North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-08-05
senator Harlan or Grant.

A't"o ohhIo IA "
receipt of Senator lIarlan's impeachment
Speech. The Nears Company in its thanks
for the favor said "Senator IIarlan's
opinions are always right" Below will
be found an opinion that was immensely
popular just after the battles of Belmont
and of Pittsburg Landing. We commend
its careful perusal to the Street Radicals /
of our city. Read it slowly. 1t comes
from a Senator from Iowa. He is proba-
bly, stamping for the General who was
mot fit to command a great army in the
field If not fit for that, will somebody
tell what his merits are?
In the Senate of the United States on
the 9th of May, 1862, a debate arose upon
a resolution submitted by Senator Sher-
man, directing the Secretary of War to
communicate copies of all official reports
relative to the battle of Pittsburg Landing.
Among those engaging in the discussion
was Senator Harlan, ofIowa, whose re-
marks, presented below, are taken from
the Congressional Globe. (Sccond Sess-
ion Thirty-seventh Congress. Part 3,
pages 2,O36-37):
Mr.. HAnLAN-Mr. President, so far as
the remarks of the Senator from Ohio may
| have been intended to defend the troops of
that State from any unjust aspersions, l
have not a word to say. They were well
timed, and it was probably a proper sub
ject for the consideration of the Senate, as
their courage had been called in question,
rs it seems, by a Senator from another
Skot0 R,t that n,rA IF he cv,oooh uhSoh
may have been intended to bolster up the
reputation of General Grant, l think may
have an injurious effect in the future,
hence / rise to repudiate every word he
has said that may have that tendency.
From all / can learn on the subject, l do
not think Gen. Grant is fit to command a
great army in the field. Iowa had eleven
regiments in the field at the battle of
Pittsburg Landing. lie can never make
/ one of those men believe that Gen. Grant
is fit to command. | have seen many of
them, have conversed with the officers and
privates, and they believe that our army
was surprised. | will read one of two
short extracts from a letter written by a
gentleman of my State, who is now the
presiding judge of one of the district
courts, and who spent several days on the
battlefield Immediately after the conclu-
sion of the battle. He says:
"During the whole time / was with the
army l awaited myself of every means to
gain information as to the battle and all
the details connected with it. No one can
get the truth by reading the newspaper
correspondence so well as by conversation
with the officers and soldiers who were in
the fight. There is no use in trying to
disguise or cover up the fact that our
army was badly surprised on Sunday
morning. Up to the time that Gen. Grant
assumed command at Pittsburg Landing,
General Sherman was in command, and
kept his pickets of infantry and cavalry
out in front Of his lines for three or four
miles, but after General Grant arrived
this was entirely neglected, and, notwith-
standing. desertcrs from the enemy, and
citizens reported to Gen. Grant through
the proper officers, that the main body Of
the enemy were approaching our lines, he
Indignantly scorned the idea of an attack
) sayin. that Generals johnson and Beau
regard were not d-n fools enough to at
+ tack us here.'' x x X X On Saturday night
/, before the battle, tie rebel army was NOV
ed up so close to our front lines that, a;
I 8 rebel prisoner informed me. they could
t hear the soldiers talking in their camps
| At daylight the enemy commenced tb;
attack with not less than $1,000
men. They rushed into some Of GU
1 camps before our soldiers had time to fal
into line of battle, and while many of GU.
a officers were asleep
In the concluding part of the letter h,
says:
although our victory on Monday wa
complete, and the rebels utterly routed
= yet it was too dearly purchased. Tn
criminal carelessness or something worse
n on the part of General Grant, whereby S
many brave soldiers were slaughtered
' admits of no palliation Or excuse News
paper correspondents may write as the,
n please, but the united voice of every sold
Ter ia Grants army condemns him, and
is now time that the Government should
y do otherwise"
From all | can learn from the troop
= from Iowa who participated in this battle
with whom l have conversed, both officer
and men, this is but an expression of
conviction made on the minds of all Q
them. The Iowa troops have been in BAT
ties repeatedly under command of Genera
Grant they have no confidence in hi
capacity and fitness for the high p~ositio
he now holds. They regard him as tn
author of the useless slaughter of man
hundreds of their brave comrades in arm,
1t is not necessary, nor is it right. to con
pei them to serve under him. The speec
from the Senator from Ohio might, III
at noticed, induce those in authority to cor
G. tinue him in the field. l understand Il
has been virtually suspended that he no
le really has no command that each divisio
and army corps of the Western Depar
Is ment is under the command of anotht
general, and the whole under the con
mand of General Halleck that Gencr;
Grant is second in command of the who'll
:: which is, Of course, lnerely nominal.
,e my opinion he ought 10 have multiple
thousands Of men placed in his hands aft
e. the record which he has made. And I'll
practical tendency Of that part Of tt
IN speech of the Senator from Ohio would !
to induce the President to assign him q
n active command. This | cannot consel
Mt to have done in the presence of my con-
rs trymen. MANNED and slaughtered, as
believe, through his carelessness or incor
he potency. | say this not on account of M
nd public or private grievance of a person
nature. l do not know General Gran
or have new 7 met him at any time, al
ed could, therefore, have no personal grief
nd redress. Nor have | any complaint
make of the manner in which he or 9th
no generals have mentioned the conduct
rs the Iowa troops in the field, and won
NO have remained silent on this subject in Il
Senate, ii the speech of the Senator fro
IT. Ohio had not made it necessary for me
zee speak for / do not deem the Sena
~. Chamber the place for criticism on t
conduct oil ii general in the field. | thil
i've it much better to present our person