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ee as possible to execute it in his own way； and when an army is divided up into several parts； the superior should always attend that one which he regards as most important。 Some men think that modern armies may be so regulated that a general can sit in an office and play on his several columns as on the keys of a piano； this is a fearful mistake。 The directing mind must be at the very head of the armymust be seen there； and the effect of his mind and personal energy must be felt by every officer and man present with it； to secure the best results。 Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster。
Lastly； mail facilities should be kept up with an army if possible； that officers and men may receive and send letters to their friends； thus maintaining the home influence of infinite assistance to discipline。 Newspaper correspondents with an army； as a rule； are mischievous。 They are the world's gossips； pick up and retail the camp scandal； and gradually drift to the headquarters of some general； who finds it easier to make reputation at home than with his own corps or division。 They are also tempted to prophesy events and state facts which； to an enemy； reveal a purpose in time to guard against it。 Moreover； they are always bound to see facts colored by the partisan or political character of their own patrons； and thus bring army officers into the political controversies of the day； which are always mischievons and wrong。 Yet； so greedy are the people at large for war news； that it is doubtful whether any army commander can exclude all reporters； without bringing down on himself a clamor that may imperil his own safety。 Time and moderation must bring a just solution to this modern difficulty。
CHAPTER XXVI。
AFTER THE WAR
In the foregoing pages I have endeavored to describe the public events in which I was an actor or spectator before and during the civil war of 1861…'65； and it now only remains for me to treat of similar matters of general interest subsequent to the civil war。 Within a few days of the grand review of May 24； 1865； I took leave of the army at Washington； and with my family went to Chicago to attend a fair held in the interest of the families of soldiers impoverished by the war。 I remained there about two weeks； on the 22d of June was at South Bend； Indiana； where two of my children were at school； and reached my native place； Lancaster； Ohio； on the 24th。 On the 4th of July I visited at Louisville； Kentucky； the Fourteenth； Fifteenth； Sixteenth； and Seventeenth Army Corps； which had come from Washington； under the command of General John A。 Logan； for 〃muster out；〃 or 〃further orders。〃 I then made a short visit to General George H。 Thomas at Nashville； and returned to Lancaster； where I remained with the family till the receipt of General Orders No。 118 of June 27； 1865； which divided the whole territory of the United States into nineteen departments and five military divisions； the second of which was the military division of the 〃Mississippi；〃 afterward changed to 〃Missouri；〃 Major… General W。 T。 Sherman to command； with； headquarters at St。 Louis； to embrace the Departments of the Ohio； Missouri； and Arkansas。
This territorial command included the States north of the Ohio River； and the States and Territories north of Texas； as far west as the Rocky Mountains； including Montana； Utah； and New Mexico； but the part east of the Mississippi was soon transferred to another division。 The department commanders were General E。 O。 C。 Ord； at Detroit； General John Pope； at Fort Leavenworth； and General J。 J。 Reynolds； at Little Rock； but these also were soon changed。 I at once assumed command； and ordered my staff and headquarters from Washington to St。 Louis； Missouri； going there in person on the 16th of July。
My thoughts and feelings at once reverted to the construction of the great Pacific Railway； which had been chartered by Congress in the midst of war； and was then in progress。 I put myself in communication with the parties engaged in the work； visiting them in person； and assured them that I would afford them all possible assistance and encouragement。 Dr。 Durant； the leading man of the Union Pacific； seemed to me a person of ardent nature； of great ability and energy； enthusiastic in his undertaking； and determined to build the road from Omaha to San Francisco。 He had an able corps of assistants； collecting materials； letting out contracts for ties； grading； etc。； and I attended the celebration of the first completed division of sixteen and a half miles； from Omaha to Papillon。 When the orators spoke so confidently of the determination to build two thousand miles of railway across the plains； mountains； and desert； devoid of timber； with no population； but on the contrary raided by the bold and bloody Sioux and Cheyennes； who had almost successfully defied our power for half a century； I was disposed to treat it jocularly； because I could not help recall our California experience of 1855…'56； when we celebrated the completion of twenty…two and a half miles of the same road eastward of Sacramento； on which occasion Edward Baker had electrified us by his unequalled oratory； painting the glorious things which would result from uniting the Western coast with the East by bands of iron。 Baker then； with a poet's imagination； saw the vision of the mighty future； but not the gulf which meantime was destined to swallow up half a million of the brightest and best youth of our land； and that he himself would be one of the first victims far away on the banks of the Potomac （he was killed in battle at Balls Bluff； October 21； 1861）。
The Kansas Pacific was designed to unite with the main branch about the 100 deg。 meridian； near Fort Kearney。 Mr。 Shoemaker was its general superintendent and building contractor； and this branch in 1865 was finished about forty miles to a point near Lawrence； Kansas。 I may not be able to refer to these roads again except incidentally； and will； therefore； record here that the location of this branch afterward was changed from the Republican to the Smoky Hill Fork of the Kansas River； and is now the main line to Denver。 The Union and Central Railroads from the beginning were pushed with a skill； vigor； and courage which always commanded my admiration； the two meeting at Promontory Point； Utah； July 15； 1869； and in my judgment constitute one of the greatest and most beneficent achievements of man on earth。
The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad was deemed so important that the President； at my suggestion； constituted on the 5th of March； 1866； the new Department of the Platte； General P。 St。 George Cooke commanding； succeeded by General C。 C。 Augur； headquarters at Omaha； with orders to give ample protection to the working…parties； and to afford every possible assistance in the construction of the road； and subsequently in like manner the Department of Dakota was constituted； General A。 H。 Terry commanding； with headquarters at St。 Paul； to give similar protection and encouragement to the Northern Pacific Railroad。 These departments； with changed commanders； have continued up to the present day； and have fulfille