Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-02-27
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BOWEN 8 KINGsBURy. Prop,ts.
RECOLLECTlONS OF A PRIVATE.
Sketches of the Battles of
Iuka and Corinth, MIS-
sippi, Fought in the
Fall of 1862.
Two Federal Victories which
Opened the way for Grants
Army to March upon
Vicksburg.

W
Vicksburg.
The accompanying sketch is the first Of q
promised series we have und ertaken to publish
oeincident with oral historical instruction
given in the city schools by resident e1-soIdiers
ef the war of the rebellion. Tho superinten-
dent of the city schools has adopted this
method of conveying to his pupils information
connected with the war history of the Uuited
States, and our series of articles. prepared by
aa ex-soldier, is designed as part of such in
struction. .-EDs.l
1t was during the months of February
and March, 1862, that series OF brilliant
federal victories in the southwest arous-
ed the tagging hopes OF the loyal north
and fixed its attention upon the rising
military genius who was destined to
solve the intricate problem then dis
tracting our country, and to lead the
union forces, through the strife and
blood of contentious years, to that per-
manent peace which shed it's lustre upon
our arms at the .Appomattox and the
Raleigh of 1865.
General Ulysses S. Grant, until then
an almost unknown factor in the move.
sAents of the federal forces, had com
PEELED the surrender of Forts Henry and
Donelson and had hurled back the
flower of the western army of the con-
federaoy from the ensanguined field of
Shiloh From Cairo to the northern
boundary of the state of Mississippi he
had unfurled the flag of the union over
the entire resien between the
Cumberland and the Mississippi
rivers, and defeated and de-
moralized enemy had fallen back
before his victorious advance with shat
tered and bleeding columns, pursued,
distressed, demorallzed.
1t Is matter OF history that at this
yuncture the ingratitude of the nation,
through it's jealous servants as Wash
Ington, accomplished the practical sus-
pension from command of the soldier
who had given to the country the first
real successes OF the war and had estab-
lished the federal army of the west upon
an offensive basis, from which it after
wards swept the entire oonfederacy with
its victorious legions. General FL. w.
Halleck came west from Washington
and en- the l1th of April, but few days
after General Grant had secured his
third great victory Of the campaign,
assumed command of the army which
Grant bad suddenly made famous
through the successes it had accomplish
ed under his direction.
Oorinth, located just south of the
northern boundary of the state of Mis-
sissippi, and only about fifteen miles
distant from Shiloh, was the objective
point of the pending campaign, and up
on Corinth Halleck moved with an army
of 10000 men. Grant had only nomi-
nal command during this expedition,
though he accompanied the army as a
sort of second to Halleck. That he
felt keenly the unearned disgrace thrust
upon him, we, who are human, can un-
derstand. He made preparations to
quit the army and return to the north
and it was only by the earnest entrea.
ties of General Sherman that he was in.
duced to change his plans
remain with his soldiers an6
follow the destiny which wrought
30 we'll for him and for his cause in the
coming years of the civil contest
Sherman had told Grant that the ever
varying fortunes OF war would bring
him to his rightful place, and Shermal
appeared to have gazed into the futur,
with prophetic vision.
Halleck and his 10000 men campet
before Corinth and the army begal
work upon system of defensive fortifi
cations which could not have been occu
pied to advantage by less than doubl
his number of troops. During the earl,
stages OF this gigantic task the confede1
ates, having safely removed all thsi
supplies by the railroad lines left one,
by Halleck quietly evacuated Corint]
and on the 30th of May the federal com
mander took possession, gaining
barren though bloodles
victory. His Notifications wer
never used. Once insid
the city he constructed series of eartt
works; upon Smaller scale, for the dt
Tense OF the place, and they played a
importa.t defensive part in subse
quent bloody assault upon Corinth b
the confederates.
On the 18th of July, General HaIlecl
having been promoted to the comman
of all the federal forces, with head
quarters at Washington, left Corint
and General Grant was once more
commander with command. His di
trict comprised those portions of I'll
states of Tennessee and Kentuet
lying between the Cumberland and ii
mississippi rivers, with his adyanc
pushed across the northe
boundary of Mississippi 2
sJOrinfk tba ob.-s .L..A.-.1 /.