Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-01
1oGAN,s rARDY PATRIOTISM.
The Author of ''Uncie Danlers Story"
Counted Disloysl.


From the Washington Star.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The pu6lica-
tion of Logan's novel in the edition of last
sunday has set the oldest citizens Of
Washington to buzzing like so many
bees. The air is thick with "reminiscences
and conjecture. Hoary veterans who
we're in their prime during the tragic
DAYS OF 1S6O.6l, but who latterly have
Withdrawn from active life and mingle
with the world only at some rare military
reunion, have begun to brush up their
recollections of TWENTY-FIVE years ago.
They knew John A. Logan well in those
DAYS, and remember him wildly as a
rather commonplace man OF about Az, or
perhaps a year or two less, who was BON
camarade In the social recreatiOns Of that
time, but OF no personal or political mark,
and giving no promise whatever of the
robust ard verile individuality he has
since developed.
IL is proper to say that these men re-
member him kindly. What puzz es them
is the attempt in "Uncle Daniels" MARIA
tive to make Logan furious Boabdll OF
Union enthusiasm during tue early days
of secession. Many Of these men were
busy at that time organizing for the
Union cause. Many became members of
Lne UfbL company lnuotciCN INV bAS II Ctt-
eral army for the war-COmpany A, w ash
lngton Light Infantry Battalion. Before
that they mad known Logan intimately,
and what they do not understand now 10
Why, if Logan was such ferVent Union
man, he never mentioned the subject to
them. IL was a time when most men
were taking sides; when Congress rang
with the fiery outbursts Of secession
prophets and the imprs stoned appeals OF
grraa cat Vsran
tongue. SOutherners were resigning and
going home, and from beyond the Potomac
came sounds of hostile preparation blown
on fierce winds of sectional hate.
Everybody then knew the SOuth's dread
purpose. A hundred thousand tongues Of
fame we're licking at the soldier that held
The States together. Wiglall was in New
York trying to secure an enGraver's es-
adjustment to take South and make the
Confederate currency. Tancey, Slldell
aud T0OmDs had declared the gloomy
propaganda of secession. it was the time
for loyal hearts 30 thrill and loyal voices
TO ring out. Yet these veteran citizens
at W ashingtOn who knew Logan so
closely cannot remember that he at any
time defined his position, directly or in
directly. They, his erstwhile boon COM
panions, We're VIGOROUSLY organizing
company, but he did not approach them
with one word Of sympathy or encourage
ment. He had opportunities without
number but he did not embrace q single
one Of them.
Your correspondent visited one of these
citizens at his house last night, and asked
him to review his memories OF the winter
of '6O6l SO far as John A. Logan formed
part Of them. 81 knew JOnn very well IN
those days" he said. 1--WE were, you
may say, close friends, certainly intimate
acquantances. No; / do not connect
him with the Union sentiment during
that winter. If he had declared himself |
should have known 1t. lfhe had said a
word in Cong ess | should have heard it.
am sure OF that. But he never opened
his mouth. Nobody knew how be stood,
only we, his former companions and init
mates, took it tor granted that he was a
Southern sympathizer because he mani
tested no sympathy with us. He knew
we were embarked in the Union cause,
but he never told us his heart was with
usv
when was this ?"
"All through the winter. He left here
after the Congress adjourned, aud went
back to Illinois. Then, when we heard
the story of The companies being raised in
Egypt to 90 South, we gave Logan up for
lost. His name was associated with that
movement, you know"
''How did you finally hear Of his joining
the army?''
"FrOm himself. In May he returned to
Washington, and one evening | met him
at Browns hotel. he came up to me
with his old manner, and told me he was
going with the Union army at the head Of
a regiment. l remember now how de-
lighted, and yet how surprised was, for
had certainly thought he was all wrong.
But he made a good sOdier-a mighty
good soldier. l have always though that
the secession of John &. Breckenridge
had a good deal to do with deciding
the DOu las faction. They couldn't agree
on anything you see. II Breckenridge
had taken part on the Union side, as be
really wanted to do, l honestly believe
the Douglas crowd would have done the
other thlng-at least they wouldn't have
gone with Breckenridge. But Albert sgd.
ney Johnston persuaded Breckinrdge
against his will, against his convictions.
and he went South. He was failure
there. because his heart was not In it.
But l have always thought that act Of
his had great deal to do with deciding
the crowd Logan was with"
what do you think OF LOgan's nOvel?"
"Oh, well, don't know about that. He
says lie didn't write it, and L can talk
about that 50 long as the authorship is in
doubt Wait till he fathers it,"
Cant you tell me something more
about Logan during the winter of go 81?
81 could, but wou't-that Is, not now.
have told you that / know Logan was
not recognized during that period as
pronounced Unionlst. His old friends. i'm
fact thought he was the other thing But
don't know that he pretends the contra
~. When be does il Will be time to talk.
They say his history will be published
soon. III wait for that. II he con-
tents himself with giving square history,
well ana good; III say nothing in denial.
lie was a good soldier alter he finally
made up bis mind, and bis record is hon
oraole. Let him stand on that. But II be
goes 10 writing about that winter and de-
scri0ing himself as a champion of the
Union and bold denouncer of disl0yalty,
why, come back, aud III have something
more to say"