ride." Again, on page 152 is Sherman's telegram to
General Grant: "Until we can repopulate Georgia, it is useless for us to
occupy it; but the utter destruction of its roads, houses, and people
will cripple their military resources. I can make this march, and make
Georgia howl." It could hardly be expected that troops trained by this
commander would respect _the humanities_.

CHAPTER XII.

EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

Prostrated by two years of constant devotion to work--work so severe,
stern, and exacting as to have prevented me from giving the slightest
attention to my family, even when heavily afflicted--and persuaded that
under existing administration nothing would be accomplished in the
"Trans-Mississippi Department," a month after the close of the Red River
campaign I applied for relief from duty. After several applications this
was granted, and with my wife and two surviving children I retired to
the old Spanish-French town of Natchitoches. The inhabitants, though
impoverished by the war, had a comfortable house ready for my family, to
which they invited me, with all the warmth of Southern hearts and all
the good taste of the Latin race. Here I remained for several weeks,
when information of my promotion to lieutenant-general came from
Richmond, with orders to report for duty on the east side of the
Mississippi. The officers of my staff, who had long served with me,
desired and were permitted to accompany me, with the exception of Brent,
now colonel of artillery, who could not be spared. Colonel Brent
remained in west Louisiana until the close of the war, attaining the
rank of brigadier. Of his merit and services I have already written.

The Red River campaign of 1864 was the last Federal campaign undertaken
for political objects, or intrusted to political generals. Experience
taught the Washington Government that its enormous resources must be
concentrated, and henceforth unity of purpose and action prevailed.
Posts on the Mississippi between Memphis and New Orleans were
strengthened, intervening spaces closely guarded by numerous gunboats,
and parties thrown ashore to destroy all boats that could be found.
Though individuals, with precaution, could cross the great river, it was
almost impossible to take over organized bodies of troops or supplies,
and the Confederates on the west were isolated. The Federal Government
now directed its energies against Richmond and Atlanta.

Upon what foundations the ci