New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-06-03
A WAR RE1EINIscEHcE.
Gen. Alvin p. Hovey Relates m xxpert.
ence With Grant at vdcksburr.

ence With Grant at vicksbure.
indianapolis Journal.
Have you heard anything to-day
about Grant's condition?" inquired
Gen. Alvin P. Hovey, who is in the city
for day or two. He was told there
was nothing. "Well," continued the
General, his voice thickening as he
spoke, "the old hero is not afraid of
death. l touched Grant many times
during the war. I thought then he was
something of a fatalist. Now, at Vicks-
burg-but [ mustn't get started in on a
war story"
The reporter encouraged him to pro-
ceed
about the last of June, or the LIST
of July, 1868, the different divisions OF
our army got very near to the fortifca-
tions of Vicksburg by subterranean APP
proaches to their works. It was Gus
tomary for the commanding officers OF
divisions to visit their works every day,
while their headquarters were securely
placed in ravine near by. On my
front it was necessary to pass through
a narrow way or valley which had shrub
berry on each side. This open place
was 25 or 30 yards wide, and in full view
of the enemy. Nobody could pass the
space without a salute from the rebels.
l never went without putting spurs to
my horse and hugging his neck as clos
~ as possible. One morning early
Gen. Grant called at my headquarters
and asked me to show him the condition
of the works in my front. When I
came to the edge of the open space I
said: General, when pass over this
open space the enemy always salutes
me, and I dash the horse across at full
speed"
"He replied with his characteristic
terse calmness, They can't hurt me,
and deliberately walked his horse over
I walked over also, as I was constrained
to do so, and we received rattling sa-
lutte from the enemy. The bullets
whistled around with more familiarity
than was agreeable to me, but Grant
smoked as composedly as though on
dress parade.
"The breastworks of the division [
commanded then reached within less
than 200 yards of the enemy's ram
parts. We had mined almost to their
lines, and they had run countermines on
their side to ours. We were so close to
the enemy that the soldiers would Of
ten place their hats on the point Of 4
bayonet and raise them above our
breastworks to receive shower Of
bullets. Arriving at this point,
Grant took his feld-glass and raised
his head and breast above the level of
the Notifications. l begged him not to
do so. That he was not shot was al
most miracle. I afterward remonstrat-
ed with him on thus exposing himself,
telling him the loss to the country
would be irreparable should he fall. AS
[ remarked before, he seemed impress
ed with that thing called destiny, and
carelessly said, oh, they can't hurt
me-
"By the way, I think I can tell some
thing about Gen. Grant on another oc-
casion. The battle of Champion Hills
was one of the bloodiest of the war.
The division commanded belonged to
McClernand's corps. By delay caused
by my division being ordered to make a
feint on the enemy's lines, near Baker
creek, while the main army passed
round the west flank of the enemy, to-
ward Bolton Station, my division be-
came detached from the main corps, to
which it belonged. We first came in
sight of the enemy near what is now
called Champion Hills. At that time
my division was on the extreme right
the main body of Netherlands corps
being some two or three miles to the
left. AS soon as the enemy was per-
ceived scouts were sent out to ascertain,
as far as possible, his real condition.
Gen. Jas. R. Slack commanded one
brigade in my division and Gen. George
F. McGinnis the ether. Here we wait
ed some thirty or forty minutes with
the enemy's cannon on the hill in full
view. Gen. Grant rode up and I pointed
out to him the ,enemy's position. His
headquarters were at Champions
uOuoe7s L dtShcO ulu1 IL SQOulu Iu-
vance. He said: Not vet; wait
till Mcpherson comes up on your
right and takes position to support
you Gen. McP herson's and Gen. John
A. Logan's forces soon arrived, and as
soon as they got in position I again
asked Gen. Grant if should make the
attack, to which he laconically answer
ed: Yes Stacks brigade bore off tc
the left, and McGinnis' to the right.
McGinnis struck the battery full, but
Slack diverged little to the left. II
was close hand to hand fight between
McGinnis' boys and the rebels over the
battery and the guns were ours. Both
higades then advanced to second bat
terry, perhaps s. quarter of a mile in the
rear of the enc we had captured, and
after fierce fight took that also. But
the enemy, REINFORCED, returned in
great numbers and drove us back to the
location Of the first battery. We made
second charge and the battery was
again taken. Again with overwhelming
force the enemy pressed my force back
down from the brow of the hill beyond
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