The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-15

they would improve more in one day than in six
where they
81 am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
~. s. GRANT, Major-eeneral.
At this time recruiting was slow, and in order
to stimulate the young men of Indiana il volun-
teering General Hovey published throughout the
State the following hsndbill:
ITO the Young Men Of Indiana:
Il have been ordered by Major-general
Grant to take command OF the United
States volunteers now being raised in Indiana,
and organize them into brgades and divisions.
For the first time during tho war you will have
chance to belong to an Indiana brigade. Come
and let us place the proud name of our State
still higher on the scroll of fame. This is
binary opportunity; it is one that has been
IDENTITY sought by almost every regiment that has
entered the service. This may be the only
chance you will have OF serving your country.
and those who stand back will hereafter deeply
regret that they have failed to respond to their
countrys call. Young men, do not permit faith
ers and husbands Co fill the ranks that properly
belong to you in the field of glory and of danger.
ALVIN p. HovEy,
ID ''Brigadier general U. s. Vols"
Under this call, aud largely by his personal
efforts and military reputation, General Hovey
raised his regiments, aggregating over 10, 900
mens and marched to the front with orders to
report to General Sherman. MANY OF the new
recruits, says the Life Of Hovey, 'were not
over sixteen years old, and account Of their
youth they became known as 'Hovey's Babies
But their youth was no detriment. They were
q bad lot Of babies. They were almost as bad
men. They had all the qualities Of good sol
diers. and soon became young veterans Most
of them had enlisted on the strength of General
Hovevs assurance TO them and their parents
that they should be kept together in a body un-
der his personal command, and that he would
takescare of them. This was his expectation
and understanding. 1t was, therefore, great
disappointment to him when. almost immediate
ly after reporting to Sherman his force was di-
vided and several regiments of bis Babies as
signed to other commands. This WAS one of the
fortuies Of war. but General Hovey felt that it
was q practical reputation Of the contract un-
der which the regiments had been raised and ne
chafed under it. II was while smsrt;ng under
this injustice. as he deemed it, that he asked
and obtained leave of absence and came to Indi-
ana whore his commission as major-general
soon reached him and his assignment to the com
mand of the district. This explanation will
make clear the references in General Shermans
letter, which 10 as follows:
tsE COLUMBUS. o., Sept II, 1888.
IN. &. CARRIER, Esq, Madison. Ind:
my Dear Sir-Your letter Of Sept. 5, adj
dressed to me at New York, was forwarded to
me here aud was only received last night If,
as stated, you be the son of my old friend. Col
CARRIER, quartermaster at my headquarters
from the time We left Chattanooga. May, 1864.
on me- and will gladly answer any fair inquir
les TO be published or used as you may think
proper.
Il have again examined pages "a and o.
second volume OF 'Shermans Memoirs first
edition. and believe they contain fair version
Of the facts. The dispatch of July % 1864. sent
by me TO Col James A. Hsrdie. inspector gen
eral, Washington, ID. c.. is undoubtedly correct,
and resulted In the promotion of eight most
worthy colonies, whose names given in the
Memoirs Yet, after twenty four years Of
time, regret that | used the name of General
Hovey' to accomplish my purpose.
Il still think General Hovey then made a
mistake, but | also think he believed he had
| cause of grievance. which at the time he sup
posed justified him in throwing mp bis command
of division in the Twenty third Corps (Scho
feld.l OF the minute details General Schofeld
is a better witness than l. He is now the Major
all the records Of that date, whereas am alone
here without record OF any sort, or aid or clerk
TO copy anything may write.
''Sull, lest injustice may be caused the Gen.
eral by reason of that dispatch, l will state on
recollection and belief that wilhelm March and
April 1864, was collecting men and materials
for the then contemplated campaign learned
that Gen. A. Z. Hovey had a division In Indiana
composed Of infantry, artillery and cavalry or
dered TO me at Nashville, and which assigned
to General Schoheld, left wing, the Twenty
third corps
Eighteen hundred and sixty-four was too
late for General Schofield or General Sherman
to commit the folly of .brigAding' infantry cav
airy and artillery together. so that General
Hovey's cavalry and artillery sent to join
their respective arms of service. and the infant
ry regiments brought into the field by General
Hovey were reinforced by other infantry regi-
ments so as TO make GOOD infantry division OF
the Twenty-third corpslor him. He claimed to
have some promise from the War Department
or Governor Morton that his Indiana division,
formed the old notion of General Knox. OF
Revolutionary fame of alegion copied after the
Romans. should remain intact. This was simp-
/ " iuadmissable This, believe, was the cause
OF General Hovey's dissatisfaction with General
Schofield and myself. cannot recall exactly
when he went back and the command was given
10 the senior brigadier. These are dates easily
ascertained at Washington. At all events un-
sderstood from General Hardee that in July,
1864, General Hovsy and General Osterhaus
| had been made major generals, aud afterwards
from President Lincoln himself that hs had
made these promotions on the recommendations
of Generals Grant and Sherman for their serv-
ices In the Nicksburg campaign the previous
year, 1868.
81 don, think ever attributed to either Gen.
eral Hovey General Osterhaus unworthy
motives for leaving Us at the time, when we had
an Herculean task ahead. but thought 1t unfair
promote them aud neglect the hundreds OF most
patient gallant soldiers who stood fast. Other
generals Of great fame went back before our
task was done. Such mon as Hooker, Butter
field. Palmer, Logan and Blair then believed
that Hovey felt compromised with his Indiana
I men, who had enlisted legion to serve no.
der him, a promise he could not fulfill and
+ which, as man of honor no was bound to re-
sent
My belief is that az the end Of the Vicksburg
campaign Generals A. p Hovey and p. L.. o.
terhaus stood prominent as generals of brigade
/ and fully merited promotion TO the next higher
grade: that it was unfortunate that this promo
ton was delayed till the year after, and that
now, after nearly quarter Of a century, for po-
| ht;cal purposes this old matter should be raked
up ont of the cinders of the past is unkind, I'M
generous and unfair.
''Sincs 1864 General Hovey has filed military,
civil and social stations with honor and credit to
himself and his country. He is an accomplished
gentleman, of polished and refined manners, and
will fulfill any trust confded to him honestly
and truly. Were / a citizen OF Indiana should
not hesitate to vote for him Governor, be-
cause at the crisis OF our national existence he
was true and faithful, did the best he knew
how, and though he may have fallen short o T
the expectations of military professionals hav-
ing but object in view, success, he In heart
| in head and body did what he thought right
Il do not know anything whatever OF his
| rival candidate, not even his name-and beg to
| inquire in what regiment brigade and division
| he served N The war; What is his military
racordl That of Alvin z Hoyey is good. Has