The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-20
WALLACE AT PlTTsBURG LANDING.
The Author of Ben Bur" Tells the Story Of
His Difference with General Grant

Harper's Weekly.
IL have never clearly understood what
was the cause or what was the final out
come of your difference with General
Grant about the battle of Pittsburg Land
ing. and imagine the public is in much
the same state of Ignorance"
II think can make il clear to you, even
without q map. although map would be
useful. On the 9th of April. 1867. my d.
vision was at Crump's Landing. six miles
below Pttsburg Landing. where the other
divisions of Grants force were. while
Grant himself had been ordered by Hal
ieck. at ST. Louis to establish his head
quarters at Savannah. four miles below
ME, until the arrival of Buell. with the
Army OF the OHIO. TO join the Army of the
Tennessee. when the great man Halleck
was to come down III person and show us
how II should be done.
Bnt Albert Sidney Johnston. then in COM
maDd OF the cOnfederates did not wait for
him, but attacked before Buell. could Join,
aud, indeed, attacked before the Army of
the Tennessee was ready 80 receive him. so
that the fight of Pittsburg Landing Is
understand IL. was Oh our side q division
tight all day. McClernand was the rank
ing division commander, but he was q CIV
illan, so Sherman was recognized for cOm-
municatiOn on the fold. My own position
was peculiarly exposed and isolated. and
when heard the firing OIL the morning of
the 9th / made preparations to join the
right of the army or enable the right to
JON me. My column vas at the fork of two
roads leading TO PIttsburg Landing, one by
the river and the other by q circuitous
route, which was much the more direct
route to our right. The roads were horri-
bic. and | had had them corduroyed.
Thinking the firing would bring Grant up
from his headquarters, took my station
on u boat In the river SO that he might
leave me my orders and 20 on without loss
you heard the tiringP he said 'Yes.'
What do yon think OF itP There Is a gem
eral engagement going on up there He
thought a moment. Very we'll; hold your
selves in readiness. and wait tor orders
But General. l said. knowing that snould
be with the rest of the army. Il am ready
now Well. hold your command where it
is till further orders' And he steamed on
mp the river.
"rhe firing continued louder than ever,
and was more and more anxious TO adj
vance. Nine. ten. eleven came. and no
orders. At last at half past ii, / saw
O mounted officer coming down the
road on horse had left in charge OF an
orderly tor such an emergency. How Is
the battle goingP asked him. We are re-
pulsing them all along the line And then
he handed me written order. which was
unfortunately lost. but which several per-
sons read. and which l rememb Der perfectly
we'll. lt was an order to leave q force 10
guard the public property at Crumbs
Landing and to march at once
and effect junction with the right
of the army. As this was the order
| thought / should have had hours
before. fastened to obey it, and marched
my division along the road that would take
me mos. directly to our right-that 10. the
road | had already corduroyed. We were
within q quarter of q mile of Sherman's
position OH the right. when young lieu
tenant covered with mud galloped up.
General Grant wants you TO hurry up
Ten minutes afterwards another officer
of General Grants staff rode up with
Where are you goiDgP i explained 10 him
that l was going TO the right or our army.
why. don't you know. he said. that we
lines are not where they wereP Then
said, here l am IN the rear of the whole
rebel f.rmy. Tell me explicitly what Cen
eral Grant wants OF met He wants you
at Pittsburg Landing. and he wants you
there like -.
countermarch and get into the lower or
river road. of course at n great and fatal
loss of time. for when i received the last
order was AS | have said almost where
Sherman's camp had been. There was the
opportunity of q lifetime before me. Tor the
struggling and disorganized coDfederates
were between me and BuelPs fresh army
of which Nelson's division was already
across the river. On the next day. the 7th.
my division led in the attack. Wa drove
the enemy all day long. and were mile
aud q quarter IN advance of our lines OF
the morning when General Grant recalled
me.
at was a year after ards. in Washin z
ton. when friend called my attention "a