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

CA1no. Ill., July ~. 1863.
DEAR SIR: Your despatch Of June 90 desir-
ing me to continue my sketches" have to-
day seen for the first time. 1t was sent down
the river. but had not arrived when l lett
VicksburG on tho 9th inst.
Let me describe the Generals OF dirislon and
brigade in Grants army, In tho order OF the
army corps to which they are attached, begin
ming with the Thirteenth.
The most prominent officer OF the Thirteenth
Corps, next to the commander OF the corps. Is
Brig. Gen. A. P. Hovey. He is a lawyer OF In
diana. and from AZ to As years old. He is am
bilious. active, nervous irritable energetic.
olear headed. quick witted. and prompt handed.
He works with all his might and all his mind:
and, unlike most volunteer officers makes it
his business TO learn the military profession
Just as II he expected TO spend his lie In it.
He distinguished himself most honorRbly at
Port Gibson and Champion Hill. and is one OF
the best officers In this army. He Is man
whose character will always command respect,
though he is toe anxious about his personal
renown and his own advancement to be con-
sidored frst-rate man morally, Judged by the
high standard OF men like Grant and sherman.
Hovey's principal BrlGadiers are Gen. Nc
Ginnis and Col. Slack. McGinnis Ia bravo
enough but too excitable. he lost his balance
bGOnhmplOn El!I. no Is not lkcIy over 10 pe
more than Brigadier. Slack Is a solid. steady
man. brave. thorough. and sensible: but no will
never set the river aflre His education is
Door but he would mako respectable Briga-
dior General. and hopes to be promoted.
Next to Hovey Is Osterhaus. This General is
universally well spoken OF. He is a pleasant.
genial fellow, brave and quick, and makes a
flrst-rate report OF Reconnaissance. There Is
not another General In this army who keeps
ShO Commauder-in- Chief 80 well informed con-
oerninR whatever happens at his outposts.
As odisclplinarian he Is not equal to Hovey,
but Is much better than some others. On the
battlefield he lacks energy and Commemorative
ness. His brigade commanders are all
Colones. and don't know much Of them.
The Third Division OF the Thirteenth Corps
Is commanded by Gen. A. ]. Smith an old cav
airy officer OF the regular service. He is in
trepid to reoklessness. his head Is clear though
rather thick. his disposition honest and manly.
though given to Boosting and self exagGera-
ton OF gentle and innocent kind. His dlvi-
sion Is we'll cared for. but Is rather famous for
slow instead OF rapid marching. McClernand,
however. disliked him. and kept him In the
rear throughout tho late campaign. He is a
good officer to command q division in an army
corps. but should not DO Entrusted with any
important independent command.
Smiths principal Brigadier is Gen. Bur-
bridge whom judge to be mediocre officer.
bravo, rather pretentious. a good fellow. not
destined to greatness
The Fourth Division IN the Thirteenth Corps
is Gen. Carr's. He has been sick throughout
the campaign. and had leave to 90 homo
several weeks since. but stuck It out till
the surrender. This may account for o critical.
hang baok disposition which he has several
times exhibited. he is man of moro cultiva-
ton. Intelligence and thought than his COL
leagues generally. The discipline In his CORPS
1have thought to be poor and careless. He Is
brave enough. but lacks energy and initiative.
Cars BriRaders comprise Gen. NJ. r. Law
Ter and Gen. Lee OF Kansas. Lee is an unmiti-
gated humbug. Lawler weighs $50 pounds. Is
. Roman Catholic, and was q Douglas Demo-
crat belongs In Shawneetown. H., and served
in the Mexican war. He is as brave as lion
and has about as much brains. But his pur-
pose is always honest. and his sense Is always
good. He Ia good dlscipllnarian and first
rate soldier. He once hung q man OF his regi-
mont for numbering O comrade. without re-
porting the case to his commanding General,
either before or after the hanging: but there
was no doubt the man deserved his fate Grant
has two or three times gently reprimanded
him for indlscretions, but is pretty sure to 20
and thank him after q battle. Carr's third
BriRadier don't know.
In the Fifteenth Corps there are two Major
Generals who command divisions namely.
Steele and Blair and one Brigadier. futile.
Steele has also been sick through the cam
pRign but has kept constantly at his post. He
IS a gentlemanly. pleasant fellow. and have
not detected In him any OF the contemplate
characteristics which distinguish his brother
H. c. from the Ulster district OF New YORK.
Sherman has a high opinion of his capacity,
and every one says that he handles troops with
great GOODNESS and skill In battle. To me his
mind seems to work In desultory way. like tho
mind OF a Captain OF Infantry long habituated
% garrison duty at a frontier post. lie takes
things In bits like gossiping companion and
never comprehensivey and strongly like a man
OF clear brain and ruling purpose But on the
whole. consider him one Of the best division
Generals In this army; yet YOU cRnaot roy on
him to make logical statement or 10 exer-
olse any independent command.
OiSteeles Brigddiers, CO.. Woods eminently
deserves promotion. A Hercules in FORM in
energy, and In pertinacity lie Is both sac AMI
sure. Col. Maner OF Missouri is q respectable
officer: Col. Farrar of Miseouriis OF no account:
Gen Thayer is "A fair but not frs IRA. q officer
Frank Blair Is about the same a. an officer
that he Is US a politician. lie Is Intelligent
prompt, determined rather inclining to dlaur-
der poor dlscipInarian bnt bravo fighter
Judge that he will soon leave tie army. and
that he prefers his scat IN Congress 10 his
commission.
In Frank Blair's division there ara two Brig
sdier-Generals, Ewing ami Lghtburne living
seems TO possess many Of the qualities OF his
father. whom you Rnow better than do, |
suppose. Llghtburne has not served long with
this army, and ] have had no opportunity OF
learning his measure. Placed In n command
during the siege whore ecu. sherman himself
directed what was TO DO done, he has had little
90 do. He seems to belong to tho heavy rather
than the rapid department OF the forces.
Col Giles Smith 10 one OF tho very bost
BrigSdiers In sherman's corps. perhaps tho
best OF all next 10 Col Woods. lie only re-
qulres the chance to develop into an officer Of
uncommon power and usefulness There arc
plenty OF men with generals commissions
who In all military respects are not lit 70 tic
his shoes.
OF Gen. futile. who commands Gen Sher-
mans Third Division have already snoken
and need not here repeat 1t. Bravery and zeal
constitute his only qualifications for COM
0AAd HiS DdnOiDAl BrlEGdiSE \ Gen. Mower