The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-08
GRANT AT VICKSBURG.
Gen. w. j. Landram's Recollections Of the
Old Commander.

Old Commander.
Int rview in Louisville Courier-Journal.
Upon crossing the Mississippi river at Bruins
burg the order was that all officers except
division and corps commanders, should go on
foot AS l had a brigade of six regiments of
infantry and battery of artillery did not see
how I could we'll command them, either on the
march or in battle, on foot, and seeing plenty of
room for the horses on the transport and no
objections having been made by General Smith,
l took my horses with me. I had reason to be
thankful for this afterward The order was to
issue three days rations to the troops, who were
required to make them last five or more Gen.
Grant had crossed about the same time. and was
on one of the gunboats in consultation with
Admiral Porter. My curiosity prompted me to
60 to see him just before starting on our
night march toward Port Gibson.
went to him a little after dusk, and
while on the gurboat asked him what
we were to do when the rations gave outl For
age on the country was his reply; commit no
depredations, and take nothing not absolutely
necessary; but have details made to secure cat
tie, sheep and such breadstuffs as you can.' 1
left him, and the next day found us fighting the
battle of Port Gibson. About o'clock in the
afternoon General Grant came to me, riding
think, horse he had borrowed from Gen. A. j.
Smith, my division commander, unattended by
either an orderly or staff officer. He asked me
to show him my lines, as We were in front. on
the main road leading to Port Gibson, and then
actually engaged with the enemy. We kept in
the road, and few yards brought us to the
Forty eighth Ohio. The balls were whistling
around us pretty thick, and | made some sug-
gestion looking to his personal safety, to which
he paid no attention whatever He remained
upon his horse, saying nothing for perhaps FIVE
minutes or more, and then, turning
toward me, said: Tell your men
to save their ammunition. There are
not many of the enemy in your front at present,
and they are retreating now This turned out
to be literally true General Brown told me
when he came out with a message to General
Grant from Pemberton, to terms of surrender
at Nicksburg, that he had systematically de-
ceived us as to his strength at Port Gibson; that
he had made company represent regiment,
and, concealed by the bushes, had extended his
line Of battle so as to make show of resistance
wherever we appeared.
General Grant as commander of the army,
didn't stay in the rear and entrust everything to
his corps commanders on the contrary, he was
always at the front. And while he did not
usually ignore the rule requiring orders to go
through the regular channels, he did not hesitate
IL an emergency to issue orders direct to any OF
his subordinates, as he did to me in the instance
| have just mentioned After the retreat of the
confederates he was with US at Port Gibson; and,
after crossing the Bayou Pierre next saw him
| in the woods not far from the road on which the
army was moving AS it was late in the
afternoon, | left the column, and rode
directly to him. He was lying on the ground
with his head on a log. and the officers seemed
| to be preparing to make some coffee and get
supper. He spoke to me, and | asked him if he
had seen the buegies, carriages, carts aud other