Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-07-05
HOW VICKsBURG WAS TAKEN.
teresting Account of Grants Plan and
Sherman's Protest.
[Springfeld Correspondence of the Chicago Re
pubIican.l

lSpTll1nGlq CORRESPONDENCE OF Ile SuiCd5o IAC-
Publican-l
In the Republican. Of June the 5, was
published an editorial article with an extract
headed "A Scrap Of History and which
gives an account Of General Sherman writ
ten protest against General Grant 5 circul-
tous march around Ficksburg, and by which
he cut himself off from his base OF supplies;
describes how General Sherman directed
that the protest be forwarded to Washing
ton: how General Grant never did 30 for
ward it; but afterwards, when Vicksburg was
about to surrender, tore it up in General
Sherman presence much TO the satisfaction
Of the latter.
[ have no doubt of the truth of the story
as it perfectly tallies with an account (which
| have often heard related by parties who
were present. Of the way in which General
Grant Is said to have come to the determl-
nation of making the extraordinary and nov
el military movement by which he captured
Wick sburg, and which movement was evi-
IDENTITY entirely one of his own invention, and
greatly adds to the military genius of the
man. The people have not iprobably be-
cause of General Grant : 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
pOWerl and which conceives as we'll as exc
cuteS. In fact, [ have heard officers and
soldiers assert that to Gen. Sherman alone
was due the credit of planning the entire
campaign, which resulted IL the capture Of
Vicksburg; when the truth Is, that cam
pai.cn was the conception OF General Grant
himself And more than this, the most
brilliant movement Of twas undertaken CON
trary to the advice of General Sherman. and
in the teeth of his written protest To Gen
z..l ,hN, no .1.GnrgaI tho
praise Of having not only conceived it, but
also 10y his indomitable pluck, selfreliance
and logged obstinacy the latter trait rising
20 heroism in the case), carried this move
ment to a successful termin ton, in spite OF
the opposition of General Sherman, in
whose judgement and military talent he re-
posed such great confidence.
The account of the manner by which Gen
eral Grant was led to make the great move
ment which resulted inthe capture of Nicks
burg is as follows: On the lstof April. 1868
Generals Grant, Sherman. Oglesby, Secre-
tary of State O. VI. Hatch. Of this State; ;
Auditor Jessie X. Dubois, United States
Marshal D. L. Philips, Congressman Mitch
ell, of Il e Fort Wayne District. Indiana;
Commodore Porter and various other raval
officers were on board the flagship Of Com
modore Porter squadron the Black Hawk,
L InlDh j. iDPN tid'i UtCll ol thC L d1op
river to Hains' Bluff. on d reconnaissance of
the Notifications, and were returning. The
partv were seated in the cabin of the flag
Ship. and an animated discussion was going
forward between Gen. Sherman. Hon. Jes
Sc K. Dubois, and Hon. ID. /. Philips. all
good takers, and loving to talk, too. The
topic was the question OF slavery, the effect
of the war upon it &c. General Sherman
contended that slavery had nothing 10 do
with the war, and should not be made TO
enter into it that the Southerners We're
hiqh-toned gentlemen; that he had no OBJ
lection toslavery per Sc: that the war should
last fifteen wears, and that the South could
only be made 10 succnmb after they had
been virtually all but exterminated also
that it was war between the Purltans and
cavaliers Messrs. Dubois and Philips, spe-
cially the former, stoutly combatted these l.
deas. 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 il would
only do their duty it could be closed up in
short time; that the people of the North
had given them men and money IN al
most unlimited numbers and amounts,
and the result was in their hands, with ev-
cry appliance to successful termination.
Mr.. philips then took up the conversation
with General Sherman on the subject of
slavery. and General Grant, who lad re
NAMED 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. The
General had not beckoned the Auditor from
the room, but both appeared TO be drawn
together by one OF those mental attractions
for which there is no accounting. Upon
deck conversation ensued between the two,
the utterance of which was as follows,
General Grant-Uncle Jesse, to tell you
the truth, I have come TO my wits ends as
resards rec the capture of Vicksburg | do