Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-05-05

Grant and Wallace.
II have never clearly understood
shat was the cause or what was the
final outcome of your difference with
General Grant about the battle of
Pittsburg Landing, and imagine the
public is in much the SAME state of
ignorance.
l think / can make il clear to you.
even without a map, although a map
would be useful. On April 6, 1852, my
division was at Crump's Landing, six
miles below Pittsburg Landing, writes
General Lew Wallace in Harper's
Weekly, where the other divisions of
Grants force were, while Grant him
self had been ordered by Halleck, at
st. Louis, to establish his headquar-
ters 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
should be done.
But Albert Sidney Johnston, then in
command of the Confederates, did not
wait for him, but attacked before
Buell. could join, and, indeed, attacked
before the army of the Tennessee was
ready to receive him, so that the fight
of Pittsburg Landing, as l understand
it, was on our side a division fight all
day. McClernand was the ranking di-
vision commander, but he was civil
ian, 50 sherman was recognized for
communication on the field. My own
position was peculiarly exposed and
isolated, and when I heard the firing
on the morning Of the 9Th l made
preparations to join the right of the
army or enable the right to join me.
My column was at the fork of two
roads leading to Pittsburg Landing,
one by the river and the other BY
circuitous route, which was
much the more direct route to our
right. The roads were horrible aud l
had had them corduroyed. Thinking
the firing would bring Grant up from
his headquarters took my station on
boat in the river so that he might
leave me my orders and go on with
out loss of time. At half past eight
he came. Have you heard the fringe
he asked. Yes What do you think
of it?' There is a general engage
ment going on up there. He thought
a moment. Very well; hold your
selves in readiness, and wait for or
ders. But, general, said, knowing
that should be with the rest of the
army. I am ready now. Well, hold
your command where it Is till further
orders. And ne steamed on up the
river
The firing continued louder than
ever, and was more ana more anx-
ious to advance. Nine. ten, eleven
came and no orders. At last, at half
past eleven, / saw mounted officer
coming down the road on horse !
had left in charge Of an orderly for
such an emergency. How is the bat
tie going on?' / asked him. We are
repulsing them all along the line. >
And then he handed me written or
der. which was unfortunately lost.
but which several persons read, and
which / remember perfectly we'll It
was an order to leave force to guard
the public property at Crump's Land
ing, and to march at once and effect
junction with the right OF the army.
As this was the order ! thought 1
should have had hours before hast
ened to obey it, and marched my
division along the road that would
take me most directly to our right
that is, the road had already cordu-
royed. We were within a quarter of
mile of Shernan's position on the
right, when young lieutenant COW
cred with mud galloped up. General
Grant wants you to hurry mp. .
Ten minutes afterwards another
officer of General Grants staff rode up
with: Where are you going?' / ex-
planned to him that I was going to
the right of our army. Why, don't
you know" he said, that we have
been driven all day, and that our lines
are not where they were? Then
said, here ] am in the rear of the
whole rebel army. Tell me explicitly
what General Grant wants of me.
lie wants you at Pittsburg Landing
and he wants you there like h.
There was nothing for me TO do
but to countermarch and get into the
lower or river road, and, Of course. at
a great and fatal loss Of time, for
when received the last order / was,
as / have said, almost where Sher-
mans camp had been. There was
the opportunity of lifetime before
me, for the struggling and disorgan-
lied ConfeIerates were between me