Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-07-31

visible, there came to him an opportunity.
which would have been a trial and tempta-
Grant sent him to relieve Thomas. and In
doing so, gave notice to all the world, that
Logan was fit for high command. II was
one OF the picturesque situations OF the
war. The Army OF the Potomac was hold
ing the confederacy by the throat, while
Serman, marching to the sea. was
cutting all its veins and arteries. Mean
while. Thomas, with b~elsagured Nashville
at his back. vas making ready, slowly,
but surrey, for the blow that should kill.
Grant, the i~mperturable, seeing the whole
wait no longer. He called for his Thun-
derbolt. and sent Logan, who no one had
ever thought slow. to make the fight. i
?, could name men, with stars on their shout
ders, who would have seized that oppor-
tunity to humiliate the man. whose lineage
ran from MIL Sprng. through Corinth,
Murfresboro and Chickamauga TO Attain
"a. lie, like Logan. had become a type.
He was the synonym for that enduring
courage. which stays forever in Its place.
But Logan, Fastening To the field, where
Thomas and Hood were preparing for
their last grapple, stopped at Louisville,
not because It seemed best for his own
fortune, but because II was right He,
who would have flown TO any place where
danger lay, halted at that supreme mo-
ment. He ruled his own soul: and his
conduct shines with a great light, when
we read, In Sherman's Memoirs, that, af-
ter the battle of Atlanta, Thomas-con-
scientiously, beyond any question--remon-
strated warmly against giving the com
mando OF the Army OF Tennessee to Logan.
The day Logan halted on his way to Nash
Vile, brought him the noblest revenge that
ever one brave man ever had over anoth-
er. 1t reads like some story of some old
romance. In his pocket was the order,
which gave him the right TO supercede
the general who had said he must not
the Army Of the Tennessee.
Both now are gone. Their armies will
never camp again, but the nation loves
and honors the two men who were thus
drawn together in those last great days.
The word will never forget how Logan
stopped at Louisville-as who else would
and left Thomas TO go forward, In his own
way. TO that victory which was like
Cronwells' browning mercy.
This hour f. dedicated to Logan, az a
soldier. lie won it from the calendar and
made Ii his own. But, in the midst Of all
its p~sgeantry, we must not forget that he
was a statesman in the most trying times
OF all our histcry. IL is not for me, at this
angus moment to discuss any question Of
party opinion. Logan was a man of posi-
tive views; plain, direct and uncompromis-
ing. For what he believed to be right. he
would fight In the matt as ~undauntedly
as he fought on the field. He was for free
dom. and for all those great amendments
freedom organic in this nation; he was for
equality before the law. lie was for the
common soldier, who had felt as he had
az, Donelson. the wounds, which is the
soldiers best decoration; he was for the
national honor, on land or sea: for the
army and navy and for force, If need be,
to defend every right which ought to be
recognized without force.
He loved Illinois, and Illinois loved him
the son she had nursed in her W cradle.
He was loyal TO her and faithful to the ut
termost: but he believed. as this great
state has always believed, that "the soil
of Illinois is the soil Of the United States"
The republic is greater than any state.
II Is little 10 say that he was honest.
Through all his great career he went UNI
scathed, and no man over dared 10 whis-
per in his ear a thought Of personal gain.
IF anyone had ventured, he would have
seen. in hat flashing eye, such a warning