Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-24
lniOn aud gispatta.
Largest cirenIatIon IN CIty ana stale.
SENATOR HARLAN on GRANT.

bntteA OF NfhulnF AtaElttu AtlttttataAoEg
of Grants Military IncOmPetency
- Grant Pronounced GaIlty OF the
Useless Slaughter Of Uni0n Sol
diers-The Conduct OF Grant at the
Battle of PisfsBurg I.andiRE-What
Grants Comrades Thought Of Him.
In the Senate Of the United States on
the Oh Of May, 1862, debate arose upon a
resolution submitted by Senator Sherman,
directing the Secretary Of War TO oommu-
nicate copies Of all official reports rela-
tive TO the battle Of Pittsburg Landing.
Among those engaging in the discussion
was Senator Harlan, Of Iowa, whose re-
marks, presented below, are taken from the
Congressional Globe.
Mr.. HARLAN-Mr President, so far az
the remarks from the Senator from Ohio
may have been intended 10 defend the
troops Of that State from any unjust aspeT-
sion, have not a word to say. They were
well-timed, and it was probably proper
subject for the consideration Of the Senate,
as their courage had been called in ques-
ton, as it seems, by a Senator from another
DAdtts AsAh LAhb paw VI AAA5 HiVNNl WAIAA
may have been intended TO bolster up the
reputation Of General Grant, think may
have an injurious effect in the future, and
hence l Tise TO repudiate every word he
has said that may have that tendency.
From all ! can learn on that subject, do
not think General Grant is fat to command
a great army in the field. Iowa had
eleven regiments in the field at the battle
Of Piusburg Landing. lie ran never make
one OF those men believe that Gen. Grant
is liz 20 command. have seen many Of
them, have COnver5ed with the officers and
prEates, and they believe that our army
was surprised. 1 will read one or 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 concIu-
sion Of the battle. lie says: HgF
During the whole time ! was with the
army, / availed myself Of every means to
gain correct information as to the battle
and all the details connected with it. No
one can get the truth by a reading Of the
newspaper correspondence 30 well as by
conversation with the officers and soldiers
who were in the fight. There is no use in
trying 10 disguise or cover up the fact that
our army was badly surprised on Sunday
morning. Up to the time that General
Grant assumed command at Pittsburg
Landing, General Sherman was in COM
mand, and kept his pickets of infantry and
cavalry ont in front of his lines for three
or four miles, but after Grant arrived this
was entirely neglected, and, notwithstand-
ing scouts. deserters from the enemy, and
citizens reported to General Grant, through
the proper officers, that the main body OF
the enemy were approaching our lines, he
Indignantly seorned the idea of an attack,
saying that Generals Johnston and Beau
regard were not DID fools enough to at
tack us herep 4 Or Saturday
night before the battle the Rebel army was
moved up 50 close to our front lines that,
as a Rebel prisoner informed me, they could
hear the soldiers talking in their camps.
AZ daylight the enemy commenced the
attack with not less than seventy-ive
thousand men. They rushed into some OF
our camps before our soldiers had time to
fail into line of battle, and while many of
our officers were asleep.
In the concluding part Of the letter, he
says:
Although our victory on Monday was
complete, and the Rebels utterly routed,
yet it was too dearly purchased. The Grim.
inal Carelessness, or something worse, on
the part OF General Grant, whereby 80
many brave soldiers were slaughtered adj
mlts Of no palliatiOn or excuse. Newspaper
| Correspondents may write as they please
| but the united voice of every soldier IL
| Grants army condemns him, and it is
now time that the government should dc
| likewise.
From all can learn from the troop
| from Iowa who participated in this battle
| vita whom / have Conyersed, both officer
and men, this is but an expression of q
| conviction made on the minds Of all o
them. The Iowa troops have been in battl
| repeatedly under command of Gen. Grant
| they have no confidence in his capacity ant
fitness for the high position he now holds
| They regard him as the author of the use
less slaughter Of many hundred of thei
| brave comrades in arms. IL Is not neCes
sary, nor is Il right, TO compel them &
serve under him. The speech OF the Sena
tor from Ohio might, if unnoticed, Undue
| those in authority to continue him IN tn
| Geld. | understand he has been virtuall
| suspended; that he now really has no com
mand that each division and army corp
| Of the Western Department is under th,
! command of another General, and tn
whole under the command Of General Hal
| leck; that General Grant is second in com
| mand of the whole, which Is, of course
merely nominal. In my opinion he ough
not to have multiplied thousands of mel
placed 40 his hands after the record he ha
made. And the Only practical tendency c
that part of the speech OF the Senator froI
Ohio wauld be 10 induce the President I
assign him an active command. This ] cas-
not consent 10 have done in the presence
my countrymen, MANNED and slaughtered
a. / believe, through his carclessness or II
competency. / say this not on account
any public OF private grievance of persol
al nature | do not know General Gran
have never met him az any time, aud coul
therefore, have no personal grief 10 redres
Nor have ! any complaint 60 make of Il
manner In which he or other Generalsha
mentioned the conduct Of the Iowa troOl
IN the field. A far as / have notice
Justice has been done them by their con
handing Generals, aud by the public.
some cases it has been very tardy iustic
but when the facts have come to light co
nectcd with their bearing in the presen
Of the enemy, none have withheld Just COZ
mendation, or been disposed TO deprive the
| Of their hsrd-earned laurels. They har
commanded the respect of the enemy
every battlefield where they have appeare
as well as the applause of their friends. !
a sample of the manner in which the
neighbors speak Of them. / request {
; Secretary to read the following paragraI
from leading journal published in q
d city of ST. lOnis:
, The Secretary read as follows:
The GALLANT lowANs.-lowa is
Young State, but il is the home Of hero,
With she present war she has begun = W
history that Yields in splendor and hon
10 that Of no State in the Union and
I country on the globe Her soil is the Dirt
place Of a new Chivalry, and che has
+ come the mother OF new race Of hero
= Her soldiers boast little, and she has no
0 dustrious penny-a-liner 10 boast for the
: Her soldiers are As modest a. they are bra
> They are not fierce brsggarts. They 1
4 4. i 81 ~. H..