Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-06


nominations sent to the Senate today
was that of Colonel Benz. H. Grierson,
Tenth Cavalry, to be Brigadier-G General.
The war of the rebellion developed
many interesting characters and added
many distinguished names to American
history, but none more picturesque or
interesting than that of Benjamin Henry
Grierson. 1t has been said that soldiers
are born, not made, and indeed the say
ing appears to be true so far as General
Grierson is concerned, for he no doubt
inherited his soldierly qualities from his
grandfather, who was Colonel of
cavalry in the Irish rebellion of 1898, and
rendered distinguished service in the
royal cause.
General Grierson was born in Pitts
burg, Pa, and like many other self
made men in this country, is of Scotch
Irish parentage. He is described as be-
ing clark and slender, quick and grace
full in his movements; full of vivid
elastic life, overfowing with enthusi-
asm, and seeming to have physique of
iron endurance" His career is invested
with a romance that will render it fas-
cinating to the American reader for ali
time to come. There is no shoulder
strap pomposity about him; he is
modest, gentle and genial in his man
ners, and makes hosts of warm friends
wherever he is stationed.
When President Lincoln's proclama-
ton calling for 200,0 men were issued,
4iBen Grierson," as he was familiarly
called, was teaching music at Jackson
vile, ILL.,, but without hesitation he i'm
mediately abandoned his profession and
entered the volunteer service as aide-de-
served in that capacity, with the
nominal rank of Lieutenant and Major,
for eight months without pay,
He was commissioned Major of the
Sixth Illinois cavalry October "a, 1861.
His ability in the cavalry field was pro-
nounced from the beginning: indeed in
few weeks his battalion was the best
drilled and disciplined in the West. In
March, 1862, the Sixth Illinois cavalry,
armed only with rusty sabers, started to
join Grant at Pittsburg Landing. At
Paducah, Kentucky, Governor Yates, of
Illinois, likewise on the way to Grant,
encountered the regiment. Major Grier-
son called to pay his respects to the Gov
ernOr on board the steamboat. The
Governor led the dark-haired cavalry
man back to party of ladies in the cabin
and introduced him to them as Colonel
Grierson." His Colonel had resigned,
and, unknown to the Major, every officer
of the regiment but one had petitioned
the Governor to appoint Grierson their
Colonel.
In 1862, Colonel Grierson's regiment
was ordered to Memphis, and here he
showed himself no less accomplished in
field than in camp. He and his men
dashed out from headquarters like
whirlwind and pounced upon bands of
Confederate bushwhackers and guerril-
las in Western Tennessee and Northern
Mississippi. He showed them that
dash, daring and hard riding were not
all on one side of the line. He seemed
never to sleep, bnt to watch day and
night and be ready for the mount and
gallop at any moment.
Early in 1868 an adventurous spirit
proposed to General Grant to make a
bold cavalry raid around and in the rear
of Vicksburg, with view of destroying
railroads and bridges and thus prevent
ing supplies and reinforcements from
being easily brought into that strong
in this manner to aid in the reduction of
Vicksburg. At first Grant refused to
enter into the scheme, but on the 1st of
April he summoned the bold protector
and bade him go in and win. The man
who proposed this daring raid through
the heart of the enemy's country was
Colonel, afterward Major-General Benja-
min Henry Grierson.
April IT, 1868, Grierson and his men
began their famous ride. He took three
regiments of cavalry, his own, the Sixth
Illinois, Colonel Loomis commanding;
the Seventh Illinois, Colonel Prince
commanding, and the Second Iowa,
Colonel Hatch They started from La
grange, Tenn, fifty miles east of Mem
phis. False movements had been made
in various directions beforehand to de-
ceive the Confederates, who might be on
the watch. But the real expedition
struck out south at a rattling pace, and
was soon over the border into Mississippi.
The first day they reached Ripley, in
that State. At Ripley, on the 18th, the
command divided, the Second Iowa
going southeasterly and crossing the
Tallahatchie near the town of New
Albany. A second time the command
split, this time a battalion of the Sew
enth Illinois passing to the right of the
main body, and going directly to New
Albany.
Skirmishing was kept up night and
day with bodies of Confederate cavalry,
which were encountered in the vicinity
OF New Albany. The morning of April
18th, Grierson again divided his main
body. He sent out three detachments
in as many different directions. His OBJ
lect was to make the enemy believe he
had come to attack them and destroy
their cavalry. Meantime the main body
proceeded rapidly southwark. The Sec
ond Iowa was by this time within sup
porting distance On the left. After MAX
ing feints, as ordered, the three detach-
ments rejoined the main column. Gen
eral Chalmers was in command of the
Confederate forces in Mississippi, the
region through which Grierson and his
command passed, and was outgeneraled
and beaten at every point by the gallant
soldier commanding the Union forces.
From time to time small bodies of
Confederates were met and routed. The
night of April 10Th, Grierson and his
men encamped at Pontotoc, destroying
400 bushels of salt which the Confeder-
ates had abandoned. April Goth, early
IN. the morning, Grierson started his