Speech of Major-General John A. Logan

Bücher

Angebote / Angebote:

Excerpt from Speech of Major-General John A. Logan: On Return to Illinois, After Capture of Vicksburg On giving the able and eloquent address of General Logan on the issues of the day, we preface it with the following items furnished by "Mack, " who reported the address: Duquoin, Illinois, July 31, 1863. General John A. Logan, loved commander of the 3d Division of General Grant's conquering army, arrived at his home in Carbondale, Illinois, about a week ago. This is the first leave of absence he has had since he entered the army, and he was among the first to do that. For two years he has been constantly with his command, with the exception of the short time it took him to recover from the dreadful wound he received at Fort Donelson. He has declined many offers of leave tendered him by General Grant before the surrender of Vicksburg, having, as he said, made up his mind not to go home until he could tell his friends that the Mississippi River was open from Cairo to the Gulf General Logan's present position with regard to the South is in singular contrast with the course he took in Congress before the rebellion broke out. In politics he has always been a bitter partisan of the Democratic school. Representing an intensely Democratic district in Southern Illinois, before our troubles assumed the character of open war, in which the South became the aggressors, he sided with the South on nearly every sectional question brought before the National Legislature. He supported every measure of compromise to prevent a dissolution of the Union. Sumpter was attacked, and the first gun fired at the national flag severed the fraternal bonds that had bound Logan to the South. He returned from Congress thoroughly satisfied as to the troubles then ahead of us, and determined to give his cordial support to the loyal and patriotic people of the North against the conspirators who sought to disrupt the Government and make a wreck and ruin of the entire country. But his congressional record had given him a bad name in administrative circles at Washington, and atone time an order was actually issued for his arrest as one who sympathized with the rebellion. He was not long, however, in setting himself right in this matter. By his own exertions he raised the 31st regiment of Illinois volunteers, now commanded by Col. McCook, brother of Maj. Gen. McCook. When he had his men all in camp he applied to the State for arms, but none were to be had. He waited a little longer, but still his requisition could not be filled. Finally he went to New York, and there bought arms for his entire regiment with his own money and notes of promise. I believe the amount has since been refunded to him by the War Department. With his men fully armed and equipped, he was sent to Cairo, where he remained for some time. He participated in the battle of Belmont, under General Grant, and his conduct on that occasion was marked with the same heroism that has characterized it on a dozen bloody fields since. The officers and crews of some of the hospital steamers became panic stricken when they found that our men were retreating, and the commander of the vessel on which Logan's regiment was embarking, evinced a great desire to get away from the fire of rebel muskets. The gallant Colonel of the 31st, aware of the mischief that such fear might lead to, stood on the deck of the boat and swore he would shoot any man who attempted to move the planks from the shore until every man of his regiment was on board. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com