The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-14

who had attracted attention by his
bravery and enterprise IN the first bat
tie In which the army had engaged,
that Of Belmont, had the misfortune to
fall under censure during these move
ments. 1t was Brig. Jacob G.
Lauman, who had entered the army as
Colonel Of the 7th Iowa and had been
Fl, 1852, after Fort Donelson. He had
commanded brigade for several
months, and had been promoted to
command the Fourth Division Of the
Sixteenth Corps prior to the opening
Of the Vicksburg campaign. This di
Corps at the beginning Of the siege. As
to the circumstances which led to Gen.
Lauman's relief Gen. Ord reported as
follows:
Gen. Lauman had received special
instructions to take position with his
division on the extreme right, with his
line about 1900 yards from the enc
my's works, his skirmishers as near as
they could get, and under cover, his
supports to skirmishers about 800 yards
In rear Of Them
"On the night Of the 18th, about
o'clock, he reported his division in po-
sition, stating that 1t was too dark to
find sites for his artillery, which he
could do in the morning. Next morning,
without orders, and directly in VIOLA
ton of the instructions as to the posi-
ton he was to take, he advanced upon
the enemy's works with Pugh's Brigade
and one regiment, about 1000 men in
all. battery and one small regiment
following. The point of attack was not
selected by any reconnaissance or pre-
viOus examination. The attack itself
was unsupported and unknown by 9TH
to be passed was defended Il was satis-
fled at the time) by several thousand
Of the enemy, and was open to an ar
tillery front and flank fire for 900
yards in front OF their works. or the
500 men in Pugh's Brigade the loss by
this attack was 465 in killed, wounded
and missing, besides nearly all the men
and horses Of section Of artillery,
which the 53d Ind. brought of by hand,
and three stand Of colors; after which
he had to retreat In haste, leaving all
his dead and most OF the wounded under
the enemy's guns. / knew nothing OF
this attack and disaster until 1t was
reported to me about one hour after
ward by q member Of your staff, Capt.
James c. Mccoy, who had been sent
to examine the position taken up by
the division. Capt. Mccoy stated that
Gen. Lauman told him. to say to Gen.
Ord. I am cut all to pieces visited
his division Immediately. He then re-
ported his total loss about 100. I
found the men scattered, except that
part which had not been with him, and
when ] called upon Gen. Lauman to
take immediate steps to put the rem
nant Of his command under temporary
cover. to call the rolls and gather the
stragglers, I found he did not know
how to do It, and for fear that the ene-
my might follow up their advantage,
and the right flank being too impor-
tant to trust In such hands, relieved
him, and placed his division under the
~ Rrf0 "A
who at once placed the cut-up part OF
It In the rear in good position, had the
scattered regiments collected, rolls
called, and reported casualties. The
hill to which Lauman had retired was
then occupied by e fresh brigade, who
secured them the position"
Col. Pugh's Report.
Col. Pugh. who commanded the Third |
Brigade. made the following report Of
the affair:
Il was ordered by Gen. Lauman to |
move my line forward cautiously, which |
order I obeyed. After passing a small |
creek, lined with timber and dense un-
derbrush. my command arrived in an
line dressed up. did not like the looks
of the ground. There was cornfield
In front, beyond which there was a |
skirt Of timber, and beyond that the
timber had been felied. The fences
had been laid down, and the corn cut
down. except strip Immediately in
front Of my line. ordered one OF my
Aids to request Gen. Lauman's presence
on the ground, as I did not like the
appearance of the field, and I did not
intend to advance farther without or
ders. During the time Gen. Lauman
was coming up my skirrnishers on the
right fell back, and when the General
came up he ordered the skirmishers to
be pushed forward to the distance Of
800 or 400 yards, and then gave the
order to my brigade to forward
which order was obeyed. AS soon az
the line had crossed the field and had
got fairly into the timber the enemy
opened a murderous fire on my whole
line, but the men and officers pressed
forward until they got within 120 yards
OF the enemy's breastworks, when they
took shelter behind the fallen timber,
but the fire was SO murderous that what
officers and men were left fell back. the
hring lasting about one hour.
1.-THE losses Of the regiments are as
follows: Sd Iowa lost Ia men, incIud-
ing officers, in killed, wounded and
GERS killed, wounded and missing. 1856; |
and the b1st Ill. total loss, 134. The
9Th Ohio Battery was brought up dur
ing the action, and lost nine men in
killed, wounded and missing, and had
two gums disabled. Col. Earle, Of the
51st ILL.,, was killed; Col. Brown. of the
Sd Iowa. was severely wounded in the
thigh: and Lieut.-Col. Male, 41st ILL.,,
was stunned by a spent ball, and had
to leave the field. had about $50 men
(including offlcers) engaged, and of that
number 465 were killed, wounded and
missing.
"Officers and men behaved very gal
lantly. No troops could have done bet
ter. All acted nobly, for which they
have my thanks and the thanks of a
grateful country"
The Sd IOvta.
Mai G. w. Crosley. commanding the |
Sd Iowa, reported to the Adjutant-Gen-l
eral Of his State:
after crossing. line Of battle was
formed, skirmishers thrown out, and
the line ordered forward. After ad-
vancing about one-fourth OF a mile, the
line was halted, the battery placed In
position 100 yards int our rear. opened
fire with shell. and scontinued to fire
rapidly for 20 minutes. The enemy re-
piled promptly with two guns. getting
our range the first shot. As soon as
the battery ceased firing the line again
moved forward. We advanced half a
bor