The National tribune., 1902-06-19
GRANT AND LOGAN.
Reply to DR.. T. C. Murphys Account of
the Battle of Belmont.

EDITOR NATIONAL THBUNE: As a
member of John A. I1ogan's Old Third Di-
vision, Seventeenth Corps, l tnter pro-
test against a part of the story related
in issue of May 30 by DIR. Z. &C. Murphy,
31st ILL.,. Enterprise, Miss The men who
belonged to Logan's conlhDard. whether
as members of the 31st H., Of the Second
Brigade. Third Division, or Fifteenth and
Seventeenth Corps, well knew what kind
of stuff Logan was made of, and every
man of the entire Army Of the Tennessee
had the utmost confidence in, his ability,
bravery and invincible courage on all oc-
casions. and he, having the same conf
dence in The men behind the gyms, knew
that where he led they were, always ready
to follow, and many tines 70 the writer
certain knowledge, did follow him into the
very jaws of death; but when DIR. Muir
ply says that Gen. Grant. the greatest
soldier of modern times, ever took one
single iota of credit from Gen. Logan, he
says that which history refuses TO indorse.
Gen John A. Logan was a warm personal
friend of Gen. l.. $. Grant, and the two
were more like brothers. indeed, than sim
ply brothers-in-arins. During the entire
war Gen. Grant was modest and unas-
sumiDg and seemed always more anxious
to give credit to others than to take any
for his own acts; therefore. for DIR. Muir
ply to state at this late day that Gen.
Grant ever claimed Gen. Logan's words,
'hfy men cut their way in and, by -,
we can cut our way out" is surprising.
No man, officer or private. ever heard Gen.
Grant utter n profane word: and, further.
for the Doctor to assert that at Belmont
Gen. Grant asked NcClernand and Logan
what was best TO do is history not
heretofore recorded; and for T. G. Muir
ply, NJ. d.. of the gallant old 3lst ILL.,, to
make such a claim now is ungenerOus and
unl,ind
The battle of Belmont was fought on
the 18th day of November. 1861, by $500
troops, under the immediate command of
Gen. Grant, accompanied by Gen, Nc
Clernand. The rebel camp was several
miles from the landing and to reach it
the Union troops had to fight the entire
distance. during which the COnfederates
had ample time to prepare for the defense
of what they termed "a stronghold" The
fight was hard and exciting one. but the
enthusiasm of the Union troops. led by n
daring and fearless commander pressed
right up to the rebel works and finally
captured them. the 9th ILL.,. led by Col.
Ruford, being the first to enter the strong
hold
hihioSI iiiIiIeuidttIs, uOWeNeT, dlteT IHe
| capture of the place and escape of the
main rebel force. it was discovered that
still larger force was approaching the
scene of battle from the opposite side of
the river. Gen. Grant quickly saw the
condition of affairs, and knowing that it
was useless TO try to hold the position
| longer, ordered retreat to the boats,
! which was Immediately begun. and in do
| ing so the Union troops encountered the
i. Il
| through the rebel lines. going back as
they had done in going forward.
During the retreat there wns much hard
| fighting. and in the midst of it Gen. Grant
had two horses shot under him and Gen
McClernand had one horse shot under
him. Logan, then Colonel Of the 31st ILL.,,
did gallant work, and was a conspicuous
| figure during the entire battle.
Notwithstanding the Union troops had
to fight their way back to the boats. they
| took with them several hundred prisoners,
two cannon and large quantity of arms
| and ammunition as relics of their heroic
struggle: ~ 80
The troops engaged in the battle of
| Belmont were all from Illinois. except the
7th Iowa, a splendid body of soldiers Lo-
gan's regiment, the 31st Ill..i did gallant
service, and during the entire struggle for
the preservation of the oUnen was con-
siueieu ohe ol tHe very DcSI HI tue AfIOy
of the Tennessee. iron
AS DR.. Murphy must know Gen. Grant
was the last man to leave, theIlanding and
ride aboard the headquarters steamer, and
would have been captured had he re-
manned on shore few minutes longer. as
the rebels, In large force, reached the
landing as the boats were steaming safely
away, but too late to do any particular
damage to the fleet Now, DR.. Murphy
give to the memory Of Gen John A.
Logan all the credit you can possibly Do
as true and gallant soldier, faithful
and daring leader, but, please, don't try
to make any old soldier Of the Army OF
the Tennessee believe that Gen. Grant
ever tried to pluck any Of the laurels
Justly won and modestly worn by his in.
innate and personal friend, "Black Jack, "
Of Illinois,. W. A. Gillespie, Captain
Go. G, 18th Ohio, Middletown, o.
hymn Book Pound on Battlefield.
Mrs. G. D. Martin, of KidwelI, w. Va,
has hymn book which was found on the
battlefield Of Buckhannon. On the fly Leaf
appears tho pane Of Albert Spencer, Go.