General Don Carlos Buell.--One of the greatest Generals, also one of the greatest Failures of the War.--Buell too methodical to be practical.--Weakness of his Army Organization.--Three Corps Commanders without Ability.--Perryville a Battle lost by Jealousy of our Commanders.--Quarrel between Buell and Governor Johnson of Tennessee.--The true Story of the proposed Evacuation of Nashville. --Thomas and Buell compared.--William Starke Rosecrans a great Failure.--His utter Incompetency.--His extreme Nervousness unfitting him for a Command.--His Campaign of Chickamauga one Series of Mistakes.--The Battle an unnecessary Slaughter.--The worst managed Battle of the War.--Rosecrans not on the Field.--Gordon Granger's Peculiarities.--His Predilection for artillery Fights.--His Resemblance to Joe Hooker.--Retort upon Sherman.--"Living off the Country."--His Opinion of Gideon Pillow and "painted Mules."--Grief at the Death of Captain Russell.--"Old Steady" Steedman one of the most positive Men of the War.--His Boldness and Impudence.--Daring Charge at Chickamauga.--His March from Chattanooga to Nashville to ask for Orders.--His Faith in Negro Troops.--Generals Wood and Negley the Victims of Chickamauga.--Military Character of each. --General Howard a Soldier on Principle.--His firm Faith in the Cause and its Success.--Methodical Turn of Mind.--Religious Habits and Training.--Mayor William H. Sidell as Sherman's Counterpart.--General John A. Logan the representative General of the Western Army.--His Readiness in Emergencies, and his great personal Daring.--General John W. Geary's adventurous Career.--His famous midnight Battle with Longstreet, and how he defeated him 242 CHAPTER VIII. SOME PECULIARITIES OF OUR VETERANS. Superiority of educated over uneducated Soldiers.--Contrast in the _personnel_ of European and American, between Union and Rebel, and between Eastern and Western Troops.--Superiority of the Union Armies. --Anecdotes and Incidents illustrating the Peculiarities of our Veterans 321 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO THE FRONT _Frontispiece._ WILLIAM T. SHERMAN 16 GEORGE H. THOMAS 58 ULYSSES S. GRANT 90 ROBERT E. LEE 95 PHILIP H. SHERIDAN 131 JOSEPH HOOKER 164 LOVELL H. ROUSSEAU 194 DON CARLOS BUELL 245