The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-12

oMSpt Ill OppOSlIlUu UoiOiO IuOm Dub
in the confusion of the hour, when the
| smoke and thunder of battle hlled the
air, and the surges of the bloody con-
fict swept two and fro. over an extent
OF many miles, the great achievement
Was but dlmiy discerned. Ii was not
until after the battle, and through the
| testimony of MANY and credltable wit
nesses, that the facts were clearly
brought to light.
But the reb Is distinctly saw their
peril, and hurridly massed large mum
bers from right aud left. to regain the
positions thew had lost. General Nc
Clernand called earnestly for REINFORCE
| ments, announcing that he was in
| partial possession of two forts but
that he was very holly pressed. But
before re-enforcements could be fur
nished, the patriots, by overwhelming
numbers, were driven back. General
McClernand felt that he had not been
properly supported, and, in the keen
ness of his disappointment, in con-
gratulatorv address to his troops. used
expressions which could be interpreted
as not complimentary to General Grant.
and which gave much offense to other
generals, who deemed that their SER
| vices were moderated. There was ais )
an unfor innate informality in the order
as General McClernand's adjutant had
neglected to send copy 10 General
Grant.
"a soldier who perils life, and ex-
poses himself to that mutllation which
is far more terrible than death. that he
M " defend his country, is necessarily
very jealous of his reputation. General
McCIernand. one OF the most heroic
and successful soldiers of the war, felt
deeply and wrote warmly. A bitter
controversy ensr ed, which for @ time
seriously threatened the harmony of
the army. General NcClernand was,
beyond ali question, one of the most
efficient officers under General Grant.
And yet the harmony of the army was
so imperilied, that General Grant
deemed it necessary to relieve General
McClernand from the command. There
were no charges brought against him.
| Indeed, it would have been difficult to
have brought any which would warrant
converting ascourt martial"
The So called military order" was
only a eongratulatory address and the
failure to send copy of it to General
Grant was simply an inadvertency for
which MeClernand's adjutant was solely
| to blame. To show how little there was
| in the address to demand such severity
we quote the only Objectionable part
of it, as follows:
ION the %, in pursuance of the order
of the Commander of the Department,
you assaulted the enemy's defences in
front, at ten O. clock q. NJ, and within
thirty minutes had made a lodgment
and placed your eolors upon two of his
bastlons. This partial success called
S,oS fh4 s~ha
was only gained by bloody and pro-
and was the first and largest success
Of our army.
"For nrarly eight hours, under q
searching sun and destructive fire, you
firmly held your footing, and only
withdrew when the enemy had largely
massed their forces, and concentrated
their attack upon you.
"How al d why the general assault
failed, it would be needless now TO ex
plain. The Thirteenth Army Corps,
acknowledging the good Intentions OF
all, would scorn indulgence in weak re-
grets and idle ordinations. According
justice to all, it would only defend itself.
IT, while the enemy was masSing TO
crush it, assistance was asked for. by a
division at other points, or by re-en-
forcements, it only asked what, in one
case, Major-General Grant had specific
ally and peremptorily ordered, namely.
Simultaneous and persistent attack all
along our line. until the eDemy's outer
works should be carried; and what. in
the Other, by massing strong force in
time upon a weakened point would
have probably insured success"
But the great vindication of McCler-
nand is in the fact that very soon after
he was relieved by Grant and at most
important time. President Lincoln re-
stored John A. McClernand to his COM
mand. Lincoln knew McClernand's he
roic worth, just as he knew Grants
sublime qualities; and be would not
permit the Preparation of lasting IN
justice to the patriotic McClernand.-
Editorial Correspondent Ogden Stand
ard.