Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-30

| formed little coterie of regular arm,
omcers IN the army of the East. One of them
was to be president, and the others were
! 10 be God only knows what, but it was m
derstood among them even as early as thu
nrst battle of Bull Run that no Western
man should command the Eastern army
Speaking of Porter's failure to obey Pope's
| order to march to Bristow station at /
o'clock in the morning, Mr.. Logan said
you may search military history from CIV.
rus and Alexander down to the present
time, and this is the only instance you will
hnd whore subordinate ever sent word In
his superior officer to clear the vay for him
30 that he could move, daughter
and there never was commanding Off
cor, except General Pope, who would not
have removed the subordinate from his
command for sending him such q mes
sage. He had recently asked O gentleman
very high in the army, and under whom
hs had served in the West, what he though
would have been done 10 him Gogan) if
No had sent to his commanding oficer to
move the wagons out of his way and the
alsfngaIshsd gentleman had replied,
"Weu. think you would have been put
ous 10 dry nurse" Laughter. 7 But one
or the worlds great military chiefs, Cen
srai Grant, had said recently that Porter
could not move because the road was OBJ
structed. That great commander, Mr.. Lo-
gan said, held different opinion upon the
subject OF marching, in spite of obstacles.
when he led our armies in the field. and
In support of this statement he read from
Badeau's military history several instances
or forced marches made or ordered bv
Grant, one being a case where the troops
mad little or no rest for a week. "a friend
now sits before me-" said Mr.. Logan.
pointing to Senator Miller, of California.
VINO marched one rainy night with 5000
men to oppose 10000, and held them there
until the!General could come to his relief. !"
Murmurs of applause.
Mr.. Hoar said he observed that Logan
and Grant did not agree as to the
1acts, and he wished to ascertain which
person was correct. Gen. Grants state
ment was that by starting at instead of
zen. Porter could have his men at their
destination by daylight in better condition
Tor service, and also that there was but one
narrow road instead of three as stated by
Logan, and that the aide-de-camp, who
brought the order to Porter was three
hours on the way.
Mr.. Logan insisted that his statement
was sustained by testimony in the case.
The trouble with Grants article is it did
not state the facts of tho case.
Mr.. Mcpherson said Gen. Grant
stated az one reason for favoring the
pendinx bill taat the mounted
ofacer who brought the order 10 Porter
was three hours upon the road, in day
light, owing to its DISTRACTED condition,
md hn ookA VI
OF vas not true.
Mr.. Logan replied, if the officer was
three hours on the way, it was probably
because he was not in hurry, as the order
did not require Porter to march till l, and
Captain DeKay, who carried it, arrived at
0t0. As to the statement referred to by
Mr.. Mcpherson, that there were about
1900 wagons on the road, Mr.. Logan said
every army man knew it would be impos-
slble to put 1900 wagons upon nine miles
of road.
Mr.. AcPherson-Upon one of those Vir-
gina roads, 1000 feet wide?
Mr. Logan-Oh, then it was a bigger
road than thought it was.
Mr.. lcPherson-I think the senator
ought to correct his arithmetic little.
Mr.. Logan-Now that is curious phase
of this matter. It was big road for wag-
ons but little road for men. Laughter. |
Mr.. Logan said further, the evidence of a
certain captain who marched his company
along the road that night to Bristow sta
tion, showed there was no obstruction
on it.
Mr.. McPherson-Do I understand the
senator from Illinois prefers to believe
the testimony of this captain whom he
does not name rather than the statement
of Gen. Grant? The time is not very far
gone when Gen. Grants testimony was
pretty good testimony before the people
of this country upon any subject.
Mr.. Logan-Now, Mr. President, the
senator can't get me into any quarrel with
Gen. Grant, and it comes with very bad
grace from the senator to make the re-
marks he does make in reference to this
matter. I have said nothing disrespectful
of Gen. Grant. 1 have only said he is mis-
taken in this case, and that the evidence
shows it, and when the senator as whether
1 prefer to believe somebody else rather
than Gen. Grant, I answer, 1 had rather be-
heve the sworn statement of men who were
on the ground.
Mr.. McPherson-Gen. Grant AYERS that
Porter was entirely justified in exercising
his own judgment in this matter, because
tho order shows he was not to take part in
any battle when he arrived, but only to
pursue the flying enemy.
Mr.. Logan-The great military genius
of the senator from New Jersey over
whslms me, Porter was not to obey an
order to move because not required to
fight, but merely pursue the enemy. How
could he pursue the enemy if he was not
there 10 pursue hlms Laughter How
could hs pursue the enemy if he did not
move towards him, or did not move at all ?
As to Gen. Grants article, have answered
it in letter, and leave the country to
judge as to who has the best foundation for
his opinion. I will merely say now, that
any senator who will accept the statement
of president. king or captain, not based on
testimony rather than his own judgment is a
man whose judgment does not operate
for itself, and if you wish to get his judg-
ment upon any subject, you must ask not
him, but the man who makes him think
so. If you want to know what believe,
ask me. If you want to know what you
believe, ask Grant. Laughter.
Mr.. Logan's argument was listened to
attentively throughout by the senate and
by an audience who filed every seat ia
the galleries.
At 4, Mr. Logan yielded for motion to
go into executive session. The doors re.