The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1865-06-17
How vicAsburg was Taken.

!. How Vicksburg was Taken.
TIE Springfield CORES pondent o. the
| new Chicago Republican, gives the fol Ipw-
| Ing scrap Of history: y
In thu Republican OF June Sd was pub.
lisned an editorial article with an extract
from the New York Times, headed ga
Scrap OF History" and which gives en- ac-
count Of Gen Sherlnan's written protest
against General Grants circuitous march
around VicAsburg, and by which he cut
himself of from his base of supplies: de-
scrii1es how Gen. Sherman directed that
the protest be forwarded to Washington;
how Gen. Grant never did so forward it,
but afterwards, when vicksburg was about
TO surrender, tore it up in Gen. Shermau's 8
presence, much to the satisfaction Of the
latter.
I have no doubt Of the truth of the story,
as it peafectiy tallies with an account
which have often heard related by par
ties who were present, of the way in which
Gen. Grant is said to have come to the de-
termination Of making the extraordinary
and novel military movement by which he
captured vicksburg, and which movement
was evidently enti rely one of his own in
veution, and greatly adds to the military
genius Of the man. The people have not
(probably because of Gen. Grants native
Modesty) been heretofore willing to give
him credit for originality Of mind, or for
that military genius (Which Is the highest
form Of mental power) and which con-
ceives as we'll as executes. In fact, have
heard officers aud soldiers assert that to
Sherman alone was due the credit OF plan
ning the entire campaign, which resulted
in the capture Of Vicksburg; when the
truth is, that campaign was the conception
Of Gen. Grant himself And more than
this, the most brilliant movement OF it was
undertaken contrary ia the advice Of Gen.
A. o.o6 n hot fGAQf
protest. 70 Gen. Grant, then. must De &C.
corded the praise OF having not only con-
ceived it. but also of having, by his in
domitab,e pluck, self-reliance aud dogzed
obsunacy, (the latter trait rising to hero
ism in the casel, carried this great move
men. to a successful Termination, in spite
Of the opposition Of General Sherman, in
whose judgment and military talent he re-.
posed such great confidence.
The account OF the manner by which
Gen. Grant was led to make the great
movement, which resulted in the capture
Of vicksburg, ia rs itiiaws. On the lat of
April, 1865, Generals Grant, Sherman,
Oglesby. Secretary Estate o: N. Hatch, OF
this State, Auditor Jassee K. Dubois, Unit.
I'd States Marshal D. L. Phillips, Con.
gressmaa Mitchell, of the Fort Wayne Dis.
trict Indiana, Commodore Porter and va.
rious other naval officers were on board
the flag ship OF Commodore Porter's
squadron (The Black Hawk, I think.)
They mad been up the Yazoo River to
Haines' Blutf, on Reconnaissance of the
fortitications, and were returning. The
party were seated Ia the cabin Of the flag
shin. and an animated discussion was go-
ing forward between General Sherman.
Hon. Jessee K. Dubois, and Hon. .. L.
Phillips, all good takers, aud loving to
talk too. The topic was tne question OF
slavery, the effect Of the war upon it. DC.
General Sherman contended that slavery
had nothing to do with the war and
should not be made to eEter Into it !; that
the eoutherners we're high.toned gentle.
men that he had no objection 10 slavery
Der Sc; that the war would last dfteen
years that the south co1ld cniy be made
to succumb after they had been virtually
AL but extar1ninated also that it was q
war between the Puritans aad cavaliers.
Messrs. Dubois and Phillips, especially the
former stOutly ccmbatted these IDEAS. Dir.
Dubois contended that slavery was The
cause of the war, and that itmust be re-
moved before 3 permanent peace could be
secured also, that as regarded the dUza-
ton Of il. il those in charge Of it would
oui1 DO their duty it could be closed up L,
short time; THAI the people Of the north
had given thcm men and money in almost
unlimited numbers and amounts; aud
that the resv!: was ia their hands, With sv.
erv applinaCe TO eucceoaful termination.
Nr. Phillips then took up the converse.
ton with General Sherman on the subject
of slavery, and General Grant, who had
remained silent Listener during the other
discussion, with the inevitable cigar BE-.
tween his lips, withdrew from the cabin to
the deck, and Mr.. Dubois followed him.
Toe Geuefal had not becSoned the Audit.
or froln the room, but both appeared to he
drawn together by ono Of those mental at.
fractions for which there is no accounting.
Upon deck Q conversation ensued between
the two, the utterauce Of which Is az fol-
lows: m - 81 4
GENERAL Grant: "Uncls Jesse, to tell you
the truth have come to my wirs snd, In
regard to the capture Of vicksbuxg. I do
MOT really know what next move 20 make.
have txied everything could think Of,
and heE0 No Afo yet. have beon advised
that wo 90 hack 20 M6mphis and com.
mence an overland march from thai
point.'' vhs g4sfa
| Nr. Dubois: General Grant, you caano(
Do that. II you take this army back q
Msmphis, With MI this array Of gun.boatl
and transports and Ill your material O,
W1g. the eject viii b disastrous on the
country. This Internal constitution In on
State was only defeated BY superhuman
exertous. Another election is almost up
on us, and the whole north west is on {
strenkthen the hands OF the traitors and
K. G. C.'s at home. They viii call youl
movement . retreat, and more loudly than
ever assert that the South cannot b,
conquered. II you can do no better, yor
must storna vickaburg. II it costa th,
\ lives Of forty thousand men, il must be Ia
ken. Il Is terrible thing TO othink of, bu
it must be done.'
! General Grant replied that he would re
feet upon tie matter during the night ant
Y let Mr.. Dubois know OF his DISCRIMINATION
in the morning. When morning came
Gen. Grant met Mr.. Dunois with a c.ees
full eountenance, and the following coz
versa a,ion tonk place:
i General Grant: ''Uncle jesse. you ar
going home to-day. Tell Governor u axe
and tic peorle OF Illinoie for rae, that
VIII take Vickshurg III sixty days, =
j Mr.. Dubois "Generai Grant, am csa.
to hear you say this. Eutsall ash. you t,
allow me IL TO tell them is, that YOU vii
lsaka vickaburg. don'si care. whether il
4 sixty days or in six monrhs.n .se
i Gen. Grant; II am bound to take it.
have decided on my plans. l will nos tel
you what they are. Even with the best in
1nnt3enn vnI ieyhfi Aiap1oao tnopSA ifsDt tl1I