The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-06-26
JOHN ALEXANDER LOGAN.

equally distinguished as soldier and
statesman. His father. DR.. John Logan.
emlgrated from Ireland in 1923. and set
tied as a country practitioner near Muir
physboro, Ill. He prospered in what
was then a wild country and in 1924
married Elizabeth Jenkins, a native of
Tennessee, who, two years later. op the
night Of February 9, 1926, became the
mother of the present Republican candi-
date for vice president.
The child was taught to read and
write by bis father and mother There
were no schools in those days. At 10 he
enlisted as private in the Mexican war,
and he was chosen lieutenant in the
First Illinois Regiment. He served with
distinction throughout the war, and at
its close in the fall of lS4S he returned
to his home to begin the study of the
law under the guidance of his uncle,
Alexander N. jenkins, formerly lieuten-
ant governor of the state. After serving
as clerk of the county court, he received
his diploma and took up his position at
the Bar in 1851. He also Immediately
entered into politics and the same fall
was nominated and elected to the State
Legislature. From that time until the
outbreak of the war; he figured promi-
nently, not only in the State but also in
the National Councils of the Democratic
party, and served two terms N Congress
as its representative. Immediately on
the outbreak of the war. however, he
was among the first to enlist in the de
tense of the Union. lie was in the first
battle of Bull Run, and among the last to
leave the field. Returning to his home
September /, he assisted in raising
troops, ard September l3 the 3ist Regi-
ment of Illinois infantry was organized
With Logan commissioned as colonel
The first engagement in which he and
bis command participated was the battle
Of Belmont, in November of the same
year, when bis ability as a commander.
and his dash and intrepidty, foreshadow :
ed the fact that he was to play a con
spicuous part in the operations of the
army He participated in the move
ments at Fort Henry, ard was present at
the battle of Fort Donelson, where he re-
ceived a severe wound, and did not re-
join his command until some weeks after
ward, on the evening of the last dav of
liiS bttltlt vi ''iIlloll' va Mai Gu lCO-,
he was made brigadier general and par
ticipated in the siege Of Corinth as com
mander of the First Brigade in General
Judah's division of the right wing of the
army, and for bis valiant services was
publicly thanked by General Sherman in
his official report.
In the movements about Nicksburg
from February 1868 until July 1, when
General Pemberton surrendered, General
Logan, with his command, was actively
engaged, and he was ordered to take the
lead in the march into Nicksburg, JULY
/, after which he was given the command
of that post, which he retained until
placed in command of the Fifteenth
Corps November II, 1868
On July -, 1864, Logan, as command
er of the Fifteenth Army Corps, was or
dered in pursuit of the enemy South of
Atlanta. In the hard-fought battle that
followed, General Mcpherson was killed,
and General Logan succeeded him in
command of the Army of the Tennessee.
The success of the battle was accorded
to Logan by General Sherman's official
report. The battle of July Is, which
followed, was another hotly contested
fight, in which Logans command was
equally as conspicuous and successful.
After the close of the war General Logan
was offered the position of minister to
Mexico, but declined. In 1866 he was
elected to Congress from the state at
large in Illinois by a majority of 55,9S7,
and in the Fortieth Congress was one OF
the managers of the impeac hment OF
President johnson. In the next the For
ty-first Congress, Logan began to make
his mark, and in 1870 was elected by the
Illinois Legislature to the United States
Senate. After serving his term he was
defeated by the Independents, who unit
ed upon the Hon. David Davis as his
successor but he was again elected to
succeed Oglesby in 1869. He has al
ways taken an active part in the legisla
ton OF the Senate, and has introduced
many useful bills.