Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-04-23

made an assistant to the secretary OF
war, and the war department gave a
semiofficial character to his reports by
printing them among other war docu-
ments.
When Dana declares that General }.
A. McClernand made false report OF
the results of his charge on May ~ and
thereby brought about a second assault
which was disastrous, he goes against
the only purely official and unbiased
history recorded at the time.
Grants report states that in the first
assault Of the day the three corps-Sher-
mans, McGlernand's and McPherson's
moved together and fought CALAMITY
failing only because the Confederate po-
sition was too strong to be taken The
general afterward in the same document
states that no troops succeeded in enter
ing the enemy's works except handful
of the Twenty second Iowa of Lawler' s
brigade, McClernand's corps After 2
O'Clock, or about two hours after the
assault, he received a dispatch from
MeClernand, as he says, "stating posi-
lively that he was in possession of and
still held two of the enemy's forts, that
the American flag waved over them, and
asking me to have Sherman and Nc
Pherson make diversion in his favor.
The assault was renewed, this report
continues, with the result of increasing
the days casualties 90 per cent without
advantages.
General Sherman says in his report
that, having heard McClernand's report
to General Grant to the effect that he
(McClernand) had taken three of the
enemy's forts and that his flag floated
over the stronghold Of Vioksburg, he or
dered direct assault by one brigade
Although Grant was with Sherman
when he received McClernand' S dispatch
and Sherman heard it read, the latter
makes it claim "three" forts captured
and McClernand's flags floating over
the stronghold of Vioksburg.
The dispatch referred to is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH CORPS,
NEAR VICKsBURG, May % 1863, IL m.
Major General u. s. Grant:
GENERAIr-We are holly engaged with the
enemy. We have part possession of two forts,
and the stars and stripes floating over
them. A vigorous push ought to be made all
along the line. JOHN A. McCLERNAND,
Major General Commanding.
AS to the statement that Grant acted
on false reports and by ordering a
charge increased the casualties 90 per
cent, as Grant says, the reports show
that Grant ordered Quinby's division of
Mcpherson corps to support McCler-
nand, and Sherman ordered one brigade
of his corps to the assault. The only
point in the dispatch open to criticism
is the sentence urging vigorous action
all along the line. In spite of the fact
that McClernand laid before the author
tiles at Washington conclusive evidence
that the dispatch was true, the incident
was soon followed by his removal from
command. General Grant justified the
removal of MoClerns!nd because "almost
the entire army seemed to demand it. "
To show the feeling of the "army corps
serving in the field with the Thirteenth
corps" he forwarded to Washington
two letters, one from Sherman and one
from Mcpherson, the leaders of the Fiji
teenth and Seventeenth corps, severely
criticising their comrade in arms That
was all the evidence submitted TO speak
for "almost the entire army"
McClernand protested, but it did no
and it was refused. In his protest adj
dressed to General Halleok, the general
in chief at Washington, he submitted
evidence to prove that the brigades of
Landrum and Lawler in his left center
planted their colors ON the enemy's
works and carried them inside of one of
the main forts; that his officers and
men forced their way into the fort; that
another column from A. J. Smith di
vision had also effected a Judgment and
planted its colors on the works. He also
had received a report from Colonel
Landrum during the action that the fort
twas ours" that he sent staff officer
to verify Landrum' statement, and the
aid brought a note from the commander
of the troops within the fort saying,
"This was written inside the fort.
One thrilling incident Of the fight
was the entrance into one bastion of
Fort Beauregard of detachment Of the
Twenty second Iowa General Grant
admitted this, but said that its position
was such that its full possession would
give no practical advantage unless 9th
ers to the right and left of it were car
ried and held at the same time. The
assault of LAWYERS brigade was led by
che Twenty second Iowa, commanded
by Colonel w. NJ. Stone Colonel Stone
was shot down, but Lieutenant Colonel
Harvey Graham grasped the flag and
with some 60 followers leaped the ditch,
planting the staff on the slope of the
walls where it remained for hours.
Sergeant Joseph Grif1iths and a squad
of 10 men, by climbing upon one an
others shoulders, escaladed the wall
and entered one bastion. In a desperate
hand to hand struggle five of the brave
men engaged in this exploit were killed
and seven wounded. The sergeant and
Private David Urine emerged after a
time, driving before them 3 prisoners
who had been diaarmed in the struggle
inside. This occurred before II o'clock,