All quiet. We had
brigade drill this forenoon. Our brigade consists of the 7th Missouri, 8th,
63rd and 18th Illinois, commanded by Col. Stevenson of the 7th Missouri. Our
regiment is the first of the fourth brigade, third division, of the right wing
of Gen. Grant's army. Gen. John A. Logan made a speech to the troops this
afternoon.
SOURCE: Seth James
Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the
Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After
the Surrender, p. 13
Our brigade was reviewed by Generals McPherson and Logan this afternoon. Gen. McKean's brigade was reviewed today.
SOURCE: Seth James
Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the
Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After
the Surrender, p. 13
There was grand
review this afternoon. Generals McPhesron, Grant and Logan were the review
officers. The weather is fine but the nights are very cold.
SOURCE: Seth James
Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the
Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After
the Surrender, p. 13
On the 20th we turn
over our stock, saddles and bridles to the A. Q. M., 4th Division. We part from
our mules this time without any regrets, inasmuch as we need them no more,
having finished our work in the south-land. But the Seventh will ever feel
grateful to Major General Logan for permitting them to retain their stock until
their arrival at Washington, thereby saving them from a long weary march.
SOURCE: abstracted
from Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, p. 309
Dear Brother: . . . You are probably right in your
treatment of the Presidential nomination. Most of the talk in your favor is no
doubt honest and sincere, but some of it, I am sure, is to crowd off other
candidates, or for selfish motives. A nomination is far from being equivalent
to an election. The chances are for the Democrats, but for their proverbial
blundering. An election would be a misfortune to you, while the canvass would
be painful to all the family. Still, having fairly and fully stated your
opposition to being a candidate, and having given fair notice of your purpose
to decline, it is better not to say anything more about it. The papers will
think you protest too much.
It now looks as if
Logan may get the nomination.
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 357
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 24, 1884.
Dear Brother: I think I have owed you a letter some time.
I have nothing new. Days, weeks, and months glide by, and my mail brings the
most conglomerate stuft possible, letters asking for autographs, photographs,
donations, tokens, such as saddles, swords, muskets, buttons, etc., etc., which
I used in the war, many letters predicting that I will be the next President,
and that the writer foresaw it and was the first to conceive the thought. . . .
I notice with satisfaction that my name is being gradually dropped, and that my
sincerity is recognized. What your party wants is a good, fair executive, and
of these you have plenty,—Edmunds, Harrison, Gresham, Logan, etc., etc. I wish
to remain absolutely neutral. Gresham has a fine war record, and is as honest,
outspoken, judicious a man as I know among my old soldiers. I also think highly
of Calkins of Indiana and Ballantine of Nebraska.
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 358
Dear Brother: Now
that the Convention at Chicago has nominated Blaine and Logan, I feel such a
sense of relief that I would approve of anything. My instructions to Henderson,
verbal, telegraphic, and written, were all short, emphatic, and clear, and, so
far as I am concerned, all may be published; viz. first, to do what was
possible to prevent even the mention of my name; and, second, that though there
should occur a break after
the first ballots,
and my name should be presented as a compromise, to decline; and, lastly, if in
spite of such declination I should be nominated, I would decline with an
emphasis which might be construed as disrespectful to the Convention itself,
which, of course, I do not want to do.
I would not for a
million of dollars subject myself and family to the ordeal of a political canvass
and afterwards to a four years' service in the White House. You and Blaine and
others have been trained in a different school,— quite different, and have a
perfect right to aim for the highest round of your ladder. . . . Here at this
point I must confide to you, in absolute confidence, that I was in possession
of a letter from Blaine,1 all in his own hand, marked
"Strictly, absolutely confidential," which I now possess, with a copy
of my answer, with others from various people, all to the same effect, that in
case of a break and deadlock between Blaine and Arthur it was inevitable that
my name would be used, and that I had no more right to decline than if I had
received an order as lieutenant of the army. When you come here sometime I will
show you these letters, but I must not part with them. I had expected that my
letters in answer, in case of a break—which all seemed to expect would compel
the Convention to turn to you, Edmunds, Hawley, or Gresham, and it may be that
my positive manner carried conviction of my sincerity and stubbornness, and
helped to bring about the nomination of Blaine and Logan. Anyhow, I escaped,
and that to me was salvation.
1 This letter was afterwards published in the
"North American Review" with Mr. Blaine's consent.
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 360-1
We move early this
morning, but very slow; these swamps prove to be terrible obstacles to
Sherman's seventy thousand. We soon come to the great Saltkatchie swamp at
Beaufort's Bridge: we find the swamp all flooded, about one mile wide, and the
bridge in the middle. Weak commanders would have faltered; things indeed look
frightful, but General Corse gave the command forward. The Seventh led, and
into the great Swamp the Fourth Division passed, and through it they waded, the
water, winter cold, ranging from waist to neck deep. It did seem that some of
the men would perish; that they would be left in that great swamp; but all
passed safely through, and gaining a footing on the opposite side, drove the
enemy far away, who were all the while disputing our passage. The ammunition
train is now ordered to move across (the ammunition being raised out of water's
reach); about midway they swamp, and the soldiers of Corse's Division are
compelled to go back into the swamp and carry the ammunition boxes out to land.
Remaining here until
the trains are crossed, we move forward and join the corps at Midway, on the
South Carolina Railroad. Then began the movement on Orangeburg. We notice that
Black Jack is at the head of the Fifteenth Corps, having arrived from his
campaign on the northern line and assumed command at Pocataligo. We also find
that the mounted portion of the Seventh are now (as the boys say) members of
his staff. We cross the South Fork of the Edisto River at Halmond's bridge and
move to Poplar Springs to support the Seventeenth Army Corps, moving straight
to Orangeburg, which is taken by a dash of the Seventeenth.
From Poplar Springs
we cross the North Edisto River at Skilling's bridge, and on the fifteenth we
find the enemy in
strong position at Little Congaree bridge, but the gallant Logan, with his
thundering Fifteenth, soon ousts them, when we move across and go into camp in
front of Columbia. During the night our camp is shelled from a battery on the
east side of the Congaree, above Grundy, causing considerable stir in the
Fifteenth Corps' camp.
SOURCE: abstracted
from Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, p. 294-6
This morning we move
our camp and shift around more to the left. Brisk skirmishing is now going on
along the river, with some cannonading. In the evening we again move our
position more to the left. The capitol of South Carolina is now in full view.
The Saluda river being pontooned, we cross this evening, which throws us
between two rivers, the Saluda and the Broad, which two form a junction at
Columbia and make the Congaree.
During the night,
under cover of Stone's Brigade, of the Fifteenth Corps, which was crossed in
the afternoon, a pontoon bridge was laid across the Broad River, three miles
above Columbia. On the morning of the seventeenth, Colonel Stone, of the
Twenty-fifth Iowa, commanding Third Brigade, First Division, Fifteenth Corps,
moves towards the city. At eleven o'clock the Mayor comes out and makes a
formal surrender of the city to Col. Stone. In anticipation of General Howard,
with the army of the Tennessee, entering the city, General Sherman's orders are
to spare all dwellings, colleges, asylums, and harmless private property.
General Logan, who
stood at the end of the pontoon bridge when the last pontoon was laid, says to
Howard, with his black eyes flashing: "I will now move into this hell of
treason. But say the word and I will sweep this city from the earth." It
is now past noon. Generals Sherman and Howard have rode into the city. The
Fifteenth Corps is now moving across Broad river. The Seventh is ordered to
stay back and guard the train.
It is now night; the
wind is raging furiously; the heavens are all aglow; Columbia is enveloped in
flames; her beautiful architecture is crumbling; her gorgeous mansions are
falling; the work and labor of a century is being destroyed.
SOURCE: abstracted from Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 296-7
To-day we reach
Falling Creek, where the mounted portion of the Seventh is thrown forward to
the river bridge, where they encounter the enemy in a brisk shirmish, which for
dash and vim elicits the compliments of "Black Jack." Advancing,
General Slocum discovered that Johnson with his army was strongly posted in the
vicinity of Bentonville.
SOURCE: abstracted
from Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, p. 300
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
