The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-06-22
HOW vICKsBURG WAS TAKEN.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF GRANTS
PLAN AND sHERMAN's PROTEST.

|
tsprngfeld correspondence of the Chicago Republican
In the Republican of June Sd, wa,
published an editorial article with an ex
tract headed "A Scrap of History.U anc
winch gives an account of General Sher
mans written protest against General
Grants clrcuitors march around Vicks.
burg, and by "hi2h he cut himself off
from his base of supriics; describes how
General Sherman directed that the pro.
test be forwarded to Washington; how
General Grant never did SO forward it
but afterwards, when Vicksburg was
ABOUT to surrender, tore it up in General
Sherman,s presence, much to the salts
faction of the latter
| have no doubt of the truth of the
story, as 1t perfectly tallies with an ac-
count, which l have often heard related
by parties who were present, of the way
III which General Grant is said to have
come to the determination of making
the extraordinary and novel military
movement by which he captured Vicks.
burg, and which INV enivsst wus evil
IDENTIFY entirely one of hisown invention
and greatly adds to the military genius OF
the man. The people have not probably
because of General Grants native
modestyl been heretofore willing to give
him credit foEo1f4inality of mind or for
that military Wcf&us, which is the high
est form of mental power, and which
conceives as well as executes. In fact,
| have heard officers and soldiers assert
that to General Sherman alone was due
the credit of planning the entire CAM
paign which resulted in the capture of
Vicksburg; when the truth Is, that CAM
paign was the conception Of General
Cant himself. And more than this, the
most brilliant movement of it was un-
dertaken contrary to the advice Of Gene
TAI Sherman, and in the teeth of bis
written protest. To General Grant. then
must be accorded the praise of havil 1.
not only conceived it, but also of having,
By bis ,indomtable pluck, self-relance
aii6. logged ohstinacy, the latter trait
rising tote' .ia.I in the case, carried this
great movement TO q successful terrnlns.
tior, In spite Of the opposition Of Gene
rel Stermar i'll whose Judgment and
nallitars talent he reposed stch great
confidence.
The " cunt of the manner by which
General Grant was led TO make the great
movement which resulted 10 the capture
OF Vicksburg is as follows:--On the LIST
of April, 1855, Generals Grant Sherman,
Ogi by, secretary OF State O. NJ. Hatch,
oil tAls state; Auditor jesse K. Dubois,
United States Marshal d. L. PHILIPPE,
| Congressman Mitchell, of the FIT
Wayne district, Indiana; Commodore
Porter, and various ether naval officere,
We're on board the flagship OF Comno-
dore Porter squadron The Black Hawk
| think. They had been up the Yazoo
river to Haines' Bluff on reconnois-
sance of the Notifications, and were re-
| ft.,ninu Thn y.cy oaaf..H in l,e.
cabin OF the flagship, and an anir1ated
discussion was going forward between
General Sherman, Hon. Jesse X. Dubois
and Hon. u. L. Phillips, all good TALK
e1s, ana loving to talk, too. The topic
was the question of slavery, the effect OF
the war upon it, &c. General s5heriaap
contended that slavery had nothing l..
do with the war, and should not be made
to enter into it; that the Southerners
were high-toned gentlemen; that he had
no objection to slavery per &c.. that the
/ war would last fifteen years, and that
the South could only be made to sue
cumb after they. had been virtually all
i but exterrninated; also that it was q war
between the PIIitans and cavaliers,
Messrs. Dubois and Phillips, especially
tie former, stoutly cOmbatted these ideas.
Mr.. Dubois contended that slavery was
the cause of the war, and that 1t must be
removed before permanent peace could
be secured; also, that, as regarded the du-
ration Of it, if those in charge Of it would
only do their duty it, could be closed up
in short time; that the people of the
/ North had given men and money in al
most unlimited numbers and amounts
and that the result was in their hands,
with every apriilncs to a successful ter
nlination. Mr. tI,.llips then took up
the conversation with General Sherman
i on the question of slavery, and General
Grant, who had remained silent listen
er during the other discussion, with the
inevitable cigar between his lips, with
drew from the cabin to the deck, and
Mr.. Dubois followed him. The General
had not beckoned the Auditor from the
room, but both appeared to be drawn to-
gether by one Of those mental attractions
for which there is no accounting, Upon
deck conversation ensued between the
two, the utterance of which is as follows:
Il General GRANT-Uncle Jesse, to tell
you the truth, have come to my wits
end as regards the capture of Vicksburg.
| do not really know what next move TO
make. i have tried everything could
think of, and here we are yet. l have
been advised that we 60 back to Mem
phis and commence an overland march
from that point.
Mr.. DUBoIs-General Grant, you can
not do that If you take this army back
20 Memphis, with all this array OF gun
boats and transports and all your mate
riel of war, the effect will be disastrous
on the country. This internal constitu-
ton in our State was only defeated by
super-human exertions. Another cleo
ton is almost upon US, and the who's
| = orthwest is on the Verge of revolution.
IL yoti go back you strengthen the bands
of the traitors ana X. &. C.'s at home.
They will call your movement retreat,
and more loudly than ever assert that
the South cannot be conquered. II you
can do no better, yoa must storm Vicks-
burg. If it costs the lives Of forty thou
Sand men il MIST be taken. 1t is ter
4 rible thing tA ,uink o., but it must be
done.
| Csnera Grant replied that he would
REF lt1!pon The matter during the night
and ,et NIr Dubois know OF ais deter
D1ination III the morning. When the
Dfliornino came, Gen. Grant met MIR.
4 Dubois with a cheerful countenance,
and the following conversation took
place:
/ General GRANT-Uncle Jesse, you are
tgoilis home to-day tell Governor Yates
anu tne people of Illinois Tor me that j
! Will take Vicksbulg in sixty days