The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-05
CHARGE AT ViCKSBURG.
What Would Have Been Done if McClernand Hat
Been Supported.

Been Supported.
To THE EDITOR: In your issue of Nov. 81 |
see Comrade Bartholomew takes Comrade
Morris to task some of the details of the
charge on that fatal 22d of May, 1863 In the
extract cited by Bartholomew, Morris uses
this language: "McCiernand, away in the rear,
called loudly on Grant for help" / never yet
heard soldier Of the old Thirteenth Corps
complain that John A. McClernand was lacking
in fighting qualities. Again he says: The
rebel rihe-p pits to our left could fire upon u.s."
Now, let us see why McClernaud called for
help. If Comrade Morris belonged to the 42d
Ohio. he ought to have vivid recollection of
the position of Osterhaus's Division on that
day. The First Brigade, to which my regiment
(the Goth Ind belonged, was on the extreme
left At the signal-three guns-we moved up
and over those ragged hills ravines and fallen
timber, TO within few rods of the rebel works
and here the brave Finley, Major Of the Goth,
and host of other brave fellows fell mortally
wounded under the very caves of our guns
Close on our right was battery can't
remember whose. They had pulled their guns
up to within hundred PAGES of a rekei fort,
and were sending perfect shower of shot into
the enemy, while wo on the left kept up con-
slant fire until the rebel battery was silenced.
regiment in front charged up, part going
over the works, planting their colors on the
walls. They were not supported, and fell back.
A few came out of the fort, leaving their colors.
| soon saw rebel reach up and drag the Stars
and Stripes inside. Again Morris says We
knew to stay longer was useless; and SO, one
by one, we stole away" Who stole away? Not
the First Brigade, commanded by the brave
Col. keigwiu, of the 49th Ind. We held our
position all day, and not till long after dark
did we, bleeding and torn, seek safer ground.
/ will not attempt what so many have failed
tG do, fully describe the ground and the hell
we marched into that day; but / have it en-
graved on my memory in a way did not soon
hear the last of. We were holding our ground.
but making no Roadway. Lieut. Ellsworth, of
Gen Osterhaus's staff, handed me an order,
which read, The division will at once move
forward" l asked Ellsworth if Gen. OSterhaus
understood the nature of the ground in front
of us. In q sepulchra voice, that sounded as
though it came from the depths of those ever
lasting hills, and slowly repeating each word,
he answered, g You have the order as / received
time had passed when it was practicable, and
our thin line was without any support. Now,
l am aware that there has always been dis
position all along the line to give the cold
shoulder to Gen. McClernand, I'D for this
reason the Thirteenth Corps is little heard of;
and yet, in all that campaign no corps did
more harder fighting or suffered worse.
And it is a ct,-and that fact will not down.
if the Thirteenth Corps had been supported on
that 22d of May, Grants army would have
gone into Vicksburg then and there; and yet
McClernand was relieved of his command for
saying son. NJ. LACEY, 622 Twenty second
street, Washington, ID. G.