Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-10-31
THE ARMY. OF THE TENNESSEE.
An Eloquent Grafton by General John
A. Logan.

inc luUe WAT. II nOSt OF uiSungM9hed |
guests were present, and addresses were |
delivered by President Grant, Generals |
Logan, Sherman, Sheridan and others |
The oration by General Logan was sub.
stantially as follows: ...
The Army Of the Tennessee was notlimited in lis
scope the theatet OF tts operations and the extent
Of Its marches oofhprehendng within their bounds
area greater than Greece and Macedonia In |
their palmiest days. and greater than most OF the |
leading kingdoms Of Europe at the present day, |
reaching from the Missouri River on the north |
nearly to the Gulf of Mexico on the south, and |
from the Red River OF Louisiana TO the Atlantic |
Ocean; Let us take a hasty glance at lis opera
uons, beginning with the well remembered scenes |
of Belmont, From thence our minds follow rap |
Idly along the line Of our subsequent history some
times exuting M success and victory, but at others
smartng under delay and disappointment; some |
times with our spirits elated with Joy over some
glorious success, but at others groaning under diff
tcutive but mover desponding, never entertaining
thought Of ultimate failure but ever looking for.
ward through the darkest days with unwaycring
hope Of final success
How wildly are all these varied scenes OF way.
ing fortune, of trial and danger, fixed on our
memory; nor has the subsequent decade OF peace
and quiet erased therefrom scarcely the ntnutept
particuiar, but as we call them up they seem to
stand before us in living characters. With him
who snow our honored Chief Magistrate leading
us as our commander, we are In Imagination again
pressing on the stronghold OF the Tennessee, again
before Henry And D0neson, amid the boom Of
cannon and the fierce rettle Of. .muskctry. Onward
our brave boys are moving up the rugged sleeps,
fearless of Bursting shell or feaden missiles On!
ward, over every obstacle, they press forward,
until at length the shout of victory rings along the
Again we arc swayng to and fro amid the fear
full carnage OF Pittsburgh Landing, where the
scales OF fortune seemed for n time to hang In
doubtful equip0ise; the enemy has gathered all
his energy, centered all his force, aud, under the
s OF tSG Sne Of Their hes best generals they hope to
but the indomitabe courage and untiring persc-
yerance Of loyal hearts at last turns the tide of
battle, and the enemy, thwarted Of his purpose
sullon and disappointed, retircs from the we'll.
fought field. The crisis Of the campaign is passed
What seemed at first about TO be defeat proved in
the end to be the turning tide in our success and
once more the foe, lately so confident, began to
fall back step by step, pausng awhile at Ipka and
But cannot follow this stirring history In detail
We must hasten on, mentioning only few of the
more prominent incidents. Yet we cannot pass by
the siege OF Nicksbnrg without recalling the weary
hours spent around this Gibraltar of the enemy
when, dccming himself impregnable from the land
side, his own flank and rear partially covered by
the deadly YazoO Marshes he stands like a grim
defiant sentinel guarding the Father Of Waters
against our ingress, and mocks in derlsion as we
gather around his stern bulwarks, sending out his
kissing shells as challenges to attack. He forgot
that the fOod-gates of Western valor and patriot
ism had been opened. and were pouring forth a
mighty stream which would sweep before it every
barrier and obstacle. The restless spirit that ami
mated the Army of the Tennessee soon tires Of de-
lay; and although the cliffy shore and surrounding
hills. bristled with bayonets, and were red with
the glare Of belching cannon, onward they moved
into the very midst of fiery stream, passing the
You know the result. The spell was broken, the
magic power of Vicksburg was gone; the troubled
enemy beheld the Handwriting on the wall" Our
days Of inactivity are over, and the Army of the
Tennessee is rapidly stretching out its folds around
the great stronghold. The battles of Port Gibson
Raymond, jackson, Champion Hills and Big Black
River followed each other in rapid succession, and
at length Ncksburg is completely surrounded
and. broken in spirit, surrenders with all her
troops. Thus we see virtually the end of the war
in the Southwest; once more the great highway of
the Mississippi River is open from it's source to the
Calf OF Mexico. The area OF the contest, though
stl immense, has been greatly narrowed. But the
Army Of the Tennessee has not yet finished its
work; IL does not its operations with the fall
of Nicksburg; it has yet before il brilliant ca.
1t has, with other portions of the great Union
army, march to make which will ever stand in
the history as one of the greatest military
dreds of miles through the very heart of
an enemy's country, without even the means
of communication with the restof the forces, and
with no base from which to draw supplies
But ere we enter upon this march there is a work
of preparation necessary. Tennessee is swarming
with hOrdes of the enemy every hand, and a
sullen army slowly falling back before us contest
ing every step Of the way; the Valley of the Ten
nessee, The enemy's line Of communication, must
be possessed and held secure; and here where our
line OF march to the southeast crosses this great
valley, here where the great mountain barriers
partially terminate is the radiating point Of the
enemy's operations. Here must the contest be de-
cided so far as the action of these armies is con-
cerned. In fact, success here must speedily de-
eide the fate OF the rebellion. And while we
dwell for moment on these vivid scenes in which
you and |, my comrades were actors, 1t may not
be amiss to glance at the wisdom of the move
ments then made, which the cool historian of the
future will hereafter closely scrutinize, and es:
pecally the great march through Georgia from
this direction.
A glance at the map with knowledge of the
character of the country, will at once reveal to
those acquainted with military matters the wisdom
of this movement through Tennesse and Georgia.
And thus while we would award TO the soldiers all
the honor due their indOmitable courage, and un-
tiring perseverance, we would also give to our lead
ers the honor justly due them, not only for their
gallant conduct and bravery, but for their import
ant wisdom and prudence in planning the cam
pdign which is equally meriorious, but not gener
ally so patent to the public.
1t is wen known that one great object to be
gained in conducting the was TO turn The
e1emy's flank and attack his rear while the Army
OF the Potomac was pressing on his front-and IL
was evidently the plan at the first TO attempt this
from West Virginia up to the valley west of the
Blae Ridge. but TINS was anticipated by the enemy
at the very commencement and his plans were
laid accordingly to c0unteract the movement This
comparatively narrow ridge, which lay near the
main field OF operations, in these days Of railways
and rapid transportation was too easily and at too
many points traversable to accomplish this with
out too great sacrifice, and in fact, without trans
feTtng the main plan of attack from its eastern to
Its western side, leaving Washington exposed al
most in the very heart OF a rebellious population.
But with the great mass of the Cumberland Noun
tains to guard our left flank and so far distant
from the eastern army Of the enemy, we could fhir
ly test the strength OF our foe. And a movement
apparently so hazardous as this had not been an
tcipated by the leaders Of the enemy. Such Il
stupendOus swing, such a vast sweep, encompass
ing whole States in its grasp, was non forseen by
them, nor 40 the annals of warfare scarcely afford
q parallel, when we consider the immense forces
TO be operated. The passage of the Alps by Han
nbal and Bonaparte are the only instances which
equal 1t.
AT Chicamauga the first great clash OF this series
of bloody conflicts had already occurred. 1t il
now the Army of the Tennessee enters upon the
field of action To share the hardships and hOnors
of the campaign, and, with other portions Of the
grand central army, win fresh laures at Missionary
n1 nj afou ita tra11
earned name of honor in the eyer-memorable
march from Dalton to Atlanta, contesting inch by
Inch the possession of the narrow, rugged valleys
and frowhing heights which here obsructcd our
pathway, each hill and mountain-side bristling
with cannon and bayonets, and each narrow pass
guarded by the grim sentinels of death.
As our minds run back over those days Of trial
and danger, how yiyidly do the heights of Kenne-
saw rise up before us, with its rugged sides and
frowhng ramparts, from which, we lie around
its base, wearied and tired, the belching cannon
send forth their fiery challenges; struggling
against the obstacles of nature, difficult of them
selves TO overcome but rendered dOubly so by being
fortified and guarded by brave foe, commanded
by cautious and willy general, every step was
marked with blood, and each spot rendered sacred
bythe blood of some heroic officer or soldier.
And while l address you, my former comrades
in arms, again the fearful conflict around Atlanta
appears 10 pass IA panorama before me; again
seem to see the rebel hosts now pushed ON by
Hood, eager 10 win aurels in his new command,
sweeping onward upon our ranks with impetuOus
zeal Bravely and calamity they battle, with a
herOism and courage worthy Of q better cause The
Army Of the Tennessee, which forms the left wing,
receives the heaviest shsck Of the onset, and for a
season the contest IL fierce and furious But again
the righteous cause Of our Union triumphs. The
cry of victory sounds the bloody field, and the
day Is won. But how dearly bought Oh, how
dearly bought the victory Of July % Who Of
us can recall II without heaving deep drawn sigh
of-grief-without pang OF regret for the loss of
the fallen brave, and especially the accomplished,
the brave, the noble Mcpherson, the pride and
gem of the Army of The Tennessee: SO young,
yet having achieved a fame that will live as long
a. history shall last, fame unspOted by single
ignOblc deed; a Rame untarnished by a single I'M
worthy act; without reproach, beloved and esteem
ed by all. In that hour Of peril the command of
the Army Of the Tennessee fell upon me. and in
the victory we won that day his death was aveng-
ed.
Behold strange spectacular army exultng in
glorious triumph, yet in moprningi nor IL Il a
mere formal grief, but every heart Is filled with
genuine sorrow, each sOul IL stirred 20 Its depth
And shall we now blot from orr banners and our
memories the records OF thai day? Shall we forget
the day hnd the battle in which our beloved leader
fell sacrifice for his cOunIryf My fellow soldiers