The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-16
nEMNTOT DIR. A. E. BUCHANAN
OAAi LANA 2-33 When Building.
THE LOGAN STATUE.
Some Objections Entered by n Veter-
an of the Army of the Tennessee.
he Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
He who erects and pays for an edifce
has an undoubted right to consult his own
taste In regard to it's style, whether 1t
pleases the taste of the public or not;
and so have they who erect a statue the
right to consult their own ideas to its
style and pose, provided they do not az
tempt through the press or otherwise 20
explain their vagaries, if any, by detract-
ing from the merit of others, has been
done in the case of the Logan mon
ument in Chicago by the artist and others
in stating that the idea to be conveyed by
the statue is based upon an incident taking
place Immediately after General Logan as
surned command of the Army of the Ten
nessee. after the death of our beloved and
honored Mcpherson, July p, 1864.
The incident in question is no less than
the alleged rallying by General Logan in
the manner represented by the statue or
the Army of the Tennessee, of which he was
then assuming command and which it has
been claimed by the artist and others was
at that time demoralized and needed rail-
lying. This version has been readily and
extensively published throughout the coun-
try, and has no doubt been accepted by
the great mass of our people as true
1t is not true. 1t is slur and an insult
to the material, the bone and sinew, OF
the Army of the Tennessee. AT no time
during that day was this army or any
part thereof demoralzed nor did it need
any falIylng. AT no time during the war
ana men stand and more stubbOrnly fight
without fllnching, without urging by their
superlors, nrst nShting on one side of the
ditch and then on the other each time
Slorlously repelling their assailants than
.Cld the men composing the Army of the,
tennessee on that Remembered
day, july ~, 1854 In support of this state
ment here quote General Logans own
words. In his preliminary report he says:
IN, Inc attack on our INES was made seven
times, ana seven times repulsed." (See Page
q, war rebellion Records, Series /, Vol 80,
Part 3, Keports)
In his detailed report General Logan saws;
About this time, l o'clock | received
information of the death of Major Cen
eral Mcpherson, and an order from General
sherman, whose headquarters were at the
howard house, 10 assume command OF
the Army of the Tennessee. Turn
ing over the command of the Fifteenth
corps Whlcn was not then engaged to
Brig. Gen. Morgan Il. Smith, l rode rapid
~ IN the direction of the firing to our
left and its rear. When | reached thar
part OF the field the firing had considera-
bly, diminished, the enemy having fallen
pack a short distance to reform his lines
General Leggetts division of the Seven
teenth Corps held the Bald Hin. General
Giles A. Smith also held the greater part
OF ms position on the extreme left Both
divisions had been attacked from the rear
and had fought from the outside of their
works, and were at that time busily en-
gagged In reversing them in anticipation of
another attack from the same direction
They had received the attack of the
heavy determined columns of Hardee's
corps, made under the most unfortunate
ana dangerous circumstances but had by
the unsurpassed bravery OF the men and the
great skill and resources of their immediate
commanders, maintained the integrity of
their lines" (See Page a. War Rebellion
Records, Series l. Vol IS, Part 3, Reports)
None can add to nor detract from the
glorious record General Logan made for
himself as soldier or representative of the
people. Living at the time of the breaking
out of the war in a community largely in
habited by Southern-born people, who sym
pathized with the South, he faltered not
but stood firm by old Glory" from the
very beginning of the conflict and step by
step by his own deeds and merit finally at
tanned the command of the Army of the
Tennessee, an army having none to excel
ii in any particular He again entered
public life after the close of the conflict and
his public career is as spotless and honor
able as his army record was brilliant and
glorious.
What need has such man of being glori-
fled by attempting 10 detract from the hard
earned merit of those who honored him as
did the men of the Army of the Tennessee?
/ answer-None. +. II. MAGDEBURG,
Captain Fourteenth Wisconsin Veteran
Volunteer Infantry.
Milwaukee, Aug. a.