Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-07-23
TOO MUCH LOGAN.


4 Correspondent Thinks the General l. too
Much in Evidence.
On the 22nd of this month a statute
was unveiled at Chicago. and through
centuries to come a bronze horse will
stand with uplifted foot before the
people of that city. That impatient foot
typifies the life of the rider, John A.
Logan. He was soldieri of fair abii-
ties and it is well that his record in the
civil war should be honored by his state;
but the efforts of few pers ons to man
ufacture a fame for him of which he
was UNIV orthy have been for many
years unceasing.
His enlistment as a private soldier In
the Mexican war may be thought an act
of patriotism by partial friends. but it
was in reality service for the slave
power-a power which he served with
vigor until he saw better chances in an
opposite direction. That he had con-
siderable ability no one can deny; but
the person of his love, for whom he
fought before the war. during the war
and after the war, was Logan. And his
death eleven years ago did not end the
fight His family and his friends have
not been less industrious in keeping his
name in the newspapers. nor less active
in claiming for him merit that he never
earned.
1t is claimed for instance, that he
found a way % of not relieving "The
Rock of Chickamauga'' Gen. Thomas.
when he was sent to Nashville for
that purpose; but the fact is his or
ders forbade him to assume command,
provided Thomas had commenced a
movement against the enemy before he
(Logan) arrived. The battle of Nash
vile was begun before Logan reached
Louisville, and it was won before he
could have reached the army that won it.
Again, when General Sherman began
his march to the sea it was not Logan,
the ranking general, to whom he en-
trusted one wing of the army, but to
General Howard. And Logan was not
amable regarding the selection. One
will doubtless look in vain for evidence
of any disposition on the part of Gen.
Logan to put the country before him
self during the entire war, as Generals
Meade. Thomas and others did. 1t is
proper to honor the good work that
Logan performed, but it is most i'm
proper and unjust to place his name
higher than such names as Mcpherson,
Hancock, Reynolds, Sedgwick, SlOcum,
Howard, Sickles. and many others who
were as modest as they were brave. and
whose families are too modest to allow
their faces to distigure the daily press.
The late George II. Baker of Philadel-
pbia told the writer that he spent three
days on the field of Gettysburg with
Gen. Meade, some years after the war,
and not one word fell from the lips of
Gen, Meade during the visit to indicate
that he took any part in that great
conflict. What would he the feelings of
such men as Generals Meade and Thomas
were they to return to life and see in the
newspapers the portraits of members of
their families, even to the third genera
/ ton, whose only claim upon public
notice should be their connection, by
blood or marriage, with the honored
dead: a Chicago newspaper of promi
nence, in announcing the Unveiling OF
the Logan monument. has not only
embelished it with letter from Mrs
John A. Logan, but with her portrait
that of her daughter. her son-in-law and
two grandchi dren, one of whom is evi-
IDENTIFY greatly in need Of the services OF
a barber. Perhaps "Little Jack" needs
Samson-lille, the strength in his hair tC
unveil the monument. w. II. b.