The National tribune., 1899-08-03

been repulsed with great loss at Haines's
Bluffs.
And following close in the footsteps of
all these reverseS and disasters, there had
tlst passed a Winter terribly trying and
fatal to the soldiers in the Southwest. Al
Helena and along the river banks at MILL
ken's Bend, thousands had succumbed to
feverS and other diseases incident to army
life and to country full OF mlasmatc
swamps. The roll of drums, beating the
dead-march, and the volleying of musketry
over the graves of our comrades were music
most common to our ears; and, echoing to-
ward the Nortiland, fell like pail over the
souls of our people. These, with hearts
filed not only with sorrow for their dead,
but with infinite dread for the safety of the
Union, longed for change in that awful
tide that seemed to be swiftly bearing the
Nation to its downfall and ruin.
Then, after all these calamities, and in
the face of the gloom that enshrouded the
souls of the people, it can be fully under
stood how important was this great cam
paign. That it was completely successful
Is matter of record, I. record that fills up
some of the brightest pages in the history OF
our country. To condenSe and emphasize
the truth it must be said of this campaign
that it was wonderful in conception, exc
cution, and its vast and far-reaching re-
suits.
l will write briefly of only one day and
one battle of this campaign snd the few
that preceded both. From the night of
April 30, 1S63 until mid-afternoon of May
16, it was a question whether success would
crown our efforts or defeat bring disaster
to our arms. On that April night our army,
the flower of the West and the Northwest,
having stripped itself, like an athlete, with
the Thirteenth Corps leading, crossed the
Mississippi, and, with the same corps still
leading, on that ever memorable, May 16, it
met and crushed the rebel army-the most
complete and disastrous defeat OF the entire
war. Never more, from that eventful day,
was there any doubt as to the final triumph
of the Union arms. No longer from that
time until the rebels furled their banners in
defeat forever at Appomattox was there any
doubt as 10 the safety Of the Republic.
A GREAT DECISIVE BATTLE.
The Count of Paris, brilliant French.
man and unbiased historian, present with
our army there, has declared the battle OF
Champions Hill the first great decisive
battle of the war, and in truth the real turn.
ing point in that awful conflict between the
North and the South" History has moi
given this battle the prominence and the
place on its pages that it deserves. At il
our army, inferior in numbers and position
met the rebels at the high noon of their sue
cess; and defeating and scattering them il
pitched battle, opened up an easy road u
NlckSburg and its certain capture. This
capture, letting the great river run un
trammeled and unvexed to the sea, cut il
twain the Confederacy, and sealed forever
the doom Of that iniquitous rebellion.
To appreciate the situation and fully
understand the importance and true great
ness of this battle, it is necessary to relate
briefly a little of the history that immedi
ately preceded and led up TO it. 1t is !;
matter Of record that the rebel Genera
(Pemberton) had under his command some
$1,000 men at the time our army crossed
vi,rar of incl l,t,r, ,,F |,
were at Grand Gulf, jackson and VickS
burg, all in close and easy support; while
the remainder of his forces were at neigh
boring and not far away points. And it i.
also matter of record that Gen. Grant hac
with him, up TO and including May 16, only
about &c, 900 men.
The rebels were in their own country:
country intensely loyal TO their cause ant
admirably situated for defense. Our army
meeting in almost every living creature al
enemy, was forced TO advance over a coun
try exceedingly difficult for the conduct o
an offensive campaign. But Grant, will
the daring OF & Napoleon, exercising tn,
most bewlidering and masterful strategy
after defeating them in detail at Port Glib
soa, Raymond, jackson and minor points
finally faced them, in full force, on tn,
rugged hills overlooking and commanding
the approaches to the valleys OF Baker
Creek
During all this time Pemberton, out
generated, mystified and confused, holdin.
together his main army, kept rushing u
and down the banks of the Big Black
thinking to give us battle at its crossing
or cut US off from our base at Grand Gulf
COMPOUNDED and bewildered, he let pass il
my opinion, one golden opportunity at tn
crossing Of Fourteen-Mile Creek on tn
afternoon of the 18th.
On that day and afternoon Mcpherson
with one wing of the army, was far to tn
east battling with Gregg at Raymond
while Sherman with the center was push
ing on TO his support. Hovey's Division
ct that time the only one hugging the Bi,
Black, crossed this creek and found himsei
facing Pemberton's main army, only tw
miles south Of Edwards's Station