the intense mental anxiety occasioned by the great responsibility of his position.
General Meade, in 1840, married a daughter of Hon. John Sergeant, of Philadelphia, and has a large family.
MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD.
AJOR-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD, "the Havelock of the American Union Army," was born at Leeds, Kennebec county, Maine, on the 8th of November, 1830, the eldest of three children of parents in moderate, but independent, circumstances. Working upon the farm until his tenth year, he was then, by his father's death, left in the care of an uncle, Hon. John Otis, of Hallowell, Maine. Having attained a good common-school education, he, in 1846, matriculated at Bowdoin College, from which he graduated at the head of his class in 1850. Entering immediately the United States Military Academy at West Point, he graduated from that institution in June, 1854, with the fourth rank in his class. He was assigned to the Ordnance Department, with brevet rank of second lieuten- ant, served in Texas and Florida, and was subsequently trans- ferred to the United States arsenal at Augusta, Georgia; and from thence to the arsenal at Watervliet, Maine. On the 1st of July, 1855, he was made a second lieutenant by promotion ; and on the 1st of July, 1857, promoted to be first lieutenant, and appointed Acting Assistant Professor of Mathematics at West Point, which position he held at the commencement of the rebellion. On the 28th of May, 1861, he resigned his professorship and accepted a commission as colonel of the third Maine volunteers, the first three years regiment that left that State; and, as senior colonel, led a bri-
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gade at the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. The gallantry and ability manifested on that occasion secured for him (September 3d) the rank of brigadier-general, and he was placed in com- mand of a brigade in General Casey's provisional division, to which was then intrusted the charge of the national capital. In the following December, he was assigned to General Sumner's command, the first brigade of the first division of the second army corps, in MeClellan's Peninsula campaign. At Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862, while gallantly leading a decisive charge, he was struck in the right arm by two bullets, one near the wrist and the other at the elbow ; he did not leave the field, however, until wounded a second time, when he was obliged to go to the rear and submit to an amputation of the limb. In the words of a friend, " Weak and fainting from hemorrhage and the severe shock which his system had sustained, the next day he started for his home in Maine. He remained there only about two months, during which time he was not idle. Visiting various localities in his native State, he made patriotic appeals to the people to come forward and sustain the Government. Pale, emaciated, and with one sleeve tenantless, he stood up before them, the embodi- ment of all that is good and true and noble in manhood. He talked to them as only one truly loyal can talk-as one largely endowed with that patriotism which is a heritage of New Eng- land blood. Modesty, sincerity and earnestness characterized his addresses, and his fervent appeals drew hundreds around the national standard." Before he had recovered from his wound, and against the advice of his surgeon, he hastened to the front, and at the head of a brigade of the second (French's) division, (his own being temporarily commanded by General Caldwell,) he took part in the second battle of Bull Run; and in the re- treat from Centreville he commanded the rear-guard. At Antie- tam he succeeded General Sedgwick, who was wounded, in com-
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mand of his division. On the 13th of December, at the battle of Fredericksburg, he led his division, in support of General French's, in the heroic charge made upon the rebel position in the rear of that city. In this attempt-in which the Union troops, in the words of their commander, "did all that men could do-Howard's brigade alone lost nearly a thousand men."
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