Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-05-15
GEN. McPHERsON's DEATH.
What Gen. w. r. Clarke Says
About the Tragic Afiair-A Word
About Kentucky.

Among the strangers in New York
whom met last week, writes George
Alfred Townsend, was Gen. w. T..
Clarke, formerly member of Congress
from Texas, Adjutant General of the
army of the Tennessee, and now spe-
cial agent of the revenue, residing at
Washington. / was attracted to Gen.
Clarke by friend showing me small
pocket compass in brass case, like a
watch, which had been taken from the
body of Gen. Mcpherson when he was
killed in front of Atlanta. 1t was eX-
planned that this compass came into the
possession of Gen. Belknap, who COM
manded at that part of the line where
Mcpherson fell, and some years after
wards he gave it to Clarke. Gen. Clarke
is the son of major in the army, and
was brought up near Davenport, Ia. He
is quick spoken, nimble man, and as
the Government keeps him travelling all
over the country his views are of some
value, though he is decided partisan.
Speaking of Mcpherson isn't it a fine
tribute to young mans memory that
he should have a statue the most CEN
trally situated at the Capital 2"
"The army did that. 1t has the very
best position at Washington and think
wears better than any statue there. 1t
was made by Mr.. Robbero, of Cincinna-
ii, and is a fine likeness. Mcpherson
ought to have had it; he was one of the
alb lest military men that ever lived"
did Sherman's book tell the real
truth about how Mcpherson came to be
killed ?"
81 don't agree with Gen. Sberman's
way of putting that event. 1t is better
doue by Boynton in his reply to Sher-
mans book. Boynton was brevet-gen-
eral who commanded a regiment in the
army and was cool, fine officer, wound
ed in battle. The fact is that there was
a gap left in our line of battle in the pro-
cess of fianking. Sherman had got the
notion that Atlanta was abandoned, and
ordered Mcpherson to march into the
city. Mcpherson knew that the enemy
occupied all his lines in force, and would
have to fight that day or yacate. His
instincts were correct. The rebels were
pushing forward to feel us, and when
they came to that gap where the left of
one of our corps had been withdrawn or
refused, so as to make the lap with the
other corps, they pushed right into our
lines. 1t was a company of Pat Gle
burne's men. Cleburne was the best
soldier Arkansas had. Mcpherson, with
one orderly, had passed along that way
but little while before and was riding
back the same way when these few
troops who had been pushed forward
saw him and halted him. Supposing
they were his own men he took off his
hat to wave it and lightly started away,
when their muskets went off and he fell
from his horse. He never spoke. We
captured these men and it took some
trouble to keep our troops from killing
them The death of Mcpherson intense
ly excited the whole army, and they
rushed forward to that days battle crying
Revenge for McPhersonr and left more
rebel dead than / ever saw on battle
field. 1t was nothing but slaughter all
day and evening. Grant left our army
after the capture of Nilsson Ridge, and
Immediately following McPherson's
death we fought Jonesboro' which used
up Hood. That was where Sherman as
sailed Stanley for not getting his troops
up"
Speaking of violenc in Kentucky,
said to Gen. Clarke, "Were you in Ken
tucky at the time BufOrd shot the
Judge?"
81 passed through Frankfort the fol-
lowing day. To show you how indiffer-
ent they are about killing, let me say
that few miles from Frankfort asked
a man living there what was the feel
ting? "To tell you the truth, sir,
didn't know that the Judge had been
shot. There is so much of that thing
done among us that unless we lose a
hrother father Or some close kin il
don't excite us much. l have no idea
that Buford will be hanged. They will
let him off on the ground of insanity"