Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-02-18
THE SIEGE OF CINCINNATI.
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The live man of the old Revolution, the
daring Hotspur of those troublous days,
was Anthony Wayne. The live man to-
day of the great Northwest is Lewis Wal
lace. With all the chivalricy dash of the
stormer of Stony Point, he has a cooler
head, with a capacity for larger plans,
and the steady nerve to execute whatever
he conceives. When difficulty rises in
his path, the difficulty, no matter what
| its proportions, moves aside he does not
Whena river like the Ohio at Cincinnati
interYepes between him and his field of
operations, there is a sudden sound of
saws and hammers at sunset, and the
next morning beholds the magic specta-
Gle of great Pontoon bridge stretching
between the shores of Freedom and
Slavery, its .planks resounding to the
heavy tread of almost endless regiments
and arnay wagons. Is city like Cincfn-
natl menaced by a hungry foe, striding
on by forced marches, that foe sees his
path suddenly blocked by ten miles of
Notifications, thoroughly manned and
armed, and he finds it prudent, even with
his twenty thousand veterans, to retreat
faster than he came, stTewing the road
with whatever articles impeded his haste.
Some few incidents in the life of such a
man, since he has taken the field, ought
not to be uninteresting to those for whom
he has fought so brayely: and we believe
that his services, when known, will be
appreciated, otherYise We VIII come un-
der the old ban of Republics, that they
are ungra.eful.
While returning from New York at
the expiration of a short leave OF absence,
the first asked for since the beginning of
the war, General Wallace was persuaded
BY Governor Morton to stump the State
OF Indiana in favor of voluntary enlist
menis, which at that time were progress
ing slowly. Wallace went to work with
all earnestness. His idea was to obtain
command of the new levies, drill them,
and take them TO the field and this idea
was circulated throughout the State
The result was, enlisrrng increased rapid
y ), the ardor for it rose shortly to fe
yer, and it has not yet abated. Regi
ments are still forming, shedding addi-
tional lustre upon the name of patriotic
Indiana.
General Wallace was thus engaged
when the news was received from Nor
gan of the invasion of Kentucky by Kir-
by Smith. All eyes at once turned to
Governor Morton, many of whose Eegi-
ments were now ready to take the field,
if they had only officers to lead them
Wallace came promptly to the Governors
assistance, and offered to take command
of a regiment for the crisis. His offer
was accepted, and he was sent to New AL
bany, where the Sixty-sixth Indiana was
in camp. In twelve hours he mustered
it, paid its bounty money, clothed and
armed it, and marched it to Louisville
Brigdier Gen. Boyle was in command Of
Kentucky. Wallace, who is a Major
General, reported to him at the above
named citY,and peculiar scene occurred.
General Boyle" said Wallace, 81 re-
port to you the Sixty-sixth Indiana Regi-
ment."
"Who commands it?"asked the Gener-
al
Il have that honor. sir" was the reply.
You want orders, | suppose ??
Certainly"
1T is a dificult matter for me-, said
Boyle. Il have no right to order you"
That difficulty is easily solved" Wal
lace replied with characteristic prompt
ness. Il come to report to you as Col
mel. / come to take orders as such"
General Boyle consulted with his Adju-
tant General, and the result was request
that General Wallace would proceed to
Lexington with his command. Here was
exhibited the ready, self-sacrifcing spirit
of a true patriot: he did not stand and
wait until he could find the position to
which his high rank entitled him, but
stepped into the place where he could
best and quickest serve his country in
her hour Of peril.
While Wallace was still at the railway
station he received an order from Gener-
a. Boyle, putting him in command of all
the forces in Lexington. Here was O |
golden opportunity for our young COM
mander.' What higher honor could be |
coveted than to relieve the brave Morgan,
pent up as he was with his little army in
the mountain gorges of the Cumberland? |
The idea fired the soul of Wallace, and |
he pushed on to Lexington. But here |
he was sadly disappointed. He found |
the forces awaiting him there wholly in |
adequate to the task: instead of an army !
there was only three regiments. He tel |
egraphed for more troops. Indiana and |
Ohio responded nobly. In three days he |
received and brigaded nine regiments |
and started them toward the Gap.
No one but an experinced soldier, one
who has indeed tried it, can conceive of |
the labor involved in such an undertake
ing. The material in his hands was, to
say the best of it, magnihcently ralc.
Officers, from colonels to coporals, brave
though they might be as lions, knew
literally nothing of military affairs. The
men had not Termed even to load their
guns Companies had to be led, like
little children, by the hand as it were, !