Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-06-25
n Republican senator on Gen.
Grant.


Grant.
In the United States Senate, MAY
9th, 1862, in reply to Mr. Sherman, Of
Ohio, speaking of the battle Of Pitts.
burg landing, Rev James Harlan
Senator from Iowa, said: f
"Fvom all that | can learn on the
subject, do not think that General
Grant is fiji to command a great army
in the field.
The Iowa troops have been in bat
tie repeatedly under the command OF
General Grant They have no conf
dence in his capacity and fitness for
the high position he now holds. They
regard him as the author of the use.
less slaughter of many hundreds oi
their brave comrades in arms. 1t Is
not necessary, oris II righu, ~ vvmpel
them to serveunder him. The speech
OF the Senator from Ohio, might, il
unnoticed, induce those in authority
TO continue him in the field.
/ understand he has been virtually
suspended, that he now really has no
command, that each division and ar
my corps of the Western Department
is under command of another Gener-
al, and the whole under the command
of General Halleck. that General
Grant is second in command of the
whole, which is, of course, merely
nominal. In my opinion, he ought
not TO have multiplied thousands OF
men placed in his hands after the re-
cord which ne has made And the
only practical tendency on that part
Of the speech of the Senator from Ohio,
would be to induce the President
to assign him an active command.
This cannot consent to have done in
the presence of my conntrymen,
maimed and slaughtered, as believe,
through his carelessness or imcompe-
tency. say this not on account OF
any public or private grievance Of a
personal nature. If my
convictions are correct, it would be Il
crime for me to remain silent, and
suffer influences TO originate in the
Senate chamber which may result in
restoring n General to an active com
mand whom /, ard the people | in
part represent, deem unworthy of
such a trust.
And he shall not with my consent
be continued to command. There is
nothing in his antecedents to Justify
a further trial OF his military skill.
At Belmont he committed an egreg-
ious and objectionable military blum
der, which resulted in almost annihi.
lating an Iowa regiment.
At Fort Donaldson, the right wing
of our army, which was under his i'm
mediate command, was defeated and
driven BACK several miles from the
enomy's works. The battle was res
torcd by General Smith, the enemy's s
works were stormed, and thus vic
tory was finally won. And SO on the
battle field Of Shiloh, his army was
completely surprised, as | believe,
from all the facts | can procure, on
Sunday, and nothing but the bravery
OF men fighting by regiments and
brigades saved the army from utter
destruction. Tho battle was after
ward restored by General Buell. and
other Generals, who came on the field
during the evening and night, and
our forces ultimately succeeded in
routing the enemy. Now, sir, with
such record, those who continue
General Grant in an active command,
will, in my opinion, carry on their
skirts the blood of thousands of their
slaughtered countrymcn. With my
convictions, can neither do it my.
self, nor silently permit others to do
it. (Seo Congressional Globe ; I'd Ses-
sion, Thirty-seventh Congress, pages
2,036, and 2,O37.
Was not Senator Harlan right
Did not his misgivings prove true
DO not those who continue General
Grant in active command crimson
their skirts with the blood of thou
sands of their slaughtered country
meny Read the history of the reck-
less, cruel, objectionable and brutal
slaughter of hundreds, and thousands
Of their countrymen in the battle ol
the Wilderness. So great was the
slaughter of Northern soldiers that
it has been truly said "Grdat entered
Richmond oUer fridge Of human
bones"
Verify, the prediction of Senator
Harlan was fearfully verified.