Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-02
THE p1rrsRuRaH suRpR1sE.


There is much excited discussion going on
in the Western newspapers relative to the
state Of affairs in General Grants camp, at
Piltsburg, which oonduced to the surprise
and slaughter of our troops on the morning
of Sunday, the 9th instant. The journals
are full Of er pdrte statements furnished as
evidence Of the grossest carelessness and
mismanagemont on the part Of the officers in
command and they aver that the public mind
is made up, and sentence of condemnation
passed. The following are the facts alleged:
That, owing to liberty being allowed to
every soldier to fire off his gun in camp, when
and where he pleased, and a continual series
of reports Of firearms being common during
the day time, throughout the camp, the usual
warning from the pckets could not be heard,
or would not have been needed had it been
otherwise;
That in any well regulated camp the sound
Of shot, excepf,at tho stated hour for dis
charging old loads, should be as instant an
alarm as the beating Of the long roll through
every company and that, if worthless Of
fcers had attended 20 enforcing this sort Of
discipline, as the regulations require, instead
Of playing euchre and drinking whisky in
their tents, the blood Of the men murdered
in their tents that Sunday morning would not
be resting on their heads
That raw troops were put in advance where
they would Of course receive the first shock
Of the enemy;
That the higher officers, who knew the risk
of an instant attack from the rebels, took no
heed to prepare against such contingency.
That Gen. Grant did know that risk is assert
ed by the special correspondent of the Gin
cinnati Gazette, who states that the previous
Friday the General thought and said that
sudden attack from Beauregard was extreme
ly probable, and the matter serious enough to
demand preparation. The same authority
says
"a remark Of Gen shermans abou, the probability OF
attack was characteristic. Some asked him, week
two before the fight what he thought Of the position
at Pitisburg Landing. Il think we are in very great
danger Of attack was his reply and he went to give
his reasons. why, then, do you urge your views
upon the Commanding Generalf 'Oh with shrus
Of the shoulders, hey'd cal me crazy dgiin-"
The special correspondent of the Chicago
Journal says:
81 have sought faithfully for the private or officer who
would admit that had pckets out to give Of the
approach Of an enemy and could not yet lind one wit
The same party also states that he was bill
leted in the tent Of colonel Of Missouri
regiment, where it was repeatedly talked
about that there was no pickets out. The
very Saturday night before the battle the
subject was discussed--war experiences quot
ed in proof of the impolcy of depending
upon irregular scouts instead of regular pick
ets-and reference made to Burnsides 8 men in
the South, who we're never caught mapping
Il am surprised at policy here said the Colone
Il can endure 1t no longer. must know whether
in the arms OF an enemy that are ready to close in upon
US or whether are beyond the reach Of danger"
Immediately he ordered out, at half past in the
morning, detachment Of two companies consisting Of
one hundred and thirty men. They had not gone long
before the crack Of musketry was heard Presently
messenger returned, with the intelligence that strong
party had been discovered in the woods, and more
were needed to disperse them Three four companies
were soon sent. They discovered the enemy al day
break and charged upon him become earnest soldiers
He met them with the confidence Of strong man and
drove them hack Returning, our pickets were soon
posted some two three hundred rods from the
campmenust far enough TO keep of bears and wolves
from flock Of defenseless sheep"
The following conversation is related by
one who says he was present and heard it.
1t occurred between the Missouri colonel be-
fore alluded to aud Gen. Prentiss, the head of
that division
THE General rode up to him some hours after this
engagement commenced aud said " Did you send out
body Of several hundred men this morning to provoke
this attack
sent out small force to dsperse what was represen-
ted to be strong reconnotering party Of the enemy
about daybreak, very near our camp, after informing
you Of the nature Of the
You have brought this engagement before we were
prepared for it, and shall hold you responsible for it.
Who shall we pity most the General who was not pre-
pared and is prisoner. the Colonel who became
Wgilant and has gone hurriedly the bar Of Eternal
Justice
There good many things about which non-milita
ry may refrain from entering into judgment. shall
say that policy may have been discovered by
which IL was best for to keep very quiet and
refrain from posting pokets for miles, used to be
the practice Of great GenerAs-and is supposed by
the common people TO be the practice Of all good Gener
ais. Only this. Il did not work well this time.
One Of the rebel prisoners that they in strong
force 80 near encampmen Saturday evening that
our for the rol-cal distinctly heard by them
and gave them degree OF confidence Of being able
surprise aud OF forces before could receive
Inducements nothing else could do. They fairly
ehuckled over it at their suppers"