, 1863-06-07

The famous and unfortunate assaults upon
the rebel line of fo.tidcations on the 23d inst,
is still the subject of remark and animadyer-
sion.
I have noticed disposition on the part Of
some prominent officers to saddle the re-
sponsibility Of the attack and Its unfortunate
issue upon General ]. A. McClernand, Of the
18th army corps. This is unjust At the risk
Of recapitulating matters which have already
been written up, perhaps I'D nauseuta, I re-
count tho fncts, 60 far rs the operations Of
General McClernand are concerned-fact
which can be verified By documentary evi-
dence.
On the night Of the 18th, the army had bi-
youaeked near the enetny'a works, and were
ordered By General Grant to advance, on the
18th, over rough and une1plored ground and
attack them. Accordingly, on the 10Th, 2oth
and 21st, It moved forward under the fire Of
rebel artillery and sharp-shooters. On the
ed, the same order was renewed, In more
specific terms All the corps were required
to advance IN quick time, with bayonets fixed,
md without firing gun until the enemy's
onter works we're carried
The ground between tie hostile lines was
scared by deep rnvines, and obstructed By
abrupt hills, and IN some places By an abbat-
It's Of fallen timber. Yet the several corps
made the best preparation they could to exc
cute the order.
McClernand's corps promptly advanced, at
10 o'clock, to the charge, and, within fifteen
minutes, Lawlers brigade, Of Carr's division,
- n1E, n$nJ 1n5N IT, .nE A4.nl
my's forts and Planted a flag upon it; and, In
ten minutes afterwards, Benton's brigade, OF
the came division, had mado u Judgement and
planted flag upon another fort. Landrum's
and Burbridge's brigade, Of Smiths division,
although formed in the rear, rushed forward,
and, participating In the sanguinary and des-
perate conflict, divided the honors Of the brig:
AIDES in Advance.
At the same time, Osterhaus' division,
supported By one brigade Of Hovey's division,
moved obliquely up hollow to point Of at
tack In front of.Lawler, and al soon became
hot1y engaged.
The assault, thus made by McClernand,s
corps, was one Of the most daring and deter
mined instances OF gallantry occurring in the
annals Of var, and forced the enemy 10 mass
!. his troops to resist It.
To countetact the superior force thus
51rs-s,n6 ehon1d T. osde IN ~. saaa .1ns "a.
h,s r;"h+ ~ ~ ~ u .ta.,ad ~ ~ Iae iuae5e w
~. d,1sr.,a,, ~ ~ 1s sslaS 81 ~ 1g ~ ~
the repulsion Of the attacking force Rein
1neSai1fo~ ~ .,-sf,tnh1a Ty;.i e.'
rcinfa-ee97,ente u ttn-e ~ erd t1n s41sJ 9
he Would have forced fi,e eneinv's lines AM, and
onterci Tickshnrr AncorJin1 r. snhaennan4
;nf1at;nn sns If ~ qeha e, 70 snosea1ens
refnsri fo nccnnT 4he frcnches and nthe-s s
a5;ttad ~ ~, Il! ant;,msaa tnG ano @ t.na
Tnnid forca the,, ~ .en--ondsr " va 0'<Ns@
Amnnr he 1nanv ;nstoncez ,f ;nd;v,ano1
he-ai%,n -h;h,ted 2,nr5s,~ ti;e h1onS1 s+-n1-
Gle 1i,at of Serrcant Gifithl Of he S5d fows.
and Lieut.. White. Of The Chicaeo Mercantile
Rat.c1y shonld MT he oyerlooEsd. Serpaant
Of The fortin front Of Lawlerss Brigade. and
passed within It. Eleven Of his brother SOL
dlers we're killed, but he came ont, bringing
with him twelve prisoners, Lieut.. White
brought M one Of the pieces Of his battery,
by hand, almast to The walls Of the s for, IN
ting 1t, poured a most destructive fire into the
enemy,
Thus McClemaud's corps continued the
contest and firmly held all it had gained for
tTraraRnrt n andewith heavv sicss n Filled
a1,d ..Grnded ~, W,e n = oreater Iecree snccess.
1 t' ,1a. aI ~ r,se. xat {eaI.
1ua uan NY o4nsa ~ Sotpe, 20. w. :. i go ~
.ar noIe tba 10 ls nnd ia +e resnon.
I s;h31;tr ~ ~ ~ orners1 fs,inre.
Nh ~ Tnmnr @ {mn11tes fo lin wan+ of nromn-
4;trae ~ ~ ~! nm tr,1thf.1,r 5cnv Fhat he
os IL ~ 49, ~ ~ aS4srs a,a ,1e ;rst - .nate
1odc,nent m1H 1n in - tha enemTs worts and that he
loaSens ~ tne ens.n! mu.Hs, H., du .lIS t,as as
ams le.ase als ao' o'aaa'ee9 aoAse1 enAu sns o'41e1
Has4 y in,,rtea n hin, The resnonsfh;1;+v