The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-06-22
Gan Grant,s Vicksburg Campaign.

of Vicksburg, is as follows: On the ISL
Apri,. 1863, Generals Grant, Sherman
Oglesbv, Secretary of State o. M. Hlins
of this state, Auditor of State JJfft Wayne
bois, United States Marsh5Sre Porter and
Congressman Mitchfcers, were on board
district, IndiaSmmodoreP Porter squad
various atck Hawk, think). They had
thefp the Yazoo river to Haines' Bluff,
on reconnaissance of the Notifications,
and were returning. The party were seat
ed in the cabin Of the flagship, and an an
mated discussion was going forward be-
tween General Sherman, Hon. Jesse X.
Dubois, and Hon. d. l.. Phillips, 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 moth
ing to do with the war, and should not be
made to enter into it, that the Southerners
were heightened gentlemen; that he had no
objections to slavery per Sc; that the war
would last fifteen years, and that the South
could only be made to succumb after they
had been virtually all but exterminated;
also that it was war between the Puri-
tans and Cavaliers. Messrs. Dubois and
Phillips, especially the former, stoutly
combatted these ideas. Mr.. Dubois con-
tented that slavery was the cause Of the
war, and that it must be removed before q
permanent peace could be secured; also
that as regarded the duration Of it, if those
in charge of it would only do their duty it
could he closed up in a short time; that the
people Of the North had given them men
and money in almost unlimited numbers
and amounts; and that the result was in
their hands, with every appliance to a sue
cessful termination. Mr.. Phillips then
took up the conversation with General
Sherman on the subject of slavery, and
General Grant, who had remained a silent
listener 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 drawn together by one
Of these mental attractions for which there
is no accounting. Upon deck a converse
ton ensued between the two, the utterance
of which is as follows:
General Grant-"UncleJ Jessie, to tell you
the truth, have come to my wits end as
regards the capture of Vicksburg. I do
not really know what next move to make.
have tried everything I could think of,
and here we are yet. have been advised
that we go back to Memphis and COM
msnce an overland march from that point"
Mr.. Dubois-"Gen. Grant, you cannot
do that. If you take this army back to
Memphis, with all this array of gunboats
and transports, and all your materials of
war, the effect will be disastrous to the
country. This internal constitution in our
State was only defeated by superhuman
exertions. Another election is almost up
on us. and the whole Northwest is on the
verge Of revolution. If you go back, you
G.. C.'s at home. They will call your move
ment a retreat, and more loudly than ever
assert that the South cannot be conquered.
If you can do no better, you must storm
Vicksburg. If it costs the lives of forty
terrible thing to think o. b" But II mist Je
DONE" ......
General Grant replied that he would re-
fleet upon the matter during the nj hit, and
let Mr.. Dubois know of his determination
in the morning. When the morning came,
General Grant met Mr.. Dubois with cheer
full countenance, and the following CONVEX
sation took place: ~r
General Grant-"Uncle Jesse, you are
going home to-day. Tell Governor Yates,
and the people of Illinois, for me, that
will take Vicksburg in sixty days"
Mr.. Dubois-"General Grant, am glad
to hear you say this. But all ask you to
allow me to tell them is, that you will take
Vicksburg, don't care whether in sixty
days or in six months" ..,....
General Grant-"I am bound to take it. |
have decided on my plans. I will not
tell you what they are. Even with the |
best intentions you mightdisclose them, to
the detriment Of the movement"
They then parted, and General Grant de-
tailed his plan to General Sherman, who
protested, in writing, as detailed in the ar
ticle from the New York Times, but placed
himself under the Generals order.
Auditor Dubois went home and told Gov
ernor Yates that Grant would take Vicks-
burg; that he had no doubt Of it; that GEN
eral Grant told him to tell him so, and that
he must tellit to the people as coming from
General Grant. 1t will be remembered
that the promise Of General Grant was pub
lished i'm the papers at that time, and that
Governor Yates repeated itfrom the stump.
General Grants next move was to send
for General John A. McClernand, and or
der him to march his corps from Milliken's
Bend to Grand Gulf. General McCler-
nand proposed changes in the details of
the plan; but General Grant cut him short
by saying that he had digestsd and ar
ranged the entire details for the movement.
and only required him Gen. McClernand)
to execute his orders. General McCler-
nand then said he would do that to the best
of his ability, and departed on his expedi-
ton.
And here it may be we'll to add that, at
this time, strenuous efforts were being
made at Washington for the removal of
Gen. Grant. Not only West Point was ar
rayed against him, but Republican mem
bers Of Congress, some OF them from this
State, went to Mr.. Lincoln and urged his
removal, taking back their former indorse-
ment Of him. Leading Republican papers
in this State also loudly denounced him,
and clamored for his supercedure. At this
time, a leading Republican and retired Of
flee holder from this State, who had been
down the river buying cotton, wrote let |
ter to Mr.. Lincoln, denouncing Gen. Grant,
predicting his failure, and urging the APP
pointment Of Con. Pope to his command. |