The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-11-19

regret to say that am unable to furnish You
with any of the facts or CT circumstances attending
the death of General Mcpherson. Indeed, I know
nothing of my personal knowledge; all do know
was what / regarded at the time as mere rumor
and not to be relied on. I can only repeat to you
now as far as my memory serves, after the lapse
of many years what heard on the day of the
battle of the 22d of July. After the fury of the
first onset was over, and the gallant Sixteenth
Iowa was captured, it was currently reported
that General Mcpherson was killed on my ex-
IRENE right. Upon inquiry into the report, l
learned that, half an hour after the commence
ment of the battle, some of the officers and men
of my extreme right, had passed over the dead
body of some Federal officer of high rank, and,
from some particular circumstance which l can
not now recall, was satisfied it was General Nc
Pherson. This was substantially stated by some
of the men of General Smiths Texas brigade
that fought Immediately on my right. This is,
indeed, the sum and substance of what l heard
on that memorable day
On the day (the 23d) following, / met, under
flag of truce Colonel Clark, staff officer of your
army, while the dead were being buried and
mentioned the current report Of General Nc
Pherson's DEATH and he evaded an answer by
replying that it was reported that General Hardee
OF the confederate army was killed, intimating
that no reliance could be placed in such reports
Your map think a very correct one of the battle
ground of the 22d of July; and General McPher-
son must have met his death at the point indi-
Gated ON your map.
I never heard it asserted, that General McPher-
son was killed by man in the Third or Fifth
confederate regiment. My impression ~as that
brigade or the extreme left regiment of Smiths
brigade. will add, in conclusion, that my old
brigade viii have Reunion in Little Rock, the
7th of January next; and [ will take special
pains to inquire of all who may be likely to know
anything on the subject and should any facts or
circumstances attending General McPherson's
death come to my knowledge, it will afford me
the greatest pleasure to communicate the same
to you, thereby being instrumental in clearing
up the circumstances attending the death of one
of the most gallant and distinguished officers
who fought under the Stars and Stripes and
whose untimely death, (now that the mad pas
sions of the war are over, all true southern
soldiers deplore.
"Sioo WIFI you iuiiy' ''h1 certainly, do ittf ao
my command was concerned, the 22d of July was
one of the bloodiest of the war, for of fourteen
field officers l think I lost twelve killed or
wounded, and it was for some time matter of
doubt whether the gallant Sixteenth Iowa would
capture my command, or my brigade them.
Very respectfully and truly,
D. c. GOvAN."
In my illusions to the regiments, much has
been omitted for want of time. They were all
gallant. They all did their duty we'll And
lu.v had u the:- crr,rnsitinn inst oh
Gus reglmoutal rivalry to make taem active
co .ss,sse3,y,- .sss4 all,.-a.t
But a. time Gjes have tat gi5n1eny 10
refer GO our -ommaadeEa r. tas reg5ne1tal
officers who have fallen
The chief of all was Croker With Us his