The National tribune., 1905-11-23

weight III determining promotions anu
Dana to continue them regularly. and
even send them by telegraph. He
gave Dana commission as Major,
with directions to report directly to
Gen. Grant, as this would prcs.S.Ss :
facilitate his work. One OF these let
tiers, which does not appear in the
Official Record, is as follows:
"Cairo, ILL.,, July IL, 1863.
Dear Sir: Your dispatch Of June 20
desiring me to continue my sketches
was sent down the river, but had not
arrived when I left Vicksburg on the
5th inst.
Let me describe the Generals Of d.
vision and brigade in Grants army, in
the order Of the army corps to which
they are attached, beginning with the
Thirteenth.
Gen. A. p. Hovey.
''The most prominent officer of the
Thirteenth Corps, next to the command
er Of the corps. Is Brig.-Gen. A. p.
Hovey. He is lawyer of Indiana, and
from 40 to As years old. He is am
bilious. active, nervous, irritable, ener-
getic, clear-headed. Quick-witted, and
prompt handed. He works with all his
might and all his mind; and, unlike
most volunteer officers. makes 1t his
business to learn the military profess
sion just as it he expected to spend his
life in 1t.
He distinguished himself most hon
orably at Port Gibson and Champion
Hill, and is one Of the best officers in
this army. He is a man whose charac-
ter will always command respect
though he is too anxious about his per-
sona} renown and his own advancement
to be considered a frst-rate man NOR
ally, Judged by the high standard Of
NIX lro MT nv,1
"Hovey's principal Brigadiers are
Gen. McGinnis and Col. Slack. Nc
Ginnis is brave enough, but too excit-
able. He lost his balance at Champion
Hill. He is not likely ever to be more
than Brigadier. Slack il solid,
Bile; but he will never set the river afire
His education is poor, but he would
make a respectable Brigadier-General,
and hopes to be promoted.
Gen J. r. Osterhaus.
Next to Hovey is Osterhaus This
General Is universally well spoken of.
He Is pleasant. genial fellow. brave,
and quick. and makes q first-rate report
OF q reconnaissance. There is not an
the Commander-in-Cnief 50 well In
formed concerning whatever happens at
his outpOsts. AZ q disciplinarian he is
not equal to Hovey, but is much better
than some others. On the battlefield he
lacks energy and concentrativeness. His
brigade commanders are all Colonels,
and don't know much Of him.
Gen. 4. J. Smith.
1.-THE Third Division of the Thirteenth
Corps is commanded by Gen. A. J..
Smith. an old cavalry officer Of the Reg
ular service. He Is intrepid to reckless
| ness, his head Is clear though rather
thick. his disposition honest and manly,
| though given to Boosting and self-exag-
geration Of q gentle and innocent kind
His division is well cared for, but is
rather famous for slow instead Of rapid
marching. McClernand, however, dis
liked him, and kept him in the rear
| throughout the late campaign. He is
good officer to command q division In
an army corps. but should not be in
ent command.
| Smiths principal Brigadier Is Gen.
| Burbridge, whom Judge to be a medi-
OGRE officer. brave. rather pretentious,
good fellow, not destined to greatness.
| Gen. e. A. Carr.
| 1.-THE Fourth Division in the Thir-
teenth Corps is Gen. Carr's He has
been sick throughout the campaign, and
had leave to go home several weeks
since, but stuck 1t out till the surren-
der. This may account for a critical.
hang-back disposition which he has sew
eral times exhibited. He is a man OF
more cultivation, intelligence, and
thought than his colleagues generally.
The discipline in his corps I have
brave enough, but lacks energy and in
| itiative
| Cars Brigadiers comprise Gen. M.
Il. Lawler and Gen. Lee, Of Kansas. Lee
Is an unmitigated humbug. LAWYER
weighs ESQ pounds, is a Roman Catho-
Il lfn nd -
In Shawneetown. ILL.,. and served in the
Mexican War. He IS as brave as q lion
and has about as much brains. But his
purpose is always honest, and his sense
is always good. He is good disciplin-
arian and first-rate soldier. He once
ing comrade, without reporting the
case to his commanding General, eth
er before or after the hanging: but
there was no doubt the man deserved
his fate. Grant has two or three times
t<ently reprimanded him for indiscre-
tons. but Is pretty sure to go and thank
him after q battle. Cars third Briga-
der l don't know.
| Gen. Fred Steele.
"In the Fifteenth Corps there are two
IMajor-GeneraIs who command diyf-
sions; namely, Steele and Blair, and
one Brigadier, futile. Steele has also
been sick through the campaign, but
mas kept constantly at his post. He
is gentlemanly. pleasant fellow, and /
have not detected in him any Of the
contemplate characteristics which dis
tiEguish his brother M. c. from the
Ulster District Of New York Sherman
has high opinion OF his capacity, and
every one says that he handles troops
with great GOODNESS and skill in battle,
To me his mind seems to work I'm a
desultory way, like the mind Of a Cay
tain OF Infantry long habituated to
garrison duty at frontier post. He
takes things In bits, like gossipine
companion. and never comprehensiyely
and strongly like man of clear brain
and a ruling purpose But on the
whole, / consider him one Of the best
division Generals I'm this army; yet YOU
cannot rely on him to make a logical
statement, or to exercise any independ-
ent command.
"Of Steele's Brigadiers, Col. Woods
leminently deserves promotion. A Her.
cules In form, In energy, and in pertin-
acity. he is both safe and sure. Col
Manter, OF Missouri, is a respectable
officer; Col. Farrar OF Missouri is OF
no account; Gen. Thayer is a fair but
not f1rst-rate officer.
Gen. Frank r. Blair.
Frank Blair Is about the same as an
officer that he Is as a politician. He Is