The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-28

Edwards Depot, about o'clock at night. we
were somewhat puzzled at the continued report
Of shells bursting. while we could plainly dis
tinguish flames rising from some burning mat
ter. 1t seemed that some one was using artil-
lery still in our 'front.' and Gems. Carr, Benton,
and one or two other Generals who happened
TO be at our line,
EXPRESSED WONDER,
and some OF them, / must candidly admit,
swore with great emphasis. They finally coal
ciuded that it was Gen. Smith, coming up with
the rebels along that southern road.
We continued our march till il became dan
gerous. Great gulches had been washed out
in the fields, and the line Of battle could not
avoid them. Generally they could not be
recognized till some unfortunate fellow rolled
to the bottom, to his alarm and sometimes to
his serious hurt. Some Of those in the front
line were dangerously injured; and while rs
an officer in the rear Of my brave troops
i cou'd see them all 20 plungiug down these
unknown abysses before | had to try it, aud
was thus comparatively safe / thought IL best
to discontinue the pursuit. At least, some
officer did, for presently we st0pt, though
when the order came We had got into the
station itself
Here we found that the fire was having its
own will with many Of the cars, which the
rebels being so closely followed could not
munitions Of war, and this explained the
reports Of bursting shells which we heard
when farther away. There was some discus
sion among Us how 90 save this material. but
/ admit that | LEFT the matter TO somebody
else. l thought those shells had no respect
even for rank
We had piled our knapsaeks at Champions
Hill, and consequently were without covering
OF any kind. The nights at this time were
very chilly, and the dews heavy. / went up
into the town 20 see il / could not procure
something to keep Us warm. 10 WAS a fruitless
search, for other soldiers had been ahead Of
me. l entered one house for the purpose men,
toned, but could find nothing, although the
furniture was Of the most elegant description.
On side table were many volumes, Of what
character / could not tell in the darkness.
Now, thought !, if there's an autograph album
there III take 10 as - mementO HoleiS UoleHs,
right or wrong. Passing my hand over the
books / came AZ last to one that felt / thought
like an album, and | took possession. just
then Gen. Carr came in and established his
headquarters. had to admit that
HE oUTEASKED NE,
or at least was older and should be respected
properly. and hence yielded him the house.
Reaching our regiment where fires were burn
ing invitingly, / proceeded 20 examine my
capture, and found it nicely bound volume Of
the Psalms. Perhaps it illustrated the saying
Of the soldier near me who declared that out Of
evil good may come!
Two OF US captured bale OF cotton. and with
the cotton itself and the stuff that it was
wrapped in managed TO secure covering that
at least kept Us warm.
The battlo Of Champions Hin was pivotal
both for the National and Confederate forces.
That Grant expected to fight somewhere notflr
from this place IS certain. but he not only sur
mized that such would be the case from the
military situation, but upon the early morning.
Of this day twO railroad employees we're brought
20 him who had passed through Pemberton's
army and gave him good idea OF its number.
Badeau declares that there were 25.OO0 men in
tho fight on the rebel side, and that is the num-
Der we always understood as being on the field.
Recently have observed the number is re-
duced TO about 1900. If IL were not the fash
ION in some quarters to make the Confederate
forces small aud our own large, one might find
10 easier TO accept the lesser estimate. In any
case the fighting was done on the Federal side
by less troops than the enemy presented.
Grant declares that every man Of HOvey'5
Division and Of McPhcrson's two divisions
(Logan's and Crocker's) was engaged during
the battle. No other part of his command was
engaged at all, except those he had previously
described. lie says he had thus Is. 900 men in
the battle, excluding all Of MeClernand's COM
mand except HOyey. Our loss was 40 killed,
l.5iI wounded. Isl missing. Hovey alone lost
1900 killed, wounded and missing. more than
oue-tbird Of his division. Pemberton lost
over 1000 killed and wounded and about 1000
captured in battle aud pursuit.
"Lorings Division, which was the right Of
PombertOn's line, was cut of from the retreat
ing army and
NEVER GOT INTO vICKsBURG."
In fact, it hurried southwark. aud by a long
circle finally united with JOhnston's army
This, however brings out one fact which be-
lieve / am right in stating. IL is that the ad-
vance Of Carr and Osterhau5 on that middle
road did make it impossible for LOring at last
70 act with PembeTtOn. We brushed away
what slight opposition there was in our front
before we struck the famous hill top, and thus
thrust in a fresh force between Loriug and his
commander. Don't take away from US every
thing.
Why Gen. McClernand did not act more
promptly, have never seen stated by anyone
on his side of the question. 1t would be
satisfaction TO read some statement authOrita-
lively made. And let me say here, that posi-
tions now are doubtless more positively taken
in most cases than would have been done at
tho time. Everything at this date is known.
Then much had 10 be guessed nc. And do
not think / go too far If | say that in these
later writings opinion is offered that in reality
has developed from the entire issue between
McClernand and the friends Of Grant. There
are those who feel in some instances injustice
has been done a brave and gallant commander
such as MeClernand was, while they yet do
not defend him where he was maniiestly in
the wrong.
only state with reference to Champions
| Hill what know. The troops where we were
did not understand why they were kept out of
the fight. Yet let me say at once among us
in the ranks l do not remember a single ex-
preston that was even az this time, disloyal
to McClernaud We still had great confidence
in him, and do not think the enthusiasm had
grown less in any degree.
BY this time. however. il had became appar-
ent TO Us all that Grant knew what he was
about. Aud while even here il must not DO
supposed that MS name had so mighty an in
huenee as afterward, yet by this time he had
quite won the confidence Of his soldiers
HOyey's Division remained on the field Of
battle. They had well won the privilege of
rest in the place Of victory. | doubt however
if should have cared to camp there. A SOL
dier told me afteTward-I think from this di-
visiOn-that he went back to find his Captains
body. who bad fallen in the conflict lie re-
membered a fine watch which he bore. and
which he thought ought to be sent back 70 the
widow. But when he found the Captain, and
heard the watch still ticking, he did not dare
to take it from the body. He feared lest he
should be seen and considered one who was rob
bing the dead. lie asked me what | would
have done under the circumstances. / pass
the question on.
The divisions Of Carr and Osterhauz can,ped