Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-03-12
General Me- lernand.

We have noticed several paragraphs
in different public journals, charging
Gen. McClernand with the response
bility Of the failure of the Federal at
tack upon the encmy's works near
Nicksbnrg. 1t is true that the Secre.
tary of War had assigned to him
the command of the Mississippi Expe-
dition, and that the President had
signified to the General-in-Ch Chief his
desire that Gen. McCernand should
have command of that Expedition.
But it is equally true, that while Gen.
McClernand was on duty at Springfield,
Illinois, in forwarding troops from
Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, for the
Expedition, Gen. Hallock gave the
command of the Expedition to General
Grant. This was as far back as the
9Th of December last and Gen Grant
gave the immediate command to Gen.
Sherman.
On the 18th Of December, the Pres
ident, coming to know this fact, caus-
ed Gen. Halleck to direct Gen. Grant
to place Gen. McClernand in immcdi-
date command but the latter was
not notified of this until the 22d. by a
dispatch dated on the 2lst. In the
meantime, Gen. Sherman had descend
ed the Mississippi, at the head of the
Expedition I; and when Gen. McCler-
nand reached Memphis and reported
to Gen. Grant, for orders, the Expedi.
ton had been already repulsed at
Vicksburg.
This conflict of authority and orders
is mysterious. 1t is clear, however,
that the President designed and had
ordered that Gen. McClernand should
have command, and that Gen. Halleck
frustrated the design. The response
bility of the failure of the expedition
attaches to others than Gen. McCler-
nand.
Gen. McClernand assumed direction
of the expedition after it had returned
to Milliken,s Bend, and on the same
day sailed for the Post of Arkansas,
and reduced that place, capturing
more than $500 prisoners and all the
enemy.s material Of war found there.
This blow, probably, would have been
followed by another upon Little Rock,
and the enemy wonld have been driv-
Ell south Of the Arkansas River, but
was arrested by an order from Gen.
Grant, to return to Milliken's Bend,
who censured Gen McClernand for his
operations in Arkansas. The country,
however. fully sustains him. 1t wants
results and this was one which came
upon it as suddenly as agreeably.
Returning to the vicinity of Vicks-
burg, Gen. McClernand disembarked
his forces and took up positions oppo-
site, above and below the city, cut off
the enemy's communications, by wa.
ter, below the city by planting bate
rics on the river bank, and in this po-
sition was awaiting the cooperation
of Gen. Banks when Gen. Grant ar.
rived. and on the goth assumed con-
troll of the expedition and reduced Gen.
McClernand to the command of the
18th Army Corps, and charged it
with garrisoning the west bank of
the Mississippi River from Helena
south.
1t is understood that Gen. McCler.
nand protested against this measure
as contrary to the order Of the Presi-
dent and Secretary of War, and unjust
to him as the protector of the expedi-
ton. 1t remains to be seen what the
authorities at Washington will do in
the case. What Gen McClernand has
undertaken to do he has done well.
We hope Gen. Grant will be more
successful in conducting this great en-
terprise than he was in conducting
the enterprise against Grenada.--CM-
eago Tribune. q On /