The National tribune., 1902-03-13
West Pointer VS.. Yolunteer.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: l have
been very much interested in reading
From Louisville to the Sea-" by Com.
rade Lyman s. Widney, 34th H.; but in
the issue of Feb. 6 he makes Il statement
that must he taken with several very
large pinches of salt. | know that he
does not voice the sentiments Of the Army
of the Tennessee when he says: The pro.
motion of Gen. Howard suits the rank and
file No doubt it suited the rank and
file of the Army of the Cumberland" OF
which the cOmrade was member, but
that it was satisfactory to the boys com
posing the Army of the Tennessee | en-
phatically deny. We all know that he
was a Christian gentleman, but the rank
and file took no stock i'll the assertion
that Towards prayers were going to help
them win the battle 1t did not save his
command ut Charlottesville, where they
were diSastrously defeated through his
criminal carclcssness. We have heard
that Stonewall Jackson, also, was a pray
ing man, and if the stories told by his
men can be depended upon, always said
his little Now L lay me down to sleep
before going into battle; but we have also
heard that when there was any fighting
to do he attended strictly to business. The
removal of Logan to make room for How
ard was one of the things that should
have caused blush to suffuse Uncle
Billys" checks every time he thought of
it. 1t was, however, the inevitable Sc
Iuence, whenever or wherever the volun-
teer came i'll contact or competition with
West Point.
1t was the case at Shiloh, where Grant
interposed to keep MeClernand, who was
a Major-General, from assuming COM
mand over Sherman, who was only Brig
adler, but West Pointer. Likewise. af-
ter the capture of Arkansas Post, Grant
again interposed to save Sherman Also
at Vicksburg, where McClernand was re-
lieyed, not so much on account of the
famous "congratulatory ORDERS" although
that gave Gen. Grant the opportunity he
was waiting for, but especially to make
a soft berth for another West Pointer. T.,
D. q. Ord. BY this clever flank move
ment, as it might be properly called,
Grant got rid of the last volunteer Cen
eral who held a prominent position, helped
brother West Pointer to a good com
mand, thereby completing the big square,
Grant, Sherman, Mcpherson, Ord. While
McClernand was not the most brilliant of
the volunteer Generals of the Army of the
Tennessee, he was far superior in all
those points that go to make the SUCCESS
ful corps commander to the man who SUI.
perseded him. McClernand suited the
Lahh anu ult VI lHe COrDS,
which is more than can be said of his
! successor. Again, this assumed superior,
ity was shown ut jackson when Ord re-
lieved Lauman for an alleged disobe-
dience of orders. 1t was verbal order
and these verbal orders were very con.
venient when things did not turn out Just
as they had been planned. In this in
stance it happened to be very fine thing
| Tor Ord, and correspondingly disagree
able one for Lauman, who was relieved
and sent home in disgrace to shield his
superior. Someone must suffer, and il
fell to Lauman. 1t was Lauman's word
against Ord's, and of course Ord came
out on top; but all the same, most, if NOT
all, the Thirteenth Corps that is. the rank
and file), stood by Lauman. Sc it was
after the battle of Sabine Crossroads
somebody had to be sacrificed, and Gen.
Lee got it in the neck" and room made
for another West Pointer. The history
Of the rebellion is filed with lust sncb
incidents. What the rank and file wanted
but did not always get, was a stayer. and
not prayer.-R ii. MARTIN, Delphos.
Ohio.