The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-04
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE CHARGE AT JACKSON.
Defense OF Gen. Lauman Against the Charge Of
DisObpdience Of Orders.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: i read WIN
interest an article by Comrade j.. i. Lee late
of the 4lst H., in reference TO the charge at
jackson and Gen. Humans responsibility Tor
the results. ] am prompted 10 repeat some
things I have heretofore said about that Ia
neutalle event Matters Of ordinary character
became ouly tirosome by repetition, but grave
events of war or peace Involving questions OF
correctness of memory and OF alleged facts ana
oven of veracty. are ever OF high importance
until fully settled Ii is desirable that every
possible ray Of light should be thrown upon
them until all doubts are quoted. Survivors
OF participants i'm the war owe il 20 history that
facts within their personal knowledge and rec
objection should be fully recorded, however
uniavorably they may reflect upon those whose
shoulders were emblaz0ned with conspicuous
consultations.
In the Summer of 1856 the return 10 Spring
field, H. OF the lost battle-hags of the 53d III.
called out several communications 10 the public
press ia regard TO the circumstances attendant
upon that disastrous charge at jackson, Miss,
July 10 1863, whore they were lost. Among
al these there was little that was fully eNpiaha-
tory. The whole truth never was told nor can
be. 1t is certain that the principal " truth
lies &C the bottom OF q well, which has long
been filed up, so far AS any hope remains for
due restitution to the chief victim.
RE is DEAD,
but his memory lives, and his honored family
suffer uniustly the continued wrong il bears be-
fore the world. There cannot be doubt IN the
minds of any who were present and knowing
the circumstances that the results of that eX-
tremely unfortunate officer were due TO the
utter incompetency and total unftness, as
General, of the corps commander who ordered
the charge the man whose full designation was
MaioT-General Edward Otho Cresap Ord.
To cover up cast the burden Of that expensive
proceeding on an innocent victim, and save
himself from the merited consequences OF such
q horrible piece of insane folly he had sutii-
cient sense left ana was prompt and alert
enough being in a position OF advantage, mer-
cilessly 20 sacrifice one OF the best and bravest
men who honored the service during that war;
a man whose merits, whose actual personal
successes were not only never recognized, but
were made TO wrOngfully swell the honOrs and
applause Of Others, which had already reached
absurd limits as they have since considering
they were intrinsically due to those unrecog-
nized more Justly entitled to them.
The battle of Hatchie River, Oct. 5, 1862,
would remain TO be added TO the list of caam-
ities Ord inflicted upon the country, had il not
providentially happened that when the battle
was becoming q rOut for our side, which was
soon after he took command, slight wound he
received totally demoralized, wholly disabled,
and frightened him off the field, leaving TO
Gen Stephen A. Hurlbut the splendid oppor-
tunity of converting defeat into
AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY,
against heavy odds. il was characteristic Of
such compound of inconeruity that having
retired to a noighboring post lPocahontas he
issued flaming report (printed with port
able printing apparatus i saw copy an
nouncing: Battle of PocahOntas Great vic
tory fOr Gen. Ord I" Details TO suit himself
There is a long tale connected with this case,
which probably few understand better than
myself j was present through the battle
dressed Gen. Ords wound,-a bullet through
the leg between the bones without injuring
them-sent him TO Pocahontas in one Of my
regimenta ambuances, and have clear memory
of many of the leading facts of that day. Gen.
Hurlbut told me many years ago that il was
his intention 10 give a fun detail of the inner
history OF that battle when the proper time
shall arrive" But as is well known. he died
some three years ago while Minister to Peru,
s. A., and left this purpose unaccomplished. At
this battle Gen. Jacob q. Lauman performed.
as he always did the most essential service as
second in command TO Gen. Hurlbut.
At the time before referred 10 (1SS5), two
communications were printed in the Chicago
NeUs giving my roeolectiOns Of the jackson
disaster varying in some particulars from those
then, and even now, commonly received. Fair
10 say, had special opportunities for correct
information My relations TO Gen. Lauman,
officially and socially, were somewhat intimate
1T is known TO those familiar with the forms and
routine of army service that orders from supe-
riOr headquarters are sent down TO lesser COM
mands through the intermediate commanders,
the chiefs distributing special ones 20 each
branch Of the departments composing it,
Ordnance, Commissary, Medical etc. IT is i'm
p0rtant at all times for staff officers TO be in
knowledge of contemplated movements at the
earliest moment, in order TO secure as much time
as possible for preparation. This is Of special
and great concern 10 the Regimental Surgeon
the greater where a battle is imminent. IL was
my maitland there was no violation Of pro-
prety in ito learn in advance the substance
of orders about TO be issued when practicable.
The evening before
THE TERRIBLE CHARGE,
arriving at the encampment, Gen. Lauman,
then commanding Hurlbuts Fourth Division
fixed hs headquarters at house overlooking
Pearl River and the city Of jackson from the
west My hospital and quarters were close
adjoining Early next morning, before all had
fairly breakfasted, being in the Adjutantt
Office, an Orderly hurriedly arrived with orders
which read entire over his shoulders, possess
ing myself Of a knowledge of them as fully and
M soon as he did. Instantly directing my as
sistants 10 make preparations for a movement
and a probable battle, no delay followed on oul
part.
The order was official: by command of Mai.
Gen. Il. O. q. Ord" 1t follows that at the expira,
y
order verbatim, but my memory is quite vivid
that Il was executed as nearly 10 the letter as wal
possible M the tremendous circumstances which
followed, whatever may be the rccollections o
officers Of superior rank nj a distance of severa
miles from the scene at the time OF the word
ing OF any copies OF that order which may hav
been preserved. The order seemed TO me a
the time 80 extraordinary and led TO such fear
ful consequences that they could not haW
failed TO make a lasting impression upon tn
mind Of anyone. Being IN the midst of tina
hailstorm Of shot and shell grape and caniste
NJ close range the occasion was one 70 empha
size itself upon the memory of all, the more il
my case that the results were SO appallinpl,
disastrous 10 the First Brigade, and the sd III
IN particular. Ii has never been otherwise re
ported, aud the recollection Of several other
has repeatedly confirmed the statement hay
before made, that when the 53d H. assemble
after the battle only three muskets wer
stacked!
We were al astonished 10 learn very 500
after this terrible event that Gen. Laumar
whose command had been 50 nearly annihilBte
by this insane movement, strictly in c0mpli
ance with the order, bad been ordered immed
Ately TO report himself under arrest for dii
obedience OF orders TO the Department Con
manner az Nicksburg. Gen. Lauman RENAME
there (NiclEsburR) considerable time in sue
agony Of mind could only be imagined b
those who were familiar with his Temperament
pleading constantly aud earnestly that the ia
mediate cOur-maTtial promised 10 be ordere
20 investigate his case should be organized an
the trial held az once while the importaI