John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[280] distinguished man, but, introduced by Dana, it was the beginning of a friendship which speedily became intimate and lasted till his death. tie received us with every mark of consideration, and during the conversation which followed he made haste to say, “Mr. Dana, you have got me this time; but there is nothing for a man to do in such a case but to obey orders.” This was an allusion to the disinclination which he had frequently shown to supplant those in authority over him. He of course knew that he was the legitimate successor of Rosecrans. He knew also that the latter could not longer hold command of that army without great injury to its efficiency, and this was his method of letting it be officially understood that he was done declining the responsibilities and honors to which he was justly entitled. This interview over, we called upon General Smith, the chief engineer, and General Brannan, the chief of artillery. Those distinguished officers at once declared that under the sane and steady guidance of Thomas the danger of further disaster had not only disappeared but that order and confidence had already been established throughout the army. Our next duty was to ride the lines, visit the advance posts, and confer with the actual commanders of the troops. Everywhere we found short rations, little forage, and plenty of hungry soldiers and starving animals. And yet every vestige of discontentment had disappeared. Everybody seemed cheerful and hopeful. Officers and men alike had regained resolution and courage. Smith had already worked out his plans “for shortening the cracker line,” and Thomas had given them his approval. It remained only to lay them before Grant and under his sanction to perfect the means of putting them into effect.

That night at nine o'clock Grant and his staff, “wet, dirty, and well,” rode into town and went at once to Thomas's headquarters, where Dana and I soon found them.