The National tribune., 1884-08-21
GEN. T. E. G. RANSOM.
An Ideal Soldier, and Beloved by
All who Knew Him.
BY GEN. W. j. LANDRUM.
tWritten for The Natioaas 7ri5,tae.1

thing connected with the services of that dis
tinguished officer is worthy of preservation
beg leave to state some facts in his history that
came under my own observation. We served
together in the Army of the Tennessee at
Vicksburg he commanding brigade in Nc
Pherson's corps while had the Second Brigade
of A. j. Smiths division in the Thirteenth
Corps commanded by Ord. After the siege of
Nicksburg, Ransom was sent down the river to
NatcheZ, and gained considerable credit for the
capture of a large number of cattle the Confed-
crates were shipping from Texas to the armies
of Bragg and Lee
Before the final Red River expedition was
ordered, it was deemed expedient by the Fed
eral Government to occupy some points on the
coast of Texas and Pass Cavallo Tor DeCrow's
Point was selected as suitable place to land
troops as the peninsula was long and narrow,
and could be easily defended by a small body
of men, assisted by the fleet engaged in block
aiding the port. Magruder, with some 5000 or
5000 men, was intrenched at The head of the
peninsula. While in command of the Fourth
Division of the Thirteenth Corps at this place
GEN. RANSOM ARRIVED
and assumed command, giving me six of his
regiments as a brigade. 1t was there that
became intimately acquainted with him, and
the intimacy ripened into friendship which
was as lasting as it was sincere. As a testimo-
nial OF his regard he presented me with one of
a pair of fine pistols, which l have in my pos
session now and an accurate photograph of him.
self in uniform. This picture afterwards had
enlarged by an artist in Cincinnati, and three
copies prepared, one of which adorns the walls
of my parlor another was sent to Gen. Grant,
and the third to Gen. Sherman. / presume
this is the picture alluded to by Gen. Sherman
in his address to the Post of the Grand Army
of the Republic. My admiration for Ransom
induced me to name one of my children for
him. a compliment that he acknowledged in a
kind letter shortly before his death at Rome,
Ga. His assignment to the command of the
Thirteenth Corps placed me again in command
ofthe Fourth Division, and after remaining sew
eral weeks at DeCrow's Point we returned to
New Orleans, and thence proceeded on the Red
River expedition. The first battle fought
was at
SABINE CROSS ROADS,
or Mansfield. The army under Banks had
reached Pleasant Hill. Lee was in front with
several brgades Of Federal cavalry his force said
to be some 1000 or 1000 strong with section of
Nimms's battery. He had encountered heavy
force of mounted infantry six miles beyond
this point, and declared his inability to get any
further without infantry support This he
communicated to Gen. Banks, and that General
gave orders to Gen. Franklin 70 send the sup
port requested by Lee. Franklin demonstrated,
as he afterwards informed me, but Banks in
sisted upon the execution of his order, and Ran
som was directed to furnish the troops. We
had retired for the night, when an order was
brought to me from Ransom, directing me TO
take one brigade of my division and return In
person TO Gen. Lee by daylight the next morn
ing. Believing that this was the commence
ment of
THE SERIES OF BLUNDERs
which were to follow, and which actually fol-
lowed, went at once to Ransom's headquar-
tiers and suggested to him what / thought
would be the result of the order, and asked if ii
could not be revoked. ] told him that the in
4 eyitable result would be to embolden Lee to
/ push on beyond support and to bring a
| general engagement, IN which the head of the
| column would be crushed before the main body
of the army could get up to our assistance. He
said that both Gen. Franklin and himself took
precisely the same view Of the matter, and
/ had both demonstrated, but to no effect; and
| that l would have to proceed to execute the
| order. Daylight found me at the creek where
| Lee had been halted, and he notified me that
/ / was expected to proceed and drive the enemy
| with my infantry, while he protected my fanks
with his cavalry. / saw but very little Of his
4,000 cavalry that were protecting the fanks
of about 200 infantry that day. He seemed
TO have forgotten that he had any cavalry, and
10 rely exclusively upon the infantry. Lieut.
| Col. Webb, gallant and accomplished officer
in command of one Of my best regiments (the
| 18th III. J, was killed early in the day.
AN OBSTINATE RESISTANCE
was made at various points but we pushed on
| until we reached Sabine Crossroads. Know
| ing that by constant marching we were oi
coulse keeping not less than six miles ahead OF
the army, and that We were likely to be crush
ed any moment before support could reach US
| / made repeated requests TO have the men rest
until the army came up.
Lee ranked me, and insisted on pushing
| ahead Seeing the condition of affairs and the
inevitable result of an advance so palpably
reckless, I sent an orderly 10 the rear with a
note TO Ransom, telling him how things were
| going, and insisted upon his sending forward
my other brigade. He was not slow to act
upon this suggestion, and not only sent the
| brigade, but came in person TO assist me il
managing the division. In the meantime Gems
| Banks Stone, and others had arrived, unac
companied by any troops Ransom rode at once
to the front, and we could distinctly see TIA,
| lines Of Confederate infantry formed in th'
| woods, anxionsly awaiting our farther advance
/ suggested to Ransom that if we
HAD FEWER GENERALS AND MoRE MEN
it wonld be better, and / think he had som,
| conversation with Gen. Banks upon this sub
ject, which caused the Commander of til,
! Army to send orders to the rear to haster
| Troops 10 the lToGL. RANSOM D0lu me- as Ii
had frequently done before, that his policy was
whenever he was satisfied the enemy was pre-
pairing to attack, TO make the attack himself
and as our skirmishers were then being driver
in, he directed me TO move forward and opel
FIRE, and that he would personally look afte
the First Brigade while / looked after tn
Second; the line being SO long, we had no re
serve.
After terrific engagement of about on
hour, IN which the loss upon the Confederate
side was immense, as their reports show, w
were outfanfed, and Ransom directed me tt
withdraw the troops and fall back. While en-
gagged in raliying some of our men, Ransom
was wounded by my side, and dismounted
complaining of having received a shot in hi
leg. To prevent his capture, ! requested som,
soldiers TO place him again upon his hors
which they did, and with one arm around hi
waist ! held him on the horse until found al
ambulance in the rear. in which he was placet
and conveyed to Grand Ecore where he took
boat to New Orleans. He informed me after
wards that the surgeons were equally divide,
as TO the propriety of amputating his leg, AM
HE GAVE THE CASTING VOTE
in favor of retaining it. / never met him al
terwards, but received frequent messages, AM
also his official report of the engagement
He was not only fearless in battle, but was
in my opinion natural military genius III
was strict in discipline, and at the same tim
as genial and kind-hearted as woman III
was full of humor, fond of an anecdote, am
had no superior in the social circle At DeCrow'
Point Gen. Dana, of the Regular Army, re
viewed my brigade. Ransom accompanied m
to the parade grounds, and on the way re