486

THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.

a line farther south, from Memphis to Chattanooga, Knoxville and on to theAtlantic, hut assumed the offensive, and made such a gallant effort to regainwhat had been lost, then, indeed, I gave up all idea of saving the Union excepthv complete conquest. Up to that time it had been the policy of our army,certainly of that portion commanded by me, to protect the property of the citi-zens whose territory was invaded, without regard to their sentiments, whetherUnion or Secession. After this, however, I regarded it as humane to bothsides to protect the persons of those found at their homes but to consumeeverything that could be used to support or supply armies. Protection w T asstill continued over such supplies as were within lines held by us, and whichwe expected to continue to hold. But such supplies within the reach of Con-federate armies I regarded as contraband as much as arms or ordnance stores.Their destruction was accomplished without bloodshed, and tended to thesame result as the destruction of armies. I continued this policy to the closeof the war. Promiscuous pillaging, however, was discouraged and punished.Instructions were always given to take provisions and forage under the direc-tion of commissioned officers, who should give receipts to owners, if at home,and turn the property over to officers of the quartermaster or commissarydepartments, to be issued as if furnished from our Northern depots. Butmuch was destroyed without receipts to owners when it could not be broughtwithin our lines, and would otherwise have gone to the support of secessionand rebellion. This policy, I believe, exercised a material influence inhastening the end.

SShD’

ABOVE THE BANDING —THE STOKE, AND A PAKT OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1884.