The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-09-18
SENATOR HARLAN ON GRANT.

MATORY OF GRANTS MILITARY IN
CONFERENCE.-THE PRONOUNCE
GUILTY OF THE "UsELEsS sLAUGHT
Err OF UNION soLDIERS-THEC CON
DCCr OF GRANT AT THE BATTLE ol
| PITTSBURG LANDING, WHAT GRANT
! COMRADES THOUGHT or HIM.
In the Senate of the United States OF
the 9th of May, 1868, debate arose upol
a resolution submitted by Senator Sher
man, directing the Secretary of War t
communicate copies ofal official report
relative to the battle of Pittsburg Land
ing. Among those engaging in the dis
cusson was Senator Harlan, OF Iowa
whose remarks, presented below, ar,
taken from the Congressional Giobe
Second Session Thirty-scvcnth Con
grcss, Par 3, pages 7, 03G'32):
Mr.. HAKLAN-Mr. President, so fa
rs the remarks ofthc Senator from Ohio
may have been intended to defend the
troops of that State from any unjust as
rersons, | have not a word to say
They were well timed, and it was pro
per Subject for the considcrat ion of the
Senate, as their courage had been called
in question, as it seems, by a Senator
from another State. But that part o
his speech which may have been in.
tended to bolster up the reputation OF
General Grant think may have an in.
furious effect in the future, and hence |
rise to repudiate every word he has
said that many have that tendency.
From all can learn on the subject, do
not think General Grant is fit to COM
mand a great army in the field. Iowa
had eleven regiments in the field at the
battle of Pittsburg Landing. He can
never make any of those men believe
that General Grant is fit to command. |
have seen many OF them, have convers-
ed with the officers and privates, and
they believe that two short extracts
from letter written by gentleman of
my state, who is now the presiding
Judge of one of the district courts, and
who spent several days on the battle
field Immediately after the conclusion
of the battle. He says:
During the whole time was with the
army availcd myself of every means
to gain correct Information as to the
battle and all hcdetailS connected wi, h
it. No one can get the truth by rcad-
ing OF tn" newspaper correspondence so
well a. by conversation with the otli-
GERS and soldiers who were in the fight.
There is no u,c in trying 10 disguise or
covering the fact that our army was
badly surprised on Sunday morning.
Up to the time that General Grant as
sumed command at Pittsburg Landing,
General Sherman was in command, and
kept his pickcts Of infantry and cavalry
out in front of his lines for three or fou-
miles, out after Grant arrived this wa
entirely neglected, and, nOtwithstand
ing scouts, deserterS from the enemy
and citizens reported to General Grant
through the proper officers, that tn,
main body of the enemy were approach
ing our lines, he Indignantly sc0rne,
the idea of IN attack, saying that Gene
rails Johnson and l5raurcgard were moi
ID fools enough to attach Us here ~
| On Saturday night before the battle tn,
rcblc army was moved up so close It
our front lines that, rs II rebel prisoner
Informed me, they could hear the sol.
dicrs talking in their camps. At day
| light the enemy commenced the attack
with not less than seventy-iivc thouS
and men. They rushed into some o
our camps before our soldiers had time
to fall into line of battle, and Will
many Of oul officers were asleep.
In the concluding part Of the letter. h
says:
Although our victory on Monday wa
complete, and the rcbles utterly routed
yet it was too dearly purchased. Yh
criminal carelessncss, or something
worse, on the part OF General Grant
whereby 50 many brave soldiers wer,
slaughtered admits of no palliation o
excuse. Newspapercorrcspondonts ma
write as they please, but the unite
voice Of every soldier in Grants arm,
condemns him, and it is now time tina
the Government should do likewise.
From all can learn from the troop
from Iowa who participated in this ba
tie, with whom | have converSed, bot
officers and men, this is but an expires
ion of IL conviction made ON the mind
ofull of them. The Iowa troops ha>
been in the battle repeatedly undi
command of General Grant they ha,
no confidence in his capacity and titne;
for the high position he now hold
They regard him rs the author of Il
useless slaughter of many hundreds
their brave comrades in arms. 1t is nC
necessary, nor is it right, to comp
them to serve under him. The speCt
of the Senator from Ohio might, umn
= ticed, induce those in authority t q COZ
tinue him in the field. Il undCrstaI
he has been virtually suspended th
he now really has no command; tn
each division and army corps of Il
Western Department is nndcr the con
mand of General llalleck; that Gener
Grant is SecOHd in command of Il
whole, which is, of COURSE, mere
nominal. In my opinion he ought n
to have multiplied thousands of mt
placed in his hands after the recO
+ which he has made. And the only pra
. tical tendency of that part of the spec'
r of the Senator from Ohio would be
: induce the President to assign him F,
t active command. This | cannot 60
e sent to have done in the presence Of II
= countrymcn, manned and slaughtere
l as | believe, through his carelessness
= incompctcncy. say this not on Il
(; count of any public or private grieva
: ces of II personal nature. ! do not kno
= General Grant, have never met him
t any time, and could, therefore, have
e personal grief to redress. Nor have
+ any complaint to make of the mann