force of about one thousand Home Guards, to meet and hold in check Buckner's army of at least eight or ten thousand. This he did most successfully, until his little army was reënforced. It, however, never was sufficiently large to justify him in making an advance upon the enemy. When his force amounted to fifteen thousand, that of the enemy amounted to nearly fifty thousand. It is a matter of astonishment to all who know the true situation of affairs at that time, that his little army was not captured or driven out of the State. Kentucky owes a debt of gratitude to Generals Anderson and Sherman, and to the brave soldiers enlisted and commanded by Colonels Rousseau and Pope, under Sherman as their general. They kept the rebel host in check, saved the city of Louisville, and a large portion of the State, until, by the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson, the rebel army was driven from the State.

General Sherman sent dispatch after dispatch to the War Department, and to General McClellan, explaining his situation, asserting his utter inability to defend his post against the overwhelming hosts of the enemy, in case he should be attacked, and requesting immediate reënforcements. Little attention was paid to his requests. Sherman became discouraged, and finally asked to be relieved of his command. His request was granted, and on the

10th of November, 1861, his department was consolidated with that of Ohio.

At this time, General Halleck was in command of the Department of the West. General Sherman was ordered to report to him, and by him was assigned to a command in the western part of Missouri, with head-quarters at Sedalia.

Shortly afterwards he was transferred to Benton Barracks, near St. Louis, where he was placed in command of a camp of instruction.

We next hear of Sherman, in command of the base of operations and supplies at Paducah, at the mouth of the Tennessee river; from which place he sent supplies and reënforcements to General Grant, when he was engaged in capturing Forts Henry and Donelson. So faithfully did Sherman discharge the duties of this position, that General Grant acknowledged that to "General Sherman's promptness he was largely indebted for the success of his operations." Afterwards, Sherman was assigned, by the request of General Grant, to him as a division commander. We shall next meet Sherman on the bloody field of Shiloh.

INCIDENTS.

On one occasion Sherman said to the Adjutant General of the United States, that if the Government intended to open the Mississippi River to its

E

mouth, it would require a force of at least two hundred thousand men, to accomplish the work.

This revived the name which Sherman had received for his manly attempt to restore order among the Bull Run fugitives, "Crazy Sherman, as some of his opponents called him. Time has proven that the " crazy man was right in his

judgment.

While Sherman's army was confronting General Buckner's forces, south of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, one of his brigadiers, the gallant Rousseau, suddenly approached one of his chaplains, the Rev. James H. Bristow, a true and noble man, and put his hand on his shoulder, looked him square in the face, and without turning away his eagle eyes, thus addressed him:

"Chaplain," said the general, "I think it possible that we may have a battle to-morrow, and I wish to ask you one question. Will you go with me into battle and stand by my side until I fall, or to the end of the fight?"

"What was your reply," said I to Mr. Bristow.

6

To tell you the truth," said the chaplain, "I thought of an old song, which I used to sing, and which went somewhat after this fashion: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'

This man has since proven himself to be one of

the best chaplains in the army.

While Sherman was in command at Benton Barracks, he was in the habit of visiting every part of the barracks, and keeping himself familiar with everything that was going on. He wore an old brown coat and stove-pipe hat, and was not generally recognized by the minor officials and soldiers. One day, while walking through the grounds, he met with a soldier who was beating a mule unmercifully.

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"Stop pounding that mule!" Said the general. "Git eout!" said the soldier in blissful ignorance of the person to whom he was speaking.

"I tell you stop!" reiterated the general.

"You mind your business, and I will mind mine,” replied the soldier, continuing his flank movements upon the mule.

"I tell you again, to stop!" said the general. "Do you know who I am? I am General Sherman."

"That's played out!" said the soldier. "Every man who comes along here with an old brown coat and stove-pipe-hat on, claims to be General Sherman."

For once, at least, Sherman was compelled to acknowledge himself outflanked.

CHAPTER III.

GENERAL SHERMAN AND THE BATTLE OF PITTSBURG

LANDING.

SURPRISE THE UNION

THE BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING THE MOST DESPE-
RATE AND DECISIVE OF THE WAR-THE TROOPS EN-
GAGED SKIRMISHING -BATTLE OPENS
OF UNION TROOPS SUNDAY'S FIGHT
TROOPS DRIVEN FROM THEIR CAMPS-THE LEXINGTON
AND TYLER -THE PART TAKEN BY THEM-LEW WAL-

LACE'S AND BUELL'S FORCES ARRIVE MONDAY'S OPE

RATIONS- -CAVALRY CHARGE BY GRANT PURSUIT BY SHERMAN GRANT'S OPINION OF SHERMAN-THE PART TAKEN BY SHERMAN AND HIS DIVISION -EXTRACT FROM HALLECK'S REPORT- SHERMAN A MAJOR GENERAL-THE OPINIONS OF DISTINGUISHED GENERALS INCIDENTS GEN. SHERMAN'S LETTER TO PROFESSOR COPPEE.

The battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, was one of the most desperate conflicts ever known in history, and the most severe and hardest fought battle of the rebellion, as well as, up to that time, the most decisive of the war. With overwhelming numbers opposing them, and surprised as they were by the enemy, it was only by the bravest and most stubborn fighting, that the Union troops gained