The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-01-12
TITO Battle Of Pittsburg Landing.
yindic alton Of General Grant--Letter from
+ Major General william r. sherman.
HSADQgARrBRs MILTrAKY Drvrsfos OF rHE!
~ Astsa


yindicatIon Of General Grant-Letter from
= Major General. william r. sherman.
HsADocAsrIRs MLrrAxr DIVISION OF THE!
= ~ ~ If ~. MffssIsRtPr1, !
Prof, Henry Coppse, PAladelphia:
DsAu Sir In tho juno number the United
States Service Magazine find brief ssetsh OF
LdeuteuAs General u. s. Grant, in which
see you arc likely to prepetuate an error, which
Con. Grant .nay not deem Of sufficient impor-
lance TO correct. To General Buell's noble
able and gallant conduct you attribute the
fact THAI shs dsSAster Of pril 8, at Pittsburg
Landing, was retrieved. and made the victory
Of tho following day. As Gen. Taylor Is said
in his later days to have doubted whether he
was a. the battle OF Buens Vista At all. ac-
count Of the many things having transpired
there according TO the historians, which no
did not see, 90 i begin to doubt whether Twas
at the battle Of Pittsburg Landing Of April 9Th
and 7th, 1862, General Grant visited my d.
vision in person about ten A. M, when the
battle ragged fercest. WAS then on the right;
After some general conversation lac remarked
that I WAS doing right IN stubbornly opposing
tho progress Of the enemy; and in answer to
my inquiry as to cartridges, told NE he had an
ticipated their want. and given orders accor-
dinghy; he then said his presence was moro
needed over at tire left. About two p. H., Of
the 9Th. tho enemy materially slackened his
attack On ne, and about four p. NJ. ldeiiber-
ate,y made now iine behind McArthurs drill
field, placing batteries on chosen ground. repell-
ed easily . cavalry attack, and wached the
cautious approach Of the snsmy's infantry, that
never disloiged me there. 4 selected that line
in advance Of a bridge across Snake creek. by
which We bed oil day excepted the approach Of
Lew Wallsce's division from Crump's Landing
About five p. NJ before the sun set General
Grant came again to me, and aiter hearing my
report of sfsirs or the lsfe which were not as
favorable; stilI the enemy had failed to reach the
landing OF the bovts. We'agreed that the enc
my had expended tho fnSore OF his attack, and
we estimated our loss. and a2proximated our
then strength including Lew Wailaces fresh
division, expected each minute. He then or
dered me to got eli things ready: and at day
light the next day to assume the Offensive
That was before General Buell. had arrived, but
he was known 10 10 near At hand. General
Buelps troops took no essential part in the first
together hastily, green IS militia, some resl-
ments without cartridges even. and nearly all
hearing the dread sound Of battle for the first
time, had successfully w,hstood and repealed
the first days terrific onset Of superior enemy
we'll commanded aud well handled. know |
had orders from General Grant to assume the
offensive before knew Gen. Buell. was on the
west side Of the Tennessee. l think General
Buell., ane Colonel Fry and others Of General
BuslPs stat, rode up to where | was about
sunset. about the time General Grant was
leaving me. General Buell. asked me many
questions, and got OF me . small map which
had made for my own use. and told me that by
daylight he could have eight thousand fresh
men. which knew would settle the matter.
Understood Grants fcrcss wore to advance
on The right Of the CUrsnth road. and BuelPs on
the Ien, and accordingly at daylight advanced
my division by the flank. the resistance being
trivial ND to the very spot where the day before
the battle had been most severe, and then
wstsd till nesr noon fos Buelps troops to get up
abreast. whom tho entire line advanced and re-
covered I'll the ground We had ever held,
knew that, with the exception Of one Or two
severe struggles, the fighting Of April Z, WAS
easy as compared with that Of April 6.
never was disposed. rer am now, to ques-
ton any thing done BY Gen. Buell. and his ar
nv. and know that approaching our Held o
battle from the rear he encountered that sicfsn
ing crowd oflasgards and fugitivss that excited
his conssm ps and that Of his army. who neve
rave falicredit 20 those in front OF the line. wh'
did fight heard, and who had. 1t four 2. NJ
checked the sBsmy. and were preparing tn
next day to assume the offensive. 1 remembe
the fact the better from Gen. Grants anecdot
of his Donelson battle. which be told me thel
for the iirst time-that ct . certain period Q
the batAle he saw that either side was ready I
give way If the other showed bold front, an
yhs rlsssrssAAed 70 do shA, very thing, to Advanc
on the enemy, when As he progoostscatsd, tn
- enemy survsrdssed. Al four p. NJ, of Apr
pr-S, he thsushs Abe appearance the same, and
Ssos;udc~a; with Lev WA.lsee's fresh division IN
such Of our startled troops - had recovered the
- equilibrium. he would be justified IN dropPiu
Ctc delAsivs ~ sssuuing tho offensive in II
morning; and repeat, received such ordsi
: bsssors rknsw Gen. Bssll's troops were At Il
i, river. admit that I was glad that Buell. VI
:. shsre. bscauss rknew that his troops vs
! ,sao,der than euss and tssssr sysssmasssd q
' =. .driusA. and his arrival made that eersau wh'
- rwss snetrS.an hsvs heard thss qsssti'
q o. u khak - of6ca