The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-08
HOyEY A BRAVE SOLDIER
His Courage at Champion Hills In
dorsed by Those Who We're with Him.
Col Thomas IT, Nslssn Gives an Encouraging
Account of His Reces, observations OF the
Canyass-0ther fHlitical Matters.

years during the late war At Shiloh, Cham
pion Hills and through the entire Vcksburg
campaign they were in the same division
When a reporter Of the Journal last night re-
ferred 10 the malicious attack on the General,
in charging that he failed as 6 soldier At Cham
pion Hills, General McGinnis said with empha-
sis: ut is as absurd a campaign lie as it IL un-
reliable was in the same division with him
in that battle and there was not an indication of
any cowardice whatever on his part. 1 read
few days ago an article stating that
General Hovey allowed 200 men to be unmerci-
fully slaughtered through his stupidity and bad
generalship The editor even went so far as to
quote from Grants Memoirs, in which not a
word is said about stupidity and bad general
ship That was q sentence that was added sim
ply for effect, and falsely palmed of as coming
from General Grant"
General Grant upheld General Hovey in his
action then7u the reporter said.
He most certainly did, as any ono who reads
his book can sea He very plainly states that
Hovey remained on the field with his troops
bleeding and wounded. He afterward sx-
hibited his admiration for General Hoveys
military courage by recommending
General Sherman also signad the recon menda-
ton, aud any man who Is Endorsed by those
two great men can certainly stand the ISLANDERS
OF a few Democratic liars who know no more
about military tactics than Il they had never
been born
"Are the statements Of the Democrats gem
orally believed"
why, as a matter Of fact they cannot be be-
heved By any sensible man. If there was any
truth In the charges, there is no reason 10 the
pDh 80 NAV - ~ A.o.- - ~.
fore. Not word was said about them when
General Hovey ran for Congress, and even at
the time Of the battle, and Immediately
following it he was not censured
was informed yesterday, by q letter from
Madison, that citizen Of that place named
Smith Carver and the Mayor Of the city strongly
denied that they had made any statements to
the effect that General Hovey ever played the
part of a coward. Both of them have been and
are still lifelong Democrats. understand that
w. r. Myers, Democratic candidate for Lieuten-
ant-governor. made q speech few nights ago in
Madison in which he said that he admired Gen.
Hovey and that he had objections to him
except that his politics were wrong. he said
that Hovey was man who, a soldier and
general, had o record unblemished by any rash
or cowardly act"
''Havs you talked with General Hovey about
the matter7"
Yes, saw him to-day and remarked in
half jocuar way that he had been accused OF
turning bis back to the enemy ct Champion
Hills. He gave long. hearty laugh, and said
trouble him. regard the charges
as the most outrageous effort that
the Democrats have yet made to catch the
drowning mans straw. That is all it Is;
they have nothing else TO say. aud they must
say something, be it true or false. am conf
dent that not single man who was under How
ey's whole command, and there were nine reei-
ments IN his division, or any man, either Demo
crat or Republican, who is acquainted with the
correct historic fact, will believe a word of
what has been alleged. could not say too
much Of General Hovey q soldier aud as
man, and in this DO not stand alone. There
are men by the hundreds, irrespective Of party,
who viii heartily second every word would
say"
Gen. W. j. Landram, Of Lexington, Ky, who
was with General Hovey during the vicksburg
campaign, writes to the Journal: "Among the
many distinguished officers who served in the
Army Of the Tennessee. none was more popular
Or more universally respected than General
Hovey. He commanded the division that bore
the brunt of the battle Of Champions Hill, and
if the corps TO which he belonged, or reasona-
bic portion Of it, had been sent to his support in
addition to the assistance furnished him from
McPherson's corps, Pemberton's army would
have suffered rout. and the siege of Vicksburg
have been avsrted. In consequence Of the great
loss sustained by Hovey's division in that en-
Ragemept, il was left encamped on the field of
battle, tn look after the wounded and take charge
OF the prisoners. II was not long, however, be-
fore IL took its place In the line of the beseeing
army, where il remained until the close Of the
siege.
"The morning of the 22d Of May was the time
liked for the assault upon tbs works at Vicks-
burg; and, while standing upon an emineuce, in
the rear or my brigade, that overlooked the
confederate line for q long distance our right
and left. General Hovey came up the hill on foot
and stood by my side. The hour of 10 was the
time the assaultng column was to start. and We
were looking at my watch so as to be OF time in
be seen upon the confederate works, nor were
there any evidences that there was q single SOL
dier in the rife-pts. The General remarked to
me that he believed they had evacuated the
tho city, and would give fight An old
building on fire in the suburbs of the place
had abandoned the place. A few momants later
convinced US OF our error for the enemy had
only been keeping under cover to avoid the
fierce fire OF artillery and TO be ready for
the terrible assault they knew would certainly
follow. Whom the assaultine columns were
within good rife range, all the flags around
their line went up. and deadly fire Was poured
upon our troops from every direction. What
brought Gen. Hovey to my SIDE was somewhat q
mystery TO me at the time, but I found
out sfterward that bis desire to participate in
the engagement was such that he could not be
kept in the rear, and came to the front and
asked to be assigned to duty in some capacity,
and General McClernand placed him in COM
| msnd of all the artillery of the Thirteenth
Corps during the assault. He performed his
| duty nobly. and won additional honors by his
| courageous conduct and admirable manage
~ he 0ro H. h,a sx,I