The National tribune., 1893-12-21

sides became the center Of attraction. We
were surrounded by an overwhelming num-
Der of fresh troops landed below US from
the garrison at Columbus and the battle of
Belmont was again on. We were inside of
our first rebel dead-line, with the river back
of us and blaze of musketry in front and
on both TANKS. Within this circle at Bel
mont were more than one unhedged hero who
was soon to carve his road TO fame. Within
this circle at Belmont there were more than
one who still live to-day not only in bronze
and marble, but enshrined forever in the
! hearts of their countrymen. ] wish to say,
however, it is possible that in my mention
of those who were there at that time,
may omit somebody or may mention some
one not there but the catch was fine one,
and is not likely to be overestimated.
Within this circle, then, was Ulysses S.
Grant and John A. McClernand. The
| world has sung the praises of the first
named individual from Belmont to Appo-
mattox, from Appomattoxy to the White
| House, from the White House around the
| globe TO the Golden Gate So far as this
] letter is concerned the latter-naned gentle
man will have to speak for himself Be-
sides these was one who still lives in the
| hearts ofthe survivors ofthe Army OF the Ten
nessee, Mai.-Gen. James i. Mcpherson, then
| a Lieutenant-ColOnel on Gen. Grants staff.
| We learned to reverence Grant and Sher-
man, to admire Logan, Thomas. and Sheri-
| dan, but the soldiers loved Mcpherson, and
! the bullets that riddled his body at Atlanta
| touched the hearts of an army; also, there
were John A. Logan and Richard J.
| Oglesby, who shine forth with enviabIe
| brilliancy in the galaxy of modern heroes /;
| and last, but not by any means least, were
| the men of the 9Th, 22d, 9th, %; b, 29th,
| Both, 31sf, and 45th Ill, 18th Iowa, and Bat
terry Schwartz. 1t may be that Capt. Ores
ser's battery was there also, but don't re-
member it. / know it was with US farther
on, and a better battery than his never I'M
limbered before an enemy.
OF course, such an assemblage Of men and
officers as this was not to be thus bagged and
held by line OF mere gray backs.
Grant said we would return to the land
ing up the river and place ourselves under
the cover and protection of our gunboats.
As this was prior to the advent OF ironcads.
these so-called gunboats at Belmont were
| mere unplated, unprotected steamboats,, in
capable of withstanding a shot from a can
non; hence, they had to keep close around
the bend out of range of the big guns at
Columbus.
But Grant said we would seek the pro-
lection of the gunboats and what Grant
said do we always did. Like the heroic
Swiss Of old, we made way for liberty
The environs gave way, and, like the fight
INIT Sigel," or the advance of a pawn to
The king row in a game of chess, we lit ont for
our boats. The enemy fell in our rear, and il
was soon seen that they were making des.
perate effort to cut us off from the boats
We were required not only to defend Oul
rear, but also to battle their attempts to gel
between us and our feet.
In this running fight for the boats th'
Captain of my company, Thomas G. Marck
ley, was shot through the heart and fell deaC
while trying to rally his men and keep then
in line. Two or three other comrades anC
/ took up his body to take it with us to tn,
boats, bat it was so heavy, and the enemy
SO close, the fire so deadly, the logs anC
brush so thick that slowly and sadly w
laid him down upon the field of his fame
fresh and CORY" His naked remains wer,
recovered the next day, under a flag of truce
and brought up to Cairo from whence they
were sent home 10 Hutsonville Ill. Hi
name was very appropriately taken by tn,
J Grand Army Post at that place.
But to return 10 the fight. The gunboat
} Lexington and Tyler here ketched on,