The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-27

|
calibre Col Wood. who commands another OF
his brigades. is greatly esteemed by Gen.
| Grant, but do not know him; neither do
know the commander OF his Third Brigade.
Three divisions of the SiXteUnth Corps have
! boon serving in Grants army for some timo
| pnst. They are all commanded by Brigadler-
| Generals, and the briGades by Colonels. The
| first OF these divisions to arrive before Vicks-
burg was Laumnnn's. This General got his
| promotion by bravery in the field and Iowa
! political influence. lie is totally unfit to COM
mAnd. very good man, but a very poor Gen
eral His brigade commanders are none OF
| them above mediocrity
Tho next division Of tho Sixteenth Corps to
| Join the Nicksburg army was Con. Kimbalrs.
He is not 80 bad commander as Laumann,
but he is bad enough. brave. OF course. but
lacking the military instinct and the genius Of
| generalship. | don't know any OF his brigade
| commanders. The Third Division OF the Six
| teenth Corps. now near Nlcksburg, is that OF
| Con- ". s. Smith. This ia ono OF the best off,
GERS In that army A rigid disciplnarian his
| division is always ready and always safe. A
mau OF brains. hard worker. unpretending
| quick. suggestive. he may also DO little
| crotchetY. for such Ia his reputation: but
judge that no only needs the opportunity to
| render great services What his brigade COM
| nhnuerB nre worth can I say, OUT L hm sure
they have ilrst-rnte schoolmaster In him.
now como to the Seventeenth Corps and to
| its most prominent division General, Logan
| This is u man OF remarkable qualities and po-
| culiar character. Heroic and brilliant, he Is
| sometimes unsteady. Inspiring his men with
| his own enthusiasm on the fold Of battle, no Is
| splendid In oil its crash and comm otion: but
| before 1t begins he Is doubtful OF the result
and after 1t Is over he ia fearful wo may yet be
beaten. A man OF instinct and not CT renec-
ton. his judgments arc often absurd, but hiI
eXtemporapeous opinions are very apt to DO
right Dellciont In education. deficient. too
In q nico and elevated moral sense be Is full
Of generous attachments and sincere animosi-
ties. On the whole, few can aerve the cause OF
the country more effectively than he, and none
serve It more faithfully.
Logan's oldest brigade commander Is Gen.
John D. Stevenson OF Missouri lie Is a per-
son OF much talent, but II Rrumbler. He was
one OF tho Oldest ColoRels in the volunteer
service. but because he had always been an
anti slavery man all the others were promoted
before him. This is still one OF his grounds
for discomfort; and In addition. younger Brig
adiers havo been put before him since. Thus
the world will not go to suit him. H. has his
own notions. too. Of what should be done on
the field OF battle, and Gen. Mcpherson has
twice during this campaign had to rebuke him
very severely for his failure to come to tlme on
critical occasions.
Logans Second Brigade is commanded by
Gen. LegRett OF Ohio.
This Officer has distinguished himself during
the siege and will be likely to distinguish him
self hereafter. He Possesses clear head. an
equabe temper, and great rropusive power
over his men. He Is ALEC hard worker and
VIII ateyer he toucheR goes easily.
The Third Brigade OF this division has for
short time been commanded by COL Force. l
only know that Logan. MCPHERSON. and Grant
oil think well of him.
Next In rank among McPherson's division
Generals is Macarthur. Ho has been In the re-
serve throughout the campaign. and has had
little opportunity OF proving mis- metal. He is
o shrewd. steady Scotchman. Trustworthy
rather than brilliant. good at hard knocks, but
not Q great commander. Two OF his BriGa-
diers. however. have gained very honorable
distinction in this campaign namely. Ransom
and Croker. who commanded Quimby's divi-
sion at Port Gibson. Raymond Jackson. and
Champion Hill. Croker was sick throughout,
and as soon az Quimby returned to
his command had to go away and 1t
Is feared may never be able to como
back. He is an officer OF great PROM
ise and remarkable power. Ransom has
commanded on McPhersons right during the
siege, and has exceeded every other Brgadier
In the zeal. intelligence, and efficiency with
which his siege works were constructed and
pushed forward. At the time OF the surrender
his trenches were so well completed that the
engineers agreed that they offered the pest op-
portunity In the whole OF our lines for the ad-
vance OF storming columns. Capt. Comstock
told me that 10000 mon could there be marched
under cover up 10 the very lines Of the enemy.
In the assault OF May ~ Ransom was equally
conspicuous for the bravery With which he
exposed himself. No young man In all this
army has more future than he.
The Third Brigade Of McArthurs division.
that Of Gen. Reed. has been detached during
the campaign at Lake Providence and elsa
where. and have not been able to make Gen.
Reeds acquaintance.
The Third Division Of the Seventeenth Corps
was commanded during the first OF the siege
by Gen. Quimby. This officer was also sick.
and dare say did not do justice to himself.
A good commander OF division he Is not.
though he Is a most excellent and estimable
man. and seemed to be regarded by the soldiers
with much affection. But he lacks order. sys-
tom, command. and is the very opposite OF his
successor. Gen. John E. Smith. who. with
much less intellect than Quimby has o
great deal better sense with a flrmness OF
character. steadiness Of hand, and u freedom
from personal irritability and jealousy, which
must soon produce tho happiest effect upon
the division. Smith combines with these nat
ural qualities OF a soldier and commander a
conscientious devotion not merely to the doing.
but also to the learning OF his duty. which rom
doris him better and better General every day.
He Ia also Mt to be intrusted with any inde-
pendent command whero judgment and dis