Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-06-20
SENATOR HARLAN AND GEN. GRANT.

In the United States Senate May 9th, 1862
in reply to Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, speaking Of
the battle of pittsburg Landing, Rev James
Harlan, Senator from Iowa, SAID:
Prom all that | can learn on the subject,
do not think that Gen. Grant is fit to command
u great army in the field.
The Iowa troops have been in battle re-
peatedly under command of Gen Grant. They
have no confidence in his capacity or fitness
for the position he now holds They regard
him as the author of the useless slaughter of
many hundreds of their brave conlrades, III
arms 1t Is not necessary, nor is it right, TO
compel them to serve under him The speech
Of the Senator from Ohio might. if unnoticed.
iRducr those i'll authority to continue him in
the field.
Il understand he has been virtually suspend
ed, that he now really has no command, that
each division and army corps of the Western
Department Is under the command Of another
General, and the whole under the command of
Gen Halleck: that Gen. Grant is second in
command Of the whole, which is, of course,
merely n nominal place In my opinion he
ought not to have multiplied thousantls of men
placed in his hands after the record which he
has made. And the only practical tendency. of
that part of the speech Of the Senator from
Ohio, would be to induce the President to as
sign hun am active command This | cannot
consent to have done in the presence of my
countrymer, manned and slaughtered, as | be-
heve, through his carelrsSncSs or incOmpeten-
cv. say this not on account Of any public
nr private grievance of a private nature.
1t my convictonS are correct it would be Il
crime for me to rcn,aia silent, and suffer infu-
enccs to originate in the Senate chamber which
may result in restoring General to an active
command whom |, and the eople in part
represent, deem unworthy of sach trust.
"And he shall not with my, consent be con-
tinued i'll command. There is nothing in his
antecedcnts to justify Il further trial of his
military skill At Belmont he committed an
egregious and objectionable military blunder,
which resulted in almost annihating an Iowa
regiment.
AT Fort Donel$on, the right wing of our
army, which was under his immediate cum
mand was defeated and drire.l back several
miles from the enem,s works The battle
was restored by General Smith, the enemy's
works were stormed, and thus victory was
finally wun. And so on the battlefield of Shi-
lohs his army was completely surprised, as
believe, from all the facts | can procure, on
Sunday, and nothing but the stubborn bravery
Of the men fighting by regiments and briyades
saved the army from utter destruction. The
battle was afterwards restored and conducted
By Gen. Buel and other Generals, who came
on the field dnring the evening and night, and
our tepces ultimately succeeded in routing the
eiAnly. Now, sir, with such Il record. thnsn
who continue Gen. Grant in active command
will, in my opinion, carry on their skirts the
blood of thousands of their slaughtered coln.
trynen. With my convictions, can. neithe,
do,it myself nor silently permit others to do it."
ad Was not Senator Harlan right ? Did nat,
hls mlsgiying COME trllea Dldnot those who
continued General Grant in active command
crimson their skirts with,.the blood of thous-
ands aud hundreds Of thousands of their
slaughtered ascoantrYmen,ll Read the history
OF the reckless, cruel,unpardonabe and brutal
slaughter OF a hundred Thousand of our coun-
sfysnen in the battle Of the Wilderness. So
great was the reckless slaughter. of Northern
soldiers that it has been said .Grant entered
Richmond over a bridge of human homes
Verify, the prediction of Senator Harlaa MS
fearfally verified. ag-vf @