The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-09-13

intimate that he Grant did not do just
what he thought the best for the great army
he had then ] never would think of, and
I would like feel / was butting my head
against wall of adamant to even hint he
was wrong. The necessity for McClernand's
removal and the business of the commanders
of the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps COM
plants 10 Gen. Grant, so frequently made,
am in no way able to judge, much less to
assert.
But, as before stated, the heroic work of
Gen. McClernand and his corps in the fight
for Vicksburg can easily be substantiated.
Let us not tarnish the name of any OF our
patriots. Grant started Gen. McClernand
with the Thirteenth Corps on the last of
March, 1868. over the flood and bayous on
the Louisiana side of the river, to open up
the way to rear of Vicksburg. There were
four divisions in all then-Osterhaus's
Ninth, which took the lead; Carr's Four
teenth next, and A. J. Smith with Tenth,
and Gen. Hovey with Twelfth, follow
ing, in just what order / do not know.
McClernand put in time skirmishing, build
ing bridges (of which Grant says he built
over 1000 feet, blazing the way, and build
ing roads, over which all of our corps passed,
and all the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps
as we'll On the last day of April his corps
crossed the river at Bruensburg, Miss, and
were first on Mississippi soil, closely followed
by McPherson's Corps.
The division of Carr's marched to the
hills at once Several miles distant), ate some
crackers, and fastened on, running onto the
rebel pickets frequently. At about mid
night, AS l remember IL, we ran against the
Johnnies in force stationed with battery
at a church we called Magnolia Church on
hills we called by same name.
The artillery opened up, firing at the flash
of each other alternately Tor about one hour.
We lay on our arms until daylight MAY II,
and at once opened up the engagement on
the extreme right. And now, to make mat
tiers short, at this first engagement, May i,
called Port Gibson, the Thirteenth Corps lost
7S5 men, (see War Records, page 15S, Part /,
Vol. "a; Seventeenth Corps lost 80 men
(see War Record, page 167, Part 2, Vol. "a
The Fifteenth Corps was not present. At
Champion Hills battle the Thirteenth Corps
lost 1868 page 8, Part 2, Vol. pa The
Seventeenth Corps lost 1913 page 10, Part
2, Vol. pa
Gen. Sherman, Fifteenth Corps, as we I'M
derstood, had been left back for important
work in front of Vicksburg; hence not up
yet.
At the battle of Black River Bridge our
corps lost in one division f. A. Cars,
Fourteenth), DAB men. A few more men
were lost in the other division of the Thir-
teenth Corps, but none in either the Eff
teenth or Seventeenth.
These figures, with the exception of Ray
mond and Jackson include all that were lost
in our commands, save those who fell along
the way skirmishing and picketing. see
by some records, Logan, OF McPhersons
Corps, lost 432 men at Raymond, killed,
wounded and missing.
This brings us up to and after the charge
of the Odd of May. To recapitulate, how
ever, the losses in On to Vicksburg, the
Thirteenth Corps lost in the battles from
May to May %, 1856; the Fifteenth, $50;
the Seventeenth, 1866.
Now, Comrade Boring, and comrades of
the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, these
figures are not brought forward to try to show
any failure OIL the part OF either OF these
grand corps, or their immortal commanders.
/ have written only to let our comrades
of the Vicksburg campaign know that we
of the Thirteenth Corps probably did our
whole duty, as we have every reason on earth
to believe you did yours, whatever may have
been the cause of trouble between the four
great Generals of the Army OF the Tennessee
at that time.-WM. S. BEDFORD, Co. Z, 9Th
Ind, New Castle, Ind.