Lives of Great Americans.

Published Monthly. Number Thirteen.

 

Ulysses S. Grant.

sap so eae |
BEADLE AND ADAMS, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK.

General Dime Book Publishers.

 

 
 
THE LIFE

or

ULYSSES SYDNEY GRANT.

4

GENERAL U. 8. ARMY.

COMPRISING

THE STORY OF HIS EARLY YEARS; THE RECORD OF HIS CADET+
SHIP AND EXPERIENCES IN THE WAR WITH MEXICO; THR
NARRATIVE OF HIS “ BUSINESS EXPERIENCES” ; AND
A FULL HISTORY OF HIS MEMORABLE SERVICES
IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

 

BY EDWARD WILLETT.

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: NEW YORK;

| BEADLE AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, ©
: 98 WILLIAM STREET. —

 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by
BEADLE AND COMPANY,
{n the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the

Southern District of New York,

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. é
Story of his Early Years—West Point Life—Services in Mexier-Hee-
ceeding Services and Resignation—In Business, - —- 9
CHAPTER Il.

The Union Clarion and Grant’s Response—Mustering Officer for Gov- ~
ernor Yates--In the Field—Commands at Cairo— Invades” Ken-
tucky and stirs up the Enemy in Missouri—Battle of Belmont, - 19

CHAPTER III.

The Tennessee a ram ney spe sprang nt 2 ~
Major-General, - 27

CHAPTER Iv.
Tennessee Catopaiga eceipeinavance fe and — of —
Landing, - :
CHAPTER v.

Advance against Corinth—Commands New Department of West Ten-
nessee—Battles of Iuka, Corinth, and the Hatchie—Commands New
Department of fhe Mississippi — Initiates she: Vinettorg Cam:
paign, -  - 44

CHAPTER VI.
Advance against Vicksburg—First Two Months’ Operations, .  - ai
CHAPTER VII.
Vicksburg Cempaiga ce core Fourth i — :
5

tions, -
CHAPTER vin.
Vicksburg Campaign onedioned=« > Filth ond Shak Mant’ Overs:
56

tions, -

CHAPTER IX.

Vicksburg Campaign continued—The Stronghold invested,- + 62
CHAPTER X.

Siege and Fall of Vicksburg—Honors to Grant, - - - = 69
CHAPTER XI.

Administration of Affairs at Vicksburg, - - + + «= %
CHAPTER XII.

Commands the Grand Army of = Mississippi—The Chattanoogs
Campaign and its Results, -

CHAPTER XIII.
Honors—Made Lieutenant-General and General-in-Chief, - + 89
CHAPTER XIV. :
Personal Characteristics, 4 ie We a ee nek ee
CHAPTER XY. motes
YheCrownng Glory! - + + © © eas © © ®
   

PUBLISHERS’ NOTICE.

 

This Life of our great Military Leader is prepared by a gen-
tleman who was long connected with the original armies of
the Cumberland and Tennessee, and who has had unusual
opportunities for information regarding the personal traits and
services of his illustrious subject. As a writer and corre-
spondent, the author is well known jn the ranks of journal-
ists; and this work from his hands, it is hoped, will prove
acceptable to the large numbers now ‘seeking for an authentic
and explicit biography of the most accomplished military
genius which America has yet produced.

The author has had the editorial assistance and codpera-
tion of a writer of one of our most valued Histories of the
War. This little volume, therefore, assumes much, of the
nature of a history of all of Grant’s great campaigns. Though
embraced in the limits of one hundred pages, the actual quan-
tity of matter will be found to equal that of an ordinary dollar
book ; ahd the work is offered to the public as the most
complete and satisfactory biography of the man yet prepared,

    

BEADLE AND COMPANY,

 
 

 

»

LIFE AND SERVICES

OF

GENERAL ULYSSES 8. GRANT.

 

CHAPTER I.

BIRTH—THB STORY OF WIS BARLY YEARS—ANECDOTES ILLUSTRATIVE oY
CHARACTER—HOW Hf FLOGGED HIS BRITISH COUSIN—APPOINTED CADET
TO WEST POINT—HIS CLASSMATES AND CHARACTER AS STUDENT—ORIGIN
OF THE SOBRIQUET ‘COMPANY GRANT ”’—COMMISSIONED SECOND LIEU-
TENANT OF THE FOURTH INFANTKY—SERVICE ON MISSOURI FRONTIER—
SERVICE UNDER TAYLOR IN MEXICO—UNDER SCOTT—HONORABLE MENTION
BY SCOTT—CAPTAIN OF THE FOURTH INFANTRY—ORDERED TO OREGON—
RESIGNATION—SELLS CORD-WOOD—IN THE LEATHER TRADE AT GALENA.
TRULY great military genius is rare—it only appears at long

intervals, The “great captains” of modern history can be

numbered upon the fingers. In ancient and medieval days,
when men fought hand to hand, and physical endurance alone
decided the day, the number of eminent leaders was greater ;
but, who conceives that Alexander, Xerxes, Cesar, or Hannibal
would have been eminent as leaders of modern hosts, where
gunpowder and engineering genius are the ministers of destruc-
tion, rather than the battle-ax and broad-sword? England

-has a long line of distinguished commanders on her lists; but

she suffered disaster, humiliation, defeat for years before the
stubborn spirits of Arthur Wellesley and Horatio Nelson were
evoked to regain her lost renown. The long record of her
failures in coping with Napoleon only demonstrated the truth
of the assumption that “ genius is born, not made.” She had
noble soldiers and experienced commanders at her call, yet
these did not suffice to stay the tide of her ill-fortune—so
lacking in the genius of war were her active directors. How
vividly does her experience come before us Americans when
we look back upon the first two years of our stupendous con-
flict for the Union! Though brave men by legions came at
the call—though officers sprung to their posts who were
 

10 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

devoted in patriotism and able as captains, yet, the record of
the contest was one of failure, illumined only here and there
by some individual victory, which seemed granted to the Union
arms that patridts might not become utterly dispirited, and
give up the great struggle for a free government. We were
in our state of probation, awaiting, in the midst of awful sacri-
fice, for the coming of one, who, out of our defeats, should
wring victory—great, glorious, and lasting; who should bring
peace by humiliating a foe whose dangerous spirit could be
allayed only by pinning it to the earth with bayonet and
cannon-ball.

And we waited not in vain. Slowly he came, looming up
in the West, hewing his way through smoke, and fire, and
battlements, until all eyes turned toward the hero of Vicks-
burg, and beheld, in him, the long-sought-for commander of
the Union armies—the St. George who should ride down the
grim dragon of slavery foreyer—the Wellesley who should
restore the glory of our flag and the greatness of our country.

Ulysses Sydney Grant was born at Mount Pleasant, Cler-
mont county, Ohio, April 27th, 1822. His parents were of
Scottish extraction, humble, yet of sturdy qualities of head and
heart—like their now eminent son, patient in industry, saga-
cious in computing results, indomitable of will, and of unaf-
fected goodness. A year after this son’s birth, the family
removed to Georgetown, in Brown county, Ohio, where his
early years were passed, and where he received the benefits
of good common schools.

We are not in possession of much authentic data of the
youth of our subject. Notices have, from time to time, ap-
peared, giving professed incidents of his boyhood; but such
unauthenticated stories we reject as not worthy of repetition.
Some biographers have given us what is represented as a
“complete history” of his school days; and yet, we know
‘that their sources of information were not such as to accredit
their statements. Mr. Larke, in his excellent volume, “ Grant
and his Campaigns,” devotes a brief chapter to the youth of
Ulysses, giving us three anecdotes so highly illustrative of the
“incipient man” that we may accept them as probably true.
In substance they are as follows:

A task given him at school challenged the remark from one

 
 

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ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES. li

Pa
of the boys: “ You can’t do teat.” “Can’t! What's that?”
inquired the Scotch lad. “It means that you can’t.” Young
Grant very soberly and seriously took up the dictionary, and
proceeded to search for the word can’t, and found it not. He
then appealed to the teacher for an explanation of the mean-
ing and origin of the term, which his pupil remarked “ was
not in the dictionary.” The teacher, seeing the good point
which the boy had made, took occasion to impress upon his
scholars this wholesome moral:

“Tf, in the struggles of life, any person should assert that
you can’t do what you had resolved to doy let the reply be,
that word is not in the dictionary.”

Grant, it is related, conquered the stubborn lesson, and thus
verified the fact that it was not in /us dictionary to give up
because others pronounced it unconquerable. He was, it is
stated, not a bright scholar; he learned only with effort; his
mind was not wanting in activity, though it was slow in its
operations; but, his persistency overcame all obstacles, and
what other boys, of quicker perceptions, gave up, he conquered
by his dogged and invariable tenacity of purpose,

Nor was he wanting in the proverbial shrewdness of his
race, as this little incident illustrates: His father wishing to
secure the horse of a farmer living some distance in the coun-
try, conceived it best to send Ulysses—hoping that the boy,
acting under instructions, would get the animal at the required
price. “The father, giving him sixty dollars, admonished
Ulysses to give not more than that sum for the animal; but
first to offer fifty dollars; if that was refused, then fifty-five ;
that sum not answering, then sixty dollars as a final offer.
Thus instructed, the boy started on his mission, The farmer
was approached and addressed: “ Mr. Ralston, my father sent
me to buy the horse he has talked of buying ;” but, before he
could put in his first offer, the farmer got the start by asking:
“How much did he tell you to offer?” This was a poser, for
its correct answer would spoil all his parent’s finesse, and com-
pel the highest sum named to be given; but Ulysses was as
honest-minded as he was faithful to duty, and he replied, giv-
ing the offers in the order named. “Then,” said Ralston,
laughingly, “I can not take less than sixty dollars for the
horse ;” and the animal was led out. Examining him closely,

 
.

12 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. & GRANT,

Ulysses at length remounted his own beast, remarking: “I
am sorry, Mr. Ralston, you cah not take less than the sixty
dollars, for I shall have to go home without the horse. I
have determined that he is worth just fifty dollars, and will
give no more.” “You may have him!” was the farmer’s
exclamation, as he perceived that the determined lad was
going off without the horse.

That, even in those: younger years of his life, the love of
country was @ profound sentiment, is evident from this anec-
dote: A schoolmate was his cousin, John Grant, from Canada,
from whence he had come to Brown county, in order to
receive the benefits of a better school than Canada could
then provide. John was loyal to the British flag, and, like
all such, was somewhat boastful, dogmatic, and, at. times,
insulting. He entertained-an unconcealed contempt for the
American character and institutions, and was not sparing in
expressing his opinions. All this the good nature of his
American cousin bore, though many was the war of words
which passed between them. At length, one day, the Cana-
dian spoke offensively of Washington, characterizing him as a
rebel and traitor to his king. This was too much for the
Buckeye lad. He advised his cousin that, although instructed
by his parents not to fight, he should, nevertheless, whip him
if he did not recall the offensive epithets bestowed upon Wash-
ington. John would not retract; and Ulysses, good as his
word, at once clinched the offender. A stubborn fight en-
sued. John was thoroughly flogged, though the face and
clothes of Ulysses betokened that his victory had not left him
scathless. Knowing the consequences of fighting were a se-
vere “dressing” at’ home, he proceeded direct to his mother,
to receive his certain reward in “hazel logic.” Once in her
presence, he told the whole story. Though admiring her
boy’s spirit, Mrs. Grant felt it her duty to impose the penalty
for disobedience of orders, and proceeded to arm herself with
the necessary whip. But the father interfered: “TI tell thee,
wife, the lad does not deserve punishment. The boy who will
fight in defense of the name and honor of Washington-will
rise, if God spares his life, to be a man and a Christian, too.”
Thus commended, the son was confirmed in his patriotic reso-
lution—forever to defend his country’s immortal deliverer. It

 
 

 

    
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
   
 

 
  

Oh

 

HIS CHARACTER AS A STUDENT. 13

is also related, as a characteristic comment on this affair, that
years after, the cousins met in Canada. “TI say,"U. 8.,” ex-
claimed John, soon after their first greeting was over, “do you
remember the thrashing you gave me for calling Washington
a rebel?” “ Yes,” was the candid reply, “I do remember it
well, and would do it again under the same provocation.”
His West Point education evidently had not corrupted his
moral sensibilities nor his love of country—as we now know
it has done the minds and hearts of many of those who were
recipients of their country’s charity at the military academy.
Young Grant's character impressed the discerning.as fayor-
able for advancement ; hence, in casting about for. one, upon
whom to confer his single. appointment to the cadetship of his
congressional district, General Thomas L. Harner chose Ulys-
ses for the honor. The offer was accepted, and Ohio gaye
another of her noble sons to her country.* He entered the
class of 1839, and, from that moment, became one of the hard-
est of students, one of the most patient of learners.. Year
by year he progressed, as steadily and. surely as the months
and the seasons, winning no especial commendation for “ bril-
liancy” or extraordinary aptitude for acquiring knowledge,
yet passing many, conceded to possess those qualities, by his
unconquerable industry, his correct habits, and his devotion to,
field as well as student duty. He graduated June 30th, 1843
—standing number twenty-one in a class of thirty-eight.
Generals Wm. B. Franklin, Wm. F. Raynolds, Isaac F. Quim-
by, John J. Peck, Joseph J. Reynolds, Christopher 0, Augur,
Frederick Steele, and Rufus Ingalls were of the same class, as
also were the treason-scarred Roswell S. Ripley, Samuel G.
French, Franklin Gardner, etc. “Company Grant”. came
forth with that sound constitution and well-balanced tempera-
ment which afterward served him so well when, for days
together, the General was known to repose but three or four
hours in the twenty-four—when he carried the weight of a
nation’s cause on his shoulders.
We should here advert to the origin of the sobriquet, “ Com-
pany Grant”—a title by which he was known until. his
‘* The list of commanders in the War for the Union, who hail from the
‘lorious ‘ Buckeye State,” embraces the names of Generals Grant, Sherman,

cPherson, Rosecrans, O. M. Mitchell (the astronomer), the McCooke,
Wm. H. Lytle, ete., etc.

  
   

 

14 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. & GRANT.

eminence as the commander of armies forbade its use. It may
thus be stated :

It is the custom at West Point for the elder students to
joke and bother those younger and “ greener” than themselves
—as in other institutions it is customary for the sophomores to
“fag” or “break in” the freshmen. Grant was made the
subject of many a hard practical joke, but his good nature
scarcely ever gave way to resentment. He soon perceived,
however, that, for his own peace of mind, it would be neces-
sary to change his base, and get out of the “green” list. One
day, therefore, when out upon mock parade, the captain cre-
ated a laugh at Grant’s expense. The young Buckeye stepped
from the ranks (being but a “private”), took off his jacket,
and coolly remarked: “ Now, captain, drop your rank for a
few moments, and stand up fair and square, and we'll soon
see who is the ripest man.” Thus challenged, the captain
could not refuse; at it the “private” and his superior went.
The contest was brief enough, for Grant soon placed the chief
joker hors du combat. Then, turning to the lieutenant, the
victor added: “It is now your turn, lieutenant!” and soon
finished him. “ Who is next? I propose to whip the whole
company, one by one, until I obtain peace. I have no ill-will
against any one, but I am going to compel peace.” And
peace he had, upon his own terms. The company cheered
the plucky fellow, shook hands, voted him a “trump ;” and
ever after the champion of peace went by the name of “ Com-
pany Grant.” In later years he exemplified the same senti-
ment in the same way, though in a somewhat more extended
scale, when his “unconditional surrender” demands. proved
that there was no way to peace but through submission.

Having graduated, Grant was entered upon the rolls as
brevet second lieutenant, and assigned to the Fourth (regular)
infantry—-then serving on the Missouri frontier—as a super-
numerary. An excess of officers, at that date, compelled this.
He served in this capacity, however, but a few months, for
the movement of Taylor toward the Mexican frontier called all
the available forces of the regular army into active service.

Grant proceeded, with the Fourth infantry, to Corpus
Christi, and was commissioned, September 30th, 1845, as full
second lieutenant of infantry, with an assignment to the

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HIS SERVICH UNDER SCOTT.

Seventh regiment of regulars, As an evidente of his popularity
among men and officers, a petition was sent to Washington by
them, respectfully: asking that he be permitted to remain with
the Fourth. This request was granted, and he was commis-
sioned in November full second lieutenant in the Fourth United
States infantry. He participated in all the actions which
transpired from the battle of Palo Alto, May 8th, 1846, to the
storming of Monterey, September 23d, 1846. The Fourth did
its duty bravely and well, as the brevets conferred upon several
of its superior officers attest.

When Scott was ordered to command the column directed
against the Aztec capital, the Fourth was among the regiments
transferred to his army.* It proceeded to Vera Cruz with the
advance, and participated in the siege of that stronghold. It
would appear that, in these siege operations, the second lieu-
tenant displayed so much energy and originality as to attract
the notice of his superiors, for he was selected as quarter-
master of the regiment—a most responsible post, when it is
remembered that the American army was to enter an enemy’s
country, and must obtain its supplies through the arduous and
dangerous mode of -wagoning over the National road. This
post Grant was chosen to fill, for the good reason that, if he
assumed its duties, the regiment might rest assured its supplies
would be on hand, at the proper time and place. Grant, dis-
liking to leave his company, still did not feel at liberty to
refuse the assignment; and, from that date (April, 1847) to the
final occupation of the city of Mexico, he discharged the trust

* See Victor’s *‘ Life of Scott,’ chapters xiii. and xiy., for details of this
transfer of powers. General Taylor's army, only twenty-two thousand
strong, was reduced to twelve thousand by the necessities of the case. The
administration of James K. Polk had evoked the war, yet, with a pusilla-
nimity almost without parallel, proposed to sacrifice oth of the Whig
Generals, Scott and Taylor, by thrusting them into a foreign country with
forces contemptibly small, and which seemed to invite defeat. He counted
without his host, however, for Taylor and the brave old Wool, placed on
the defensive = their weakness, held their own against tremendous odds;
while Scott, with about jifteen thousand effectives, proceeded to march
upon the Mexican capital!’ When he finally captured that stronghold, after
a series of magnificent engagements and assaults, his “‘ Army of Occupa-
tion’? numbered about four thousand five hundred men! This astonishin
campaign proving a complete success, and the utmost that victory coul
wring from a defeated foe having been accomplished, the veteran General-
in-Chief was ordered home for trial, upon some trifling specifications of
several of bis subordinates—all of the “ democratic” faith, The plot was

litical, of course—to force Scott into retirement, and thus render him
ess formidable as a popular favorite, Thus was our Government
under Southern rule.

-”

 
   

WIEUT.-GEN. U. 8 GRANT.

with great efficiency and satisfiction, But, though. relieved
of duty in the field, the ardent spirit of the soldier led him
into the fight whenever his duties permitted. At the terrific
contest of the Mill (Molino del Rey), September 8th, 1847, he
entered into the struggle with such zeal, and displayed so
much valor, as to elicit warm applause. Scott named him,
on the field, first lieutenant. The storming of Chapultepec
followed the battle of the Mill, when Grant again performed a
part of distinguished merit, commanding the especial (official)
notice of the brigade commander, Colonel John Garland, as
well as of General Worth. In the stubbornly-contested entry
to the capital, the lieutenant participated—escaping from his
extreme exposure without a scratch. For his services at
Chapultepec he afterward (1850) received a brevet captaincy —
to date from the day of the battle, September 18th, 1847. On
the 16th of September, 1847, the commission of first lieutenant
of the Fourth, United States infantry was given him.
The fall of the “city of the Montezumas” ended the Mexi-
can war, Scott, as conqueror, dictated terms of peace, and
the country reaped its rewards in a vast accession of territory,
embracing California and New Mexico, while the Rio Grande
was fixed as the boundary line of the Texan frontier. Whether
the war were just or unjust, the world never before beheld a
national contest fought with such small nurabers against so
great odds, and which secured more decisive results. -Those
results obtained, the American army was withdrawn—the yol-
unteers disbanded, and the regulars again were assigned to duty
on the frontier or Canadian border. The Fourth infantry was
broken up into small sections, and distributed to posts from
Fort Niagara, in New York, to Michilimackinac, in Northern
Michigan. This position was continually modified, until,
finally, when the heavy tide of emigration began to set in
toward the newly-discovered gold regions of California, the
‘Fourth infantry was dispatched to the Pacific coast, to preserve
law and order in the almost Jawless communities which sprung
up so suddenly west of the Rocky mountains. Grant’s com-
pany composed a portion of the battalion assigned to duty in
Oregon, with head-quarters at Fort Dallas. There this force
remained, for some time, keeping watch over the Indians, and
occasionally performing acceptable duty as pioneers and guards

 
   

1 #9
  

 

WEST POINT DISLOYALTY. 1?

to trains, while the well-educated officers, by a systematic series
of observations and explorations, rendered the cause of science
and geographic delineation great service. It was while on
this post that Grant’s brevet captaincy was made a full posi-
tion, by commission dated August, 1853, and with assignment,
soon after, to duty in the Department of the West.

It may well be conceived that the life of exile led by officers
of talent in the United States service—banished as they were
to mere garrison duty and fort occupation in the far West—
was not one of choice; and, that many of the best of those
men should have thrown up their commissions in disgust, is
not a matier for wonder. Resignations were numerous, and,
having no actual use for her educated servants, Government
permitted them to seek the promotion in civil life denied them
in the service. Grant was among those so resigning—his
resignation dating July 81st, 1854.

[When the war for the Union broke out, it was discovered
that most of the officers drawn from the Southern states had
retained their places in the army, while the best of those from
the North had resigned. This fact would seem to prove two
things, viz.: first, that the Southern men were instructed in
the programme of the secret conspirators against the Govern-
ment; and, secondly, that, by their preponderating influence
in the army, they succeeded in so pro-slaveryizing the atmo-
sphere of West. Point as to render even many Northern-born
men, still remaining in ‘the service, disloyal and vicious.
Among those out of the service, when pro-slavery disloyalty
culminated in a resort to arms, was Grant, engaged in the
leather trade in Hlinois; McClellan, acting as chief engineer
and, president.of the Ohio and Mississippi railway; Halleck,
practicing law in San Francisco; Fremont, in Europe ; Hooker,
on @ ranche in California; Rosecrans, teaching in Mount Ver-
non, Ohio; McPherson, on a farm near Clyde, Ohio; Burn-’
side, engaged in an arms manufactory in Rhode Island; Sher-
man, teaching in a military school in Louisiana; Mitchell,
astronomer to the Dudley Observatory; Gilmore, practicing
civil engineer in New York city, etc., etc., etc. When the
rebellion had fully developed its hideous proportions, it was
found that over seven-tenths of the West Point cadets then in
the service were disloyal! No wonder the people inveighed

 

 

   
 

   

——

  

against the institution—declaring it but a nursery of aristocracy
and military arrogance; but, a deeper insight into the causes
of that vitiated seutiment explains it, and demonstrates the
remedy. Slave-domination ruled there as well as at Wash-
ington: a real, out-spoken anti-slavery man could not maintain
his place in the classes! Crush out that domination at
Washington, and West Point becomes a nursery of patriotism.]

Grant, it would appear, had no especial object in view when
he resigned—having no business at his command, nor friends
“favored of power” whose services he cared to impress to
advance his own interests. He went: down to St. Louis, and
engaged in “commercial pursuits;” which, not succeeding to
his satisfaction, he deserted for a farm, to whose improvement
he devoted his own physical energies—and these, we have
seen, were not trifling, for Grant was a powerful man in bodily
strength, with a vigor of constitution which rendered him
almost invincible to weariness. It is said that he chopped
cord-wood and hauled it. to market, and that many persons
now recall the fact that they then purchased a cord of wood

of the now great man. ‘This fact strikingly illustrates the’

democratic nature of our institutions, and most nobly vindicates
the dignity of labor.» That Abraham Lincoln was, at one time,
a rail-splitter, and afterward a flatboutman, does not detract
from his worth and eminence as President of the United States;
_ that Lieutenant-General Grant—next to the President and the
Secretary of War in military authority—should have split and
marketed’ cord-wood, in no way lessened the soldier's true
greatness. As the Southern rebellion was based upon the
idea of the inherent daseness of labor, it was well that the two
men most :potent in its suppression should be representative
“mudsills,” and haters of compulsory, unpaid service.

Grant remained upon his farm during one winter only; for,
in 1859, he removed to Galena, Illinois, where, in connection
with his father, he established the leather house of Grant &
Son. Galena was then a very thriving place, and, ere long,
the new firm, by its indomitable industry and equally uncom-
promising integrity, became one of the most prosperous in that
section. Ulysses gave the same energy to the hide and leather
trade that he had bestowed upon his West Point studies, and

was not long in mastering his’new calling as thoroughly as he

’ | "g
sf

GRANT AND THE GOVERNOR,

had mastered the bayonet and sword exercise. In this pros-
perous business he was found when the national alarum was
sounded, calling America’s true sons to arms. That he did
not hesitate between gain and patriotism was to have been
expected: all things were subservient, with him, to the claims
of country.

How few persons realized that, in the quiet, modest, and
utterly unambitious leather dealer of Galena, the country was
to discover its greatest military captain! And what a lesson
to vain-glorious and arrogant men does Grant’s unassuming
character teach !

 

CHAPTER II.

TO ARMS—GRANT’S RESPONSE—INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNOR YAT&S—r1s
NAMED AIDE AND MUSTERING OFFICER—TAKES THE FIELD AS COLONEL OF
VOLUNTEERS—SERVICES WITH HIS RAGIAENE > HORIRSTAD. BRIGADIER-
GENERAL—IN COMMAND AT CAIRO—“‘ INVADES” KENTUCKXY—OCOUPATION
OF PADUCAH—STATE OF AFFAIRS IN KENTUCKY—THE AFFAIR OF FRED-
ERICKTOWN, MISSOURI—BATTLE OF BELMONT.

Tm call to arms aroused all true patriots. The responses
to the first and second summons of the national Executive
attested that the people were sound at heart and loyal to the
Government. But, a people may be ever so patriotic, and yet
be poor soldiers at the call. A farmer, or mechanic, or trades-
man, can only become an effective soldier by experiénce and
the assistance of good officers. And thus it happened, in Tlli-
nois as in other States, that regiments were formed with alac
rity, when not a battalion was properly organized or fitly
officered. Men of military experience were sought for, and
accepted almost upon sight. A corporal or captain who had
“seen service” was at once, and without much inquiry into
his fitness, given a company command, if not something even
more responsible. A man had but to prove that he had seen
the inside of West Point to obtain a‘colonelcy, Militia briga-
-diers, whose only experience had been the semi-annual county
“muster,” arose in their ambitious might to claim the brigade
‘commands. It was all hurry, confusion, ill-feeling, and dis-
couragement, at the State capitals: Governors were distracted ;

 
   

LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

adjutant-generals were half crazed; ordnance and commissa
iat departments were like mad-houses; disorder reigned
supreme. Happy was tbe State Executive who, in that hour
of tempest and alarm, could evoke agents of order and organi-
zation. Governor Yates, of Illinois—one of the ablest and
most indomitable of Governors—was in the midst of this Pan-
demonium, when there appeared at his office, in Springfield, a
quiet man of thirty-nine, who modestly announced himself as
“the Mr. Grant spoken of.” The Governor eyed the stranger
sharply. He was not of “striking” appearance. On the
contrary, the man looked any thing but the warrior. . His face
was in perfect repose; his eyes calm, benignant; his dress
perfectly plain, and his felt. hat-emphatically democratic. He
smiled pleasantly as the Governor scrutinized him. Was it
the soul within him, which, realizing its own greatness and
majesty, was pleased at the work before it? In the depth
of those calm eyes slumbered a will as tenacious as fate; and
that composed face was but the window of a spirit so mighty,
80 potent, so inevitably great, that, even to its possessor, it was
happily vailed. Yet, had he known the power and might
which were his, it would not have changed a muscle of that
pleasant. countenance, for the modesty inseparable from all
true greatness was his monitor and master.

“Mr. Grant? Ah, yes, You have hada West Point edu-
cation, I believe?” AS

“ Yes, sir.” -

“You have seen service ?”

* Some.”

“ Are you capable of organizing troops ?”

“T suppose I am,”

“greatly need assistance here. I want a mustering officer,
and an aide possessed of military knowledge. I am over-
whelmed with the disorder which everywhere stares me in the
face. Can you assist me?”

“T suppose I can.” :

The Governor hesitated. That calm man did not impress
him as: possessed of energy enough for the position; his de-
meanor was either that of a well-poised and thoroughly effi-
cient nature, or that of one penis inefficient. ae
was it?

 
   

ay
APPOINTED BRIGADIER-GENERAL, 21

“J will try you, Mr. Grant. Consider yourself, from this
moment, my aid, and superintend the mustering in of our
quota.” .

And so Ulysses 8. Grant became mustering officer to Goy-
ernor Yates. From that moment order began to come out of
that chaos. With extraordinary rapidity the Illinois yolun-
teers moved to the field, under the first call (April 15th, 1861)
‘for seventy-five thousand men, for three months’ volunteers,
and the second call (May 8d) for forty-two thousand and thirty-
four, for three years’ men. Grant’s services became invaluable.
His knowledge of military organization was perfect; his views
were ‘decided and were inflexibly enforced; his calmness
meant perfect order; and Governor Yates had good reason to
feel grateful toward his aid.

But, such home service did not suit the active energies of
Grant’s nature. He wanted to be upon the field, where he
properly belonged; and, at his own quietly but decidedly
expressed request, he was given the coloneley of the: Twenty-
first Illinois, three years’, volunteers—his commission dating
June 15th, 1861. This regiment, then organizing at Mattoon,
was soon in the field, passing into Northern Missouri, which
was quickly to become the seat of active hostilities. The
summer was passed in the march and countermareh, in field
and garrison duty, in guarding exposed positions, and in
shaping the points of occupation for the great campaign to
come. Under his careful drill the regiment became effective
and reliable, though it saw no sharp service to test its quali-
ties fully, up to the latter part of August, 1861, when Grant
was relieved of his regimental command by appointment as
Brigadier-General—his commission: dating from: May 17th,
1861. Grant stood number seventeen om the list of thirty-four
nominations then made by the President.* react ea

Grant’s first service under this commission was as com-
mander of the district of Cairo. It then was a very important

~ ite wl BA's forcibly the fact that the test of true worth is expe-
rience. The history of graduates from West Point. bears upon, the same
oint. Grant st number twenty-one of his class—General William B.
rankJin being number one; Gencral Isaac F. Quimby, number six; Gen-
eral John Jd. Peck, number eight; General Joseph J. Reynolds, number ten,
etc., etc. General Frederick Stecle stood number thirty; General Rufus
Ingalls number thirty-two, etc. The War for the Union, in fact, demon-

strated that the best commanders were not those who stood best on their
graduating or appointment list. ‘

 
22 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8 GRANT.

post. Kentucky was still in the throes of revolution, but
trying to steady herself under the cry of “neutrality.” Ten-
nessee had “ gone out,” yet professed to respect the position
of Kentucky. But it was a mockery, as Grant soon ascer-
tained; for, early in September, by advice of the Rt. Rev.
Bishop General Polk, General Pillow occupied and com-
menced fortifying Hickman and Chalk Bluffs, as well as several
other points on the lower Tennessee and Cumberland rivers,
and was making Paducah, at the mouth of the Tennessee
river, a dépdt of supplies, by receiving from thence the supply
of food, shoes, clothing, and arms which was needed. It was
deemed. necessary to occupy this town with a sufficient force
of Union troops to put an end to this illicit traffic, and, at the
same time, to be able to command the Tennessee river, and
thus counterbalance the force stationed by the rebels at
Columbus,

Prior to this occupancy, however, Grant telegraphed to the
Kentucky Legislature (September 5th) the fact of the invasion
of the State by the Confederates; whereupon, the matter was
referred to a special committee. But, every moment was of
importance. A day’s delay might endanger the Union cause,
and give the enemy command, not only of the Mississippi
river, but of the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland. Grant
acted with celerity and decision. On the evening of Septem-
ber 5th, 1861, the Ninth and Twelfth Illinois regiments (in-
fantry), and a section of the Chicago artillery, were embarked
at Cairo, and, convoyed by the gunboats Tyler and Conestoga,
ascended the Ohio to the mouth of the Tennessee river, land-
ing at Paducah about eight o’clock the next morning. The
town, which contained about ten thousand inhabitants—the
greater part of them strongly sympathizing with secession—
presented a very gloomy appearance on their arrival, and
“curses not loud but deep” greeted them on every hand. The
secessionists saw that their occupation was gone—that the
smuggling of goods, by which they had so largely profited,
would not be allowed thenceforth, and that they were in dan-
ger of losing their ill-gotten gains. Of course, they were
furiously angry. Many, too, who were “neutrals,” or con-
ditional Union men, as well as the greater part of the women,
believed that the rebel General Pillow would speedily appear

 
  

  

 

  

 

 

   

 

   
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
   
   

a"

SE A IEPT

 

 

FEAT ETO RL A OI FE

 

GRANT AT WORK IN KENTUCKY. 23

and attempt to drive out the Union troops, and that the place
would, undoubtedly, be burned. Hence, there was a rapid
stampede of the greater part of the inhabitants for towns in
the country and for Illinois. General Grant, under whose
direction the whole movement for occupation had been made,
arrived on the afternoon of the 6th. The troops already had
taken possession of the railway dép6t, the telegraph office, and
the marine hospital. He immediately issued a proclamation
reassuring the people and quieting their alarm. The place
was at once put in order for defense and permanent. occupa-
tion, and preparations for an advance up the Tennessee and
Cumberland rivers were made—rendered especially necessary
as the Confederates, under Polk in person, some ten thousand
strong, occupied and proceeded to fortify Columbus, Septem-
ber 5th and 6th.

Skirmishes rapidly followed. Kentucky “ neutrality” soon
died a natural death—the test resolyes, adopted September
11th (in the lower house by sixty-eight to twenty-six) giving
up the State to the national cause, in a decided manner.
Camps of recruiting and rendezvous were opened at various
points throughout the State. Citizens chose their sides from
necessity, for every man was obliged to “show his colors.”
It now became apparent that Kentucky, like Missouri, was to
be the seat of conflict, if the rebel army was not driven into
Tennessee. To this end all movements were ordered. Gen-
eral Robert Anderson assumed command of the newly-created
“Department of Kentucky” September 20th, and at once
addressed himself to the work in hand. Grant’s command
was understood to include all of Kentucky west of the Cum-
berland. Grant’s “district” command, however, even prior
to the declaration, December 238d, of the metes and boundaries
of his authority, was extensive enough to employ the small
force at his disposal. He was vigilant, cautious, and full of
resource, ever ready to assist the commanders in Missouri and
Kentucky alike.

Learning that Jeff. Thompson, “ Brigadier-General Q; §.A.”
was gathering in some force at Fredericktown, menacing the
Federal positions at Pilot Knob and Cape Girardeau, Grant
ordered (October 16th) two columns under Colonel Plummer
to move upon the rebel rendezvous. The movement was so

 
24 LIFR OF LINUT.-GEN. U. ‘R GRANT.
well timed, that Thompson was forced to battle near Green-
ville and defeated—thus ridding that section of his presence.
He was a kind of avant courier of Price and McCullough,
whose “ army of liberation” was then gathering at Springfield.
The rebel programme, as it slowly became developed, was
formidable enough to cause apprehension, considering the then
but half-organized condition of the Federal armies of Missouri
and Kentucky. Every thing was made subservient to the
professed needs of the Army of the Potomac, whose insatiate
maw never would be filled. Fremont’s little host was left
unarmed and crippled to “reénforce” McClellan’s mighty
columns. Sherman’s advance was restricted and delayed by
the diversion of his allotted strength to the east. Grant was
left with a few regiments only—not enough even to menace
Columbus, or to make a diversion to assist Sherman in his
campaign against Bowling Green. Had one-half of the on
hundred and sixty thousand men held in ¢dleness under the
eye of McClellan been given to Sherman, Fremont, and Grant,
the history of the wat in the West, during the fall of 1861,
would not have been one of painful inaction and delay.
McOlellan’s assumption of the command-in-chief was truly a
misfortune to the Union cause, even in those early stages of
that Command.
‘While Fremont was pressing forward to engage the forces
of Price and McCullough, apprehensions were entertained by

General Grant of the Confeder ate Gencral, Polk, commanding’

at Columbus, Kentucky, pushing retnforcements forward from
Belmont and New Madrid, thus to overpower Fremont by the
mere strength of numbers. To divert the enemy from this
purpose, and also to prevent him from retnforcing Jeff.
Thompson’s command, defeated at Fredericktown—which
command Grant hoped to capture or disperse by an expedition
under Colonel Ogilvie, then in the field—a movement was
ordered upon Belmont, led by General Grant in person,
assisted by General McClernand. Wednesday evening, No-
vember 6th, the Seventh Iowa, Colonel Lanman, Twenty-
-seventh Tlinois, Colonel Buford, Twenty -ninth, Colonel
Fouke, Thirticth, Colonel Logan, Twenty-second, Colonel
Dotigherty, Taylor’s battery of six pieces, and two companies
of cavalry, making in all a force of two thousand eight

 
 

 

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eRe

 

 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 

 
 

 
 

BATTLE OF BELMONT, © 28

hundred and eighty-six, took steamers at Cairo for passage down
the river. The transports, escorted by the gunboats Zyler and
Lexington, lay. all night. at a point about nine miles below
Cairo, and on Thursday morning proceeded to Lucas’ bend,
four miles above Belmont, where the troops debarked and. took
up their march for the enemy’s camp at Belmont, The gun-
boats proceeded down the river to engage the baiteries above
Columbus.. Grant, in his report, said of his disposition of
forces: “ Knowing that Columbus was strongly garrisoned, I
asked General Smith, commanding at Paducah, Kentucky, to
make demonstrations in the same directions. He did so, by
ordering a small force to Mayfield, and another inthe direc-
tion of Columbus, not to approach nearer, however, than
twelve or fifteen miles. I also sent a small force’on the Kens
tucky side, some twelve miles from Columbus. All this served
to distract the enemy, and lead him to think he was to be
attacked in his strongly-fortified position.”

The enemy was on the alert. The Federals moved forward
to find their antagonists drawn up in a good position, nearly
two miles in advance of their intrenched camp on ‘the river,
immediately opposite and protected by the Columbus batteries.
Grant said :

“ At daylight we proceeded down the river to a point just out

_of range of the rebe guns, and debarked on the Missouri shore.

From here the troops were marched by‘a flank for about one—
mile toward Belmont, and then drawn up in line, one battalion

_haying been left as a reserve near the transports. Iwo compa-

nies from each regiment, five skcietons in number, were thrown
out as skirmishers to ascertain the position of the enemy.

“Tt was but a few moments before they met him, and a general
engagement ensued. The balance of my force, with the excep-
tion of the reserve, was then thrown forward, all as skirmishers,
and the enemy driven, foot by foot, and from tree to tree, back
to their encampment on the river’s bank, a distance of over two
miles. Here they had strengthened their position by felling the
timber for several yards around their camp, and making a sort
of abattis, . }

“Our men charged through this, driving the en cn over the
river banks and into their transports in quick time, leaving us
in possession of every thing not exceedingly portable.”

This brief mention covers much gallant action. ‘The fight.
was obstinate, and was won by the unflinching nerve of the

 
   
 

26 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8 GRANT.

assailants. McClernand, after adverting to the enemy’s at-
tempt to cut his line, and his disposition to avert their design,
thus characterized the struggle which followed: “We again
opened a deadly fire from both infantry and artillery, and after
a desperate resistance drove the enemy back the third time,
forcing them to seek cover among thick woods and brush,
protected by the heavy guns at Columbus. While this strug-
gle was going on, a tremendous fire from the Twenty-seventh,
which had approached the abattis on the right and rear of the
tents, was heard. About the same time, the Seventh and
Twenty-second, which had passed the rear of the Thirtieth
and Thirty-first, hastened up, and, closing the space between
them and the Twenty-seventh, poured a deadly fire upon the
enemy. A combined moyement was now made upon three
sides of the enemy’s works, and, driving him across the abattis,
we followed close upon his heels into the clear space around
his camp.” 7

In this fierce contest many brave men were slain. Grant’s
horse was there killed under him. McClernand’s horse was
struck several times. Golonel Lanman fell. Yet, considering
the exposure and daring of officers and men, the loss was
comparatively small.

General Polk’s dispatch to Jefferson Davis claimed a great
victory. Davis returned his congratulations to General Polk.

“ Accept,” he said, “for yourself, and the officers and men

under your command, my sincere thanks for the glorious con-
tribution you have just made to our common cause.” And,
in his message of November 18th, he referred to the battle of
Belmont as one of the “glorious victories” which had blessed
the Confederate arms. He did not, of course, allude to the
guns which Grant had carried away—to the intrenched en-
campment destroyed—to the true nature of the Federal
“advance.” 3

The dispatch of Colonel Ogilvie from Cairo, and the move-
ment of troops from Cape Girardeau and Ironton—all designed
to surprise Jefferson Thompson’s camp at Bloomfield—was
only a partial success. After a painful march through the
Big Mingo swamp, Ogilvie arrived at Bloomfield on the morn-
ing of November 7th, to find Thompson and his braves gone.
They had incontinently fled to the swamps,

 
  

 

 
   

 

Fa A ae a

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GRANT'S FIRST CAMPAIGN. 27

These dashes by Grant served the good purpose of inspirit-
ing the troops, if nothing else. Long inactivity in camp ren-
dered them uneasy, while their employment in active service
excited that emulation which is the best assurance of success.
The retreat of Fremont’s advance upon Springfield, and the
centralization of his forces at Rolla, St. Louis, and Sedalia,
rendered further diversions by Grant unnecessary. He there-
fore turned his attention to Western Kentucky, from whence
the Confederates menaced both Cairo and St. Louis. His
campaign up the Cumberland, which soon followed, — an
exciting chapter of the war.

CHAPTER IIL

@RANT’S FIRST CAMPAIGN—ADVANCE UP THE TENNESSEE AND CUMBERLAND
KIVERS—FOOTE’S CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY—INVESTMENT AND CAPTURE
OF FORT DONELSON—-REBEL CONFUSION AND PRECIPITATE RETREAT FROM
TENNESSEE—GRANT MADE MAJOR-GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS,

Tue failure of Fremont’s first campaign in Missouri, and
the general confusion of affairs in the West, led to the appoint-
ment of Major-General Halleck as General-in-Chief of the
“Department of Missouri,’ which embraced the States of
Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, and
all of Kentucky west of the Cumberland—Fremont’s original
“Department of the West,” less its western limits of Kansas,
etc. Under date of December 20th, Halleck formally assigned
Grant to the command of the “district of Cairo,” whose
bounds were the southern part of Illinois, all of Kentucky west
of the Cumberland, and the river counties of Missouri south
of Cape Girardeau.

From the vigor infused in all departments, it became appar-
ent that the days of inactivity were past, Grant was given
fresh fceces, The completion of Fremont’s gunboats was
prosecuted vigorously. All was movement and anticipation.
Grant’s troops were so disposed at Paducah, Fort Jefferson,
and Bird’s Point, as to be readily available. To test the
enemy’s strength and disposition of force in Western Kentucky

 
28 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8 GRANT.

was the first step. This was done by a reconnoissance in
force, conducted with such admirable celerity and strategy as
entirely to deceive the Confederates. It was a formidable
movement, apparently, against Columbus, from the rear; and
was so regarded by Polk and Pillow. General John A. Mc-
Clernand’s division, composed of the brigades of Oglesby and
‘Wallace (four thousand infantry, one thousand cavalry, and
two batteries light artillery) started out from Fort Jefferson,
January 10th, moving toward Columbus via Blandville. On
the 15th, the division passed Weston’s, and encamped within
ten miles of the river stronghold. The rebel commanders at
once called in their outlying forces, believing in an assault
and preparing for it. The Federal divisions of Generals
Paine and Smith, from Paducah, codperated—the latter pene-
trating up the Tennessee to Crown Point, twenty miles below
Fort Henry. All these forces returned safely, and without
opposition, to their quarters by the 20th, having proved the
feasibility of an advance up the Kentucky river, thus flanking
Columbus and Bowling Green. oa
Arrangements having been perfected for this important
forward moyement,* Grant’s orders were promulgated Feb-
ruary ist, assigning the troops to their several commands.
February 2d, three days’ rations were served, and the embark-
ation. of McClernand’s division (ten regiments, with artillery

and cavalry) commenced, ‘Their destination was only known’

when the transports headed up the Ohio, and paused at Pa-
ducah. Then the nature of the movement was developed.
February 8d, the advance passed up the Tennessee and disem-
barked, February 4th, four miles north of Fort Henry, or
sixteen miles above Crown Point. | Foote’s iron-clads, already

* There.is some diversity of statement as to whom belongs the honor of
originating the campaign up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. Cer-
tainly it was not of McClellan’s or Buell’s conception. Senator Grimes
claimed the honor for Admiral Foote, citing, as proof, the flag officer’s
dispatch to Halleck of January 28th. But, the plan of the campaign had
then been arranged many days. Both Grant and Foote were acting out
General Halleck’s orders, a he ordered by and with the full knowledge
of Mr. Lincoln and the War Department; nor are we aware that the ‘* Gen-
eral-in-chief,” McClellan, assumed any responsibility or authority in the
matter, Fremont, thongh he had not specifically proposed a campaign up
the rivers named, yet regarded it as feasible and necessary. He, however,

did originate the idea of ivon-clad gunboats on the Western rivers, and

Admiral Foote carried forward to completion the boats which Fremont

keeping open the Mississippi river tothe gulf, ;

was constructing during the summer and fall of 1861, with the design of

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    
  
  
    
  
 
 

 

 

 

FALL OF FORT HENRY. 20

there, on the arrival of the troops, steamed up-stream to recon-
noiter, The enemy at once opened on the boats, and thus
developed their positions, greatly to the Commodore’s gratifi-
cation. He was then confident of his game. That night the
Federal camp-fires lit up the surrounding hills, to warn the
enemy that the long-delayed contest for Kentucky soil was
about. to be inaugurated, and the division band made the hills
and valleys echo the jubilant strains of our nationality in “ Hail
Columbia,” “Red, White and Blue,” “Star-Spangled Banner,”
and “ Yankee Doodle”—not the most agreeable music to ears
educated to the clanking of slave-chains and the baying of.
bloodhounds. :

Retnforcements pressed up rapidly from below, until Grant’s
force, by February 6th, was equal to the emergency. February
5th, the General returned to Paducah, to bring up Smith’s
division, then at that point, seven thousand strong, These all
debarked at a favorable point, on the 6th, near the fort.

But the activity of Foote anticipated the slower moyements
of the army. He steamed up, February 6th, passing around
Painter’s Creek island—which lay over on the west side of the
Tennessee, directly in front of Fort Henry. The enemy had
neglected to obstruct that passage, The boats emerged above
the fort, only. one mile away, having the stream in their favor.
The gunboat Cincinnati (the “ flag-ship,”) Commodore Foote
on board, opened the fight, followed by the rest of his fleet of
five. It was a thrilling moment when the hour approached
in which to test, not the ability of a lightly-clad iron hull to
withstand the powerful artillery of a fortification, but the power
of a floating ‘steam armament to combat with a solid shore
work, In a few moments after the boats hove in range, the
- battle of artillery opened with extreme fury. The floating
batteries dropped slowly nearer, until, when within three hun-
dred yards, they were ordered to go into standing close-quarter
action, The fire was perfectly appalling for a few minutes
succeeding, when, at forty minutes past one, the enemy's flag
struck, and the fort was won. Its commander, General Lloyd
Tilghman, of Kentucky (formezly of the United States army),
surrendered unconditionally, with his staff and artillerists
(sixty). The rebel infantry, encamped near the fort, fled at
the first fire, abandoning even their dinner—leaving Tilghman

 
80 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

to do his work alone. The rebels also had three gunboats,
which fled hastily up the river. The fort mounted seventeen
guns—most of them thirty-two and thirty-four pounders rifled,
and one a superb ten-inch columbiud. The rebel loss was five
killed and ten badly wounded. Why Tilghman surrendered,
with only two guns disabled, our forces could not see. Com-
modore Foote received his sword, when General Tilghman
said: “I am glad to surrender to so gallant an officer.”
Foote’s notable reply was: “You do perfectly right, sir, in
surrendering ; but you should have blown my boats out of the
water before I would have surrendered to you!”

On the night of the 5th, a council of officers determined the
programme of battle, and “ Field Order No. I.” was promul-
gated before midnight. It assigned the several divisions to
their work, and contemplated the investment of the fort before
the action should commence—thus to secure the garrison and
its entire infantry supports. But this programme was some-
what modified. Writing to General Halleck, February 6th, he
said: “Had I not felt it an imperative necessity to attack Fort
Henry to-day, I should have made the investment complete,
and delayed until to-morrow, so as to have secured the garri-
son. I do not believe, however, the results would have been
more satisfactory” —a clever compliment to Foote’s victory.

No delay occurred in pressing the pursuit. Hight brass
pieces were abandoned by the flying foe, and a few prisoners
fell into McClernand’s hands. Three of Foote’s gunboats
reconnoitered up the river as far as Florence, capturing and
destroying several rebel transports, and doing much other

e. ‘

‘The sudden fall of Fort Henry surprised and alarmed the
Confederate chiefs—of whom there was a good baker’s dozen
at hand. They hastened to retnforce Fort Donelson. Generals
Pillow, Floyd, and Buckner were all there with their respective .
brigades, besides the regular garrison of the fortress, composed
of artillerists from Columbus and the Mississippi river forts
below. Outlying fortifications were thrown up, and rifle-pits
thrown out flank and rear. With this force and disposition
it became evident that the reduction of the fort would be a
bloody affair, at best.

Commodore Foote started down the Tennessee, with five

 

 
 

 

INVESTMENT OF FORT DONELSON. 81

oats, immediately after the capture of Fort Henry, proceeding
to Cairo to recruit and repair damages. On the night of
February 11th he started for the Cumberland river.

The investment of Fort Donelson was complete by the 12th
—McClernand’s division having the Federal right wing, and
General Smith’s the left, while Foote’s gunboats commanded
the river, and assaulted the works from the front. The pow-
erful river batteries were his chief point of attack. Six gun-
boats went into the fight February 14th before three P. m.,
the flag boat St. Louis leading. A severe contest followed of
an hour and a half duration—the enemy using every possible
exertion. to overcome their water antagonists. They were so
far successful as to shoot away the wheel of the St. Louis and
the rudder of the Louisville, while all the boats were riddled
with shot. The St. Louis alone received fifty solid balls in
and through her mail and upper works. The firing of the ves-
sels was fearfully destructive—much of the time some of the
boats being within four hundred yards of the batteries. ‘The
enemy were completely driven from most of the guns, but
three guns kept up the contest bravely so long as the iron-
clads were within range. Fifty-four men were killed and
wounded on the boats. The enemy’s loss was not ascertained.
The Tyler and Conestoga (not iron-clad) were disabled early in
the fight.

Fort Donelson was thus described by one on the ground:
“This fort takes its name from the Andrew Jackson Donelson
family of Tennessee. Its construction was commenced in May
last. No better position for defense could have been selected
at any point on the Cumberland as yet passed by us. It is
on a fine slope a hundred and fifty feet high, in a very slight
bend, on the right hand side of the Cumberland, one hundred
and seven miles from the mouth of the river, and nearly two
hundred from Cairo. It mounts sixteen guns. There are
three batteries—the iret about twenty feet above the water,
consisting of six guns, thirty-two and sixty-four pounders; the
second about equal in strength, located about sixty fect above
this; and the third on the summit of the hill, mounting four
one hundred and twenty-eight pounders, The trenches in the
vicinity of each battery are unusually deep. The earthworks
are not less than six feet thick, braced by heavy logs. The
32 Live OF LIKUTA-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

rebel Camp fs behind the hill, and can not be reached from
the gunboats by shot or shell. ” :

The gunboats having been disabled, Grant resolved not to
await their repair, and prepared at once to assault and reduce
the rebel stronghold. His army was rapidly strengthened by
five detachments from General Hunter’s (Kansas) departinent,
and by all the available regiments of the Western States.
The investment of the fort was completed by assigning the
Federal center to General Lew. Wallace’s division.

The gunboats withdrew Friday afternoon (14th). That
night was spent in getting the brigades in position. arly on
Saturday morning (15th), the enemy opened on the Federal
right (McClernand’s division) by a sharp fire on Colonel Law-
ler’s Highteenth Tlinois regiment. All of Ogleby’s brigade
was quickly engaged. The brigadés of Wallace and McAr-
thur soon'came into the fight, which, by ten o’clock,, became
very furious. General Wallace sent four regiments to McCler-
nand’s ‘support, viz.: the Seventeenth and Twenty-fifth Ken-
tucky and Thirty- -first Indiana, with the Forty-fourth agnor
as a reserve.

The three brigades composing McClernand’s "aivilton Seite
the brunt of the conflict. Upon that point the rebels pressed
with the utmost tenacity, and the deeds of valor ‘there per-
formed by both parties form one of the most splendid, though
bloody records of the entire war. McClernand’s men exhaust-
ed their ammunition enttrely, and, finally, were called from
the field to recuperate and obtain reénforcements. With this
returning movement ® cotinter movement was made by the
charge of Smith’s entire division upon the enemy’s works.
The ‘charge was so furious as to bear all before it, and Smith’s
men occupied the entire works of the rebels on the ‘left.
Grant announced this to McClernand, ordering his advance.
This was then made, in a brilliant manner, anid the enemy
was forced back within his works on the Federal right.
Thus the Union army found themselves in a position to
carty the enemy’s main work by assault, on the morning of
Sunday.

But, no such service was required of the elated and brave
fellows whose achievements during the Saturday’s contest coy-
_ éred them with glory. Ata very early hour, General Simon

 
CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON. 33

Buckner, the senior rebel General in the fortification, sent ov
to obtain an armstice preliminary to arrangements of ternig
of honorable capitulation. Grant replied that nothing but
unconditional and immediate surrender would answer—that he
was prepared for the assault, and should at once carry the
works by the bayonet. Grumbling at the discourtesy (!) shown
him, Buckner unconditionally surrendered with his force of
nearly fifteen thousand men.

Upon entering the premises, it was found that Generals Pil-
low and Floyd, with their troops, had flown. During the
night they had, at a council of war, declared their purpose to
leave by the three steamers still at the landing above Dover.
Pillow said he would not surrender—Floyd said it never would
do for Aim to fall into Federal hands; and so Buckner, the
unfortunate ex-chief of the Kentucky State Guard, was forced
to do the deed—to give up his arms and submit to the tender
mercies of the Government which he had betrayed. The
flight of Floyd and Pillow was the theme of much amusing
comment by the Northern forces. The escape of the great
“chief of thieves” was certainly greatly deplored, for if any
rebel among the conspirators deserved the halter more than
another, that man was John B. Floyd, Mr. Buchanan’s Secre-
tary of War.* That he died a natural death before the war
was ended was greatly to be regretted. He ought to have
lived to have suffered the full penalty of the law for his treason
and his crimes. , - us

The armafnent of the fort and water batteries consisted of
forty-four guns, most of them of superior make and heavy cali-
ber. About seventeen thousand stand of small-arms were
taken, and’ an immense amount of stores—among which were
twelve hundred boxes of beef, showing that the rebels had
resolved to stand a siege before giving up. Floyd’s and Pil-
low’s men, in crossing the river, pitched all superfluous arms
and baggage into the stream. A Louisiana cayalry company
made its way, during the darkness, up the river, and thus
escaped. Pillow and Floyd made direct for Clarksville.

The Union loss was two thousand one hundred and.

* This surrender was the occasion of a ty sharp corresponden
among the Confederates; and Johnson had to * explain? to. his Gover
ee er felt that he was made the scapegoat for greater rogues
ffian a :

 
t

84 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U, 8. GRANT. x
sixty-six. The rebel loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was
estimated at fifteen thousand seven hundred.

As was expected, these rapid strokes of the Union army
astounded and disconcerted the enemy. His boasted strong-
holds at Bowling Green and Columbus were quickly aban-
doned; Clarksville was soon deserted, and Nashville tempo-
rarily occupied by the fast retreating rebels. But, the opera-
tions of the gunboats on the Tennessee river promised to cut
off retreat by the South, and Nashyille was therefore soon
given up without a struggle—the enemy falling back upon
Murfreesboro, then upon Chattanooga, and finally upon Corinth,
where Johnson and Beauregard determined to await the shock
of the combined Federal armies, and thus decide the fate of
the Mississippi valley.

The news of these admirable conquests flew over the coun-
try, to excite gladness in loyal hearts, sick with the inactivity
and apparent inefficiency of the vast army still lying’ around
Alexandria, While two hundred thousand men were there,
waiting for “something to turn up,” impotent even to prevent
the Potomac river from being blockaded, and Washington city
put.on half rations, the men of the West were on fire with a
patriotic zeal which, if not depressed by misconduct, would
lead them to the gulf.

For these achievements Grant was nominated, and, at
once, confirmed Major-General of volunteers—the commission
to date from the fall of Fort Donelson.

CHAPTER IV.

THB SECOND CAMPAIGN—ADVANCE UP THE TENNESSEE—-MOVEMENT OF RIVAL
FORCES—ADVANCE OF THE REBELS UPON SHILOH (PITTSBURG LANDING)—
BATTLE OF SHILOH—DESPERATE FIRST DAY’S STRUGGLE—BUELL TARDY
AND GRANT ALMOST OVERWHELMED—SECOND DAY’S BATTLE—GRANT RE-
ENFORCED—OVERWHELMING DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY—LOSSES AND INCI-

DENTS.
_ Havuye accomplished the deliverance of Kentucky, Grant
quickly set about his movements for the liberation of West
Tennessee, and the clearance of the Mississippi river of —

 
ADVANCE UP THE TENNESSEE. 85

rebel control. Foote’s gunboats ascertained, by careful
reconnoissance up the Tennessee river, that no serious obsta-
cles would prevent a new advance toward the South. Grant
resolved upon a new base, close to the Mississippi State line,
looking to the river for supplies. Removing head-quarters to
Fort Henry, he commenced organizing for the advance. As
early as March 8-10th, a considerable force, under General C.
F. Smith, landed at Savannah, Tennessee. The alarm was,
at once, sounded throughout the South, and the Confederates
gathered to “keep back the invader.” Their head-quarters
were at Corinth, Mississippi, and their leaders, as soon an-
nounced by authority, were Generals Albert Sydney Johnston
and Peter G. T. Beauregard. Grant’s first objective was to
strike and dismember the Memphis and Charleston railway—
thus to sever an important artery in the Southern body mili-
tary. : ce ,

This objective the rebel leaders sought to defeat and to
keep open their communications with the West, via Memphis.
The Confederate chiefs called to their aid the redoubtable
General Bragg, with his well-drilled army, from Pensacola;
Price and Van Dorn, with their wild brigades from Arkansas
and Texas; Breckenridge, with his well-ordered regiments of
recusant Tennesseeans and Kentuckians; Pillow and Floyd,
with their forces of Mississippians and Virginians; Cheatham
and the Reverend General Polk, with their well-fitted brigades
from the line of the Mississippi. Hardee, Hindman, and others
were also detailed to commands. «To fill up the ranks to a
number equal to the work in hand, of staying the Federal
progress, a conscription was enforced, by which great numbers
of those who had not borne arms against the Union were
forced into the service. Corinth was fortified. Memphis was
strengthened. Every appearance seemed to indicate that the
decisive struggle for the possession of the Mississippi. valley
was at hand.

The Federal:Government, appreciating the greatness of the
emergency, prepared for it by ordering ‘Buell to join Grant at
Savannah, thence to move direct against Corinth, while the
indefatigable Mitchell “ sky-rocketed” down upon Huntsville,
Decatur, etc., to cut off the railway and river communication
with the East. Halleck held the command-in-chief of the

 
36 LIFE OF LIBUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

combined forces—thus bringing all the Federal military re-
sources in the West to the work in hand.

It was not until late in March that Buell’s divisions began
to move out of Nashville toward Savannah and Pittsburg
Landing, on the Tennessee river—there to join Grant’s forces,
already on the ground, for the advance against Corinth.
Buell’s forces consisted of the superbly-equipped divisions of
Nelson, Thomas, Wood, McCook, Negley, and. Crittenden—
Mitchell going south toward Huntsville, by way of Murfrees-
boro and Fayetteville. Grant’s forces comprised the divisions
of McClernand, Lew. Wallace, W. H. L. Wallace, Prentiss,
Hurlburt and W. T. Sherman, with most ample equipments,
artillery, etc. All of these forces were Western men—there
being not a single regiment in that combined army from east
of the Alleghanies.

To prevent the unity of the forces of Grant and Buell was
the suddenly-conceived design of Johnston. With their usual
success, the rebel commanders ascertained the plans and dispo-
sition of the Federals, and prepared to strike a blow at once
on Grant’s divisions, advanced to Pittsburg Landing, and
located in a semicircle around the landing as a center. If
Grant could be beaten back before Buell could reénforce him,
the rebels were sure of being able then to overmatch Buell;
and, if he was forced back, the way was again opened to
recover the ground lost in Tennessee and Kentucky. Immense
forces, a steady hand, a daring will might accomplish all, and
these Johnston had.

Grant, advancing his fOtces over the Tennessee, only await-
ed the coming up of Buell host to assail the enemy in-
trenched at Corinth. Sherman’s division had the extreme
advance, left wing, supported by General Prentiss; McCler-
nand held the left center; W. H. L. Wallace (commanding
General Smith’s forces) held the left right; Hurlburt’s fine
brigades formed the reserve; General Lew. Wallace's division
was stationed at Crump’s Landing, forming the Federal extreme
right wing. a

The skirmishes of Friday and Saturday (April 4th and 5th),
chiefly with the enemy’s cavalry, kept Sherman’s men on the
alert. Friday the Federal pickets were driven in on the main
line of the division, with a loss of one Lieutenant and seven

ee

 
PITTSLURG LANDING. 37

men, when Sherman ordered a charge. The rebel cavalry
were, in turn, driven five miles, with no small loss. Saturday
the rebels again made a bold push at the lines, in considerable
force, and retired after a warm reception. These advances
were but reconnoissances to test the Federal spirit, and to
locate his lines.

The pickets were again driven in at an early hour on the
morning of Sunday (April 6th)—a day the rebels always
seemed to choose for fight when the choice lay with them.
Sherman immediately ordered his entire division to arms, as,
also, did Prentiss his division—both commanders, it is ascer-
tained, being suspicious of the impending attempt of the
enemy, in force. The troops stood under arms for an hour,
when, no heavy firing occurring, the General und his staff rode
to the front. The enemy’s sharpshooters picked off Sherman’s
orderly, standing near the General. This shot, and others
which rapidly followed, came from a thicket, lining a small
stream, flowing north into the Tennessee. Along this stream
Sherman’s line was stretched. Sherman observed that, in the
~ valley before him, the enemy was forming. He said, in his
report:

“About eight A. m., 1 saw the glistening bayonets of heavy
masses of infantry to our left front, in the woods beyond the
small stream alluded to, and became satisfied for the first time-
that the enemy designed a determined attack on our whole
camp. All the regiments of my division were then in line of
battle at their proper posts. rode to Colonel Appler and
ordered him to hold his ground at all hazards, as he held the
left flank of our first line of battle, and J informed him that he
had a good battery on his right and strong supports to his rear,
General McClernand had promptly and energetically responded
to my request, and had sent me three regiments, which were
pores to protect Waterhouse’s battery and the left flank of my

This shows that there was no surprise. McClernand was
informed, as early as half-past six, of the enemy’s’ presence,
and had placed his troops in order of battle. The same with
Prentiss and Hurlburt—both of whom were ready before the
assault on Sherman’s front.

It would be impossible, in the space here allotted, to detail
the movements and events which followed on that most mo-
Ientous day. A book alone would suffice to tell the story in

\

 
 

 
 

88 LIFE OF LIBUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

detail.* The first news dispatched of ‘the battles which
reached the North, gave a graphic, and, in the main, a correct
description of the two days’ struggle. It, we may quote:

“PrrrTsBuRG, via Fort Henry, April 9th, 3:20 A. Mm.

“One of the greatest and bloodiest battles of modern days has
just closed, resulting in the complete rout of the enemy, who
attacked us at daybreak, Sunday morning.

“The battle lasted without intermission during the entire day,
and was again renewed on Monday morning, and continued
undecided until four o’clock in the afternoon, when the enemy

commenced their retreat, and are still flying toward Corinth,
pursued by a large force of our cavalry.

“The slaughter on both sides is immense.

“The fight was brought on by a body of three hundred of
the Twenty-fifth Missouri regiment, of General Prentiss’ division,
attacking the advance guard of the rebels, which were supposed
to be the pickets of the enemy, in front of our camps. The
rebels immediately advanced on General Prentiss’ division on
the left wing,} pouring volley after volley of musketry, and
riddling our camps with grape, canister, and shell. Our forces
soon formed into line, and returned their fire vigorously ; but
by the time we-were prepared to receive them, they had turned
their heaviest fire on the left center, Sherman’s ‘division, and
drove our men back from their camps, and bringing up a fresh
force, gpened fire on our left wing, under General McClernand.
This fire was returned with terrible effect and determined spirit
by both infantry and artillery along the whole line, for a distance
of over four miles. .

“General Hurlburt’s division was thrown forward to support
the center, when a desperate conflict ensued. The rebels were.
driven back with terrible slaughter, but soon rallied and drove
back our men in turn. From about nine o'clock, the time your
correspondent arrived on he field, until night closed on the
bloody scene, there was no determination of the result of the
struggle. The rebel regiments exhibited remarkably good
generalship. At times engaging the left with apparently their
whole strength, they would suddenly open a terrible and de-
structive fire on the right or center. Even our heaviest and
most destructive fire upon the enemy did not appear to dis-
courage their solid columns. The fire of Major Taylor's Chi-
cago artillery raked them down in scores, but the smoke would
no sooner be dispersed than the breach would again be filled.

* See “Pittsburg Landing and the Investment of Corinth,” in Beadle’s
series of ‘‘ American Batiles”*—where a 12mo, of 100 pages, 18 devoted to
the subject.

+ This account, in common with most all others made by newspaper

ers, was incorrect in the particulars of the enemy’s first advance.

The reader will find the correct statement of the first assault given in our
own version above, :

 

 

  
 

    

   

BATTLE OF SHILOH. 89

“The most desperate fizhting took place late in the afternoon.
The rebels knew that if they did not succeed in whipping us
then, that their chances for success would be extremely doubtful,
as a portion of General Buell’s forces had by this time arrived
on the opposite side of the river, and another portion was com-
ing up the river from Savannah. They became aware that we
were being re-enforced, as they could see General Buell’s troops
from the river bank, a short distance above us on the left, to
which point they had forced their way. .

“At five o’clock the rebels had forced our left wing back so
as to occupy fully two-thirds of our camp, and were fighting
their way forward with a desperate degree of confidence in their
efforts to drive us into the river, and at the same time heavily
engaged our right.

“Up to this time we had received no re-enforcement. Gen-
eral Lew. Wallace failed to come to our support until the day
was over, having taken the wrong road from Crump’s Landing,
and being without other transports than those used for quarter-
master’s and commissary stores, which were too heavily laden
to ferry any considerable number of General Buell’s forces across
the river, those that were here having been sent to bring up the
troops from Savannah. We were, therefore, contesting against
fearful odds, our force not exceeding thirty-eight thousand men,
while that of the enemy was upward of sixty thousand.

“Our condition at this moment was extremely critical. Large
numbers of men panic-stricken, others worn out by hard fight-
ing, with the average percentage of skulkers, had straggled
toward the river, and could not be rallied. General Grant and
staff, who had been recklessly riding along the lines during the
entire day, amid the unceasing storm of bullets, grape and shell,
now rode from right to left, inciting the men to stand firm until
our re-enforcements could cross the river.

“Colonel Webster, chief of staff, immediately got into posi-
tion the heaviest pieces of artillery, pointing on the enemy’s
right, while a large number of the batteries were planted along
the entire line, from the river-bank north-west to our extreme
right, some two and a half miles distant. About an hour before
dusk a general cannonading was opened upon the enemy from
along our whole line, with a perpetual crack of musketry.. Such
a roar of artillery was never heard on this continent. Fora
short time the rebels replied with vigor and effect, but their
return shots grew less frequent and destructive while ours grew
more rapid and more. terrible.

“The gunboats Levington and Tyler, which lay a short dis-
tance off, kept raining shell on the rebel hordes, ‘This last effort
was too much for the enemy, and, ere dusk had set in, the firing
had nearly ceased, when night coming on, all the combatants
rested from their awful work of blood and carnage.”

Then followed a list of the leading officers known to have
40 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

‘
been killed or wounded. It was meager, but gave names
enough to plunge the country into mourning. Over Congress
it threw a shadow which was betokened by the silence reign-

ing in the halls after the news was received. That splendid:

army of the Union comprised some of the country’s bravest
spirits among its commanders, and all dreaded to read the lists
which were hourly looked for, after the receipt of the first
news. ‘The dispatch added:

“There has never been a parallel to the gallantry and bearing
of our officers, from the commanding General to the lowest
officer. General Grant and staff were in the field, riding along
the lines in the thickest of the enemy’s fire during the entire
two days of the battle, and all slept on the.ground Sunday night,
during a heavy rain. On several occasions General Grant got
within range of the enemy’s guns, and was discovered and fired
upon. Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson had his horse shot from
under him when alongside of General Grant. General Sherman
had two. horses killed under him, and General McClernand
shared like dangers; also General Hurlburt, each of whom
received bullet-holes through their clothes. General Buell
remained with his troops during the entire second day, and with
General Crittenden and General-Nelson, rode continually along
the lines encouraging the men.’

This refers specially to the first day’s battle, which closed
leaving the enemy in the camps held in the morning by the

Federal troops. No wonder that Beauregard*-Johnston being

among the enemy’s fearful list of slain—telegraphed a victory
to the Confederate arms. To have given the Federal advance
a staggering blow—to be permitted to feast his half-fed troops
on Federal rations, and to rest. their dirty limbs on Federal
blankets, in Federal tents, was indeed a victory for them, even
if the morrow should find them hurled back in confusion,
upon their intrenchments and reserves at Corinth.*

The second day redeemed the disasters of the first. Buell’s
forces were marching in divisions, six miles apart. The ad-
vance (Nelson’s brigades) reached Savannah on the 5th.
There Buell arrived in person, on the evening of the same
day. Orittenden’s division came in during the evening,
Heuring the terrific cannonading, Buell surmised its meaning
and ordered forward Nelson’s division at a quick march,

* As one of the “humors of the campaign,” we may mention that the
Memphis Appeal charged the Monday’s defeat of the rebels to the whisky
found, the Mahe before, in the Federa tents { ‘ ‘

f
a

fl
iH

 

 

 
ROUT OF THE REBELS. 41

without its train. Ammen’s brigade arrived at the opportune
moment, when Grant’s forces were being slowly but surely
pressed back to the river’s bank after their whole day’s strug-
gle. The fresh brigades immediately crossed and walked to
the front. This arrival gave the wearied men fresh heart, and
caused the enemy to fall back. The residue of Nelson’s divi-
sion came up and crossed the ferry early in the evening.
Crittenden’s division came on by steamers from Savannah.
The batteries of Captains Mendenhall and Terrell, of the regu-
4 lar service, and Bartlett’s Ohio battery, also came up. Mc-
Cook’s division, by a forced march, arrived at Savannah during
the night of the 6th, and pushing on immediately, reached the
Landing early on the morning of the 7th. .

Buell’s divisions, taking the Federal left wing, opened the
day’s work, soon after five o’clock, when Nelson’s division
moved forward upon the enemy’s pickets, driving them in.

“, The rebel artillery opened at six o’clock on Nelson’s lines.

; Grant gave the right Federal wing to General Lew. Wallace’s
fine division of fresh men, which had arrived at eight o’clock
on the eyening of Sunday. “Sherman’s broken brigades again
assumed the field, taking position next to Wallace. On the
right the attack commenced early after daybreak, by Thomp-
son’s artillery, which opened on a rebel battery occupying a

**bluff to the front and right of Wallace’s First brigade.

The battle soon became general. The enemy, during the
night, had been retnforced to the utmost extent consistent
with the safety of his defenses at Corinth, and- was, therefore,
prepared for a desperate conflict. It was evident, from his
fighting, that if victory was won by the Union army, it must
be at a fearful loss of life. But, the Federals—officers and
men—were resolved upon victory eyen at a sacrifice of half
their numbers, and they went into the fight with astonishing
alacrity. The rebels fell back gradually till about half-past
ten, when they made a general rally, and hurled their force,
compact and well-handled, upon our left. This furious assault
at first caused our men to halt, waver, and fall back. Terrell’s
regular battery, brought up just at that juncture, checked the
enemy, who, howeyer, did not retreat, but, for two hours,
fought with intense fury until charged by our troops, at a
double-quick, in brigades. Then they ingloriously broke and

 

 

 
A2 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

fled. Foiled in this, they made a demonstration upon the
center, but were again repulsed, by General McCook’s divi-
sion, when, with the sudden movement which has always
characterized Beauregard’s management in the field, their
whole force was hurled upon the right wing, and a desperate
attempt was made to crush and turn it by sheer weight.
They had} however, mistaken the character of the force with
which they were to cope—General Lew. Wallace held the right, .
with that fighting division of Indianians who have become
famous in thé history of the war; and he was not of the stuff
to give way, let the onset be ever so desperate. Sherman,
too, whose division had recuvered from the panic of the day
before, supported him. Though the attack was fierce it was
repulsed, and the foe was driven back, though not without
repeated rallyings, and heavy losses on our part as well as on
theirs. ’

By four o’clock the rebels were in full retreat at all points,
though not in serious disorder. They retreated toward
Corinth. No effective pursuit was made. :

On the afternoon of the 8th, General Beauregard addressed
a note to General Grant, in which, acknowledging that he had
“withdrawn” from the field in consequence of our reénforce-
ments, he asked permission to send a mounted party under
flag of truce to bury their dead. General Grant replied cour=
teously, but as he had already buried the dead, declined to
allow the flag of truce.

The losses*in this sanguinary battle of two days on both
sides had been fearful—heavier than in any single engagement
of the war. On our side they were officially reported as one
thousand six hundred and fourteen killed, seven thousand
seven hundred and twenty one wounded, and three thousand
nine hundred and sixty-three missing, making a total of
thirteen thousand five hundred and eight. The rebel General
admitted that their’ loss in killed was over four thousand—
among them General A. Sidney Johnston. A correct state-
ment of the wounded never has been made public. This battle
is one of the most memorable in the history of the war. That
Grant and his division commanders should have escaped injury
seems almost miraculous. a the Sunday’s fight one who was
on the ground wrote:

 

 
 

i
4
:

 
   
 
  

 

   
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 

 

‘

 

THE APPALLING LOSSES. 43

“On Sunday, especially, several portions of: the ground were
fought over three or four times, and the two lines swayed back-
ward and forward, like advancing and retreating waves. In
repeated instances, rebel and Union soldiers, protected by the
trees, were within thirty feet of each other. The rebels deri-
sively shouted ‘Bull Run,’ and our men returned the taunt by
crying ‘Donelson.’ Many of the camps, as they were lost and
won, lost again, and retaken, received showers of balls. At the
close of the fight, General McClernand’s tent contained twenty-
seyen bullet-holes, and his adjutant’s thirty-two. Chairs, tables,
mess-pans, camp-kettles, and other articles of camp furniture,
were riddled. In the adjutant’s tent, when our forces recap-
tured it, the body of a rebel was found in a sitting position. He
had evidently stopped for a moment’s rest, when a ball struck
and killed him. In one tree I have counted sixty bullet-holes.
Another tree, not more than eighteen inches in diameter, which
was in front of General Lew. Wallace’s division, bears the mark
of more than ninety balls, within ten feet of the ground. On
Sunday, Company A, of the Forty-ninth Illinois, lost from one
volley twenty-nine men, including three officers; and, on Mon-
day morning, the company appeared on the ground commanded
by a second sergeant. General McClernand’s Third brigade,
which was led by Colonel Raith, until he was-mortally wounded,
changed commanders three times during the battle. On Monday
morning, one of General Hurlburt’s regiments (the Third Lowa)
was commanded by a first licutenant, and others were in com-
mand of captains.”

Such statements would be discredited were they not con-
firmed by those of other writers who have visited the field.
They serve to prove how appalling must have been the
slaughter, and yet out of the awful picture how the one great
fact stands forth in 4 halo of glory—that of the courage of the
Northern men! Such courage has its elements of sublimity
which would immortalize any other people. But of Americans
wt 3 expected, and therefore, will not essentially be noted by
writers on the war:

One of the newspaper correspondents thus wrote of Grant’s
own escapes : ‘

§ »

“General Grant is an illustration of the fortune through which
some men, in the thickest showers of bullets, always escape.
He has participated in two skirmishes and fourteen pitched
battles, and is universally pronounced, by those who have seen.
him on the field, daring eyen to rashness; but he has never
received a scratch. At four o’clock on Sunday evening, he was
sitting upon his horse, just in the rear of our line of batteries,

&-

 
 
 

44 LIFE OF LIKUT.-GEN. U. S GRANT.

when Captain Carson, the scout who had reported to hima
moment before, had fallen back, and was holding his horse
by the bridle, about seven feet behind him—a six-pound shot,
which flew very near General Grant, carried away all Carson’ 8
head, except a portion of the chin, passed just behind Lieutenant
Graves, volunteer aid to General Wilson, tearing away the cantle
of his saddle, cutting his clothing but not injuring him, and then
took off the legs of a soldier in one of General Nelson’s regi-

29)

ments, which were just ascending the bluff.

General Halleck, hearing the news of this great conflict,
determined to take the field at once as General-in-Chief of the
combined armies of Grant, Buell, and Pope, and arrived at the
Landing April 13th, when he issued his orders of congratula-
tion, and announced the combination of the three armies—of
the Ohio (Buell’s), Mississippi (Pope’s), and the Tennessee
(Grant’s)}—each commanding General to retain his command.
It was but adopting the system of army corps. Organization
and recuperation followed. - The scattered and thinned ranks
were filled up, and every preparation made to advance upon
the great rebel stronghold at Corinth, which Beaureg: ard had
resolved to hold, if possible,

CHAPTER V.

THH ADVANCE AGAINST CORINTH—1TS OCCUPANCY—GRANT’S NEW “DEPART-~
MENT OF WEST TENNESSEB’ ’—IMMENSE LABORS, @fTVIL AND MILITARY—
EFFORTS OF THE REBELS TO BREAK THE FEDERAL ADVANCE—BATTLES OF
IUKA, CORINTH, AND THE HATCHIE, AND REBEL DEMORALIZATION—THE
NeW ‘DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI ”’—RUBEL COUNTER-MOVES——THE
INITIATIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST VICKSBURG. ~

Ty the advance upon Corinth, Grant’s divisions played a
prominent part. Sherman was ever on the advance line of
the approaches, having fortified, it is said, seven distinct camps.

It was but just that to his men should be awarded. the honor

of first entering the stronghold. On the morning of May 30th

—just thirty days after the “siege” was actually initiated—

the point was won; the rebels had retired to compel their foe

to fight them somewhere else. Great as was the mortification
at losing the prey, a position was wrested from them which

 

 

 

 

AS

 

 

 
    
   
 
 

 
  

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 
  

THE ADVANCE ON CORINTH. 45

the Confederate fortunes could illy spare. For many months
thereafter it was held by Grant’s forces as a standing menace
upon the gulf capitals.

After the occupation of that poet, operations assumed a half
guerrilla, half field-fight character. To the east and west the
Union lines were pushed. Memphis was occupied June 6th,
1862, and soon became a base of supplies. » Holly Springs was
seized and occupied by Sherman, June 20th. These con-
quests drove the Confederates further to the east for safety, and
Atlanta became their next “stronghold”—which the irrepres-
sible Sherman was destined to wrest from them in due time.

Halleck having been called, by the exigencies of the service
and the gigantic failures of the Army of the Potomac, to the
position of General-in-chief and military adviser of the Presi-
dent, July 11th, a reorganization of the Department of the
Mississippi followed. Grant was placed in command of the
“Department of West Tennessee,” embracing the very import-
ant section over which his army had ran, and the northern
section of Mississippi to the river. To this new trust he

‘addressed all his energies. Few persons can understand the

multifarious duties of such a position® It requires qualities
which few men possess, both military and civil. That Grant
did his duty well is to be recorded. A ‘goodly volume would
scarce suffice to contain the orders and acts which fast flowed
from his hands. The -people, plantations, negroes, cotton,
traders—all had to be cared for and disposed of for the best
interests of the country; guerrillas had to be suppressed; the
vigilant and furious enemy had to be watched; new plans had
to be matured for new conquests; the Mississippi had to be
kept open above Memphis; and the great campaign against
the fastnesses below had to be inaugurated—truly work enough

 

for one head to execute. In Sherman, Grant found his most

efficient aid and coadjutor. Together they accomplished a
herculean labor, and did it so well that the Tee ea could
never undo it.

All was not given up, by the rebels, without severe efforts
to dislodge the Unionists from their new base. The great
extent of Grant’s line, the comparatively small number of men
left to hold Corinth, Bethel, Bolivar, Jackson (Tenn.), La
Grange, Grand Junction, Memphis, ete., rendered it a tempting

  
   

46 LIFE OF LIBUT.-GEN. U. & GRANT.

opportunity to precipitate a heavy body upon some one of
these points, to overcome it, to break the communications with
Memphis, and thus to force Grant back upon the line of the
Tennessee, if not even beyond. The bolt was to have been
precipitated upon Corinth, where the vigilant and spirited
Rosecrans had been placed in command; but, Grant’s system
of outposts and reconnoissances forewarned him of General
Sterling Price’s presence at Iuka, and he at once ordered an
advance against that position. Rosecrans approached from
the east and south, and Ord from the north. The battle of
Iuka followed. On September 19th, Rosecrans fought a hard
and bloody battle, and Price evacuated his position that night
—his army greatly shattered, pushing on to the east to effect
a junction with the forces of Yan Dorn and Lovell, near Rip-
ley, with the intention of fulling upon Corinth. On the 4th
of October their thunderbolt was launched, and again Rose-
crans bore the brunt of conflict. Grant was in telegraphic
communication with this officer, and was “ master of the situ-
ation.” After a fierce and very sanguinary struggle, Price
and his coadjutors were defeated, and their army so dispersed,
as to have been disorganized to a great degree. This defeat
was followed by the sharp struggle and decisive defeat at the
Hatchie river, where Price encountered Ord’s column. Pur-
sued by Rosecrans and McPherson’s columns, and faced by
Ord and Hurlburt, the rebel leader had but a sorry time of it,
indeed, and soon Grant was without an enemy on his front.
Bragg was on his flank, but his case was to be settled by the
Army of the Ohio, then under Buell, but soon after placed in
the hands of the more resolute and loyal Rosecrans.

Grant’s “department” was so extended (October 16th) as to
embrace all of Mississippi down to Vicksburg—with reference

to turning the enemy out of that most coveted position. The-

General assumed formal command of his new territory October
25th. On the 26th his orders assigned the different distticts
to his division commanders. At once he entered upon the
work before him. By orders dated November ist his regu-
lations for army trains and baggage were published: they
proved most conclusively that the campaign was to be one of
work. Strong reconnoissances ‘were made to the south.
Head-quarters were advanced, November 4th, from Jackson,

 
  

eee oe
aia

eee
 

 

 

  

OPERATIONS AGAINST VICKSBURG. 47

Tennessee, to La Grange, Mississippi. 'The enemy was found
to be concentrating on his front. Lovell, with two divisions,
was north of Holly Springs. Price was below that place with
twelve thousand men, while at Abbeville was a conscript
camp said to contain (November 8th) thirteen thousand raw
trocps. This was the condition of affairs at the opening of ~
the grand campaign against Vicksburg.

CHAPTER VI.

THE ADVANCE—THE FIRST MISCARRIAGE—LOSS OF HOLLY SPRINGS AND ITS
STORES—RETURN FROM THE ADVANCE—SHERMAN’S MOVEMENT ON VICKS-
BURG—ITS FAILURE—MC CLERNAND’S DESCENT ON ARKANSAS POST AND
Paes VICTORY.

THE principal object of the projected campaign was the
opening of the Mississippi river, the men of the North-
west demanding that their great highway to the guif should
be cleared of rebels, and expressing their determination to cut
their way through at all hazards. The chief objective point
was Vicksburg, twelve miles below the mouth of the Yazoo,
at which place the rebel batteries completely blockaded the
river. After the formidable works at Island No. 10 and at
Fort Pillow had been captured by the combined efforts of
the army and Foote’s flotilla, the rebel authorities bestowed
more attention upon the Vicksburg position, and set vigor-
ously at work to strengthen it by erecting more defensive
works and mounting heavier guns. By nature the Vicks-
burg bluffs were immensely strong, and the natural advant-
ages of the location “had been increased by art, until the
position was almost impregnable. It was impossible to
capture it from the river side, and the rear of the town,
owing to the peculiar conformation of the ground, had been
made nearly as strong as the front. At Yazoo City, up the
Yazoo, the rebels had a number of fine steamboats, some of
which were being fitted up as gunboats and rams. They had
strongly fortified Haines’ Bluff, a short distance above the

 

  
 

48 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

mouth of the Yazoo, thus blockading that river, and protecting
Vicksburg from an attack on the north side.

Three efforts for the reduction of Vicksburg had been made
before the campaign which eventuated in the success of Grant.
On the 1st of June, 1862, the fleet of Commodore Farragut,
having accomplished the capture of New Orleans, ascended
-the river, and ineffectually attacked a battery at Grand Gulf,
a short distance below Vicksburg. On the 8th, after the
capture of Memphis, a part of the fleet returned. to Grand Gulf
from above, and succeeded in silencing the battery at that
place for the time. The western gunboat fleet also came
down, but attempted nothing against: Vicksburg until the latter
part of June, when the fortifications were shelled until the end
of July, at which time, on account of low water, the vessels
were obliged to move down the river. The rebel ram Avrkan-
sas came out from the Yazoo, and passed through the fleet,
doing considerable damage, but was subsequently destroyed
by the gunboat Essex. A division of infantry, under General
Williams, had, in the mean time, been endeavoring to turn
the position by cutting a canal across the peninsula nearly
opposite Vicksburg. The success of this plan would have
enabled gunboats and transports to pass below the city; but,
in the latter part of July, the river had become so low that it
was necessary to raise the siege, and the canal was filled up
by the rebels. The works at Vicksburg were then made still
stronger, and Port Hudson, on the Louisiana side, above Baton
Rouge, was fortified, for the purpose of blockading the river
against the fleet from below. :

Such was the condition of affairs when Grant, at the head
of an increased, well-organized, and victorious army, composed
principally of the sturdy and earnest fighting men of the
North-west, commenced his celebrated campaign against
Vicksburg. -

As a preliminary movement, a reconnoitering force of in-
fantry and cavalry; under Generals Hovey and Washburne,
started, on the 28th of November, from Mid the mouth of the
Yazoo Pass, captured a rebel camp at the mouth of the Cold-
water river, and advanced along the Coldwater and Talla-
hatchie, cutting the railroad at Garner's Station. The recon-
peissance was subsequently carried through Panola and

 
 

 

 

  

LOSS OF HOLLY SPRINGS. 49

Oakland, toward .Coffeeville, returning to the mouth of the
Coldwater. This reconnoissance, in connection with others,
was intended to prepare the way. for Grant’s advance, and
create a panic among the rebels. All were eminently success-
ful. The Commanding General, with the main column, moved
down from Grand Junction into Mississippi, skirmishing
slightly on the way, until he established his head-quarters at
Oxford. ’

This movement was Scania to be made in connection
and codperation with an expedition which was to proceed
down the river from Memphis, under General W. T. Sherman.
Grant was now at. the head of four army corps, commanded,
respectively, by Major-Generals John A, McClernand, William
T. Sherman, Stephen A. Hurlburt, and John B. McPherson.
With this force, considering the position and strength of the
rebels at that time, it is highly probable that the combined
moyement would have been successful, and would have resulted
in the capture of Vicksburg, had it not been for an untoward
circumstance that occurred in Grant’s rear, disarranging his
plans for the time being, and causing a disastrous termination
of ike expedition.

‘hat circumstance was the surrender of Holly Springs, the
principal dép6t of supplies for the main army. The rebels
had made attempts upon Grant’s communications, which had
been easily repulsed; but, in their attack upon Holly Springs,
they were, unfortunately, successful, that important post, with
all its stores and munitions of war, being surrendered. Grant,
strongly impressed with the reprehensible circumstances attend-
ing this surrender, after full investigation and due consideration,
issued an order of censure and dismissal against Colonel R. C.
Murphy, of the Eighth Wisconsin. The order also highly -
censured the officers and men who had accepted paroles from the
enemy, and commended those who had done their duty and
bravely defended their posts. The effect of these measures, in the
future, was yery salutary. The great mischief had been done,
however, and he was compelled to fall back for the purpose of
recruiting his supplies, establishing his head-quatters at Holly
Springs.

General Sherman, in pursuance of the part of the plan
intrusted to him, embarked his forces at Memphis, December

4

 

 
 
 

50 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. S&S GRANT.

18th, and proceeded down the river. One hundred and
twenty-seven transports, exclusive of two. gunboats, were re-
quired for this expedition, It was composed of the. best
fighting material of the West. Sherman, however, was not
aware that Grant’s forces had been obliged to fall back to
Holly Springs, and could not have been informed of it until it
was too late. The design was that Grant should move upon
Jackson, while Sherman should attack Vicksburg; but, the
surrender of Holly Springs prevented this combination, and
the rebel troops who had been retreating before Grant were
enabled to oppose Sherman at Vicksburg.

On the 26th of December, Sherman’s forces arrived at John-
ston’s Landing, were disembarked under cover of the gunboats,
and moved to the rear of Vicksburg. The troops consisted of
four divisions, and were known as the “right wing of the
Army of the Tennessee.” The next morning they were drawn
up in line of battle, and advanced upon the works, driving the '
enemy a quarter of a mile. The next two days were occupied
in vain attempts to storm those formidable works, but they
|-were found to be absolutely impregnable to the force under
Sherman. Although the troops fought with the most deter-
mined bravery, the enemy, behind his extensive defenses, was
enabled to outnumber them at all points. The Federals car- _
ried a few positions, but were unable to hold them, and were
obliged to fall back with heavy loss. General Blair’s. brigade
lost over one-third of its number in killed, wounded, and eap-
tured. The dead and the wounded were cared for, under a
flag of truce, and the army was reémbarked.

The granc movement had failed, but neither Grant nor
Sherman was to blame for the failure. As General Sherman
said, in an order issued after the battle: “Ours was but part
of a combined movement, in which others were to assist! We
were on time; unforeseen contingencies must have delayed the
thers.” ’ pi baat
General McClernand arrived after the reémbarkation, and,
y-virtue of his, rank, took command of the “right wing,”
hanging its title to the “Army of the Mississippi.” He im-
ediately moved it up the river, and attacked Arkansas Post, .
n the Arkansas river, which was captured, with from seven
o ten thousand prisoners, and a large quantity of stores and

   
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
   
  
   
   
 
 
    
   
 
   
  

 

MOVEMENT ABOVE VICKSBURG. 51

munitions of war. Tlie effect of this brilliant exploit, besides
‘ts material value, was to improve the morale of the army.
Shortly afterward. the two\corps, the Thirteenth and Fit.
teenth, composing McClernand’s command, were withdrawn,
and were again attached to Grant's army, reporting to him at
Memphis on the 23d of January, 1863. :

CHAPTER ‘VII.

MOVEMENT ABOVE VICKSBURG—THE SEVERAL BAYOU EXPEDITIONS—OPERA+
“TIONS ON RED RIVER—-GRIERSON 8 GREAT CAVALRY RAID.
Removine the-greater portion of his army from. Northern
Mississippi, leaving gatrisons at’ Corinth and other points,
Grant established his lead-quarters at Memphis, and set at
work yigorously to prepare for another campaign against the
great rebel stronghold on the Mississippi. His preparations
were pushed forward so rapidly, that by the end of January,
1863, he had landed his army at Young’s Point and Milliken’s
Bend, near Vicksburg, locating his head-quarters at Milliken’s
Bend. It was his opinion that the only plan to pursue was
to flank the rebel position by striking it from the south side;
but the great difficulty was to reach the south side. No troops
or supplies could be conveyed thither by the river, either from
above or from below. In accordance with his convictions, as
appears by his official report, he renewed the work at Wil- —
liams’ canal, across the peninsula, opposite Vicksburg—push-
ing the work with vigor, hoping to make a channel which
would pass transports for moving the army and supplies to a
new base below. The task was much more herculean than it
at, first appeared, and*was made still more so by the almost
continuous rains that fell during the whole of the time this ,
work was prosecuted. The river, too, continued to rise and
make a large expenditure of labor necessary to keep the water
out of the camps and the canal. Finally, on the eighth of
March, the,rapid rise of the river, and the consequent. great
pressure upon the dam across. the canal, near the upper end,
at the main Mississippi leyee, caused it to give way, and,

 

  
 

52 LIFE O¥ LIBUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

through the lowlands at the back of the camps, a torrent of
water rushed that separated the north and south shores of the
peninsula as effectually as if the Mississippi flowed between
them. ‘This occurred when the enterprise promised success
within a short time. There was some delay in trying to
repair damages, It was found, however, that, with the stage
of water at that time, some other plan must be adopted for
getting below Vicksburg with transports.

It was next proposed, with considerable show of feasibility,
tc open a route through the bayous that run near Milliken’s
Bend above Vicksburg, through the Tensas river, to near
New Carthage, below the city. A canal was cut, dredge-boats
were set at work, and the route progressed rapidly, until
about the middle of April, when the falling river put an end
to the operation, after one small steamer anda number of
barges had been taken through. ‘While this work was in
progress, a canal was cut from the Mississippi river into Lake
Providence, and one into the Coldwater, by way of Yazoo
Pass. “I had no great expectations,” says General Grant,
“of important results from the former of these, but having
more troops than could be employed to advantage at Young’s
Point, and knowing that Lake Providence was connected by
Bayou Baxter with Bayou Magon, a navigable stream through
which transports might pass into the Mississippi below, through
Tensas, Wachita, and Red rivers, I thought it possible that a
route might be opened in that direction which would enable
me to codperate with General Banks at Port Hudson.” Upon
this route, also, the work progressed so far that a small
steamer and several barges were taken into the lake through
the canal, but the fall of the river, and other Smet es
necessitated the abandonment of the project. pt

By the Yazoo Pass route General Grant only expected at
first to get into the Yazoo by way of Coldwater. and Talia-
hatchie rivers, with some light gunboats and a few troops, and
destroy the enemy’s transports in that stream, and some gun-
boats which he was known to be building. The navigation,
noweyver, proved so much better than had been expected, that
it was thought ‘possible to use the route for the purpose of
flanking the position of Haines’ Bluff, on the Yazoo. This
plan was certainly feasible, as the Pass had been often
THE BAYOU EXPEDITIONS. 53

navigated in former times; but, although it came near being a
success, it was eventually frustrated. by the efforts of the enemy,
and by causes beyond the control of the commanding General.

It was impossible to obtain a sufficient number of light-
draught transports for the movement of more than one division.
The division selected was from McClernand’s corps, com-
manded by Brigadier-Genera] L. F, Ross... It-entered the Pass
on the 25th of February, 1863, and reached the Coldwater om the
2d of March, the Pass being only twenty miles in length. The
difficulty of the navigation may be inferred from the fact that
the boats, from the time of entering the Pass, only averaged
the progress of one mile in three and a half hours!

The boats succeeded. in getting through the Pass, many of
them, however, in a damaged condition. They found the
Coldwater a little better than the Pass for purposes.of nayiga-
tion, but their progress in that. stream, also, was very slow.
They met with no serious opposition from the enemy, until
they reached the point at which the Tallahatchie and the
Yallabusha, uniting, form the Yazoo, river. Here the rebels

had erected a fort, called Fort Pemberton, extending from the -
Tallahatchie to the Yazoo, at Greenwood. _ The slow progress
of the gunboats and transports, through the Pass and the.Cold-
water, had given the rebels time.to erect extensive fortifica-
tions, and to mount. heavy guns, brought from Vicksburg,
which completely blockaded the stream. The land around
Fort Pemberton being low, and entirely overflowed at, the
time the attack was made, the services of the army were not
available, Nothing could be done, unless the gunboats should
be able to silence the battery, and allow the transports to run
down. The gunboats made the. attempt, but, after an engage-
ment of several hours, they were compelled to. withdraw.
General. Quimby, with another. division, proceeded. down to
Greenwood, and took command, of the expedition. On the
28d of March General Grant ordered the return of all the forecs
operating in that direction, for the purpose of cencentrating
his army at Milliken’s Bend. :

“Before the withdrawal of the force from. the Tallahatchie,
another attempt was made to get into the Yazoo and flank
the Haines’ Bluff position. On the 14th of March, Admiral
D. D. Porter, commanding the Mississippi squadron, informed

 
 

54 LIFE OF LIBU.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

General Grant that he had made a reconnoissance up Steele’s
bayou, and partially through Black bayou, toward Deer creek,
and so far as explored, those water-courses were reported
navigable for the smaller gunboats. The General immediately
accompanied Admiral Porter on a reconnoissance up Steele’s
bayou, and it seemed practicable to open a route to the Yazoo
in that direction. If Black bayou and Deer creek could be
navigated to Rolling fork, there could be no question of the
navigation through Rolling fork and the Sunflower to the
Yazoo. The success of the movement would have caused the:
evacuation or capture of Fort Pemberton, would have com-
pelled the destruction or surrender of a large number of steam-
boats, and would have flanked the position at Haines’ Bluff.

Perceiving that the great obstacle to navigation, as far as
he had gone, was from overhanging trees, General Grant
returned to Young’s Point, and sent forward a pioneer force
for the purpose of removing those difficulties. Admiral Porter
requested a codperating military force, and a division of Sher-
man’s corps, under thatvofficer, was promptly forwarded to
him. This expedition failed, as General Grant says, probably
more from want of knowledge as to what would be required
to open the route, than from any impracticability in the navi-
gation of the streams and bayous through which it was pro-
posed to pass. Want of this knowledge led the expedition
on until new difficulties were encountered, which rendered it.
necessary to send back to Young’s Point for the means of
removing them, ‘This gave the énemy time to move forces to
effectually checkmate further progress, and the expedition was
withdrawn when within a few hundred yards of free and
open navigation to the Yazoo. In effecting the withdrawal
of the fleet, Generals Sherman and Stuart, commanding the
land forces, were entitled to the highest credit.

The failure of these expeditious left but one course to be
pursued—to flank the stronghold by moving down on the
‘Louisiana side. To this end General Grant now bent all his
energies. The bayou movements had been successful in so far
as they had caused the destruction of large quantities of the
enemy’s property, and had diverted considerable portions of
his forces from Vicksburg.

The chief source of supplies to the enemy at Vicksburg

   

  
gO ee gS ek eR oN I

   
 

   

nie OPERATIONS ON RED RIVER. 55

had heen the Red river, with which they had free and uninter-
rupted communication. ‘Until this source could be cut off, it
was impossible to reduce the place by siege. Grant, there-
fore, attempted to close the Red river, beforé making his pro-'
jected movement to the south. - Early in February, the ram’
Queen of the West, commanded by Colonel Hllet, ran by the
batteries, and proceeded up the Red river, capturing three of
the enemy’s transports. Making another trip, she succeeded
in destroying a large army train. She afterward captured a
transport with a large quantity of corn, and proceeded further
up the river, where she engaged a rebel battery. During the
engagement she was run aground, and, in that condition, was ~
so disabled that it became necessary to abandon her. Colonel
Ellet escaped, and returned in a captured steamer, until he
met the iron-clad Indianola, which had also passed the Vicks-
burg guns, for the purpose of supporting the Queen of the West.
The Jndianola started up Red river, to destroy the battery and
recapture the Federal ram, but it was thought advisable to
return. The boat remuined at tle mouth of the river to
blockade it. On the night of the 24th (February), however,
she was attacked by four steamers, including the captured
Queen of the West, and, after an engagement of one hour and
twenty-seven minutes, was run ashore and surrendered. She
was afterward blown up by the rebels, who were frightened —
Yby a coal barge, arranged to appear like a gunboat, that was
floated down past the Vicksburg batteries during the night.
In connection with his movement to the south, Grant
deemed it necessary to destroy the enemy’s communications in
Mississippi, to as great an extent as possible. Accordingly, a
brigade of cavalry, under Colonel B. H: Grierson, was detailed
for this purpose, and accomplished the most daring, brilliant,
and remarkable cavalry exploit of the war. ~ It Jeft La Grange, .
Tennessee, on the 17th of April, 1863, and arrived in safety
and in triumph at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the 1st of May,

haying, during that time, marched over eight hundred miles,

through the heart of the enemy’s country, skirmishing most
of the time, and completely cutting the enemy’s communica-
tions with Vicksburg and their other strongholds on the Mis-
sissippi. The total value of property destroyed was estimated -
 

56 LIFE OF LIEUT-GEN.. U. 8. GRANT.

at, oyer four millions of dollars. Over a thousand prisoners
and twelve hundred horses were captured.

This exploit, besides its material value, spread great terror
through the State of Mississippi, and was very inspiriting to
our army and the loyal North.

CHAPTER VIII.

BELOW VICKSBURG—RUNNING THE BATTERIES—EXTRAORDINARY MARCHES
—MOVEMENT UPON GRAND GULP—-ITS FAILURE—NEW MARCHES—CROSS-
ING THE MISSISSIPPI—GRANT’S BAGGAGE A TOOTH=BRUSH—BATTLE OF
THOMPSON'S HILL—-PORT GIBSON TAKEN—RAPID ADVANCE—GRAND GULF
OCCUPIED—-NO WAITING FOR BANKS—SHERMAN’S “PRETTY DEMONSTRA-
TION’ —SHERMAN JOINS GRANT. zs
GRANT now determined to occupy New Carthage, it being

the first point that could be reached by land at that stage of

the river. It has been supposed, very reasonably, that’ this

- plan was the one upon which he had really relied for success,
although he modestly states, in his official report, alluding to
the failure of the various bayou expeditions, that “ all this
may have been providential in driving us ultimately to a line
of operations which has proven eminently successful.”

On the 29th ‘of March, 1863, the 18th army corps, under
McClernand, was ordered to take up its line of march for New
Carthage, the 11th and 17th corps to follow, moving no faster
than supplies and ammunition could be transported to them.
The roads, however, were found to be intolerably bad, and
progress was necessarily slow. Arriving near New Carthage
‘it was found that the levee of Bayou Vidal was broken in
several places, thus leaving New Carthage an island. It was
necessary to choose another route, and a further march was
made around Vidal to Perkins’ plantation, a distance of twelve
miles more, making the whole distarice to be marched from
Milliken’s Bend, to reach water cOmmunication below, thirty-
five miles. Over this distance, says General Grant, with bad
roads to contend against, supplies of ordnance stores and pro-
yisions had to be hauled by wagons, with which to commence
the eampaign on the opposite side of the river.

t

t

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Ss

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RUNNING THE BATTERIES. 57

Tt was obvious that it would be extremely difficult, if not
impracticable, to forward the necessary supplies for a large
arfhy by such a route. The expeditions of the Queen of the
West and the Indianola had demonstrated the feasibility of
running transports past the Vicksburg batteries. The experi-
ment was necessarily a dangerous one, but it was resolved to
adopt it. If supplies could be taken below in this way, Grant
hoped to aceumulate a considerable quantity at Grand Gulf,
before moving inward, and to be thus enabled to codperate
with General Banks, Who was preparing to reduce Port Hud-
son. This intention, however, was subsequently changed.

When the occupation of New Carthage was ordered, pre-
parations were made for running transports, with Admiral
Porter’s gunboat fleet, by the Vicksburg batteries. In the
mean time, Admiral Farragut with his flag-ship, the Hartford,
and her tender, the Albatross, had come up from New Orleans,
haying run past the batteries at Port Hudson, Warrenton and
Grand Gulf, and was anchored below Vicksburg. On the
25th of March, the rams Lancaster and Switzerland attempted
to run the Vicksburg fortifications, but one was sunk and the
other disabled in the operation. The Switzerland was re-
paired, and accompanied the Hartford and Albatross to the
mouth of Red River.

On the night of the 16th of April, the first grand attempt
was made. Admiral Porter's fleet, and three transports, ran
the gauntlet. Commissary stores were placed on the trans-
ports, whose boilers were protected as well as possible. One
was set on fire by the batteries and. consumed, but the others
got by without much damage. Six more transports were
loaded and sent down, five of them getting through in a dam-

aged condition. Of twelve barges loaded with forage and

rations, sent down in tow of these transports, one-half got

through in a condition to be used. The crews of most of

these boats were composed of volunteers from the army. The

transports were repaired by order of Admiral Porter, and, in

a short time, five of them were in running order, and the re-

mainder in a condition to be used as barges for the movement

of troops.

Owing to his limited transportation, Grant found it neces-
sary to extend his line of land travel to Hard Times, La., thus -

x

 
 

58 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

increasing the marching distance to seventy miles from Mili-
ken’s Bend. It was thought by many, at the time, that he
was foolhardy in thus removing his army to so great a dis-
tance from his only secure base, over unknown and miserable
roads; but, the result proved that the persevering soldier was
right, and that his “ foolhardiness” was a stroke of military
genius.

The first thing was the capture of Grand Gulf, by a com-
bined naval and land attack. The gunboats were expected
to silence the river batteries, when the troops were to land
and storm the works. As much of the 13th corps as could
be vot on transports and barges, were moved to the front of
Grand Gulf on the 29th of April. The navy made the attack
in the morning, and an engagement ensued, which lasted
more than five hours. It soon became apparent to all, that

‘the guns of the enemy were too elevated, and their fortifica-
tions too strong, to be taken from the water side. Grand
Gulf must be flanked, and that could only be done by again
running the enemy’s batteries, and effecting a landing at Rod-
ney, Miss., or at Bruinsburg. Grant, learning that there was
a good road from Bruinsburg to Port Gibson, which flanked
the position at Grand Gulf; determined to land at Bruinsburg.

At dark the gunboats engaged the batteries, and, under
cover of their fire the transports all ran past Grand Gulf, com-
paratively uninjured, At daylight in the morning, both gun-
boats and transports were busily engaged in ferrying the
troops across the river to Bruinsburg. By noon the 18th
army corps was over, the 17th following as rapidly as possible.

As soon as the 13th corps was landed, three days’. rations

‘were distributed, and McClernand started with his brave
Western men on the road to Port Gibson. The 17th corps,
under McPherson, soon followed—General Grant deeming it
of yast importance that the highlands should be reached with-
out resistance. Every thing was made subservient to celerity
of movement. The commanding General was certainly in
the lightest marching order. An account states that he
“ disencumbered himself of every thing, setting an example to
his officers and men. He took neither a horse nor a servant,
overcoat nor blanket, nor tent nor camp chest, not even a clean
shirt. His only baggage consisted of a tooth-brush! He

 

 

 
 

 

PR eee a

PORT GIBSON TAKEN. _ 9

always showed his teeth to the rebels. He shared all the
hardships of the soldier, sleeping in the front and in the open
air, and eating hard-tack and salt pork. He wore no sword,
had on a low-crowned citizen’s hat, and the only thing about
him to mark him as a military man was his two stars on his
undress military coat.”

The grand campaign against Vicksburg had now fairly
commenced. The whole operations against that stronghold
may be considered as a series of campaigns; but, at last, after
the trial of various expedients, and after immense labor and
much disappointment, the great and successful effort was to
be made. Every thing, now, depended upon the ability and
energy of the commanders, and the bravery and endurance of ©
the troops. All were found equal to the occasion.

McClernand met the enemy, under General Bowen, about
eight miles from Bruinsburg, on the road to Port Gibson.
This was at two o'clock, Pp. m., on the 1st of May, 1863. The
rebels were forced to fall back until dark. Early in the
morning, Grant went to the front, and found McClernand
fighting about four miles from Port Gibson. Here the roads
branched, and the enemy occupied both branches, in strong
positions, as the roads ran along narrow, elevated ridges, with
deep ravines on either side. On the right the divisions of
Hovey, Carr and Smith drove the enemy steadily all day. On
the left the rebels held their ground against the division of
Osterhaus, until the arrival) of a brigade of John A. Logan’s

division, which was judiciously placed in position, and the

enemy retreated, to make ro further stand south of Bayou
Pierre. On the road leading to Port Gibson the rebels were
pursued until nightfall, when the troops slept upon their arms
until daylight.

This was called the battle of Port Gibson, or of Thompson’s
Hills. The rebel loss was very heavy, and the Union loss
was about 850 in killed and wounded. ‘The contest had been
a bloody one, but the results were immensely valuable, as it
assured the capture of Port Gibson and the evacuation of
Grand Gulf.

The next morning McClernand’s advance entered Port Gib-
son, the enemy haying retreated, burning the bridge over
Bayou Pierre. In a short time a floating bridge was built,

 
  

Ss

60 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. S. GRANT.

over which McPherson’s corps crossed. They then marct.ed
eight miles to the north ford of the bayou, bridged that
stream, and commenced crossing ‘at five o’clock the next
morning. Such was a sample of the “ quick work” Grant
deemed necessary. On the march a large quantity of bacon
was captured, which the rebels had not time to destroy. It
gave the Federal soldiers substantial comfort.

The encmy was pursued to Hawkinson’s Ferry, on the Big
Black River, so rapidly that he was unable to destroy his pon-
toon bridge at that place. The Union advance reached the
ferry before dark, and halted, waiting for wagons, supplies,

etc. Many prisoners, mostly stragglers from the enemy, were”

taken on the way, from whom it was ascertained that the for-
tifications at Grand Gulf had been evacuated and the maga-
zine blown up. As the Federal adyance already was fifteen
miles from there, on the road to Vicksburg, Jackson or any
point between the two places, Grant resolved not to counter-
march, but went to Grand Gulf, with a small cavalry escort,
to make the necessary arrangements for changing his base of
supplies from Bruinsburg to that place.

The advance was commenced on the morning of May ist,
and on the 3d, the commanding General dispatched the result
to Washington from Grand Gulf, reporting -that the victory
had been most complete, and that the enemy was thoroughly
demoralized.

While his head-quarters were at Grand Gulf, Grant deter-
mined upon an important change in his plans. It had been
his intention, as has been seen, to codperate, from that point,
with General Banks, against Port Hudson. While at Grand
Gulf, however, he received a letter from Banks, stating that,
after the reduction of Port Hudson, which he expected to ac-
complish by the tenth of May, he could join Grant with
twelve thousand men. Ifaving no idea of delaying his cam-
paign for a possible accession of twelve thousand men, and
learning that Southern troops, under Beauregard, were ex-
pected at Jackson, he resolved to strike for the prize at once.

* He may, also, have been influenced by the difficulty of pro-

curing supplies—one of his steamers, loaded with rations,
‘having been sunk by a collision, and several barges, similarly
freighted, having been destroyed by the Vicksburg batteries,

    
 
 
 
 
   
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
    

 
 

 

SHERMAN’S FEINT AT HAINES’ BLUFF. 61

It was, hence, advisable, if not absolutely necessary, to move
into the interior and open communication with the North, at
some point above Vicksburg.

When General Grant proceeded to reduce Grand Gulf, it
was important that the enemy should be prevented from send-
ing reénforcements from Vicksburg to the aid of that position.
In moving down from Milliken’s Bend, the 15th army corps,
under Sherman, was left to be the last to start. Sherman had
made all preparations to follow the advance, when, on the
26th of April, he received a letter from Grant, ordering him to
delay his march on account of the difficult nature of the road.
On the 28th he received another letter, fixing the time for the
attack upon Grand Gulf, and stating that a simultancous feint
on the enemy’s batteries at Haines’ Bluff would be most desir-
able, provided it could be done without the ill-effect on the
army and the country of the appearance of a repulse. Sher-
man was directed to make all the show possible, and the ruse
succeeded admirably. ;

General Sherman, well knowing that the army could dis-
tinguish a feint from a real attack, by subsequent events, and
that the country would not be troubled by the movement, em-
barked Blair’s division on ten steamboats, and, on the morn-
ing of the 29th of April, proceeded to the mouth of the Yazoo,
where he found ten iron-clads, with some wooden gunboats,
ready to codperate with him. The fleet proceeded up the Yazoo,
and lay, during thé night, at the mouth of Chickasaw. Early
next morning the gunboats moved within range of the enemy’s
batteries, and, during four hours, a spirited engagement was
kept up, which Sherman pertinently called “a very pretty
demonstration.” The boats were then drawn off, the Choctaw
haying, received fifty shots, but no men haying been hurt.
Toward evening the troops were disembarked in full view of
the enemy, and the gunboats again opened fire. The enemy
evidently expected a fight, the appearances of which were
kept up until night, when the troops were reémbarked. Dur-
ing the next day similar movements were made, accompanied
by reconnoissances of all the country on both sides of the
Yazoo. ; :

While there, Sherman received Grant’s instructions to join
him at Grand Gulf. He dispatched orders for the divisions of

 
nN

62 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8S. GRANT.

Bteele and Tuttle at once to march for Grand Gulf, v/a Rich-
mond, prolonging the “ demonstration” until night, and then
quietly dropped back to the camp at Young’s Point. During
this important and successful operation, not a man was lost!

On the morning of May 2d, the divisions of Steele and
Tuttle were started for Hard Times, reaching that point, sixty-
three miles distant, at noon on the 6th. Blair's division was
left as a garrison at Milliken’s Bend, until relieved by troops
from Memphis. On the 7th, Steele’s and Tuttle’s divisions
had crossed the river, and on the 8th they marched eighteen
miles to Hawkinson’s Ferry, where the main body of the army
then was.

Other feints had been made along the line of the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad, and at other points, for the purpose of
diverting the attention of the enemy from the main point of
attack, but that of Sherman was by far the most important.

CHAPTER IX.

THE FINAL ADVANCE INTO MISSISSIPPI—GRANT’S CONGRATULATION—ORDER |
OF THE MARCH--THE ENEMY VIGILANT—HEAVY SKIRMISHES OF THE
CORPS—BATTLE OF RAYMOND—ON TO JACKSON—JOHNSTON DEFKATED
AND JACKSON CAPTURED-—-GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY——RIGHT
ABOUT FACE—ON TO VICKSBURG—BATTLE OF CHAMPION HILL WON—
PEMBERTON PURSUED—BATTLE OF BLACK RIVER WON—PEMBERTON IN
VICKSBURG AND GRANT'S ARMY INVESTING.

GENERAL Grant now had his army well in hand, and
was ready for a forward movement. He had secured supplies
as far as possible, but, at the time of making the movement,
there was only an average of five days’ rations to be drawn
from the commissary stores. This was sufficient, as events
proved, for the campaign was, as it had been intended to be,
“ short, sharp, and decisive.” Everything was sacrificed to celer-
ity of motion and vigor of action, with the view of establish-
ing a new base north of Vicksburg.

On the 7th of May General Grant had moved his head-
quarters to Hawkinson’s Ferry, and ordered an advance. He
had made demonstrations to induce the enemy to believe that _

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

GRANT’S CONGRATULATORY ORDER. 63

he intended to move by that route and the one by Hall’s
Ferry above. On the advance, however, it was his intention
to hug the Black river as closely as possible with McCler-
nand’s and Sherman’s corps, and get them to the railroad, . at
some place between Edwards’ station and Bolton. McPher-
son was to moye by way of Utica to Raymond, and thence to
Jackson. -

Before the advance was made, the following congratulatory
order was issued and read to the troops:

“ TIHAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, IN THE FIELD,
“* HAWKINSON’s Ferry, May ‘th.

“ Soldiers of the Army of the Tennessee :

“Once more I thank you for adding another victory to the
long list of those previously won by your valor and endurance.
The triumph gained oyer the enemy, near Port Gibson, on the
1st, was one of the most important of the war. The capture of
five cannon and more than one thousand prisoners,,the posses-
sion of Grand Gulf, and a firm foothold on the highlands be-
tween the Big Black and Bayou Pierre, from whence we threaten
the whole line of the enemy, are among the fruits of this brilliant
achievement.

“The march from Milliken’s Bend to the point opposite Grand
Gulf was made in stormy weather, over the worst of roads,
Bridges and ferries had to be constructed. Moving by night as
well as by day, with labor incessant, and extraordinary priva-
tions endured by men and officers, such as have been rarely
paralleled in any campaign, not a murmur of complaint has been
uttered. A few days’ continuance of the same zeal and con-
stancy will secure to this army crowning victories over the re-
bellion. ‘

“More difficulties and privations are before us; let us endur
them manfully. Other battles are to be fought; let us fight
them bravely. A grateful country will rejoice at our success,
and history will record it with immortal honor.

“U.S. Grant, Major-General Commanding.”

'The General did not exaggerate the importance of the
achievement of his army, nor the valor and endurance of the
men who composed it. All were officially recognized by
Governor Pettus, of Mississippi, who, in a proclamation dated
May 5th, called the people of the State to arms, e7 masse, to
repel the “invaders.” Ten days after this proclamation was
issued, the Union forces were in possession of the capital of
Mississippi.
4 earners ———— STRATA RATT

64 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN, U. 8. GRANT.

The following extract is a succinct account of the mannet
of the advance.

“On Thursday, the 7th of May, McPherson, commanding the
17th army corps, moved his troops to Rocky Springs, and his
camp was occupied next day by Sherman, with the 15th army
corps. On Saturday, the 9th, McPherson again moved to the
eastward, to the village of Utica, crossing the road occupied by
the 13th army corps under McClernand, and leaving the latter
on his left. On Sunday morning, the 10th, McClernand marched
to Five Mile Creek, and encamped on the south bank at noon,
on account of broken bridges, which were repaired the samie
day. On Monday morning, the 11th, Sherman’s corps came
up, passed McClernand, and encamped that night at the village
of Auburn, about ten miles south of Edwards’ station, which
is on a portion of the railroad from Vicksburg to Jackson. As
soon as it passed, McClernand’s corps followed a few miles, and
then took a road going obliquely to the left, leading to Hall’s
Ferry, on the Big Black river. Thus, on Monday morning,
May 1ith, McClernand was at Tall’s Ferry; Sherman was at

Auburn, six or eight miles to the north-east; and McPherson .

wus about eight miles still further to the north-east, a few miles
north of Utica. The whole formed an immense line of battle ;
Sherman’s corps being in the center, with those of McPherson
and McClernand forming the right and left wings. It will be
observed, also, that a change of front had been effected. From
Grand Gulf the army marched eastward; but, by these last
movenrents, it had swung on the left asa pivot, and fronted

ney . © ”
nearly northward: i

The adyance of McClernand and Shefman met the enemy,
on the 12th, at Fourteen Mile Creek. Considerable skirmish-
ing followed ere they succeeded in effecting a crossing. On
the same day, Logan’s division, of McPherson’s corps, came
upon the rebel troops, two brigades strong, at Fondren’s
Creek, near Raymond. They were strongly posted, being al-
most wholly concealed by the woods bordering the stream,
with their artillery on an eminence. The Union troops were
obliged to cross an open field, under a terrific fire, after an
obstinate contest of three hours. McPherson’s corps drove
the enemy, with heavy loss in killed,wounded and _ prisoners,
his principal column taking the road to Jackson. Many of
the rebels threw down their arms and deserted. The Union
loss at the battle of Raymond was four hundred and forty-
two, in killed, wounded, and missing.

At this time Grant was with Sherman’s corps, at about the

 

 

 
 

JACKSON CAPTURED. 65
\ >
center of the army. On the 11th he had dispatched to
Genera] Halleck, at Washington, that he should communicate
with Grand Gulf no more, unless it should become necessary
to send a train with a heavy escort, and that he might not be
heard from again for several days.

On the night of the 12th of May, after orders had been
given for the corps of McOlernand and Sherman to march
toward the railroad by parallel roads, the order was changed,
and both were directed to move in the direction of Raymond.
This was in consequence of the enemy haying retreated
toward Jackson after his defeat at Raymond, and of informa-
tion that retnforcements were daily arriving at Jackson, and
that General Joseph E. Johnston was hourly expected there
to take command in person. General Grant, therefore, deter-
mined to make sure of Jackson, and Jeaye no enemy in his
rear.

On the 13th McPherson’s corps moved to Clinton, destroyed
the railroad and telegraph, and captured some important rebel
dispatches. It then moved on toward Jackson, along the
railroad. Sherman marched in a parallel column, by the
turnpike. McClernand’s corps garrisoned Clinton, Mississippi
Springs and Raymond, and, together with Blair’s adm and
a brigade of McArthur’s, was held as a reserve.

Over miry roads, and through torrents of rain, but in excel-
jent order, and in the best of Soiciss, Sherman’s and McPher-
son’s forces marched on, and met the enemy, under General
Johnston, at noon of the 14th, three miles from Jackson.
Johnston; finding himself unable to hold the city, had marched
out, with the view of delaying the advance and gaining time
to remove the public property. The bulk of his force engaged

McPherson, on the Clinton road, and a small body of artil-
| —lery and infantry opposed Sherman. The latter were soon
driven within their rifle-pits, but McPherson was held at bay
onthe Clinton road, until Sherman flanked the enemy on the
| _- right, when the rebels were found to haye retreated. Their
mK infantry had escaped to the north. by the Clinton road, but
about-two hundred and fifty prisoners, with all their artillery
(eighteen guns) and much ammunition and valuable stores, fell
into the hands of the victors. The total Union loss, in killed,
wounded and missing, was two hundred and eighty-six.

ROLE PEO PR Ec

    
 

 

 

 
66 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. S. GRANT.

General Grant, always with the advance, moved his head-
quarters into Jackson. His brief dispatch, announcing the
capture of the city, was dated May 15th, 1863. During the
evening of the 14th, he learned that General Johnston, being
satisfied that Jackson was Grant’s point of attack, had ordered
General Pemberton peremptorily to march from Vicksburg,
and attack the Federal rear. Availing himself of this infor-
mation, Grant immediately ordered McClernand’s corps, and
Blair’s division of Sherman’s, to face about and march toward
Bolton, with a view to reaching Edwards’ station, moving on
different roads converging near Bolton, while McPherson’s
corps was ordered back by the Clinton road.

Sherman, with the remainder of his corps, was left in Jack-
son, to destroy railroads, bridges, factories, arsenals; and every
thing valuable for the support of the enemy. This was accom-
plished in the most complete manner, so that Jackson, as a
railroad center or Government dépét of stores and military
factories, could be of little use to the enemy for six months.
Besides the rebel government buildings, the penitentiary was
burned, probably by the convicts who had been set free by
the rebel authorities; while other buildings were destroyed
by mischievous soldiers, who could not be detected. The
railroads were ruined for four miles east of Jackson, three
south, three north, and ten west. :

On the afternoon of the 15th, Grant followed the advance \ }
as far west as Clinton, where he arrived in the evening, order-
ing McClernand to move early the next morning, toward
Edwards’ station, marching so as to feel the enemy, if/he en-
countered him, but not to bring on a general engagement, un-
less confident that he was able to defeat him. Blair’s division
was ordered to accompany McClernand. On the morning of
the 16th, Grant received information of the positions taken by
the enemy, for the purpose of attacking our rear, and learned
that his force was estiniated at twenty-five thousand men,
with ten batteries of artillery. The General imniediately dis-
patched to Sherman to bring up his entire force to Bolton.
Sherman’s advance division was in motion within an hour
from the time when the dispatch was received !

’ The advance, as arranged by Grant and McClernand, was as
follows :—Extreme left, Smith, supported by Blair; on the right

 
BATTLE OF CHAMPION’S HILL. 67

of Smith, Osterhaus, supported by Carr; Hovey in the center,
with McPherson’s corps on the extreme right, and Crocker as
reserve. Ransom’s brigade arrived early in the fight, and
took up a position as a reserve behind Carr. Grant was
on the field at an early hour, and personally superintended the
advance and the disposition of his host. The enemy had
aken up a very strong position on a narrow ridge, his left
resting on a hight where the road made a sharp turn to the
left approaching Vicksburg. Hovey’s division was disposed
» for the attack, and McPherson’s two divisions were thrown
toward the enemy’s rear; but the General would not permit
an attack to be made, until he could hear from McClernand,
who was then advancing with four divisions. He soon learned
that McClernand, by the nearest practicable route, was two-
and-a-half miles distant; but, near as he was, he did not
arrive until the enemy had been driven from the field with a

} heavy loss of killed, wounded and prisoners, and a number of

artillery—so furious was the Federal assault.

The battle of Champion’s Hill, or Baker’s Creek, was fairly
commenced at eleyen o’clock in the morning, and was fought
mainly by Hovey’s division of McClernand’s corps, and
Logan’s and Crocker’s divisions of McPherson’s corps. Logan

: had penetrated nearly to the enemy’s rear, and compelled his

retreat. Proceeding to, the front, General Grant discovered
that the enemy was retreating, and ordered the division of
Carr and Osterhaus in pursuit. Carr continued the pursuit
until dark, capturing a train of cars loaded with commissary
and ordnance stores and other property. At Edwards’ station
the retreating rebels destroyed large quantities of similar
stores. Besides the prisoners captured, Loring’s division of
the enemy, and much of his artillery, was cut off.

Such was the battle of Champion’s Hill, which, as
General Grant justly concluded, virtually decided the fate
of Vicksburg. The rebels were repulsed with terrible slaugh-
ter, and the Union loss was also great, amounting to a total
of one thousand four hundred and fifty-seven men.

The pursuit, which had been discontinued at night, was
renewed at daylight the next morning, the veteran 18th
corps in the advance. The enemy was found strongly
posted on both sides of Black river. At this point the

 
68 LIFE OF LIEUT.-OEN. U. 8. GRANT.

bluffs extended to the water’s edge on the west side. On
the east side was an open, cultivated bottom of nearly one
mile in width, surrounded by a bayou of stagnant water, from
two to three feet in depth, and from ten to twenty feet in
width. Following the inside line of the bayou, the enemy
had constructed rifle-pits, with the bayou to serve as a ditch
on the outside and immediately in front of them. Carr’s
division occupied the right in investing this place, Lawler’s
brigade being the right division. | After a few hours’ skir-
mishing, Lawler discovered that, by moving a portion of his
brigade under the cover of the river-bank, he could get a
position from which that place could be successfully assaulted,
and a charge was ordered. Over the level ground, under a
fearful fire, went the glorious Western boys. Wading the
bayou, they delivered their fire, and rushed upon the enemy
with fixed bayonets. The position was won. The enemy
burned the railroad bridge and his bridge of boats, leaving” no
means of escape for those on the east side. The results of
this victory were three thousand prisoners, seventeen pieces
of artillery, several thousand stand of arms, and a large sup-
ply of corn and commissary stores. The Union loss amount-
ed to two hundred and seventy-five men.

After the victory of Champion’s Hill, General Grant dis-
patched to Sherman, at Bolton, orders to turn his course to
Bridgeport, on the Big Black, where Blair’s division was to
join him, with thefonly pontoon train in the army. By noon
on the 17th, Sherman had reached Bridgeport, ‘where he found
Blair and the pontoons awaiting him. He crossed the river
the same night, started with the break of day, and pushed on
rapidly. Before ten o’clock the head of the column reached
the Benton road, commanding the Yazoo, and interposing a
superior force between the enemy at Vicksburg and the forti-
fications at Haines’ Bluff. Here he awaited the arrival of
Grant.

He had not long to wait, for soon the chief came up, and
directed him to operate on the right. McPherson and
McClernand, who had constructed floating bridges, and were
ready to cross that morning, were to operate, the former on
the center, and the latter on the left. Sherman pushed for-
ward to within range of the defenses of Vicksburg, and sent

 
VICKSBURG INVESTED. 69

Steele’s division to the north on the Haines’ Bluff road.
Steele reached the bluffs by dark, getting possession of the
enemy’s outer works, his camps, and many prisoners. The
next morning, Sherman’s right rested on the Mississippi, within
plain view of our flects at the mouth of the Yazoo, and at
Young's Point. Haines’ Bluff had been evacuated, and, with
its guns and magazine, was taken possession of. - Communi-
cation was immediately opened with the fleet, and bridges and
roads were made to bring up ammunition and provisions from
the mouth of the Chickasaw, to which point supply-boats had
been ordered by Grant.

Thus a near and secure base of supplies was obtained, and
all fear of short rations disappeared. “ Up to that'time,” said
Sherman, “our men had literally lived upon the country, hay-
ing left Grand Gulf, May 8th, with three days’ rations in their
haversacks, and received little or nothing until after our arrival
here on the 18th.” “Most of the troops,” said Grant, “had
been marching and fighting battles for twenty days, on an
average of about five days’ rations, drawn from the commis-
sary department.”

McPherson’s corps connected with Sherman’s left, and
McClernand went to the Baldwin’s Ferry road. “ By this
disposition,” said Grant, “the three army corps covered all
the ground that their strength would admit of, and by the
morning of the 19th, the investment of Vicksburg was made
as complete us could be by the forces under my command.”

CHAPTER X.

A PRELIMINARY ASSAULT—-A COMBINED ASSAULT—THE SIEGE~THE AP-
PROACHES—-THE MINE EXPLOSION—THE FIRST IN THE BREACH--—REBELS
GIVING IN—INTERVIEW BETWEEN GRANT AND PEMBERTON—THE TERMS
GRANTED—THE CAPITULATION—THE TROPHIES AND RESULTS—HONORS
TO GRANT,

Tux troops being all in position, General Grant, relying
upon the demoralization of the enemy in consequence of
repeated defeats, ordered an assault at two P.M, on the 19th

15 2

 
’

70 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

of May. It was made accordingly, Sherman’s corps being
enaoled to make a vigorous though ineffectual attempt to carry
the lines on the front. McPherson and McClernand gained
adyanced positions, covered from the fire of the enemy,

The next two days were spent in perfecting communica-
tions, and in bringing up supplies. On the 2st, orders were
issued for a general assault on the whole line, to commence
at ten o’clock in the morning of the 22d. Grant’s reasons for
assaulting are clearly and briefly set forth in his official report,
as follows:

“There were many reasons to determine me to adopt this
course. I believed an assault from the position gained by this
time could be made successfully, It was known that Johnston
was at Canton, with the force taken by him from Jackson,
re-enforced by other troops from the east, and that’ more were
daily reaching him. With the force I had, a short time must
have enabled him to attack me in the rear, and possibly succeed
in raising the siege. Possession of Vicksburg at that time
would have enabled me to turn upon Johnston, and drive him
from the State, and possess myself of all the railroads and prac-
tical military highways, thus effectually securing to ourselves
all territory west of the Tombigbee, and this before the season
was too far advanced for campaigning in this latitude, I would
have saved Government. sending large re-enforcements, much
needed elsewhere; and, finally, the troops themselves were im-
patient to possess Vicksburg, and would not have worked in
the trenches with the same zeal (believing it unnecessary,) that
they did after their failure to carry the enemy’s works.”

The corps commanders set their time by that of General
Grant, and precisely at the hour named, the assault com-
menced along the whole line. The artillery fire was tremen-
dous, and played havoc with the enemy’s works, silencing his
guns for the time. Slowly, and with perfect composure, not
under fire, but momentarily expecting it, the gallant men
moyed up the hills, and through the almost impassable ravines.
They approached to within forty yards of the works, when
suddenly, from every parapet, uprose a double rank of the
enemy, who poured into the heads of the columns such a
terrific fire, that nothing mortal could withstand it. Again
and again the brave but unavailing efforts were made, and
flags were planted in a few places on the exterior slope of the

 
THE SIEGE. U1

works; but this was the only success, and before night all the
troops were withdrawn. ;

“The assault,” says General Grant, “was gallant in the ex-
treme on the part of all the troops, but the enemy’s position was
too strong, both natural_y and artificially, to be taken in that
way. At every point assaulted, and at all of them at the same
time, the enemy was able to shuw all the force his works could
cover. The assault failed, I regret to say, with much loss on
our side in killed and wounded; but without weakening the
confidence of the troops in their ability ultimately to succeed.”
Says Sherman: “These seyeral assaults, made simultaneously,
demonstrated the strength of the natural and artificial defenses
of Vicksburg, that they are garrisoned by a strong force, and
that we must resort to regular approaches.” :

It may as well be stated here, that our troops were proba-
bly, at that time, considerably outnumbered by the rebels
within the defenses of Vicksburg. At the time of the invest-
ment our army numbered not over thirty thousand, of whom
not over twenty thousand were fit for duty. | Still, the rebels
did not dare to issue from their works, and, although’ behind
formidable intrenchments, were kept nearly silent.

Admiral Porter, with the gunboat fleet, ably codperated with
Grant in-the assault, having been requested by him to shell_
the batteries, and annoy the garrison, from half-past nine
until half-past ten. This was done; the hill batteries were
silenced, the Vicksburg batteries attacked, and the gunboats
wore fighting, even after the assault had proved unsuccessful.

General Grant then determined upon a regular siege, and
the troops, being fully awake to the necessity of this, worked
diligently and cheerfully.

Grant brought forward, Auring the siege, in addition to
Lauman’s division and four regiments previously ordered from,
Memphis, Smith’s and. Kimball’s divisions of the 16th army
corps, and assigned. Major-General C. C. Washburne to com-
mand the same; also, General Herron’s division from the
department of the Missouri, and two divisions of the 9th
army corps, Major-General J. G. Parke commanding. These
reénforcements enabled him to make the investment complete,
and, at the same time, left hima large reserve to watch the
movements of Johnston. Herron held the extreme left, with
Ord, then in command of the 18th corps, on his right;

~

 
% LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U, 8. GRANT.

McPherson was in the center; Sherman’s corps held the
extreme right, and Blair's division held Haines’ Bluff and the
country between the Yazoo and Big Black rivers.

The siege, thus commenced, was vigorously prosecuted.
Says an account:

“Fort was erected against fort, and trench dug against trench.
The enemy had seized the most eligible sites for their guns, yet
our batteries were soon enabled to drive them back, and even
to build under the eyes of the enemy. Our sappers constructed
their corridors, and passages, and pits, amid a blazing fire of
hostile musketry, and in the fiercest rays of the summer sun,
with a fortitude which has no parallel in history, and is equaled
only by that of the Vicksburg garrison. Day after day—forty-
six in all—did this process continue, one-half of our force dig-
ging, while the other picked off the rebels who. were, endeavor-
ing to interrupt them. In this way were we enabled to sap the
very foundations of their works, their cannon were silenced,
their sharpshooters taking only a furtive chance-shot, and now
and then a mortar-shell at long range. Tie health and spirits
of the men improved. Our camps were right on the hills
around the city. The advantage of shade was with us, though
the fighting and digging was almost all done in the sun.”

Admiral Porter codperated heartily and vigorously with the
army in all the operations for the reduction of the placé.
His gunboats were constantly below the city, shelling the
works, and the mortar-boats were at work for forty-two days,
without intermission, throwing shells into all parts of the city,
even reaching the works in the rear of Vicksburg, and in
front of our troops, a distance of three miles! He. also sup-
~plied the army with a large amount of artillery and ordnance,
and prevented the depredations*of guerrillas between Cairo
and Vicksburg.

Every precaution was taken during the siege to guard
against an attack in the rear, Sherman was placed in com-
mand of all the troops designated to look after Johnston.
The division of Osterhaus was sent to the Big Black to guard
the crossings and repel any attack. A reconnoissance was
also sent out under Blair, which reported no enemy within
striking distance. Every thing indicated, however, that
Johnston would make an attack about the 25th of June.
Grant was prepared to receive him. The following note to

 
 

 

Eee Se

THE MINH EXPLOSION. "3

~Gencral Parke, shows the reception the rebel chief would have

met, if he had made this attempt :

“ June 22, 1863.
“@mNERAL PARKE: Sherman goes out from here with five
brigades, and Osterhaus’ Division subject to his orders besides.
In addition to this, another division,. 5,000 strong, is notified to
be in readiness to move on notice. In addition to this, Il can
spare still another division, 6,000 strong, if they should be re-
quired. We want to whip Johnston at least fifteen miles off, if

possible.
“U. 8. Grant, Major-General.” -

The sapping and mining progressed rapidly until the 25th
of June, when one of the mines was ready to be sprung. A
sufficient number of experienced miners, for these operations,
had been found within the ranks of the army. The enemy,
on their side, kept running counter-saps, so as to meet and
cross those of the Union laborers, and, in two or three instances;
only a thin wall of earth sepatated the combatants, The ob-
ject of these mining operations was to break into and seize
upon the prominent points of the enemy’s line of fortifications,
and thereby force them back by degrees to the river.

The mine under what was supposed to be the principal fort
of the enemy was exploded on the afternoon of the 25th of
June, The explosion was terrific, the fort and every thing
connected with it being blown a hundred feet into the air, and
‘scattered around in all directions. Immediately the batteries
along the whole line, with the mortar and gunboat fleet,
opened upon the enemy, who replied vigorously. As soon as
the explosion had taken place, Leggett’s brigade, of McPher-
son’s corps, rushed into the sap and fort, and, after a severe con-
test of half an hour, the flag of the Porty-fifth Illinois regiment
appeared on the summit of the work. When the fort was
gained, the pioneer corps mounted it, and commenced throw-
ing up intrenchments and preparing to mount artillery. The
following is one of the orders of General Grant that followed
this success : : ;

.

“Tune 25, 1863.
“GENERAL Orp—McPherson occupies the crater made by
the explosion. He will have guns in battery there by morning,
He has been hard at work running rifle-pits right, and thinks he
will hold all gained. Keep Smith’s division sleeping under
arms to-night, ready for an emergency. Their services may be
 

 

  

4 LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

required, particularly about daylight. There should be the
greatest vigilance along the whole line.

“U. 8. Grant, Major-General.”

After the explosion of this mine, the work of constructing

, parallels was resumed. As the Union lines advanced, the
rebels retired, constructing inner lines of defense as the outer
ones were taken. On the 28th of June.the Union lines were
thirteen hundred yards nearer to the city than the original
works. The rebels were thus gradually but surely hemmed
im, and pushed toward the river.

Though the result’ of these operations must inevitably have
been a surrender, it was known that the Vicksburg garrison
had another enemy to contend with—exhaustion. It was soon
evident that they were short of provisions, and must, in the
end, be starved into surrender. The work upon the mines
*was then relaxed, a sufficient demonstration being kept up with
artillery and musketry to annoy the enemy. The pear was
ripe, and Grant only waited for it to drop into ‘his hands, It
was afterward learned that the garrison of Vicksburg were re-
duced to the offal and dregs of their commissaries. Mule
meat, though not eaten as « necessity, had become preferable
to their pickled beef. They had no pork or fiour, and but a
limited supply of unground corn. Their ammunition was
nearly exhausted, and onfy ten percussion caps to the man
were found in their‘pouches. The result was inevitable.

Up to the morning of the 8d of July, there was unusual
quiet, and all had become so impressed with the belief that a
surrender must soon take place, that the men on both sides
were chatting in a friendly way from their intrenchments. At
eight o’clock on that morning a flag of truce came out from the
rebel lines, with a communication for General Grant, borne by
General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery. It proved to be a
proposition for an armistice, with a view to arranging terms
of capitulation. General Grant promptly replied that his only .
terms were an unconditional surrender of the city and garri-
son.’ General Bowen requested that General Grant would
meet General Pemberton, to consult concerning terms. To
this General Grant readily agreed, and three o’clock in the
afternoon was fixed upon for the meeting.

There was a brief rencwal of hostilities, another cessation —

 

 

 

 
 
con

RE ESSERE SRP SE Seta
9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\
THE CAPITULATION. "5

of firing, and, at the appointed hour, the two Generals met in
front of General Burbridge’s line, where they sat in close con-
versation for an hour and a half. Both seemed cool and in-
different, Grant smoking, as usual, and Pemberton picking
straws and biting them. The conference broke up without any
definite decision. In the evening General Grant sent in a pro-
posal, which was not replied to until daybreak the next morn-
ing, when Pemberton requested modifications of the terms of-
fered. General Grant then sent his final note, agreeing to cer-
tain of the modifications, and General Pemberton promptly for-
warded his acceptance of the terms proposed. Thus, at ten
o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, 1868, Vicksburg
had surrendered, and the Mississippi valley was redeemed. |
The terms agreed upon were that each brigade should march

to the front of the lines occupied by it, stack arms, and then _

return to the inside to remain as prisoners of war until properly
paroled, Officers were allowed to retain their private bag-
gage and side arms, and mounted officers one horse each, The
rank and file were to be allowed their clothing, but no other
property. Necessary rations might be taken from the rebel
stores (there proved to be no rebel stores,) and thirty- wagons
were allowed them.

’ These terms were given as acts of magnanimity to a brave

foe, and were further justifiable on grounds of expediency.

They rid the Government of a large and expensive load of
prisoners, whom it would have had to feed, clothe, and trans-
port a great distance, at an enormous expense. Besides, Gen-
eral Grant was thus left free to follow up his advantage.
According to the terms, on the morning of the 4th the rebel

troops quietly stacked their arms in front of their lines, and.

General Logan was ordered to march in his division as a pro-
vost-guard. The formal entry was made at one o’clock in the
afternoon, Within four hours after the surrender, the levee
was lined with steamers as far as the eye could reach.

The value of the capture of Vicksburg can hardly be over-
estimated. Besides the other aspects of the result, it caused
a loss to the tebels of about thirty-four thousand men, includ-
ing one Lieutenant-General and nineteen Major and Brigadier-

* Generals, two hundred and thirteen pieces of artillery, thirty-
five thousand small-arms, and an immense amount of ordnance,

Ass
16 LIFE OF LIEUT-GEN. U. GRANT.

and other matter. The immediate effect of the capture was
the surrender of Port Hudson, La, General Frank Gard-
ner, commanding that post, hearing of the surrender of Vicks-
burg, inquired of General Banks concerning the truth of the
report, on the 7th of July. General Banks replied by inclosing
the official dispatch of General Grant, announcing the fall of
Vicksburg. The next day the important position of Port
Hudson, with its garrison of over five thousand five hundred
men, and all its stores, arms and munitions of war, was sur-
rendered to the forces of the United States. The Mississippi
was opened, and commerce was again resumed.

The President sent an autograph letter to General Grant,
thanking him for “the almost inestimable service” he had
done the country. His position, as the first General of the
Union, was thenceforth established. | The nation rejoiced at the
splendid victory, and all loyal hearts united in honoring the
heroes by whom it had been gained. The names of Sher-
man, McClernand, Logan, became household words, and their
noble assistants were placed upon the roll of the nation’s most
worthy sons. Well they might be honored, for they had sus-
tained the honor of the Union arms, while the vast ‘“ Army
of the Potomac” was, under its want of a leader, covering
itself with confusion.

CHAPTER XI.

SHERMAN AGAIN ON THE WAR-PATH--GRANT AS REGULATOR-GENERAL—
GooD EFFECTS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION—THE Reet DECLARED
OPEN—ACCIDENT TO HIS PERSON.

Arter the capture of Vicksburg, General Joe Johnston was
to be looked after, or, rather, he had already been looked after ;
for Grant, intending to assault Vicksburg on the 6th of July,
had ordered Sherman to be ready to move immediately against
Johnston, if the assault should prove successful.’ When the
place surrendered on the 4th, two days earlier than the day
fixed, Sherman was found ready, with a force increased by the
remainder of both the 18th and 15th army corps. On the

 
 

-

 

 

 

 

NR ees

 
 

 

 

 

JACKSON RETAKEN. V7

6th of July he was investing Jackson, where he had made a
stand.

When the Union troops left Jackson, the rebels had reén-
tered it, and for nearly two months had worked, night and day,
to fortify the city. Their works were very strong, over two
thousand bales of cotton having been used in their construc-
tion. Johnston, when Sherman approached, issued a procla-
mation, but Sherman was not to be driven off by a proclama-
tion, and after a few days’ skirmishing, he had invested the
city on the north, south and west, cutting off one hundred
cars from the rebels. On the morning of the 16th, it was sus-
pected that the rebels were evacuating, and a charge was or-
dered as a feint, but they were still found in force. During
the night, however, they evacuated, and hastily retreated
toward the east, after setting fire to and destroying most of the
business part of the city. Not much of value fell into the
hands of the Union troops, except the cotton used in the forti-
fications and a large quantity of ammunition.

Grant, in the mean time, had his head-quarters at Vicksburg,
and was, as usual, actively employed. Finding that Yazoo
City was being fortified, he sent Herron there with a division,
who captured several hundred prisoners, one steamboat, five
pieces of artillery, and all the public stores. The rebels burned
three steamboats. Ransom, being sent to Natchez to stop the
crossing of cattle, captured five thousand head of Texas
beeves, in Mississippi, and a number of teams loaded with
ammunition, in Louisiana, besides prisoners. Admiral Porter
sent an expedition up the Red river and its tributaries, which
captured several steamers and a large quantity of ammunition
and other property.

Thus the Mississippi campaign was virtually closed, and
Giant was left free to attend to business connected with the
administration of his department, evincing, in this respect, as
in all others, an activity, perseverance and integrity which
proved how fully he was qualified for the trust reposed in
him.

His first care was to reward, as far as lay in his power, the
gallant soldiers whom he had led to victory. He issued an
order granting furloughs, for thirty days, to five per cent. of
the non-commissioned officers and privates then present with

 
   

   

%8 LIFE OF LIBUT-GEN, U. 8 GRANT.

their respective commands, such furloughs to be granted for
good conduct. ‘No furloughs were to be granted to stragglers,
but such were to be made to perform extra fatigue duty, or to
be fined. The furloughed men gladly availed themselves of
their privilege, but steamboat men endeavored to make a har-
vest by charging them extortionate fares. General Grant is-
sued a special order, forbidding them to charge more than five
dollars to enlisted men, and seven dollars to officers, as fare
between Vicksburg and Cairo. On one occasion he ordered
a captain to refund to his passengers all money received by
him over these rates, or to submit to imprisonment for diso-
bedience, and to the confiscation of his boat. The order was,
of course, complied with. “I will teach them,” said the Gen-
eral, “if they need the lesson, that the men who have periled
their lives to open the Mississippi river for their benefit can not
be imposed upon with impunity.”

He prohibited the issuing of rations to contrabands, except
those serving in regiments or contraband camps, or to citizens,
except on certificates of destitution, In the matter of trade
regulations, although, of course, obedient to the orders of Goy-
ernment, he objected, as he always had, to opening trade with
the rebels. In a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, he
used the following plain and forcible language :

“ My experience in West Tennessee has convinced me that any
trade whatever with the rebellious States is weakening to us of
at least thirty-three per cent. of our force, No matter what the
restrictions thrown around trade, if any whatever is allowed, it
will be made the means of supplying the enemy what they want,
Restrictions, if lived up to, make trade unprofitable, and hence
none but dishonest men go into it. I will, venture to say that
no honest man has made money in West Tennessee in the last |
i a many fortunes haye been made there during the

ime.

By the end of July, 1863, General Grant had established a
‘system of mounted patrols between Vicksburg and New Or-
leans, which, with the gunboats, afforded ample protection to
vessels. He ordered all sick soldiers, who were able to bear
the journey, to be sent home on thirty.days’ furlough. In an
order which he issued for the general regulation of his depart-
ment, severe penalties were denounced against guerrillas, per-
sons engaged in conscripting, and persons firing on unarmed

 
 

 

 

 
  

REGULATIONS. 19

vessels. He called upon the people of Mississippi to pursue
their peaceful avocations, and recommended them to acknow-
ledge the freedom of negroes, and to contract for their labor
upon fair terms. Cotton, or other property not required by the
army, could only be disposed of by abandonment to an agent
of the Treasury Department. The commanders of regiments
and detachments were to be held responsible for marauding, if
the guilty parties could not be reached. Recognizing the Pre-
sident’s Proclamation of Emancipation, he ordered that camps
should be established for freedmen ; that such freedmen should
be supported by the Government, and should be employed, as
far as possible, in such manner as local commanders might
deem for the best interest of the Government, All negroes
were to be employed by some white person, or sent to the
freedmen’s camps. Oitizens might employ them, their wages,
besides clothing, etc., being regulated at not less than one-twen-
tieth of the commercial value of the crops. All employed
were to be registered,,and security was to be given for their
kind treatment, and that they should not be taken beyond the
lines.

Matters being arranged in the District of Mississippi, Gen-
eral Grant proceeded to visit other portions of his extensive
command. At Memphis, on the 25th of August, he was re-
ceived with distinguished honors, a festival and public recep-
tion being tendered him by the citizens, at which he could not
be induced even to endeavor to “make a speech.”

Leaving Memphis, he proceeded down the river, inspecting,
in his course, the posts between Vicksburg and» New Orleans,
and arriving in New Orleans on the 2d of September. The
day after his arrival, it was announeed that the trade of New
Orleans with Cairo, St. Louis and the upper Mississippi, Mis-
souri and Ohio rivers, would be free from any military restric-
tion whatever. This was a point gained by Generdl Grant,
under his doctrine of no trade or no restrictions. The river
which he had opened was to be free to commerce, as far as
consistent with the interests of the Government.

While at New Orleans General Grant met with a serious ac-
cident, the consequentes of which were painful to himself, and
particularly unfortunate, at that time, for the country. Re-
viewing the 13th army corps, at Carrolton, he was thrown from

  
   

LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT,

his horse, and was so severely injured that it was feared he
would never be able to take the field again. His breast bone
was said to have been crushed, three ribs broken, and one side
paralyzed; and his brain was thought to have been affected
by the concussion of the fall. He was immediately taken to
a steamer, and received the best of surgical attendance and care.

CHAPTER XII.

GRANT IN COMMAND OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI-—CELERITY
OF ACTION—GRAND COMBINATIONS—CHATTANOOGA—LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
—TUNNEL HILL AND MISSIONARY RIDGE THE PRIZE—GRAND STRUGGLE—
GRAND VICTORY—GRAND RESULTS—GRANT’S EXPRESSION OF THANKS.

SouTH-EASTERN Tennessee was now the great point of im-
portance in the West. General Rosecrans, after having driven

Bragg to and beyond Chattanooga, and having taken posses-

sion of that vital position, had been repulsed at Chickamauga,

and his advance had been stopped. He still held Chattanoo-
ga, but his: communications had been interrupted, and his
supplies cut off, so that his troops were on short rations, and
his horses and mules were dying in allhiscamps. To change
this unpromising aspect of affairs, it was proposed by the

Government to combine the armies of the Ohio, the Cum-

berland and the Tennessee—those of Burnside, Rosecrans and

Grant—into. one grand army, under one commander. Grant

was to be that commander, but was in no condition to take

the field at the time, on account of his accident.

_As soon, however, as he was able to move, he proceeded
up the river, under orders from the Government, stopping at
different posts on the way, and directing the time and manner
of the moyements of his troops toward Chattanooga, all of
which movements were effected without serious difficulty.

After visiting the various posts on his route to Cairo, he
continued his journey to the north, and at Indianapolis was
met by the Secretary of War, who deliyéred to him an order
combining the Departments of the Ohio, of the Cumberland,
and of the Tennessee, into the “ Military Division of the

    

 

 

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CHATTANOOGA. 81

Mississippi,’ placing Major-General U. 8. Grant in command,
with head-quarters in the field. This new command included
the States of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Ten-
nessee, Mississippi, Northern Alahama and North-western
Georgia. He had under his jurisdiction his own army, the
army of Rosecrans (then under Thomas), Burnside’s army,
and Hooker's Grand Division from the east. To this force
was afterward added -a column under General Foster. His
corps and their commanders were as follows:

4th corps, General Granger; 9th corps, General Potter ;
11th corps, General Howard; 12th corps, General Slocum;
14th corps, General Palmer; 15th corps, General Logan; 16th
corps, General Hurlbut; 17th corps, General McPherson;
23d corps, General Manson. His army commanders were
Generals Sherman, Thomas, Burnside and Hooker.

From Indianapolis General Grant proceeded to Louisville,’
where he assumed command, announcing that “the head-
quarters of the Military Division of the Mississippi will be in the
field.” He reached Nashville on the 21st of October, and, not-
withstanding his crippled condition, at once set at work. He
made dispositions of troops for the purpose of securing his
communications, and ordered a uniform gauge for the rail-
roads between the Ohio river and Chattanooga, that his sup-
plies might be run through without breaking bulk. He then
went to Chattanooga, arriving on the 23d.

At that time General Bragg had a large force, composed
of his own army and the corps of Longstreet and Hill, from
Virginia. There was also a codperating force of 30,000 men,
under Johnston, and a large number of cavalry, who were
operating in various directions, From the hights of Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, he watched the half-fed mul-
titudes in the valley below, and waited for them to be reduced
to the necessity of evacuation. But he waited and watched
too long; for, after the arrival of Grant, there was a heey.
in the aspect of affairs.

‘The valley route between Bridgeport and Chattanooga
was controlled by the rebels from Lookout Mountain. The
first thing, hence, to be done was to reopen this line. Before
leaying Nashville, Grant intrusted this task to General
Uooker On the night of the 26th of October, fourteen

 

 

 
    
 
   
  
 
  
 
 
  
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
    

LIVE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8S. GRANT.

hundred picked men from General Hazen’s brigade, 4th corps,
left Chattanooga in fifty-six pontoon boats, and floated down
the river, passed the rebel batteries and sharpshooters on Look-
out Mountain, without being observed, and landed at and be-
Jow Brown’s Ferry. They then pushed up the ridge, three
hundred feet high, and, after a brisk fight, drove off the rebels
and established their position. A column under General
Tooker marched from Bridgeport on the morning of the same
day, moved up Lookout valley, and, with considerable fizht-
ing, effected a junction with General Hazen’s command,
near the foot of Lookout. The -valley thus again passed into
the possession of the Union one and the army was soon
abundantly supplied.

About the middle of November General Sherman’s army

arrived at Chattanooga, and about the same time Bragg’s

forces were reduced by the withdrawal of the corps of Long-
street, who had gone to Knoxville. General Grant permitted,
rather than discouraged the advance of Longstreet, who was
drawn on with a show of resistance by’ the Union troops,
under Burnside, until he invested Knoxville, the Union forces
being safely withdrawn inside of the defenses. This was the
opportunity for which Grant had sought. By sending a large
force into East Tennessee, Bragg had greatly weakened his
extensive lines. There were two important points on his
line, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, the first being
the key to the position. Grant proposed to keep the enemy's
line weakened by attacking his flanks, thus affording an oppor-
tunity to test his center. Sherman, with four divisions, was
to move north of the river, to a point opposite the mouth of
the Chickamauga, cross, and carry the hights of Missionary
Ridge. On the right, Hooker was to hold the enemy engaged,
and to carry Lookout Mountain, if an opportunity occurred.
Thomas, with the corps of Granger and Palmer, was to be in
readiness to strike at the center, while Howard’s corps was to
be held as a reserve,

On Monday, November 23d, 1863, at about noon, the ad-

“Vance commenced, the troops moving as if on parade, and

impressing the rebels with the belief that a review was taking
place.
General Thomas, in the center, sent Wood's division on a

 

 
 

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ORCHARD KNOB. 83

reconnoissance toward Orchard Knob, to the west of Mission
Ridge. The division passed down a slope, across a heavily
wooded plain, in excellent order, carried the rifle-pits, and
pushed up the Knob. The ridge to the right of Orchard
Knob was also carried and the enemy driven from their rifle-
pits on the summit. The position being a strong one, Gen- ,
eral Thomas ordered Wood to intrench, and sent him word &
that he would protect his flank. Howard was sent to protect
the left of Wood, and got into position after some pretty
heavy skirmishing. Sheridan’s division went into position on
Wood's right, without difficulty. The enemy shelled Orchard
Knob vigorously, but. without damage, and the position was
strengthened by rifle-pits, while a battery was mounted on the
Knob. Such was the position at night, and Wood, in the
center, rested quietly. During the afternoon, strong bodies of
rebels had been seen moving toward the north, to meet
Sherman,

Tuesday morning, November 24th, was gloomy, threaten-
ing rain, pnd nothing was done until quite late, except on
the flanks, where Hooker and Sherman began to move
early.

Howard’s corps was directed by General Grant to open
communications with Sherman, and with that view commen-
ced crossing Citico Creek about 10 A. m., pushing northward.
He found Sherman building a pontoon bridge, and reached
him just as the last boat was put in. Sherman had moved
his troops across the river, had thrown up rifle-pits, and was
holding that position at noon. Soon a dfvision of the 14th
corps, which had been held in reserve, arrived, crossed the
river, and went into line, and then, at one o’clock, Sherman
gave his orders to prepare for an attack. A drizzling rain was
falling.

When Davis’ artillery had crossed and taken position, ‘he
line advanced against the hill, General Morgan L. Smith be-
ing on the left, General John E, Smith in the center, and
General Ewing on the right. Steadily and quietly the troops
advanced, and, contrary to expectation, took possession of the
extreme end of the ridge without opposition. It then appear-
ed that the hills occupied were separated from Mission Ridge ~
by a narrow valley, through which the railroad runs. These

e

 
   

 
   

LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. & GRANT,

hills were three in number, and semicircular in shape, bending
around and north of the end of Missionary Ridge. Sher-
man occupied the ridge with his center and right, and with
lris left took possession of the valley from the foot of the hills
to Chickamauga river. He erected defenses on the ridge, in
view of the enemy, who were on the top and at the foot of
the next hill—Tunnel Hill. There he rested.

On’Hooker’s side, the enemy, in strong force, occupied the
west side or slope of Lookout Mountain, and also the front or
spur of the mountain. The slope is exceedingly difficult, the
descent being by perpendicular rocks, or palisades. The road
to Summertown winds up the east side of the mountain, as-
cending the palisades by a steep declivity and a narrow road.
It was for Hooker to gain possession of this road, and thus of
the mountain,

By eight o’clock on Tuesday morning he moved up Lookout
Valley, filed to the left, and began the ascent of the mountain.
He had with him one division of Slocum’s corps, one of
Sherman’s, and two brigades of the 4th corps. Having
reached the palisades without opposition, he formed his line
of battle, advanced, and soon came upon the rear of the
enemy, who were taken completely by surprise. The rebels
made but little organized resistance, gradually gave way, and
were forced back to their breastworks on the east side of the
mountain, By this movement Hooker secured nearly fifteen
hundred prisoners. Meeting strong resistance from the en-
emy’s line, he halted, and found him posted behind power- —
ful breastworks, running diagonally across a large open
field.

Hooker ordered an adavnce at two Pp. M.,and for an hour and
a half a very heavy sharpshooters’ fight was kept up. From
Chattanooga nothing was visible save the misty smoke that
enveloped and hid the mountain. At last the skirmish line
was enabled to advance upon the flank of the enemy’s posi-
tion, compelling him to contract his left, when Hooker ordered
a charge of the whole line, and the position was gained!
The rebels fell back, abandoning every thing, but still held
the Summertown road. They made a charge to endeavor to
recover the position, and had nearly succeeded in doing so,
owing to the Union lack of ammunition ; but, the cartridges
Aa

TUNNEL HILL. : 85

General Grant, notwithstanding his crippled condiiton, was
within cannon-shot of the enemy, anxiously watching the
majestic movements of his troops. At the close of the day’s
work he dispatched to Washington as follows:

“ General Sherman carried the end of Missionary Ridge, and
a — is now at the Tunnel, and his left at Chickamauga

Jreek.

“The troops from Lookout Valley carried the point of the
mountain, and now hold the eastern slope and point high up.”

The enemy haying retreated, during the night, from Look-
out Mountain, General Hooker pursued, but did not succeed
in overtaking him. THe descended the mountain at Nicka-
jack trace, crossed the Chattanooga Valley, ‘and ascended
Missionary Ridge at or near the old battle-field of Chicka-
mauga. Thence he moved north on top‘of the ridge.

On Wednesday morning, after the retreat from Lookout
Mountain, General Grant had doubled the strength of the
forces selected to storm Missionary Ridge. Early in the
morning Sherman’s artillery opened against Fort Buckner,
or Tunnel: Hill, and at ten o’clock he made a slight attack
upon the enemy, which was soon dropped. Three regiments
of General Lightburn’s brigade effected a lodgment on Tun-
nel Hill, and were reénforced by General Corse, who took
command, formed the whole force on the crest of the hill, and
charged on Fort Buckner. ‘In ten minutes he fell back, how-
ever, under the crest, leaving his dead and wounded on the
plateau swept by the enemy’s guns.

On the right, a Union brigade charged the railroad bank,
from which, after a brief conflict, the rebels retreated, and fled
up the hill to the fort. General Corse was retnforced, and
General Lightburn assumed command of the whole assaulting
column. ‘The line advanced, during three-quarters of an hour,
to within a dozen yards of the fort, leaving their dead and
wounded in the hands of the enemy. Generals Corse and
Giles Smith were seriously wounded. The troops were re-
formed in line ‘of battle by General Lightburn, and lay down
to rest, when there was a pause. Again the attack was
made, and again, and again. Sherman continued to push his
columns up the steep sides of the hill, under a tremendous
fire of artillery, musketry and sfones ; but the enemy brought

 
 

86 LIFE OF LIEZUT-GEN. U. & GRANT.

up his reserves, and all assaults were bloodily repulsed.. A
last grand charge, which drew more of the enemy’s reserves
from the center, was terribly repulsed, and the battle, at that
part of the line, was ended.

But the enemy had been-forced to weaken his center for
the purpose of opposing Sherman.. Grant was quick to avail
himself of the advantage. His center had been nearly quict
until afternoon; but, at half-past three, a general charge was
ordered. General Meigs thus describes the assault :

‘“At the signal of leaden shots from head-quarters on Orchard
Knob, the line moved rapidly and orderly forward. The rebel
pickets discharged their muskets and ran into their rifle-pits.
Our skirmishers followed on their heels.

“The line of battle was not far behind, and we saw the gray
rebels swarm out of the ledge line of rifle-pits and'over the base
of the hill in numbers which surprised us. A+ few turned and
fired their pieces; but the greater number collected into the
many roads which cross obliquely up its steep face, and went
on to the top. ‘

“Some regiments pressed on and swarmed up the steep sides
of the ridge, and-here and there a color was advanced beyond
the lines. The attempt appeared most dangerous; but the ad-
yance was supported, and the whole line was ordered to storm

the hights, upon which not less than ae pieces of artillery, ~

and no one knew how many muskets, stood ready to slaughter
the assailants. With cheers answering to cheers the men
swarmed upward. They gathered to the points least difficult
of ascent, and the line was broken. Color after color was plant-
ed on the summit, while musket and cannon vomited their
thunder upon them.

“A well-directed shot from Orchard Knob exploded a rebel
caisson on the summit, and the gun was seen being speedily
taken to the right, its driver lashing his horses. A party of raw
oar intercepted them, and the gun was captured, with
cheers.

“A fierce musketry fight broke out to the left, where, between
Thomas and Sherman, a mile or two of the ridge was still
occupied by the rebels. Bragg left the house in which he had
held his head-quarters, and rode to the rear as our troops
crowded the hill on either side of him.

“General Grant proceeded to the summit, and then only did
we know its hight.

“Some of the captured artillery was put into position ; artil-
lerists were sent for to work the guns, and caissons were
searched for ammunition. 3

“The rebel log breastworks were torn to pieces and carried

 
er

 

® MISSIONARY RIDGE. 87

to the other side of the ridge, and used in forming barricades
“across.

“ A strong line of infantry was formed in the rear of Baird’s
line, and engaged in a musketry contest with the rebels to the
left, and a secure lodgment was soon effected.

“The other assault, to. the right of our center, gained the
summit, and the rebels threw down their arms and fled.

“ Hooker, coming into a fayorable position, swept the right
of the ridge, and captured many prisoners,

“ Brage’s remaining roops Tet early in the night, and the bat-
tle of Chattanooga, after days of manetvering and fighting, was
won. The strength of the rebellion in the center is broken ;
Burnside is relieved from danger in East Tennessee ; Kentucky
and Tennessee are rescued; Georgia and the South-east are
threatened in the rear, and another victory is added to the chapter
of Unconditional Surrender Grant.

“To-night the estimate of captures is several thousand prison-
ers and thirty pieces of artillery.

“ Our loss, for so great a victory, is not severe,

“Probably not so well-directed, so well-ordered a battle, has
taken place during the war. But one assault was repulsed, but
that assault, by calling to that point the rebel reserves, pre-
vented them repulsing any of the others,

“ A few days since, Bragg sent to General Granta flag of
truce, advising him that it would be prudent to remove any
non-combatants who might be still in Chattanooga. No reply
bas been returned ; but the combatants having removed from
the vicinity, it is probable that non-combatants can remain
without imprudence.”

*

Z ;
General Grant announced the victory as follows:
a

“ Ouarranooca, November 25, 1863.—7:15 P. M.

“Masgor-GeNpRAL H. W. Haxuncr, General-in-Chief :

“Although the battle lasted from early dawn till dark this
evening, I believe 1am not premature in announcing a com-
plete victory over Bragg. X

“Jookout Mountain top; all the rifle-pits in Chattanooga
Valley, and Missionary Ridge entire have been carried, and are
now held by us. U.S. Grant, Major-General.”

Bragg retreated toward Dalton, firing the railroad as he
went, ‘and no*time was lost in pursuing him: ©The army
moved in three columns, Hooker on the right, Palmer in the
center, and Sherman on the left. All three columns met at
and near Ringgold, from which place they opened: lines of
communication. After a skirmish, the rebels were driven

 
88 : LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN, U. 8. GRANT.

4

  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  

coming up in time, the rebels were bloodily repulsed, and fell
back to a point covering the Summertown road.

from Chickamauga dép6t, burning the dépét and all else that
they could. Valuable captures were made by the Union
troops. At Pigeon Ridge the rebels made a stand, but, after
a short engagement, were again driven. At Graysville they
went into camp, but were surprised, attacked and put to
flight by.Palmer’s corps. On Thursday and Friday, Novem-
ber 26th and 27th, Hooker’s column engaged the enemy, who
fell back, and Ringgold was entered on Friday. At White
Oak Ridge a more determined stand was made, but, after a
severe contest the enemy was driven through the gap, re-
treating in the most disorderly manner: A portion of the
11th corps crossed over to the line of the Dalton and Cleye-
land railroad, destroying the road at Red Clay station, in
order to prevent Longstreet from using it in making a junc-
tion with Bragg.

Says a newspaper correspondent : ;

“ General Grant had his head-quarters in the town of Ring-
gold on November 28th. The General was much pleased
with the success of his plans, spoke freely on the subject, and
was of opinion that this campaign had been successful to an
almost extraordinary degree, and had been fruitful of results
of the most unqualifiedly gratifying character. It was decided
not to pursue the enemy further, as more important operations
were afoot.”

The rebels, finding that they were not pursued, made a
stop at Dalton, Ga.

Afier the defeat of Bragg, the rebel General Longstreet,
who was investing Knoxville, made an assault upon the
works around that place, but was repulsed. Finding that the
Union forces were getting around him, he raised the siege on
the night of December 4th, and retreated eastward into Vir-
ginia, pursued by the cavalry of Foster and Sherman.

On the 7th, the President issued a proclamation, recom-
mending the people to give thanks for the final deliverance of
East Tennessee. He also sent a congratulatory dispatch to
General Grant, which was read to the army.

The campaign being ended, General Grant issued the fol-
lowing General Order:

 

 

 
CONGRATULATORY ORDER. 89

“HEADQUARTERS Minitary Division er THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD,
CuaTtranooea, Tennessee, Dec 10, 1863.
GENERAL’ Orvers, No. 9.

“The General-commanding takes this opportunity of return-
ing his sincere thanks and congratulations to the brave armies
of the Cumberland, the Ohio, the Tennessee, and their comrades
from the Potomac, for the recent splendid and decisive successes
achieved over the enemy. In a short time you have recovered
from him the control of the Tennessee river, from Bridgeport to
Knoxville, You dislodged him from his great stronghold upon
Lookout Mountain, drove him from Chattanooga Valley, wrested
from his determined grasp the possession of Missionary Ridge,
repelled, with heavy loss to him, his repeated assaults upon
Knoxville, forcing him to raise the siege there, driving him at
all points, utterly routed and discomfited, beyond ‘the limits of
the State. By your noble heroism and determined courage, you
have most effectually defeated the plans of the enemy for regain-
ing possession of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. You
have secured positions from which no rebellious power can drive
or dislodge you. For all this, the General commanding thanks
yen. collectively and individually. The loyal people of the

nited States thank and bless you. Their hopes and prayers
for your success against this unholy rebellion are with you daily.
Their faith in you will not be in vain. Their hopes will not be“
blasted. Their prayers to Almighty God will be answered. You
will yet go to other fields of strife, and with the invincible
bravery and unflinching loyalty to justice and right which have
characterized you in the past, you will prove that no enemy can
‘ withstand you, and that no defenses, however formidable, can
s check your onward march.

. “By order of Masor-GenErau U. 8. Grant.
s “T. 8. Bowmrs, A. A. G.”
It was announced from Chattanooga, on December 7th, that
General Grant had captured, from the commencement of the
& war up to that date, no less than four hundred and seventy-
two cannon, and ninety thousand prisoners, with small-arms

innumerable.

RE :
nes,

  

 

CHAPTER XIII.
HONORS TO GRANT—LIEUTENANT-GENERAL AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,

Arter the capture of Vicksburg, a magnificent sword was
presented to General Grant by the officers under his command.
The scabbard was of solid silver; the handle elaborately

 

 
90 LIFE OF LIEUT-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

designed, representing a carved figure of a young giant, crushing
the rebellion. The President, at the same time, appointed him
to the vacant Major-Generalship in the regular army of
the United. States, his commission dating from July 4th,
1863.

Immediately on the receipt, by Congress, of the news of the
successful termination of the campaign in Tennessee, and
Georgia, Mr. Washburn, representative of the Galena (Illinois)
District, gave notice of the introduction of two bills, one “ to
revive the grade of Licutenant-General of the army,” and the
other “ to provide that a medal be struck for General Grant, and
that a vote of thanks be given him and the oflicers of his army.”
The latter motion, as a joint resolution, passed Roth Houses
of Congress without opposition, and became alaw: For the
medal, the following design, by Leutze, was selected :

“'The obverse of the medal was to consist of a profile like-
ness of the hero, surrounded by a wreath of laurels, his name
and the year of his victories inscribed upon it, and the whole
surrounded by a galaxy of stars. The design for the reverse
was original, appropriate and beautiful. It was the figure of
Fame seated in a graceful attitude on the American Eagle,
which, with outspread wings, seemed preparing for flight. In
her right hand she held the symbolical trump, and in her left a
scroll on which was inscribed the names of the gallant chief’s
various battles. On her head was a helmet, ornamented in
Indian fashion, with feathers radiating from it. In front of the
eagle, its breast resting against it, was the emblematical shield
of the United States. Just underneath this group, their stems
crossing each other, were single sprigs of the pine and the
palm, typical of the North and South. Above the figure of
Fame, ina carved line, the motto, ‘Proclaim Liberty through-
out the Land” The edge was surrounded, like the obverse,
with a circle of stars of a style peculiar to the Byzantine period,
and rarely seen except in illuminated MSS. of that age.
These stars were more in number than the existing States—of
course, including those of the South—thereby suggesting fur-
ther additions in the future to the Union.”

The Legislatures of several States voted thanks to Grant
and his army.

The bill reviving the grade of Lieutenant-General, having

 

   

 

 
 

 

HONORS. - 91

been slightly amended, came up before the House of Repre:
sentatives on February 1st, 1864, and debate ensued upon it.
Mr. Ross submitted an amendment, recommending Major-Gen-
eral U. 8. Grant for the position of Lieutenant-General. The
amendment was carried by a vote of 117 to 19, and the bill,
thus amended, was finally passed, and sent to the Senate. The
Senate, having passed the bill, so far as it revived the grade of
Lieutenant-General, it became a law, and the President nomi--
nated General Grant for the position, On the 2d of March the
nomination was confirmed by the Senate in executive session.

The Chattanooga campaign being ended, General Grant im-
mediately commenced making preparations for another great
campaign in the south-west, and forwarded his views on the
subject to Washington. In the mean time, he occupied him-
self in arranging the details of the administration of his vast
department.

He ordered that deserters should be received from the enemy,
and allowed to go to: their homes, if within our lines, on
taking the oath prescribed by the President. To avoid the
danger of recapture, they were to be exempt from military
service. He declared that no encouragement would be given
to traders or army followers, who had left their homes to
avoid enrollment or the draft, and to speculate on the soldiers’
pay, and no such persons would be tolerated in his armies,
He also issued orders providing for the better protection of the
property of loyal citizens residing within the rebellious States,
and for the seizure of the effects of rebels, forfeited to the
United! States under the Confiscation Act.

On the 18th of Decefnber, 1864, General Grant icf Chatta-
nooga for Nashville, on his way to visit the outposts of his
command. At Nashville he attended to his railroad communi-.
cations, and went to Knoxville, the communication of which
place had been interfered with. From Knoxville, he proceed-
ed to Louisyille by way of Cumberland Gap, for the purpose
of making a personal examination of that route. A Louisville
fetter, dated January 11th, says :

“General U. 8. Grant arrived here this afternoon from Knox
ville, having completed a six-days’ campaign against Jack Frost.
He and his staff left Knoxville on the 5th instant, and crossed
the country by way of Cumberland Gap, Barbourville, Big Hill,
Richmond and Lexington, to this city, haying to encounter the

 
   

 

92 LIFE OF LIEUT-GEN. U. 8 GRANT.

coldest weather and deepest snow known there for thirty years,
The trip was a most terrible one—the officers having to walk a
great part of the way, driving their nearly frozen animals before
them. The descent of the Gap and of Big Hill is represented
to have been not only clifficult but dangerous, and had an arm
been compelled, at this time, to cross those mountains, the tas
would not have been much less terrible than Macdonald’s pass-
age of the Splugen. General Grant had a much easier and
shorter route to Nashville by way of Chattanooga, but he chose
this difficult and dangerous one solely from a desire to see for
himself the capabilities of the country and route for supplying
General Foster's army. Itis this personal attention to important
details, and his aggressive style of warfare, which is the secret
of General Grant’s great success. The difficult journey, under-
taken. at this time, isindicative of the indomitable energy of the
man. :

On the 12th of January, 1864, regular and reliable railroad
communication was opened, between Louisville and Chatta-
nooga, and General Grant immediately began the collection of
a large amount of supplies at Chattanooga, preparatory to the
opening of the spring campaign.

At the time when General Grant left his military division, to
assume the command of the armies of the United States, it
was said that all through the country to the rear of the Union
lines, a Union officer, in his uniform, could ride unmolested to
any portions of. Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama, halting
at farm-houses along the road for such refreshments and shel-
ter as he might desire. :

During the latter part of January, General Grant visited St.
Louis, for the purpose of secing one of his children, who was
dangerously ill. While there he was, tendered, and accepted,
a public dinner, which was one of the grandest affairs of the
kind ever known in the West. In the evening he was sere-
naded, and when called upon for a speech, he expressed him-
self, thus briefly, once for all, on the subject of speech-making :

“GENTLEMEN : I thank you for this honor. I can not make
a speech. It is something I have never done, and never in-
tend to, and I beg you will excuse me.” :

As soon as General Grant’s appointment as Lieutenant-Gen-
eral was confirmed in the Senate, he was ordered to report at
Washington. There he arrived, éncognito, on the 8th of March,

' 1864, in the evening. He went to Willard’s hotel and was

quictly eating his dinner when he was recognized, and his

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

PRESENTATION OF TITE COMMISSION 93

health proposed, all the gnests rising to thelr fe. with cheers.
In the evening he was obliged to undergo the or eal of a “ re-
ception” at the White House. On the afterneon of March
9th, President Lincoln formally presented him with the com-
mission, as Lieutenant-General, addressing him as follows:

“ QENERAL GRANT: The nation’s appreciatica of what you |
have done, and its reliance upon you for what ciidl remains to
be accomplished in the existing great struggle, ara mow present-
ed with this commission, constituting you Lieu’eaant-General
in the army of the United States. With this high honor
devélves upon you, also, a corresponding respovsibility. As
the country here trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you.
I scarcely need to add, that with what I here spvsd. tor the na-
tion, goes my own hearty personal concurrence.”

General Grant replied—a long speech for hira—as follows:

“Mr. Prestpen’: I accept the commission,with gratitude for
the high honor conferred. , With the aid of the noble armies
that have fought on so many fields for our common country, it
will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectation.
I feel the full weight of the responsibilities now devolving upon
me, and I know that if they are met, it will be due to those
armies, and, above all, to the favor of that Providence which
leads beth nations and men.”

The next day the General visited the Army of the Poto-
mac, in company with General Meade, and, o the 11th of
March, he left for the West, with his staff,

On the 12th of March, 1864, the following imaportant ordex
was issued from the office of the Adjutant-General :

“GpnERAL Orpvers, No. 98.

“The President of the United States orders as follows:

“ First. Major General Halleck is, at his own request, relieved
from duty as Lieutenant-General-in-Chief of the army, and
Lieutenant-General U. 8S. Grant is assigned to the command of
the armies of the United States. The head-quarters of the army
will be in Washington, and also with Liewtenant-General Grant
in the field.

“ Second. Major-General Halleck is assigned to duty in Wash-
ington, as Chief of Staff of the army under the direction of the
Secretary of War and the Lieutenant-General commanding. His
orders will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

“ Third. Major-General W. T. Sherman is assigned to the
command of the military division of the Mississippi, composed
of the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, the Tennessee
and the Arkansas,

t

 
LIFR OF LIEUT.-GEN. U 8. GRANT.

“ Fourth. Major-General J. B. McPherson is assigned to the
command of the Department and Army of the Tennessee.

“ Fifth. In relieving Major-General Halleck from duty as
General-in-Chief, the President desires to express his approba-
tion and thanks for the zealous manner in which the arduous...
and responsible duties of that position have been performed.

“ By order of the Secretary of War,
“EH. D. Townsend, Ass’t.-Adjutant-General.”

CHAPTER XIV.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS,

GENERAL GRANT does not look likea hero. In fact, there
is little, if any thing, about him to distinguish him from ordi-
nary mortals. He has not the massive head of Napoleon,
nor the commanding aspect of Wellington; but he looks, as
he is, a calm, sagacious, honest, resolute, patient and persever-
ing soldier. He is rather small, than otherwise, in stature,
and his frame is inclined to slenderness, though it is compact
and of uncommon strength. He has bright blue eyes, and
brown hair and whiskers. There is nothing particularly
noticeable about him, except in action, when his flashing eyes
and firm-set lips show his intensity of purpose.

‘A letter from Nashville thus describes him :

“The General is a man of medium hight, rather spare than _
otherwise, and of far less pretentious appearance than nrany a
second lieutenant frequently seen flashing his finery before the
eyes of wondering beholders. His apparel is plain, and a
trifle, perhaps, negligé, as a man of his celebrity can well
afford that it should be—or, perhaps, just come in from the
engressing cares and toils of a bloody field, the spruce ex-
terior of the martinet seemed specially unworthy of attention.
His face is but little striking. Dark-brown hair surmounts a
brow straight and square, though of no unusual. apparent
capacity. His blue eyes are sharp and expressive, while his
nose, not quite straight enough for Grecian, is delicate as well
as bold in outline. A short-cut reddish beard and mustache
conceal mouth and chin, which one is sure, from the general
outline, must express decision and energy.

 
  

  

 
   
  
 

 

ged

   
    
  

ee

 

oy 9 afr

 
 
  
 
  
 

 

  

HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE, 95

“ His countenance, seen in repose, with the smoke of a
Havana (General Grant is no exception to the all but univer-
sal practice in the army of using the fragrant weed) curling
up around it, who would be likely to identify it as belonging
to the most successful of all our warriors, par excellence, and
beyond a doubt the greatest? * * * * General Grant
has the substantial without the showy. Simple: as. a child,
modest and unassuming, of high honor and blameless integ-
rity, no man could wear more becomingly the clustering
chaplets he has so gloriously earned.”

A St. Louis paper thus describes his appearance in that city ;

“He is a small man, about five feet eight inches high, with

_ a well-knit frame, brown hair and whiskers, both cropped

close, and a manner as utterly destitute of style as could be
conceived. His sharp nose, heavy lower jaw, and firm-set
lips, are the only features wherein one would suspect lurked
the qualities that drove the Western armies like a resistless
avalanche down the Mississippi and over the Southwest, in
that career of consecutive victories that broke the power of
the rebellion, even while it was boasting of triumph at the
east.”

In dress, General Grant is always plain, if not absolutely
caréless. ‘The stars upon his shoulder alone denote his rank,
and often these are wanting. When he commanded the
post at Cairo, there was nothing to distinguish him from an
ordinary civilian, as he walked along the levee with slow and
measured steps, dressed in a plain suit of black, with a black
felt -hat drawn slightly over his face, and with his inevitable
cigar in his mouth. At the New Orleans review, at which he
was injured, he appeared in undress uniform, without sword,
sash or belt; coat unbuttoned, a low-crowned, black felt hat,
without any mark upon it of military rank; a pair of kid
gloves and a cigar in his mouth.

The General is a man of few words, and always speaks to
the point. As for speech-making, he has often declared that
he never had made a speech, and never would.

The bravery of General Grant was proven from Belmont to
Chattanooga; his coolness under fire can not be surpassed,
“The General is not a man of remarkable learning,” said
General Sherman, “but he is one of the bravest Lever saw.

 
LIFH OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8 GRANT.

~ He smokes his cigar with coolness in the midst of flying shot
He has no fear, because he is an honest man. I like Grant.
I do not say that he is a hero; I do not believe in heroes;
but, I know he isa gentleman, and a good man.” An officer
writes from Chattanooga: “It has been a matter of universal
wonder in this army, that General Grant himself was not
killed, and that no more accidents occurred to his staff, for the
General was always in the front (his staff with him, of course)
and perfectly heedless of the storm of hissing bullets and
screaming shell flying around him. His apparent want of
sensibility does not arise from heedlessness, heartlessness, or
vain military affectation, but from a sense of the responsibility
resting upon him when in battle. When at Ringgold, we :
rode for half an hour in the face of the enemy, under an in-
cessant fire of cannon and musketry, nor did we ride fast, but
upon an ordinary trot, and not once do I belieye.did it enter y
the General’s mind that he was in danger.” Nee
General Grant is a kind-hearted, affable, and approachable
man, without the least pretense or air of authority. His care
of his soldiers and affection for his friends are characteristics
as marked as praiseworthy. After his departure from Chat- |
tanooga for Nashville, a correspondent said of him: “The
soldiers and sub-officers at Chattanooga will miss him very
much; for they had cause to know him from his daily walk
in the streets among them. ‘Then, Grant is so easy to ap-
proach,’ say they. If a sub-officer or private wishes to gain
the private ear of the General, and the request is well found-
ed, it is not necessary to wade through a ‘regular channel’ of
thirty-two gorgeous and curt staff officers to sce the chief.
General Grant will have no one between him and his army
but his adjutant, Brigadier-General Rawlins, who is a hearty,
jovial, plain-spoken, hard-working staff officer, just such as
is indispensable to an energetic chief like ‘Old Vicksburg, ”
All of his officers who have specially distinguished themselves
haye always been recommended by him for promotion, and
have inyariably received it.
The detractors of General Grant—and even he has such—
have been fond of asserting that he is too fond of spirituous
liquors. After the battle of Shiloh, a great pressure was
brought to bear upon the President, to induce him to remove

dicesiierie ee

 
THE WHISKY CHARGE.

Grant from command, for that alleged cause. Some (deubt-
less well-meaning) gentlemen, who charged this fault against
Grant, were near the President when he received the news of
the capture of Vicksburg.

“You have told me, gentlemen,” said Mr. Lincoln, “ that
Grant drinks too much whisky. You would oblige me much
if you would find out, and report to me, what kind of whisky
he drinks.”

“ Why so, sir?”

“ Because, if it makes him win victories like this at Vicks-
beng a wish every General in the army had a keg of the
same.”

It may be said, beyond a doubt, upon the authority of
those who know him best, that General Grant is a temperate
man. He could not be otherwise, and do what he has done,
and undergo what he has undergone. An officer of his staff
thus speaks of him:

“Tf you could see the General as he sits just. over beyond
me, with his wife and two children, looking more like a
chaplain than a General, you would not ask me if he drinks.
He rarely ever uses intoxicating liquors ; more moderate in his
habits and desires than any other man I ever knew; more
brave than any man l ever saw; with more power to com-
mand and ability to perform than any man I ever served un-
der ;. cool to excess, when others lose nerve, always hopeful,
always undisturbed, never failing to accomplish what he un-
dertakes just as he expects to.”

We have the following anecdote relating to the early days
of Grant’s command :

The day before Grant attacked Fort Donelson, the troops
had had @ march of twenty miles, part of it during a bitter
cold night. Grant called a council of war, to consider whether
they should attack the fort at once, or give the troops a day or
two of rest. The officers were in favor of resting. Grant
said nothing till they had all given their opinion. Then he
said: “There is a deserter come in this morning; let us see
him, and hear what he has to say.” When he came in, Grant
looked into his knapsack, ‘“ Where are you from?” “ Fort
Donelson.” “ Six days’ rations in your knapsack, have you
not, my man?” “ Yes, sir.” “ When were they served out ?”

 
LIFE OF LIBUT.-GEN. U. 8 GRANT.

“ Yesterday morning.” | “ Were the same rations served out to.
all the troops ?” “ Yus, sir.’ “ Gentlemen,” said Grant, “ troops

do not have six days’ rations served out to them in a fort if

they mean to stay there. These men.men mean to retreat, not

to fight-; we will attack at once.” He did :attack, and the

country soon was electrified by the result.

Another incident. regarding the battle of Belmont should
here be given. In the first stages of the fight, the Federal
forces drove the enemy from his camp, when the troops began
to plunder the Confederate camp, in spite of all that Grant
could do to stop them. At last, Grant, who knew that Con-
federate re-enforcements were coming up, got some of his
friends to. set fire to the camp, so as to stop. the plundering.
Then he got his troops together as well as he could, and_re-
treated; but, in the mean time, the Confederate re-enforcements
came up, attacked Grant, and defeated him. There were five
colonels under Grant, who had not, by any means, supported
him efficiently in his attempts to. stop the plundering and col-
lect the troops. Mr. Osborn saw Grant a day or two after-
ward, when he expected to be deprived of his command on
account of the defeat. He said, “Why do you not. report
these colonels? They are the men to blame for not carrying
out your orders.” “ Why,” said Grant, “these officers had
never been under fire before; they did not know how serious
an affair it was; they have had a lesson which they will not”
forget. I will answer for it, they will never make the same
mistake again. I can see by the way they behaved in. the
subsequent action that they are of the right stuff, and it is
better that I should lose my command, if that must. be, than,
the country should lose the services of five such officers when
good men are scarce.” Grant did not lose his command, and
three out of the five officers have since greatly distinguished
themselves. ; 5

CHAPTER XV.
THE CROWNING GLORY.
Tru splendid campaign in Virginia is a fitting crown to the
glorious record of General Grant. The order of March 12th,
before cited, found the soldier ready ; “head-quarters in the

 
RECENT EVENTS.

field” were his familiar home. The prestige of the Army

of the Potomac was broken by its reverses—its work still un-
done. Grant was to repair the errors and shortcomings of
three years, and went at his work in that quict, methodical
but irresistible manner which had characterized all his previ-
ous. accomplishments. Not only the Government but the

army gave him hearty support. His superior rank set at rest

all questions of precedence, while his achievements inspired

both officers and men with that confidence which ever is the
presage of victory. The bickerings, the jealousies, the ne-

glect to perform duty, which so long had blighted the effec-

tiveness of the army were banished at once. .A few quiet

changes were made in division and corps commanders—tried

and agcomplished men were placed in positions of trust—

reorganization and consolidation followed ; and, by May ist,

the country was astonished with the intelligence that, once

more, the ‘on to Richmond’ campaign was to open.

May 8d the entire Army of the Potomac was thrown
across the Rapidan, converging upon the Wilderness and
Chancellorsville. May 5th, Lee, with the main body of hia
powerful force, fell upon Grant’s right, then upon his left, and
again upon his center—designing to annihilate the Federal
lines ere they could gain solidarity and the strength of posi-
tion.” May 6th the Confederate commanders resumed the
attack, with tremendous fury. All these onslaughts Grant’s -
carefully-handled hosts withstood, holding their positions with
a tenacity which proved to Lee that he had a competitor
who did not know how to recross the river in his rear. The
losses in these two days of terrific battle were about equal
—15,000 on each side, killed and wounded. May 7th, the
Confederate General began to perceive symptoms of Grant's
advance and flank movements, and therefore ‘fell back toward
the North Anna, fighting with extraordinary pertinacity. May
8th, Hancock. and Burnside’s corps were eighteen miles in ad-
vance of the Wilderness battle-field.

Then followed that remarkable contest in which the rebels
were pushed steadily backward, stubbornly contesting each
mile and maneuvering to prevent the invincible Union left
and right from flanking him from his main line of retreat to
Richmond—for a retreat it was, in the most unpalatable

 
LIFE OF LIEUT.-GEN. U. 8. GRANT.

   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
 
  
 
 
    
   
  
   
   
 
  

mse, to the rebel eause.~ May 11th, the Lieutenant-General
telegraphed his gradual advance, and added, with his charac-
ristic sincerity :
“T propose to fight it out on this line of tt takes all summer,”
But, it did not take all summer. Struggle after struggle
rapidly followed: blood dyed every stream flowing to the
ast and crimsoned almost every hill-top from Spottsylvania
to Hanover. May 29th, Grant forced the passage of the Po
munkey. On the 30th, Lee attacks? am tue, wre acsperme
fury, to retain the line of the Chickahominy. But slowly the
tide rolled southward, each day entered on the crimson calen-
dar with a bloody signet. Every art of war, eyery resource of
valor availed nothing: Lee was pressed back, until, by a
master movement across the James, June 14th, Grant placed
ichmond and Petersburg under a state of siege.
- From that moment, up to the momentous first week of
April, the generalship of the two commanders was the chief
point of interest. Lee’s policy evidently was to worry out his
as McClellan was discomfited ; Grant’s aim seemed solely
to hold his own until those wonderfal combinations which he
had inaugurated were complete for the capture not only of
the rebel capital but of the entire insurgent force. It is fair
to assume that the world never witnessed a more truly Titanic
abor or a more skillfully wrought campaign. Although
every event is yet fresh in our minds, we can even now per-
ceive, in the sublime patience of the man, that rare quality of
greatness which is equal to all emergencies and master of
events. When the discerning mind comes to investigate the
processes of Grant’s procedure—to understand the relations of
all his correlative movements, which Sherman, Thomas, Sheri-
dan, Foster, Terry, Schofield, and Gilmore executed—it will
not fail to pronounce our subject the greatest captain which
modern times has produced.

THE END.

 

 

 
 

 
   
 

 

 

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