Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-06-19
John Logan.
SONY ENTERTAINING REMINIsCENCEs or
THE NEXT VICE PRESIDENT.

Logan - gong TO give the ticket great
strength - the canvass advances" says an
old soldier. "He will enthuse the soldier
element better than either Gresham or Mill
er, or than any soldier likely to have been
named, would have done and will create as
much enthusiasm as either Llncolns or Har-
rison's name would have won. Logan be-
longed to the class of popular volunteer
generals, and in the West was regarded
somewha, as Phil Kearney was in the East.
He had all the daring, dash and pugnacitv
of Kearney and Hooker. | was with him
nearly all the day before the battle Of Resa-
ca, Georgia, on May IA, 1864, and slept in
the ambulance with him the same night
that is. slept part of the night in the am
bulance-but he was so laundering mad
when awake, and so restless when sleep
ing, that, for my own comfort, got up
and lay down under the wagon on the
ground. | never saw madder man than
Logan was that day and night. He had the
advance of McPherson's corps on flank
movement around the left Of the rebel army
at Dalton, and had planted his division
square across their only line of retreat.
Just beyond small fordable stream the
rebels had built fort commanding bridge
OF great Importance to the rebels, and Lo-
gan was preparing to assault il when Nc
Pherson, his corps commander, came up
and stopped the movement, deeming il
hazardous. Logan said he could carry the
works with single brigade and destroy the
bridge with his two other brigades, thus cut
ting of the rebel retreat and forcing him to
battle with Sherman's 100000 men-quite
double that Of the rebel force He pleaded
with Mcpherson to lie, him go ahead pro-
posing to lead the assaul,ing column in per
son. From pleading he advanced to prot
estations. and then to curses both loud and
deep, and these became almost bitter per
sonal denunciations of Mcpherson when,
deciding against an attack, he ordered I.o-
gan 10 march back six miles TO strong de-
fenslve position and fortify it,
ut happened that heard part of this
rather stormy interview, and the same
evening General Mcpherson took occasion
to explain TO me that he had made this
retrograde movement in obedience 10 impera-
tive orders. IL turned out to be one Of the
grave mistakes Of the war, and Sherman Sc
verely criticised Mcpherson afterward fer
not taking the risk suggested by Logan,
! though he sustained him in command. Lo-
gan's ins,inc, for fighting proved correct on
that occasion; it was subsequently, discov-
cred that the rebel fort at Resaca was held
BY only 900 dsmounted Georgia militia
cavalrymen. Logan's veterans could have
run over them if Mcpherson had let EN-
loose with Black Jack at their head"
LoGAy's ARMY NICKNAME.
why is he called Black Jack? 1t is
simply soldiers term OF endearment. such
as Fighting Joe as applied to Hooker, and
odd Pap Thomas as General George II.
Thomas was always called Genera! Mel
son, who was heartily hated by his men
previous 10 their first battle, wns called in
hatred Bull Nelson but after the, had
ence fought under him and discovered how
the hard training and drilling had made
veterans of them before they had smelled
burning powder, they expressed their love
for him by calling him Bully Old Nelson.
Logan Is very dark Of complexion, and this
fact, OF course. gives the color to his nick
name"
tohAN's DARING IN BATTLE.
"One OF the finest illustrations OF the
magnetic influence of a single man in the
crisis OF battle was furnished by Logan at
Pine Tree Creek, a battle fought befor.
. 'h''A''th Hc itbtIH idu uaHheu .hC[ 0sE-
son as completely as he had turned their
line at Resaca, and had attacked him yigor-
oGsy. Mcpherson was killed, and the
command Of the whole corps unex xpectedly
devolsed IN a moment on Logan, and he
had not only his own but other divisions to
look after. He left his own immediate COM
mand, and in person rallied the First III
VISION, which, being surprised, was IN great
confusion. 1t was done by actual personal
exertlon in the front Of the line, at a great
personal risk. The troops had more con-
hdence IN Logan than in Mcpherson for
the reason that Logan led whereas Mcpher-
son directed his men and wnen the retreat
ing division Logan riding along their
confused lines, they rallied and went yigor-
ous!Y into the fight with counter charg.
on the rebel forces 1t was fair. square
illustration OF personal magnetism of fear
less leader over brave men Ii was A quail
ty many Of the generals who gained greater
military distinction than Logan did not
possess, and did not lay claim to. Hooker
and hearney and Thomas had II; Grant and
Sherman and Meade did not possess it.
though to say 50 must not be construed as
rejecting on them Logan was naturally a
leader Of men in rough conflict He and
Blame will make II good team in this civic
hight Of such supreme moment to thr Ma
ton