The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-08-14

KILL ME, MAssA, AND DE sRcRET OBJ your
BIRF DIES"


KILL ME, MAssA, AND DE sRCRET OBJ your
BmF DIES"
After the battle Of Fort Donelson Gen.
eral Grant, the hero Of that fight was
temporarily removed from command. The
only cause for removing him that has ever
been given is that orders sent General
Granswere never received, and Of course
he could not obey them, but took matters in
his own hand and acted independently.
The impartial student OF history will very
readily come TO the conclusion that II was
well for the cause Of the Union that Gen.
eral Grant never received those orders, for
IL he had, instead Of pushing on and seizing
Nashville and even Donelson, he would have
had TO lay at Fort Henry. West Point has
made some good military men among the.
thousands turned out from that institution;
but General Grants common sense was OF
more value 10 his country than all his early
military training.
On the nth Of March, 1862, Grant was re-
stored 10 command, and found the Union
army in his district divided, one part being
on the cast side OF the Tennessee at Savan-
nah, while one part was at Crump's Land
ing on the west bank four miles further up
the river, while a third division was at
Pittsburg Landing, which was still fivemiles
further up the river.
The loss OF Forts Henry, Donelson and
Nashville had greatly demoralized the Con-
federates, and to once more bring the army
into something like marching orders, Gen
eral Sidney Johnston, one Of the most eff
cient commanders In the Southern army,
began concentrating all the available forces
at Corinth. The wisdom Of this action must
be acknowledged by all military men. John
ston had learned the kind Of q man Grant
was. Corinth was the junction Of two Of
the most important railroads in the Missis-
sippi valley-one connecting Memphis, and
the other the Mississippi river with the
East, and the other leading TO all the cotton
States Of the South. Still another railroad
connected Corinth with jackson, in West
Tennessee.
Grant at once saw that II he obtained pos
session Of Corinth the enemy would have
no railroad for the transportation Of armies
or supplies, until that running east from
Vicksburg was reached. In fact, II was the
great strategic position at the West be-
| tween the Tennessee and the Mississippi
rivers, and between Nashville and Vicks-
burg
General Grant at once put all the troops
| at Savannah in motion for Pittsburg Land
ing. II was his intention To march from
this position on Corinth as soon as Buell.
with his army from the Ohio should arrive,
and the west bank Of the river was To be the
starting point
Colonel Mason was thrown well TO the
front in the brigade Of the brave old Gen.
eral B. NJ. Prentiss. Luke's regiment was
filled with recruits which were almost
hourly pouring into camp Many Of the
new soldiers were young men fresh from
the farms, counting houses, shops and
stores, who had never yet smelt powder,
but who were destined ere long 70 learn
something OF the terrible realities Of war.
Arlansaw Tom, Corporal Max, Ned Cot
ton and Bill Snow, who were still with the
regiment, had become q sort OF self-im-
posed body-guard for the new Colonel.
Though not on his staf, they were always
| near at hand In hours Of danger.
The Colonel came TO love these four vet