The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-24
CHAMPION HILLS.
Attribute to the Hero Of the Battle.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: \ on will find
inclosed 81 as q contribution TO the fund for
erecting a monument to perpetuate the mem
DRY of the man who, in my humble estimation,
was the ideal type Of human greatness and no.
bility, Gen. John A. Logan.
Twenty-Five years ago today l. together
with, as | hope, many other readers of THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, had an opportunity of
witnessing the gallantry of Gen. Logan, who,
as a soldier, had not his equal in either the
Regular or volunteer service.
On the field of Champion Hills, Miss, was
presented an opportunity for the man Of quick
perception to demonstrate that he was ready
for any emergency, no matter how suddenly it
might be thrust upon him.
How well Gen. Logan improved that oppor-
tunity is a matter Of history, and has been so
often told that it is useless for me to attempt to
write anything that would add to the bril-
liancy and glory of the achievement.
From early morn until mid-afternoon the
hosts Of PcmbertOn had been battling with the
sturdy men of the Thirteenth Corps, and had
dealt heavy and destructive blows 10 the brave
and unfinChiug division of Gen. HOvey, but
had so far failed to accomplish the purpose for
which Gen. Pemberton had selected the field
and joined battle with the Yankee invader"
The men of Gen. Grants army had learned
since crossing the Mississippi River and from
the results of the battles of ThOmpsou'S Hill,
Raymond and Jackson, that the stories, Yith
which the country was filed, as TO the certain
destruction which awaited US if we should be
so unfortunate as to meet the Louisiana Tigers,
and the hundred and one other blood-curdlug
designations byWhich the rebels seemed to de-
! light in making themselves known, were
myths, and that the animal known as the
/ Louisiana Tiger was as traCtabe rs his brothers
Of less pretentious character.
SO at Champion Hills no other idea than that
of whipping Pemberton, and doing it in the
most approved manner, had been entertained.
/ About o'clock p. m. Gen. Logan came upon
! the field with his division, Third, Seventeenth
/ Corpse and Immediately began preparations
/ for carrying out his part of the great drama
! 1t needed but glance for his eagle-eye to
! take in and understand the situation With
/ out delay he formed his command and ordered
a charge to be made on the first point in the
! enemy's lines which presented itself.
The onward sweep Of that division was as ir-
| re5istible as a Kansas cyclone, and resulted in
/ q complete rOut Of everything in its front, and
! led to a hasty retreat Of the Wh0le--og what
was left of Pembertou's army.
! / will not, even if / could do so, enter into q
! detailed account Of all that was accomplished
by that charge but it is a matter of history that
! the movement made by Gen. Logan broke the
! backbone of the rebel army and sent it flying
! toward Vicksburg, with the exception of Lor-
! ins's Division, which was cut off and retreat
ed by the road to Raymond.
! The charge was inspired by Gen. Logan, and
his spirit had permeated his troops until every
of his brave and gallant commander PIN-
Mock, First Sergeant, Co. A, 32d Ohio, Third
Brigade, Third Division, Seventeenth Corps
/ /