Henry Stone

“ Hood boldly advanced to the vicinity and fortified himself. Nearly all Thomas's mounted force had accompanied Sherman, leaving all the remaining cavalry to be remounted. The troops from Missouri and Chattanooga were destitute of transportation. Thus in midwinter, at 200 miles from the main base of supplies, and in the presence of a bold and active enemy, he had thrust upon him a task that at any time was almost overwhelming. Some called him “slow,” yet, within two weeks from the day when his unsupplied and dismounted army reached Nashville, it was ready to take the field. ”

“ The Confederate army had occupied Columbus in spite of the formal protest of legislature and governor, and Thomas was menaced with personal violence. The camp was swarming with unorganized Kentucky regiments and crowds of refugees from east Tennessee, eager to be armed and led back to drive the enemy from their homes. ”

“ When the great revolution of 1848 threatened the overthrow of all European monarchies, Willich, with several former army friends, among whom were Franz Sigel, Friederich K. F. Hecker, Louis Blenker, and Carl Schurz, went to Baden and took an active part in the armed attempt to revolutionize Germany. After its failure, Willich and many of his compatriots became exiles. He escaped to Switzerland, but afterward made his way to England, where several of his fellow-exiles had also found refuge. ”

“ Too much must not be expected of troops that have to be reorganized, especially when they have the task of destroying a force, in a winter campaign, which was enabled to make an obstinate resistance to twice its numbers in spring and summer.” Following this great victory came the operations of the cavalry as organized by Gen. Thomas in Alabama and Georgia, resulting in the taking of Selma and the capture of Jefferson Davis. ”

“ WILLICH, August, b. in Gorzyn, in the Prussian province of Posen, in 1810; d. in St. Mary's, Mercer co., Ohio, 23 Jan., 1878. His father, a captain of hussars during the Napoleonic wars, died when August was three years old. With an elder brother, the boy found a home in the family of Friedrich Schleiermacher, the famous theologian, whose wife was a distant relative. He received a military education at Potsdam and Berlin, and at eighteen years of age was commissioned 2d lieutenant of artillery in the Prussian army, becoming a captain in 1841. ”

“ On the 10th and 16th, in exact accordance with the detailed order of battle, the confident troops of Gen. Thomas, who had never lost faith in their leader, by skilful and energetic movements, completely overthrew the last organized Confederate army in the southwest. A feeble remnant, despoiled of guns and transportation, came together some weeks later at Tupelo, Miss., nearly 250 miles distant. As an army it never again took the field.
What Gen. Thomas accomplished in this campaign, and with what means, cannot be better told than in the words of his despatch to Gen. ”

“ Immediate measures were taken for its relief, and from every quarter troops were hurried toward Chattanooga, both to open communications and to re-enforce the army for active operations. Two corps from the Potomac and two from Mississippi were speedily forwarded, and all were placed under command of Gen. Grant. To his almost despairing message to Gen. Thomas to hold the place, came the cheering reply, “We will hold the town till we starve.” Thomas had then in store six days' supply for 50,000 men. ”

“ He was visiting his old home in Germany at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian war, and at once offered his services to the king, whom he had before attempted to dethrone. His offer was gratefully acknowledged, but, on account of his advanced age, it was not accepted. He found consolation, if not more congenial occupation, in attending lectures on philosophy at Berlin. ”

“ Thomas was fully occupied in instructing the raw recruits. It required infinite patience to work over these independent backwoodsmen into any semblance to soldiers. Little by little the task was accomplished, and the troops so organized became the first brigade of the Army of the Cumberland.
Gen. Robert Anderson was soon relieved from duty on account of failing health, and, after a short interregnum, Gen. Don Carlos Buell was placed in command of the department. Under his orders, Gen. Thomas continued his preparations for a movement in east Tennessee. ”