The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-12-29
John A. Logan.


the country was not prepared and is
received with profound sorrow every
where.
General Logan was born in Jackson
county, H., February Q, 1926, of
Scotch-Irish parentage. His education
was that of a private tutor, the com
mon school and the law department of
Louisville University. Besides, he was
schooled in the hardships of western
frontier life. Upon the declaration of
war with Mexico young Logan volun-
teered and was made lieutenant in the
First Illinois Infantry. In 1852 he
was admitted to the bar. He was soon
elected to the Illinois legislature and
reelected for three terms. He was
also chosen prosecuting attorney for
the district in which he lived. In 1856
he was presidential elector on the
Buchanan ticket. In 1860 he was
strong Douglas man. In 1858 and
1860 General Logan was elected to
congress as democrat. He resigned
in 1861 to enter the Union army as
colonel of the Thirty-first Illinois Reg
iment, which he recruited. But be-
fore that, and while still member of
the house, he carried a musket as a SOL
der in the first battle of Bull Run.
Then he returned to his district and
made series of strong patriotic adj
dresses. AT the battle of Belmont his
services were so admirable that he was
officially praised. He was the first to
enter Fort Henry and led the charge
at Fort Donelson, in which he was so
severely wounded that he was COM
PEELED to leave the field for some
months. In March, 1869, he joined
Grant at Pittsburg Landing and was
appointed brigadier-general of volun-
teers. He participated in several en-
gagements, and his bravery met with
promotion to the rank of major-general.
He commanded the Seventeenth Army
Corps at Vicksburgh, where he did
valiant service, and after the surrender
of that place he was made its military
governor. Later he succeeded Sher-
man at the head of the Fifteenth
Army Corps, and after the death of Nc
Pherson Logan commanded the Army
of the Tennessee. He assumed this po-
sition in the face of the enemy and the
confusion of battle, eiciting the warm
praise of General Sherman. After the
fall of Atlanta he returned home to par
ticipate in the presidential campaign of
1864, and on his return to the army he
commanded his corps during the march
of Sherman's army through South Car
DINA and into North Carolina, until
May, 1865, when he was again put in
command of the Army Of the Tennessee.
Sherman says of Logan's military ca
reer: g He had great personal cour-
age and was magnificent in action and
in battle. He manifested intense de-
votion to his cause and to his country.
Probably at the time of his death he
was the most conspicuous example of
the volunteer soldier living"
After the war General Logan was
elected to the fortieth and forty-frst
congresses, and in March, 1871, entered
the United States senate, where he
served six years He was defeated for
reelection by David Davis, but in
1879 was again elected, and was re-
elected last year after a notable con-
test. In 1865 General Logan was ap-
pointed minister to Mexico, but de-
clined. He was one of the foremost
advocates in congress of the impeach-
ment of Andrew Johnson and an
earnest opponent of the reinstatement
of Fitz-J ohm Porter to his rank in the
army His greatest success as prac'
tical legislator was as chairman of the
senate military committee. In 1884
General Logan was a prominent aspir-
ant for the republican presidential
nomination and had considerable sup
port in the national convention. He
was nominated for vice-president OF
the ticket with Mr.. Blaine by unani
nous vote, and made some notable
speeches in the campaign. With The
Grand Army of the Republic he was
prominently identified from its organ
ization, and was its COMMANDMENT
chief in 1868. Last summer he wal
one of the principal figures of the ma
tional reunion at San Francisco
Nearly year ago he gave to the coun
try graphic historical work dealing
with the late civil war, which has had
large sale.
The personal appearance of Genera
Logan was striking, and it was ofte
mistakenly assumed that he had India
blood in him. He was tall, strong
swarthy, with black eyes and long
straight black hair, and wore heav
black moustache. His appearance i
battle is said to have been remarkabl
commanding and inspiring. In an il
terview last Sunday Mr.. Blaine said {
him. He had immense force in