The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-09-13
DEFENDS HIS CORPS,
Whatever May Have Been the Cause of Dill
ference Between the Generals.


I read his papers with more than Ordi-
nary interest, as it is well written, and a
great many truths brought out, and because
the article was concerning one of the
grandest campaigns of our grandest hero, u.
s. Grant. And, again, because / was there
during every moment of the time. l love
to think of our great war, its great Generals,
and devoted men.
l believe have learned, of truth, there
were legions of good and brave soldiers, and
many, very many, excellent officers; that
all our regiments were much alike under
similar circumstances, and, with correspond
ingly good officers, commands were usually
successful as their officers were able and
great. Organizations could hardly go much
beyond officers. From this fact THAT Off
GERS were in so much responsible), TO defend
the Thirteenth Corps we must defend its
commander, Gen. John A. McClernand, both
of which / claim did their full share in the
capture of Yicksburg.
ComTade Boring made very many good
points, but there were some three or
four that / wish to give my version of for
the comrades consideration and enlighten-
ment He SAYS, in regard to the battle of
Champion Hills, May 16, that the firing
ceased with nightfall. In regard to capt
ure of Big Black River Bridge May II, with
its fertilization, it's thousands of prisoners,
taken together with Is pieces of artillery
and small-arms, he says that the right and
left tanks Of our army merely crossed the
river above and below, and a general ske-
3addle ensued; and, lastly, while speaking
Of the charge on the city of Vicksburg May
p he says that the cause of this bungle on
the ODD was charged partly to the failure of
Sen. McClernand, who did not come to time
with his command, and partly to the want
Of scaling-ladders, or facilities for crossing the
enemy's bitches along his breastwOTks and
around his forts; also that McClernand was
relieved from his command for insubordi-
nation to Gen. Grant. etc.
Or the first point / think the comrade is
mistaken, as our division, commanded by
Gen. Eugene a. Carr, ran them down from
there TO Black River Bridge, and we must
have started about p. M, or near that, as
we had daylight for quite a while, and
found it much more enjoyable than either
the Seventeenth or Thirteenth Corps did on
the hill.
On the second point, think the comrade
is mistaken about any crossing of the river
until the 18th, and think history tells it.
We of Gen. Carr's Division, of the Thir-
teenth Corps, know how the skedaddle came
about and something of what it cost. Said
division Of two brigades lost DAG men killed
and wounded, largely the greater number
of the Second Brigade, commanded by Gen.
Iawler. The captures are placed at 5000
prisoners, 400 smal-arms and 16 cannon;
yet other commands lost some there Of which
] have not the account of; all. however, of
the Thirteenth Corps and by Gen. McCler-
nand.
AS to the third point, we are the most con-
cerned, for the truth Of history, that the
brave leader and men may have justice along
with the other two corps, Fifteenth and
Seventeenth, neither of which, with their
chiefs, need any defense, or would stoop to
snatch laurels from other commands.
Comrade Boring, in his last insiallment,
tells very graphically and eloquently how
ali the boys were so anxious to make an
assault on Vicksburg and accurately as to
difficulties in the way to the charge of the
Notifications on May D. cad / doubt not
the failure was charged as Comrade Boring
says.
Further on the cOmrade says that on the
27th of May, with Logan in the place of Nc
ClernaI d, and ladders provided, they made
another charge, with same sad result to our
forces.
The charge on the 9th, if there was one,
orr division did not go into. l knew moth
ing of il. But this / know. Gen. John A.
Logan. God bless his memory. never COM
manded our Thirteenth CorIs one hour;
and I would be, as / believe any com
mand would, glad to acknowledge him as
such If it was so. Grant did relieve Cen
McClernand Oh the 18th of June following,
placing E. o. c. Ord over US by the same
order that relieved our loved McClernand
As for the failure of Gen. McCIernand to
bring his command to time" cannot but
resist those imputations which arose in
the minds of my much-loved comrades of
the Seventeenth Corps, and brought out
through the pen Of Comrade Boring How
e:er such msinformation should have
reached your corps do not know, and ] am
sure my comrades Of the Seventeenth, who
fought on so many battlefelds on to Vicks-
burg with Us, would not have ii so. NV dead
comrades Of my own company (E, 9Th Ind, }
OF whom / this moment count seven who
were kiIIed or died of wounds, there being
(ss understood it) only 80 participating.
The Official Records of the War Depart
ment Cpage 100, Voi. "a, Part q shows our
reTiment lost III; our brigade, commanded
by Gen. Benton, 341; our Second Brigade,
commanded by Gen. Lawler, 1863; total loss
4 seven regiments composing our division
j. A. Csrr's), 709
The same Records show the Thirteenth
Corps lost that day (.he 22d), 1875 men.
Gen. Sherman, Fifteenth Corps, lost S58;
Gen. Mcpherson, Seventeenth Corps lost
1,066.
COmrade Boring, that was fearful day.
and we Of our corps, you see, can mourn
with you and the noble Fifteenth Corps
over the loss Of our loved comrades
Many, doubtless you knew, and some we
knew SO well. 1t was sad day indeed to
all our army there, and proved dark day
10 many one at home. Doubtless all our
organizations did their best. Whatever NAV
have been the good and sufficient reason oul
great hero had for relieving Gen. John A. Nc
Clernand on the 18th day Of June, 1868, hs
certainly never would have charged him
with failure to bring his command to time
on that day, or with failure 10 fight as long
as he Grant remembered Belmont, Henry
DonelsOD, and Shiloh. Whatever may hav,
been the cause for the feeling which
existed in the breast of Gen. Sherman
that there was bad feeling there history
proves it plain enough to any careful reader
and that the army did become somewhat
impregnated with the same we all know
However much the comrades of the Seven
teenth Corps may have partaken Of that feel
ing against Gen. MeClernand and his corps
1t certainly would not be a very laboriou
lob for one who is able 10 put his thought
and investigations on paper well to yindi
cate both as to the part taken in that re