The National tribune., 1886-07-15
GEN. LAUMAN.
Comrade Jackson Strongly Defends That Brave
Officer

OmCer.
To THE EDITOR: There appears 10 be dis
position among the veterans of 1861 and 1865,
when recounting the events of the war, to with
hold censure from the bigbugs among the
officers. and let the stigma of failure or
the disgrace of ignorance attach to sub
alterns at least by implication. OF this /
was reminded while reading the communica-
tion Of Comrade Lee, Secretary, 4lst Ill, when
detailing the loss and recovery of the blue field
banner Of that gallant battalion, which was
lost at Jackson, Miss, a few days subsequent TO
the surrender of Yicksburg. There was GER
tanly no disgrace attached to the 4lst ILL.,, or to
COL Pugh, who was its old commander, nor 10
any man Of the brigade, whose valor under the
command of Gen. Lsuman, and at Shiloh as a
portion Of Hurlbutso old Fighting Fourth Diyis-
ion, is too well established TO admit Of any
doubt Drawer man never drew saber than
Gen. Lauman, or commanded Drawer men, and
his loss TO the service and his death shortly
afterwards, as a result Of the disgrace forced
upon him by his superiors will always be looked
upon by all acquainted with the surroundings
as a sacrifice to the criminal neglect or stupidity
OF the general officer his immediate superior
Gen. Ord had never made anything but blunders
since his advent in the West, and his direction
of affairs at the Hatchie, but for timely arrival
of Gen. Hurlbut on the field, would have re-
suited in defeat as il did in disgrace TO him in
Strengthening 300 men by ordering them across
the bridge, for which he should have been dis
missed the service. Comrade Lee failed to
bring out the facts as they appear, nor does he
mention the name Of Ord except in connection
with sending Gen. Lauman home 10 die in dis
grace, without an investigation of his conduct
at Jackson, 10 cover up blunder or a crime
committed by another. Gen. Lauman was
known as brave man and very careful OF the
lives of the men under his command, and, as
every man Of that brigade believed at the time,
in making the ill-advised attempt on the rebel
works he was acting under the immediate
orders Of Gen. Ord and the frightful sacrifice
must be laid to some one, and Gen. Lauman
became the victim, while the responsible party
escaped. When the halt was made at the edge
Of tho woods, Gen. Ord blurted out in way
peculiar TO himself remark that offended Gen.
Lauman, and in sheer desperation he repeated
the order for Col. Pugh to advance. No court
martial was ever ordered, nor even a court of
inquiry by which Gen. Lauman might vindi-
cate himself but under the order of Gen. Sher-
man, who knew his sterling worth, he was per-
mittcd to die in solitude under the impu-
tation OF being rash, incompetent soldier.
There was no excuse for neglecting his case
except One an inquiry might have placed the
blame where il belonged and the Regular Army
scandalised by a revelation that il was necessary
TO suppress. There had never been any kindly
feeling exhibited between Gen. Ord and the
old Fighting Fourth since the unfortunate day
that he took command of the division, nor was
his course calculated TO awaken respect for any
latent military talent he might possess when he
appeared on the field during the battle of the
Hatchie, and the remembrance Of the accident
that befell him there, soon after he sent 5000
men TO their death upon useless errand across
the Hatchie Bridge, must have ranked in his
mind when he sent Lauman and his brigade
into the vortex of death, as described by Com
rade Lee, at the battle Of Jackson, Miss. / am
impressed that there does not exist man of
that grand brigade, including Comrade Lee, but
solemnly believes that Gen. Lauman was a
sacrifice to the blunder of his superior officer
upon that occaSion, or who has doubt that n
court Of inquiry (which he demanded and was
refused) would have exonerated him from all
blame in its fearfully murderous consequences
w. w. JACKSON, Washington, d. c.