The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-06
LETTER FROM GEN. SHERMAN.
General Grant and the Battle Of
Pittsburg Landing.
Gen. sherman Furnishing Facts for
History.
From the United States Service Magazine. g..
HKADo'Rs MILITARY Div. OF NrsslssIPrI.
Prof. Hessy Coppee, Philadelphia: ....

From the United States Service Magazine. SO
HKADo'Rs MILITARY DIv. OF NrssrssIPr1.
Prof. Henry Coppee, P6;ladelphia: .....
DEAR S1R-In the June number of the
United States Service Mogosine 1 find brief
sketch Of Lieut. General U. 8. Grant, in which
see you are likely to perpetuate and an error,
which Gen. Grant may not deem of sufficient
importance to correct. To Gen. Buell's no
BILE, able and gallant conduct you attribute the
fact that the disaster of April 6, at Pittsburg
Landing, was retrieved, and made the victory
in his later days to have doubted whether he
was at the battle Of Buena Vista at all, on
account of the many things having transpired
there, according to the historians, which he
did not see, 90 / begin to doubt If was at
the battle Of Pittsburg Landing of modern
description. But I was at the battles of
April and z, 1862. Gen. Grant visited my
division in person about 10 A. n, when the
battle ragged fercest. Iwas then on the right
After some general conversation, he remarked
that was doing right In stubbornly oppos-
ing the progress Of the enemy; and, in answer
to my inquiries as to cartridges, told me he
had anticipated their want, and given orders
accordingly; he then said his presence was
more needed over at the left. -ses g. al
About 2 p. M, on the 9th, the enemy mate
rally slackened his attack on me, and about
p. N. / deliberately made new line behind
McArthur's drill field, placing batteries on
chosen ground, repelled easily cavalry attack,
and watched the approach of the infan-
try, that never dislodged me there. I selected
that line In advance Of a bridge across Snake
Creek, by which we had all day been expecting
the approach of Lew Wsllaee's division from
Crump's Landing. About 5 p. n, before the
sun set, Gen. Grant came again to me, and at
ter hearing my report of matters, explained to
me the situation of affairs on the left, which
were not as favorable. Still the enemy had
failed to reach the landing of the boats. We
agreed that the enemy had expended the farore
Of his attack, and we estimated our loss, and
appr0ximated our then strength, including
Lew. Wallace's fresh division, expected each
minute. He then ordered me to get all things
ready, and at daylight the next day to assume
the offensive. That was before Buell. had ar
rived, but he was known to be near at hand
Buells troops took no essential part in the first
days fight, and Grants army, though collected
together hastily, green as militia, some regi-
ments arriving without cartridges even. and
nearly all hearing the dread sound Of battle for
the first time, had successfully withstood and
repelled the first days terrific onset of q supe-
periOr enemy, well commanded and well hand
led. know had orders from General Grant
to assume the offensive before knew General
Buell. was Oh the west of the Tennessee. I
l think Gen. Buell., Col. Fry, and others of
Gen. Buell's staff, rode up to where was
about sunset, about the time Gen. Grant was
leaving me. Gen. Buell. asked me many cues.
tions, and got of me small map, which had
made for my own use, and told me that by day.
light he could have eighteen thousand fresh
men, which knew would settle the matter.
understood Grants forces were to advance
on the right of the Corinth road and Buell's on
the left, and accordingly at daylight advanc.
ed my division by the flank, the resistance be-
ing trivial, up to the very spot where the day
before the battle had been most severe, and