The sun., 1897-12-05

tne army tottiou down 20 that. Wo WVtO W ou |
Incompatible position for q siege as regarded |
tho health and comfort Of Our men. The high
wooded hills afforded pure air and shade and
the deep ravines abounded in springs OF excel
lent water, and IL thoy failed 1t was easy to
bring 1t from the Mississippi. Our limo OF sup |
plies was beyond tho reach OF the enemy. and
there was an abundance of fruit all about us. l
frequently met soldiers coming into camp with |
buckets full OF muberries blackbcrrics, and red |
and yellow wild plums.
The army was deployed at this tlmo In the fol-
lowing order: The right of the beseging forco
was held by Gen. Sherman, whose forces ran
from the river along tho BLUFFS around the north
east OF the town. Shorman's front was ut
greater distance from the enemy than that OF
any other corps, and the approach less advan'
tageous. but he began his siege works with great
energy and admirable skill. Everything i saw
OF Sherman at the vicksburg siege increased
my admiration for him. He wasa very brilliant
man. and an excellent commander OF a corps.
Sherman's Information was great, and he was
clever talker. He always liked to have people
about who could keep up with his conversation;
beside no was genial and unaffected. particu-
larly admired his loyalty TO Grant. 1Ie had
criticised tho expedition frankly in tho first
place, but had supported every movement with
oil his energy, and now that VIC were in the rear
Of Vicksburg gave loud praise to the COM
mander.in-chief.
To the left of Sherman lay the Seventeenth
Army Corps, under MajorGen. J. B. McPhcr-
son. He was one OF the best officers we had.
He was but 81 years old at the time, and very
handsome, gallant.looking man. with rather a
dark complexion. dark eyes. and a most cordial
manner. Mcpherson was engineer officer Of
fine natural ability and extraordinary acquire
ments, having graduated number one in his
GLASS at West Point, and was held in high esti
nation by Grant and his professional brethren.
Halleck gave him his start in the civil war, and
he had been with Grant ut Donclson and ever
since. He was man without any prctcnsons,
and always had a pleasant shake-hands for you.
To McPherson's left was the Thirteenth Army
Corps, under Major.Gen. John A. McClernand.
Next to Grant he was tho ranking officer in the
army. The approaches on his front were most
favorable to us and the enemy 5 line Of works
evidently much the weakest there, but he WAS
very inefficient and slow in pushing his siege
operations. Grant had resolved on tho 23d to
relieve McClernand for his false despatch of tho
day before stating that he held two Of tho enc
my's forts; but he changed his mind. concluding
that it would DO better, on the whole to leave
him in his command till the siege was concluded.
My own judgment of McClernand at that time
was that he had not the qualities necessary for
the commander even of a regiment. In the first
place he was not military man; he was a poll
tican and member of Congress- He was a
man Of good deal Of q certain kind OF talent,
not Of a high order. but not one OF intellectual
| accomplishments His education was that which
a man gets who Is In Congress five or six years.
In short, McClernand was merely smart man
quick, very active.minded; but his judgment
was not solid. and ho looked after himself good
deal. Mr.. Lincoln also looked out carefully for
McClernand. 1t was q great thing to get Nc
| Clernand into the war in the first place. for his
natural predisposition ono would have sup
posed, would have been to sympathizc with tho
| South. As long as he adhered to the war he
carried his Illinois constituency with him; and
| chiefly for this reason, doubtless. Lincoln made
| 1t point to take special care Of him. In doing
this tho President really served the greater good
of the cause. But from the circumstance of
| Lincoln's supposed friendship. McClernand had
| moro consequence in the army than he de-
| served.
McClernand. Sherman. and Mcpherson were
| Grants three chief officers, but there wero
many subordinate officers of value In his army,
not few of whom became aftcrward men OF
| distinction. In order to set the personnel OF
| tho commanding force distinctly before the
reader. quote hero a semi-ofllcial letter which
I wrote to Mr.. Stanton. at his request. in July,
after the siege had ended. This letter has never
been published before. and 1t gives my judg.
| ment at that time of the subordinate officers OF
tho vicksburg campaign.
| CAmo. ILL.,. July I2. 1893.
| DEAR SIR: Your despatch of June Goth desiring mo
| to continue my sketches have to-day seen for
the nrst time. 1t was sent down tho river, but had
not arrived when left yicksburg on the 5th inst.
| Let me describe tho Generals OF division and bri-
gade in Grants army in the order OF the army corps
to which they are attached, beginning with the Thir-
| teenth.
Tho most prominent onicer OF tho Thirteenth Corps
| next to the commander OF the corps is Brig Gen.
| A. p. Hovey. He is a lawyer OF Indiana, and from
40 to years old He is ambitious. active nervous
irritable. energetic. clear headed quickwitted and
prompt handed. He works with all his might and all
his mnd and. unlike most volunteer officers, makes
1t his business to learn the military profession Just
II he expected TO spend his life in It. He distin.
guished himself most honorably nt Port Gibson and
Champions HILL and Is of the best officers In this
army. He is man whose character will always com.
mand respect. though he is too anxious about his
personal renown and his own advancement to be
considered nrst.rate man morally. Judged by tho
high standard OF men like Grant and Sherman.
Hovey's principal BrlGadiers Gen. McGinnis and
Col Slack. McGinnis 10 brave enongh, but too ex-
ctable. He lost his balance at Champions Hill. He
is not likely to be than Brigadier. Slack
Is solid steady man. brave thorough. and sensible.
but will never set the river afre. His education ia
| poor but he would make respectable Brgader-
General. and know hopes TO he promoted
Next to Hovey is OsterhRus. This General is uni.
versslIy we'll spoken Of. He is pleasant genial fe
low brave and quick. and makes rstrate report OF
a reconnaissance. There Is not another General in
this army who Keeps the Commander. in. Chief well
Informed concerning whatever happens at his out
posts As a discplinarian he Is not equal to Hovey
but Ia much better than some others. on the battle
field he lacks energy and concentrativeness. Ills
brigade commanders all Colonrls and DOM
know much OF them.
The Third division Of the Thirteenth Corrs is com
mandcd by Gen. A. J. Smith. an old cavalry oncel
the regular service He IS intrepid to rcckesncss
his head is clear though rather thick his disposItcr
honest and manly. though given TO boosting self
oxaggerat,on OF gentle and innocent kind. Hi
division is well cared for. but Is rather famous fo
slow instead OF rapid marching. McClernand. how
ever, dsliked him. and kept him in tho rear through
ont the late campaign. He is good onlcer TO com
mand division In an army corps but should no
be intrusted with any important independent com