The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-08
BLOODY SCENES, RECALLED.
Gen. Alvin P. Hovey Relates an Expe-
rience with Grant at Vicksburg.
A Terrific Fight in Which Indiana Com
manders. Took Prominent Part
The Carnage at Champion Hills.

slave ycu heard anything to-day about
Grants condition21 inquired Gen. Alvin P.
Hovey. who is in the city for day or two to
the reporter. He was told there was nothing.
tWell," continued the General, his voice thick
ening as he spoke, 'the old hero is not afraid of
death. touched Grant many times during the
war. / thought then he was something of a
fatalist Now. at Vicksburg--but mustn't get
started in on a war story
The reporter encouraged him to proceed.
''About the last of June or the LIST of july
1863, the different divisions Of our army got
very near to the Notifications of Vicksburg by
5ubterranean approaches to their works TWAS
customary for the commanding officers of divis-
ions to visit their works every day, while their
headquarters were securely placed in
vine near by On my front it was necessary to
pass through a narrow way or valley which had
shrubbery on each side This open place was
twenty five or thirty yards wide, and in full view
of the enemy. Nobody could pass this space
without salute from the rebels. I never went
over without putting spurs to my horse and
hugging his neck as closely as possible. One
morning early General Grant called at my
headquarters and asked me to show him the
condition of the works in my front When we
came to the edge of tine open space, said:
General, when / pass this open space the
enemy always salutes me, and dash the horse
across at full speed
HE replied with his characteristic terse calm
ness: They can't hurt me- and deliberately
walked his horse over. / walked over also, as
was constrained to do, and we.received rafting
al,,4a fp0 fba h,,il az od
around with more familiarity than was agree
able to me, but Grant smoked as composedly as
though on dress parade
'sThe breastworks of the division commanded
then reached within less than 200 yards of the
enemies ramparts. We had mined almost to
their lines. and they had run countermnes on
their side to ours. We were so close to the enc
my that the soldiers would often place their
hats on the point of bayonet, and raise them
above our brcastworks to receive shower of
bullets Arriving at this point Grant took his
field glass and raised his head and breast above
the level of the Notifications. I begged him not
to do so. That he was not shot
was almost a miracle / afterwards
demonstrated with him on thus exposing himself
telling him the loss to the country would be ir-
reparable should he fall. AS ] remarked before,
he seemed impressed with that thing called des-
tiny, and carelessly said oh, they can't hurt
me-
'.By the way, think can tell you something
about Grant on another occasion. The battle of
Champion Hills was of the bloodiest of the
war. The division | commanded belonged to
Netherlands corps. By a delay caused by my
feint on the enemys lines near r
Bakers Greek, while the main army passed
round the west flank OF tie enemy towards Boil
ton Station, my division became 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 Nc
Clernands corps being some two 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. General
James r. Slack commanded one brigade in my
division, and General George T. McGinnis the
other Here we waited some thirty or forty
minutes, with the enemys cannon on the hill in
full view. General Grant rode up and pointed
out to him the enemy's position. His headquar
ters were at Champions house l asked him if
I should advance. He said, Not yet wait till
McPherson comes up on your right,
G.I takes pp position to support you
A. Logan's forces soon arrived, and as soon
as they got in position, again asked General
Grant if should make the attack, to which he
aaconically answered, Yes Stacks brigade
bore off to the left, and McGnnis's to the right.
McGinnis struck the battery full, but Slack di-
verged little to the left 1t was a close hand
tohand fight between McGinnis's boys and the
rebels over the battery, and the guns were
ours. Both brigades then advanced to second
battery, perhaps quarter of q mile in the
rear Of the one we had captured, and after a
fierce fight, took that also. But the enemy re-
inforced, returned in great numbers and drove
US back TO the location of the first battery We
made second charge, and the second battery
was again taken. Again, with overwhelming
force the enemy pressed my force back down
from the brow of the hill beyond the first bat
terry. This was critical moment. My men
were fighting stubbornly, but against almost
empowering odds. If the center had been broken
our army would have been divided into two
parts There were twenty-three pieces of ar
tillery under my command. and again being re-
inforced placed these twenty three pieces on
mound in graveyard, and with shot, shell and
canister poured enfilading fire into the ad
vancing hosts. The place was we'll tmbered and
thick with underbush, but it moved
almost as with scythe. They couldn't
stand that fire and swung back.
Logan came in on the right and took sew
eral thousand prisoners. The enemy gave way,
aud Lorings force broke off from the rebel line
and rushed back to jackson. This was, as said
before, the bloodest fight of the whole campaign.
General Slack is dead; General George F. Nc
Ginnis as you know, still lives here in this city.
McGinnis was a magnificent soldier and fine
drill master. / can shut my eyes now and see Nc
Ginniss head sticking up above the brigade like
tall turkey-cock At Champion Hills my com
mand lost in killed and wounded nearly LOGO
men, besides 500 more of those who were sent to
our assistance.
"But started to tell You about Grant. 1t
was while his headquarters were at Champions
house. AS the battle began. negro boy was
sent to the well for water. 1t was an old-fash
Toned well with a sweep. just as he was about
to lower the bucket cannon ball came along
and took off the poor fellows head It was the
first discharge of cannon in the fight"
Governor Gray Will Call an Extra Session.
Governor Gray, in an interview tonight with
Journal reporter, said that he would call a
special session of the Legislature Immediately
The present session of the General Assembly ex-
.pires next Tuesday, and various bills have failed