The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-19

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He then referred again 10 the inter
change of countersigns and visits to each
other, In the early part OF the siege, OF
which mention has been made
IL Is not unfair TO remark, after this
length of time, and Col Cushman many
years dead, thst being a man OF spirit and
price, with military instincts disposi-
ton to do all things Systematically, ard AZ
thoroughly rs possible, he made his posi-
ton school of preparation for promotion,
of which he was evidently ambitious and
eXpeCtnnt. | kHeir-nOw-Of persons he
had secretly attached to him fer various
special service in iurtherance thereof; even
spies inside the rebel lines! Hence he
was always about as we'll informed Of what
was passiog, and TO occur, as II a General
of division. Knew the situation 10 Cor
NTH, probably really rs we'll as diu Hal
lpCK account for much Of the irrtabiliiy
and uureasonableness he at times SO disa-
greeably manifested, and which plagued
some OF us so, out of his Impotence at the
futile conduc. Of the siege, and the war
generally; and also al seeing his own regi-
ment, for when Joining II he was largely
personally responsible to the men who
composed II, so uselessly, heartlessly sacri
feed. Reviewing his character In long
retrospect, after having had the best OPP
portunity possible of contemplating 1t, |
believe II he had cared to resist the tide OF
adverse Influences which he met AZ first,
he would not only have risen 10 superior
command, but surviving, would have
reached u place among our Generals whose
names will he known In coming genera
tions. think It was but day or two af-
ter the scene above described, till orders
were circulated 20 "mOve upon COrinth J"
From my recollection, the distance from
the las, camp of the 81 to the town did
not exceed mile. Expecting from re-
ports generally current TO find serious OBJ
tructions to our progress from the "form-
liable barriers within which the rebels
had entrenched hemselves-though Col
Cushmsn had derided the report-all were
being much surprised to find their heavy
and extensive eaTthwOrks" and other forti.
tications to be but paltry show of few
short, broken lines of mere rifle pits" so
shallow that artillery, wagons and ambulan-
Ces readily passed over them without lev
cling or considerable difficulty. AT the
point Of approach where our head OF col
umn had 10 go up a side hill, there was for
some distance little show Of abattis, with
telegraph wire strung through the by no
means heavy brush and tree tops of which
1t WAS composed. But notwithstanding the
ends of the branches, and the
wire holding them slightly in place, they
would have proved but uiiling difficulties
to heavy body Of men, even If there had
been need to advance against it. We did
find short lines of pretty heavy breast
works. but as a system for "defence of
the city, 1t was puerlle and faulty, Co..
Cushman had tOId as SO IN adpance!
Our armies had been for weeks, as
heretofore stated, so closely investing the
town that, moving In from different sides,
our entrance was nearly simultaneous.
Time was therefore not yet allowed for
proper sanitary policing" We therefore
had fully ample opportunity, In march
Ing through. TO see II in all Its amplitude
IF abominable filthiness 1t looked more
as If II had been but an entire hospital for
the worst imaginable diseases than forti.
fed, heavily gqrrisoned fort. And such
really, 1t doubtless was During the siege
and afterwards, quite reliable reports came
10 us that the sick, and those surviving cas-
rs of the wounded at Pittsburg Landing,
when we were wallowing In that deadly
Valley of Hinnom, reached not less than
thirty thousand as heretofore set out. Aud |
at that time, our prisoners in rebel torture |
pens, heavily outnumbering against us!
Why was this opportunity disregardedY
When we recount some of the horrors of |
those days to the new generation who have |
since come upon the public stage, we are
met with the constant and impertinent |
preteXt Of "Bloody Shirtw Let bygones
be- bygones" We wish we were done
with that "Od Soger Story" Heard too
much of It, We want to heal the breach
No more bloody chasms" TO shake hands
,cross. This would have some force, if
Ivertures and concessions were met with
equal fairness Unfortunately for the per-
nence of this, the old rebel spirit, though
lot SO openly manifest, under its enforced
'estraint, IL Is as intense as ever; like the
'en0m OF rattlesnakes and copperheads
Ill the subtler and more concentrated the +
ess it is expended.
Nothing but treachery in the way of our
lrmy early entering Corinth, capturing the
garrison, with its sick, paroling and leav-
ny them TO take care of themselves. Only |
his: paroles did not count for much with |
southern honah" In battles subsequent
o Vicksburg, many dead rebels were
Ound and prisonprs taken whose paroles