The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-03-21
A rZAn REMINlsuENCE.
Gen. Alvsn p. Hovey Relates an Expert
ouco with Grant ut Vicksburg.

Gen Alvin p. Hovey, who Is In the city
for day or two. He was told there
was nothing. "Well,r continued tba
general. his voice thickoning "a he
spoke, "the old hero is not afraid Of
death. touched Grant many times
during tho war. | thought then he was
something Of fetalist. Now, AZ Vicks-
burg-but | Mustn't got started in on a
was story"
Tho reporter encouraged him TO pro-
coed.
"About tho last OF June, or tho fret Of
July, 1868, tho different divisions Of our
army got very noar 20 tho Qualifications
OF YiCksburg by subtorrauoan approach
os TO their works. 10 was customary
for Tho commanding officers Of divisions
TO visit thor works every day, while
their headquarters were securely placed
In some rAylno near by. On my front
II was necessary to pass through mar
rev way or valley which hal shrub
berry ON each side. This open place was
p or I'D yards wide, aud In fluff Wow of
the enemy. Nobody could pass this
space without II salute from the rebels.
lueyor wont without putting spurs 30
my horse and hugging his neck ~
closely us possible. one morning carly
Con. Grant called NJ my headquarters
and asked nie TO show him the cOndi-
ton of tho works In my front When
G. mo 10 the edge of the opon space /
said: General, whom | pass Oyor this
opon space the enemy always salutes me,
and dash tho horse across NJ full
speed
ole replied with his characteristic
torse calmnoss, 'rhoy can't hurt mo-
and deliberately walked his horse over.
| walked over also, ~ | WAS constrained
to do. nud We received rafting salute
from the enemy. The bullets whisted
around with moro familiarity than was
agreeable to mo, but Grant smoked as
c0mposedly ~ though on dross parade.
"Hhe hroastwOrks of the division |
commanded thon reached within less
than 200 yards of tho enOmy's ram
parts. We had mined almost To their
lines, and they had run counter. mines
on their side TO ours. We were so close
to tho enemy that tho soldiers would
often place their hats on the point of
bRyOnOt and raise them above our
broastworks to receive a shower Of bal.
lets. Arriving at this point, Grant
took his iiold-glass and rsisod
his head and broast above
tho level OF tho Notifications. / begged
him not To do 50. That no was not Shot
was almost a miracle. ! atterward ro-
monstraiod with him on thus exposing
himself, tolling him tho loss To the
country would be irreparablO should he
fall. As remarked before, ho soemed
impressed with that thing called dosti-
niny, and carolessly said, 'Oh, they
can't hurt me-
"ly tho way, think can toll YOU
something about Gen. Grant ON anO her
occasion. Tho battle Of Champion Hills
NxFH Of l.I...Il..g -
The division i commanded belonged tu
McClornand's corps. By DELAY, caused
by my division being ordered To mako
u loiut on tho onomy's limos, uoar Baker
creek whilo the main army passed
around tho west flank of tho cnomy,
toward Bolton station, my division be.
came detached from the main corps,
To which IL belonged. We first
came Ina sight OF tho on
omy near what Is now called
Champion Hills. Az that time my di-
vision was on tho oXtr0mo righLEtbe
main body of McClernaud's corps being
some two or three mites On tho loft. AS
soon as the cncmy was perceived scouts
were tont out To ascertain, ~ far as pos
sihlo, his roM condition. Gen. James II.
slack commanded ono brigade iu my
division and Gen. George ". McGiuuig
q
40 minutes with the onemy's cannon ON
the hill IN fuli view. GEN. Grant rolo
up aud / pointed out To him tho ouo-
my's position. His headquarters woro
AZ champions house. | asked him II
should advance. lilo said: Not vet;
wait Gil Mcpherson comos nm ON
your right and takes position 20 sup.
port YOU Gen. McPhcIson's and Gcn.
John A. Logan's forces suon arrived.
and az soon as they got in position I
again asAed Gen. Grant II / should
make tho attack, towhlch hnlacouicnlly
answered 'Ios.' Slark's brigade bofa
OIL 90 the loit, and McGiuuis' To the
right, McGinnis struck the battery
iull, out Slack diverged u littlo to the
lon IL WAS "a close hand. tO-hand
hVht between McGlnnis' boys
ehd the robels over tho battery
ana inc guns were ours, both
brigadcs then advanced tn second
battery, perhaps a quarter of miis
In the rear OF tho ono we hal capurri.
aud alter a fl rec fight took that also
bat Tue ouomy, re.eniorcod, returned IN
great nJmhors and drove W. back 10 tho
location OF the frat battery. We made
q second charge and the second battery
was again taken.Again with uverwholul-
my iurco the enemy pressed NV force
Ohck down from tho brow of the hill bo.
yond tho rrst battery. This was A GRID.
'al moment NV mon were fighting
but against almost over.
towering odds, II the Cantnr had been
broken our army would have baen al. |
Sided into two parts. There |
we're y pieces OF artillery nm. |
ier my command, and again being no. |
enforced, l placed the % pieces on a |
mound IA graveyard, ana with snot, |
,hell Nnd canister, poured an cnhladlng |
lre INTO mo advancing hosts. Tue place |
WAS well timberod and thick with nm |
tprhrush, but it was moved sitno.t IA
With a scythO, They conldn't stand that
iro and swung back, Logan camo I'M |
1n Tue right aud took several thousand |
prisoners Tho ouomy gavo way, and |
lsofing's force Oroko on from tho rAhol |
'ino ahd rushed back To Jackson. This |
was, AS said before, tho
hlo0diest fight OF tho whole |
campaign, Geu. Slack l. dead, Enp. |
ieulgo r. McGlunis, As YOU know. still |
lives mere In this city. McGmuis waa "A |
soldier and hno drill mas. |
.cr can shut my owes now aud soe /
Mo0innis' head stocking up ahovo tho |
brigade like tall turkey cock. AZ |
hampton Hills my command lost In |
Killed and wounded nearly 1910 men, /
besides tOl moro OF those whu wero sent |
10 our assistance.
"Htnnts headquarters wore at Champ. /
Ious house, Az the baltic began a nor' o /
loy was sent to the well Tor water In |
was an old'tashioned well with a awoep /
Us. ~ lac was about to lower tho |
bucket y cannon ball came along and
Ieok on the poor fellows head, ID was
,he nrSt discharge or cannon I'm the |
lghI"-l Indianapolis Journal.
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