This evening finds us at the base of Kenesaw. We are reminded that this
name has gone to history, associated with deeds of valor; where Logan's battle
flag flapped against the sky. The heavens are all aglow to-night; to the
southward red columns of smoke are curling upward. Signal lights are twinkling
upon Kenesaw. Evidently Sherman is conversing with Howard and Slocum, his right
and left bowers.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 275
McCulloch, Stanton,
and Dennison are absent from Washington. Seward read a letter from Bigelow at
Paris, which indicates peace, though all the diplomats here believe a war
inevitable. Seward represents that Montholon was scared out of his wits when
General Logan was appointed to Mexico. He certainly is not a very intelligent
or cultured diplomat. The horizon is not perfectly clear, but the probabilities
are peaceful. Had a talk with the President on the subject of Pasco. Chandler
was the attorney of the Department in this investigation and prosecution at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard, and I had him state the case to the President. He
presented the whole very well, confirming all that I had stated, and making the
case stronger against Pasco. The President was puzzled and avoided any direct
answer. I have little doubt he has been imposed upon and persuaded to do a very
improper thing. But we shall see. This case presents the difficulties to be
surmounted in bringing criminals to justice. Pasco was a public officer, an
active partisan, very popular and much petted by leading party men in official
position. Detected in cheating and stealing, public men for a time thought the
Department was harsh and severe in bringing him to trial. Objections were made
against his being tried by court martial, and he was turned over to the civil
courts. But a trial could not be had. Term after term it was carried along.
Confessions from others implicated and the books and documents produced were so
conclusive that finally he plead guilty and disgorged so far as he was actually
detected. In consequence of his pleading guilty and making restitution of the
amounts clearly ascertained, Judge Cadwalader gave him a mild sentence of only
one year and a half of imprisonment. Having, after a long struggle, reached
this stage, the politicians and the court favoring him, we now have the
President yielding to the pressure of Members of Congress, and, without inquiry
or a call for the records or the facts, pardoning this infamous leader of fraud
and crime. The influence will be pernicious, and scoundrels will be
strengthened. I shall be glad to know that the President has not committed
himself irretrievably.
WASHINGTON, March 7,
1867.
Dear Brother: ...
You will have noticed that my name is connected with the Reconstruction Law. I
did nothing but reduce and group the ideas of others, carefully leaving open to
the South the whole machinery of reconstruction. The bill was much injured by
the additions in the House, but, after all, there is nothing obnoxious to the
South in it but general suffrage. This they must take, and the only question is
whether they will take it in their own way by their own popular movements, or
whether we shall be compelled at the next session to organize provisional
governments. I hope and trust they will learn wisdom from the past. Can't you
in some way give them that advice? Three years ago they hated you and Johnson
most of all men; now, your advice goes farther than any two men of the nation.
We will adjourn soon until November next. The impeachment movement has, so far,
been a complete failure. Butler and Logan are reinforcements, but will effect
nothing.
The President has
only to forward and inforce the law as they stand, and he is safe. He ought not
to, and must not stand in the way of the determined movement to recognize the
rebel States. He has had his way and it failed; he ought now fairly to try the
Congressional way. I think some of going to Paris in April. I am tendered an
honorary membership of the commission, and a free passage. The occasion is
tempting; if I go, it will be about the middle of April.
[St. Louis, March 24,
1866]
I am sorry to hear
that the President is likely to break with the party. It should not be, but
Congress should defer much to him, as an executive feels how much more
difficult to execute plans than a Congress dealing with abstract ideas. I still
hope that mutual concessions will result in a practical solution.
I have no doubt
myself, and Howard, Logan, Woods, and all who were in Columbia that night
concur with me. The fire which burned up the city, began about dawn, after I
had been in six hours, and I know that great exertions were made to stop it,
but there had been all day and continued till late at night, a perfect tempest
of wind, and I saw hundreds of bales of cotton on fire flying hundreds of
yards. It is barely possible some malicious soldier started the fire, but I
rather think this devilish spirit grew as the fire progressed. I know that the
general judgment of the country is that no matter how it began it was all
right, still I know that the cotton was the cause of the rapid spread of the
fire, and this resulted from the fact that the bales had been ripped open with
knives, so that long before the fire began the houses and trees were white with
it, and it was plain a spark would spread like gunpowder. It was not specially
my business, for Howard was in actual command of the troops in Columbia, but
being present in person the world holds me responsible. I should like you to
introduce the petition, and to say that I have no doubt as to the parties
responsible for all the consequences.
It was not until the
day after the conflagration that I destroyed the Arsenal and other public
factories which were in the suburbs and had escaped the fire that burned the
town.
Dear Brother: I know
the railroad depot and three large bridges were burned before a soldier of ours
had entered Columbia, and I know that six hours before the real conflagration
began I saw half-a-dozen piles of cotton on fire in the streets one large pile
near the market house where the great conflagration began, which fire our
soldiers were putting out as I rode by it. . . . Wade Hampton defended Columbia
as long as he dared, and then ran away, leaving the city full of cotton blowing
about like flakes of snow. So that trees and frame houses and garden fences
were literally white. Of course a mayor could expect no terms. Being helpless,
he took what he could get. I told him, of course, I had no intention to burn or
destroy anything except what my previous orders defined. I saw Wade Hampton's
cotton order printed in a Columbia paper, but kept no copy, as it was
notorious; for he openly declared that Yankee footsteps should not pollute his
threshold, and he commanded everything like corn fodder, etc., to be burnt,
lest we should get it. . . .
They boasted that we
would find a Moscow and its consequences.
The treatment of our
officers, prisoners at Columbia, was enough to have warranted its utter
annihilation, and after the fire began it required all our efforts to prevent its
extending to the suburbs, including the Old Hampton house, now owned by
Preston, brother-inlaw of Wade Hampton, which was saved by John Logan.
Spl. Orders, No 180
II II 1 Immediately On the surrender
of the City of Vicksburg Maj. Gen. Herron will advance one
Brigade of his Division to within the fortifications of the enemy. He will immediately
throw out guards to prevent all persons, from soldiers or citizens, from
entering or leaving the city.
The divisien of
Maj. Gen. J. A. Logan will march in and take eha
2 II Maj.
Gen. J. A. Logan is assigned temporarily to the command of the city of
Vicksburg, and He will march his Division immediately within the
entrenchments of the enemy to a suitable camp ground. He will ta furnish
all the guards necessary to prevent the escape of citizens or prisoners from the
Vicksburg or the entrance of soldiers and all out side parties into the city.
One regiment will be
immediately placed on guard in the city to preserve order and to prevent
pillaging and other destruction of property.
Five companies,
commanded by a competant Field Officer, will report at once to Lt. Col. Bingham,
Chief Quartermaster, to guard a collect and guard all captured
property, and to superintend working parties of such negroes as may be
collected and employed in discharging boats and otherwise labor in the
Quartermaster's Dept.
3 No citizens will be permitted to land from
steamers until authority may hereafter be given.
4 All able bodied
negro men in the city will be immediately collected and organized into working
parties under suitable officers & non-commissioned officers.
They will at once be set at policing the city and all the grounds within the
entrenchments.
5. Capt. Comstock,
Chief Eng. will superintend direct the destruction of the outside
approaches made to the enemy's works. All necessary details will be made for
this purpose by the Comdr of the 17th Army Corps, either from his PyPioneer
Corps, negroes collected, or by details from the ranks. All heavy Artillery
will be moved into the entrenchments and properly located for defence. Division
Engineer officers, or in their absence, Division Qr. Mrs. will collect and save
all mining tools belonging to their respective commands.
SOURCE: John Y.
Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 454-5
I. On the surrender
of Vicksburg, Major-General Herron will advance one brigade of his division to
within the fortifications of the enemy. He will throw out guards to prevent all
persons, soldiers or citizens, from entering or leaving the city. Maj. Gen.
John A. Logan is assigned temporarily to the command of the city of Vicksburg,
and will march his division within the intrenchments of the enemy, to a
suitable camp-ground. He will furnish all the guards necessary to prevent the
escape of citizens or prisoners from Vicksburg, or the entrance of soldiers and
all outside parties into the city. One regiment will be immediately placed on
guard in the city, to preserve order, and to prevent pillaging and other
destruction of property. Five companies, commanded by a competent field
officer, will report at once to Lieut. Col. J. D. Bingham, chief quartermaster,
to collect and guard all captured property, and to superintend working parties
of such negroes as may be collected and employed in discharging boats, and
other labor in the quartermaster's department. No citizens will be permitted to
land from steamers until authority may be given hereafter. All the able-bodied
negro men in the city will be immediately collected and organized into working
parties, under suitable officers. They will at once be set to policing the city
and the grounds within the intrenchments. Captain Comstock, chief engineer,
will direct the destruction of the outside approaches made to the enemy's
works. All necessary details will be made for this purpose by the commander of
the Seventeenth Army Corps, either from his pioneer corps, negroes collected,
or by details from the ranks. All heavy artillery will be moved into the
intrenchments and properly located for defense. Division engineer officers, or,
in their absence, division quartermasters, will collect and save all
mining-tools belonging to their respective commands.
II. Lieut. Col.
William L. Duff, chief of artillery, will immediately collect and take care of
all ordnance stores outside of the enemy's works at Vicksburg. He will call on
Major-General McPherson and Major-General Herron for such details as he may
require in carrying out this order.
* * * * * * * * * *
The mine on Logan's
front is ready, and the enemy appear to be digging in toward it. Shall I
explode it? And what disposition do you desire me to make of my troops;
anything more than having the rifle-pits filled with sharpshooters?
JAS. B. McPHERSON.
GENERAL: The mine in
your front will be exploded as soon as the proper disposition of the troops can
be made. It is not intended to make any assault, but simply to have the
rifle-pits lined with sharpshooters, and the command under arms, ready to take
advantage of any chance in our favor or repel any sortie of the enemy.
[July 1, 1863.]
The mine was
successfully Exploded today damaging the enemy's works considerably &
killing & wounding a number of their men Six men were blown out on our side
of the defensive four of them killed one mortally wounded & one a negro
slightly hurt the seige guns a portion of Logans & Ransoms arty opened on
them with good effect as well as Ransoms Sharp shooters Ransom who was in a
position to see the inside of the works says the rebels must have lost a good
many men it has just been reported to me by Lt Branigan 1st infy in chg of 30
pdr parrotts that three rebel regts were seen crossing the bottom running towards
our right Shermans Command beyond the range of any of our guns except the 30
pdrs from which he fired as long as they could be seen . . .
P. S. The
explosion today evidently took the rebels by Surprise
ORD'S, July 1,
1863.
Nothing further than
the dispatch from Herron, which came from Logan and Major Wilson, via
Warrenton. Wilson was stationed near Hankinson's Ferry. I think it is likely
the enemy has shown some force there, perhaps as a feint. I have two brigades
ordered to be ready to march for the country between Warrenton and Hall's
Ferry. Shall I send them off?
A cavalry picket, to
give notice if crossing is attempted, will be sufficient. Only move troops
after it is known there is a force to oppose.
SOURCE: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 2 (Serial No. 37), p. 209
Drury's
Bluff, Va., May 9, 1865.
We were
reviewed by Howard, Logan and Hartsuff this morning as we passed through
Petersburg. We lie tonight along the outer line of Drury's Bluff defenses which
Butler took a year ago this month. Signs of a good deal of fighting; good many
roads, etc. The James river is about one mile to our right. I have been to some
very fine forts. Fort Wagner and Fort Stevens (or Stephens) are the best, on
the second and main line of Rebel works, which Butler was working against when
the Rebels came out and whipped him. From one fort I saw the spires of
Richmond, James river and Shipping, Fort Darling and Fort Harrison. Coming back
toward camp we found one of our soldiers unburied in the bushes. His skull was
brought in by our hospital steward.
SOURCE:
Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 379
Manchester,
Va., May 10, 1865.
The rain
yesterday made the road, which is a splendid one fifty yards wide, just right
for traveling. We passed through three lines of Drury's Bluff and Fort Darling
defenses, and are now at the second and inside line of works for the defense of
Richmond. Hostile Yankees never saw either of these two lines at this point, or
any other, I guess, this side of the James River. It is
about 22 miles from Richmond to Petersburg. "Old Brains" (Halleck)
issued his proclamation that no soldier or officer of this army should enter
Richmond only when we pass through. Howard and Logan say they will pass around
if they can. I hope they will.
We have a
fine view of Richmond from here. It is situated much like Peoria and Columbia,
S. C. The burned district shows very plainly from here and makes the resemblance
to Columbia very striking. Several thousand men and officers of the corps made
a raid on Logan last night and got a little talk from him. He was very careful
not to say too much, all small talk. This got up a real elephant hunting mania,
and I guess every regiment commanded in the corps was called out. Colonel
Wright had to make a little talk. The 14th and 20th move out tomorrow.
SOURCE:
Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 379-80
April 12,
1865, 10 a. m.
We hear this
a. m. that Lee has surrendered to Grant the army of northern Virginia. It
created a great deal of enthusiasm among us.
It is hard to
make our men believe anything, but Logan told us half an hour ago as he passed
it is true as gospel. We have passed a large infantry camp that the Rebels left
yesterday. Johnston is moving towards Raleigh. Our division has the advance
to-day. We consolidated the regiment for the campaign into five companies.
Raleigh,
April 15, 1865.
To-day makes
four years soldiering for me. It is a terrible waste of time for me who have to
make a start in life yet, and I expect unfits me for civil life. I have almost
a dread of being a citizen, of trying to be sharp, and trying to make money. I
don't think I dread the work. I don't remember of shirking any work I ever attempted,
but I am sure that civil life will go sorely against the grain for a time.
Citizens are not like soldiers, and I like soldier ways much the best. We were
to have moved out this morning but did not. Logan went out with our 4th
division, report says, to confer with Johnston. Big rumors going that our
campaign is over, and that Johnston's men are going home. We have been having
heavy showers during the day, but the boys feel so good over the prospect ahead
that they raise the most tremendous cheers right in the midst of the hardest
rains. We think Johnston is in as tight a place as Lee was, and if he don't
surrender we will go for him in a way that will astonish him. We consider our
cause gained and are searching each other's records to see who was ever
doubtful of success. I don't remember at any time of being despondent over the
war or being doubtful of the issue. Was I? I did think the war might last for
years yet, but take that back. I have not been in town since we came through,
and think no one from the brigade has. Curiosity over captured cities is
"old.”
Five miles south of Cheraw, S. C., March 3, 1865.
General Wood says we have made 24 miles to-day. Our whole corps on one
road and hardly a check all day. This is Thompson's Creek, and the Rebels under
Hardee thoroughly fortified it. Logan's orders are to carry the works
to-morrow, but as usual the Rebels have left. The 17th A. C. took Cheraw this
p. m. without a fight, getting 27 pieces of field artillery, 3,000 stands of
small arms, besides a great deal of forage.
There were only two or three small farms on the road today. Poorest
country I have seen yet. An intelligent prisoner captured to-day says that
Kilpatrick has taken Charlotte, N. C., and that Lee is evacuating Richmond. Saw
the sun to-day; had almost forgotten there was such a luminary.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier,
p. 356
Made 14 miles a little south of east. We passed about a mile south of Gates' old battle ground. A dozen foragers of the 99th Indiana were captured to-day, but our foragers caught more Rebels than that, besides 50 wagons and 200 horses and mules belonging to refugees. Stringent orders from Howard, Logan and Wood about stealing. It has rained for 24 hours. No enemy in front to-day. Got out of the clay hills again on sand-pine flats.
SOURCE: Charles
Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 352
Made 18 miles to-day. Rear guard for the corps in the morning, but the 2d and 3d Divisions took a right hand road and in the p. m. the 4th Division also went to the right. We followed a cow path to camp. Passed through two large turpentine camps. The boys fired most all the trees and nearly burned us up. The smoke made the road very disagreeable. There is not much destruction of property since Logan's last order. Hear of no skirmishing. The chivalry give us very little trouble, never stop but at rivers. Foragers get a good many animals. Provisions plenty. Hear nothing of the left wing, or Kilpatrick.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 345
EXPLANATORY Note. Until this time the 15th Army Corps had never had a Corps Badge, though the other corps commanders had long tried to induce General Logan to adopt one. Yielding at last to their solicitations he issued the following order:
The adoption of the cartridge box as the distinguishing badge of the 15th Corps is said to have originated in this way: Before the battle of Missionary Ridge a soldier in the 11th Army Corps asked an Irish soldier of the 15th Corps what the badge of his corps was.
“And phwat is that badge thing?” he asked.
Being told and having no badge to show in reply, he answered, slapping his cartridge box: “It's that, wid 40 rounds!”
_______________
Nearing Columbia, S. C., February 14, 1865.
Good road to-day. Fine rolling country. Sand with pine wood and scrub oak. Saw the wagoners use their locks to-day for the first time since we crossed the Oconee, in Georgia. Logan's escort got after some Johnnie foragers to-day and captured four wagons and 50 or 60 horses and mules. The Rebels are shooting from the other side of the river and there was a lot in front of us when we stopped here. Lee is said to be in front with 40,000 men. It seems to be the opinion that we will have a fight. Can probably tell better to-morrow night. Rain all p. m., and still quite cold. Wear overcoats all the time.
GENERAL ORDERS No. 10.}
I. The following is announced as the badge of this corps: A miniature cartridge-box, black, one-eighth of an inch thick, fifteen-sixteenths of an inch wide, and thirteen-sixteenths of an inch deep, set transversely on a field of cloth or metal one and five-eighths of an inch square; above the cartridge-box plate will be stamped or marked in a curve the motto, “Forty Rounds.” The field on which the cartridge-box is set will be red for the First Division, white for the Second Division, blue for the Third Division, and yellow for the Fourth Division. For the headquarters of the corps the field will be parti-colored, of red, white, blue, and yellow.
II. The badge will invariably be worn upon the hat or cap.
III. It is expected that this badge will be worn constantly by every officer and soldier in the corps. If any corps in the army has a right to take pride in its badge, surely that has which looks back through the long and glorious line of Wilson's Creek, Henry, Donelson,, Shiloh, Russell House, Corinth, Iuka, Town Creek, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Champion's Hill, Big Black, Snyder's Bluff, Vicksburg, Jackson, Cherokee Station, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Knoxville, Resaca, Kingston, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack, Decatur, the 22d and 28th of July before Atlanta, Jonesborough, Lovejoy's, Allatoona Pass, Grahamville, Fort McAllister, and scores of minor struggles; the corps which had its birth under Grant and Sherman in the darker days of our struggle; the corps which will keep on striking until the death of the rebellion.
IV. For the present, good temporary badges can be made easily by any soldier in the corps. When communication is re-established with the North commanders can procure very handsome ones for their men at a nominal cost.
V. Division and brigade commanders are requested to examine plans for division and brigade flags at these headquarters.
By order of Maj. Gen. John A. Logan:SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 47, Part 2 (Serial No. 99), p. 419; Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 343-4
