Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-08-04

the 18th Of November, 1928. His father
was prosperous farmer. Sandusky was
at that time sparsely settled region,
with but few or no schools; and during
his early years young MCPHERSON was
thrown almost entirely upon his home
resources for the rudiments of education
He prosecuted his studies in the intervals
of farm work and on wet DAYS, and thus
at the outset of life was emphatically self
taught. Subsequently he went to local
academy, and in June, 1919, entered
West Point, through the patronage of a
member of Congress who perceived his
talents and approved his studious habits.
He was graduated in July, 1858, high
up in the class, and was Immediately af-
forwards appointed brevet Second Lieu
tenant of Beginners
From the time of his graduation to the
month of August, 1861, Lieut., McPher-
son was engaged as Instructor of Military
Engineering at West Point; in the
superintendencc of the defenses and i'm
provements of New York harbor; in the
erection of Fort Delaware, in our bay; on
the Notifications at Alcatraz Island, San
Francisco Bay, and in military surveys in
California. During this period he passed
through the grades of Second and First
Lieutenant. When the rebellion broke
our he wrote from California to the War
Department for active service in the field.
| Although he was ordered East and pro-
noted to Captaincy of Engineers (Au-
gust 6, 1861 } he did not get into active
service until the following November,
having been, in the meantime, in charge
of the defenses of Boston harbor.
His brilliant military career in the
present war commenced on the 18th OF
November, 1861, when he was appointed
Aid-de- Camp to General Halleck. then
in command of the Department of Mis-
souri,. When the expedition against Forts
Henry and Donelson was organized, Nc
Pherson was appointed Chief Engineer of
the ARMY of the Tennessee on the Staff Of
General Grant. In this capacity he was
actively engaged in both those battles,
and also at Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing.
In this last he displayed such conspicu-
Gus gallantry and energy outside of his
duties of engineer, that he received the
warmcst acknowledgements of General
Grant, and has ever since enjoyed the
highest confidence and esteem of that
distinguished soldier. After Beauregards
retreat to Corinth, Colonel Mcpherson
conducted the elaborate works Of engi-
neoring by which General Halleck 'com-
PEELED the Rebels to- evacuate that I'M
portant place, and for these services he
was made Brgadier- General of Volun-
tecrs, May 10, 1862.
These operations relieved the railroad
lines of West Tennessee, and General
Mcpherson was charged with the work Of
reconstructing and utilizing them for the
purpose of the army, q service which he
performed in the most satisfactory man
ncr. In the brilliant battle of Iuka, he
served on the staff of General Grant, and
in the subsequent action at Corinth he
was assigned to the command of a diri-
sion, but having to march sixty miles,
he arrived Just as the Rebels were about
to retreat, and could only join in the
pursuit.
On the 9Th of May, 1862 he was pro-
NOTED to a Major-G eneralship of Volun-
teers. When the Army of the Tennes-
see moved down to Holly Springs, in the
fall of 1862, General Mcpherson COM
manded the right wing, and on the ODD Of
December was placed in command of the
Seventeenth Army Corps. This corps
he commanded in all the battles of the
glorious Vicksburg campaign = Port
Gibson. Raymond, Jackson and Cham
pion's Hill, Raymond he fought alone
with his corps, and at jackson he led
the Seventeenth into the city at a
charge" During the siege operations
at Vicksburg he had command of the
centre, and how efficiently his work was
done is now matter of history. Af:er the
surrender of Vicksburg he was appointed
to the command of the city, and in Au-
gust 1868, was made Brigadier Gen.
in the Regular Army, in acknowledge
ment of his great service in that CAM
paign. .4s
When General Grant was called To
succeed General Rosecrans at Chattanooga
General Mcpherson remained in charge
of all the troops at Vicksburg. On the
22d of March, 1864, Mcpherson was
promoted to the command Of the Depart
ment and the Army of the Tennessee.
He marched his command to Chattanooga
and effected junction with Gen. Sher-
man, to take part in the great campaign
since then in progress in Georgia. Gen.
Sherman's grand army is composed Of
three armies, viz The Army of the
Tennessee, under Gen. Thomas, and the
Army of the Ohio, under Gen. Schofield.
The Army of the Tennessee is composed
of the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seven
tcenth Corps. 1t was this splendid
column that Mcpherson led during the
operations from Chattanooga to Atlanta.
The glorious names of that campaign are
still vivid in the remembrance of the
people. Tunnel Hill, Resaca. Buzzard
Roost, Dallas, Kenesaw, Pine Mountain
all from part of the history of James
B Mcpherson Ho died in sight of
Atlanta, the objective point of the whole
campaign having led his command one
hundred and forty miles into the heart of
Georgia, through an uninterrupted series
of triumphs. He died on the field. the
Commanding General of that army which
he entered two years ago as an unknown
staff officer
His fall will be deeply deplored by the
people, as serious loss to the army and
to the country, in her hour of need.