The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-26
CORD-WOOD, NOT RAILS.
How General Logan Enforced One Of 6eneral
Grants Orders.
% the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
The result of the late Republican National
Convention at Chicago reminds me of a little
incident that occurred in Northern Mississippi
nearly twenty-five years ago. II was shortly
after the battle of Corinth, which was so grandly
won by a portion of the Army of the Tennes-
see, under the immediate command of General
Rosecrans, who was shortly after sent to Middle
Tennessee. General Grant was in command of
the department of Tennessee, with headquar-
tiers at Bolivar or jackson. We had never seen
him. but knew his history as it was understood
by our part of the army,-formerly POpe's Army
of the Mississippi truth eompels me to say
that at the time We had no great respect for
his military abilities We believed the dis
aster at Belmont and the immense loss of life
in the first days conflict at Shiloh were owing
to his bad generalship. We were confident
that If he had properly supported Rosecrans
movement at Iuka we should have bagged
Price there, and so avoided the Corinth battle.
He was understood to have Democratic pro-
clivities, and we feared his heart was not In
the cause. How wrong was this idea of Gen.
eral Grant, we learned after we came to know
him better, but just then we could not have
been classed among his enthusiastic admirers.
The army was organized into brigades and
divisions preparatory TO a move 10 the south.
Our destination was, OF course, unknown to
the rank and fle but report said g Vicksburg."
General John A. Logan was appointed to the
command of our division. Moving south from
Grand Junction, at the end of the first days
march, as our regiment went into line and
stacked arms preparatory TO bivouacking, Cen
eral Logan and staff rode up to the head of the
regiment, and we got the command Attention
to orders" The adjutant-g general then pro-
ceeded to read an order from General Grant
strictly prohibiting foraging of any sort, ex-
cept by special direction of the commanding
general, and especially prohibiting the burn
ing OF fence rails. Officers commanding diyiS-
ions, brigades, regiments and companies were
TO be held responsible for the strict observance
of the order by their respective commands. 1t
was very stringent order-such one as we
had never had before. The outlook for fuel
especially was rather blue. When the reading
and, in his commanding voice. called "Atten-
tionp Men" said he, "you have heard the
order. 1t must be implicitly obeyed in this
command. / shall hold company officers re-
sponsible for the conduct of their men. No
fence rails must be burned or destroyed by the
men of this division. If any of you fellows
find any cord-wood around your camps ten or
twelve feet long you are free to burn cord
wood, but on account are you TO take any rails.
Break ranks, march!" 1t is needless TO say
that the ten-foot eord-wood suffered after that
General Logan had discovered philosophers
stone, that, if it would not trausmute all metals
into gold, would at least change fence rails into
ten-foot cord-wood. We thought it the most
eloquent speech to which We had ever listened.
ii. p. WALKER.
Fort DODGE, Iowa