HON. E. B. WASHBURNE ON GRANT.

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general at that time. The general visited Pittsburg Landing and all the important points every day. The attack was made Sunday morning by a vastly superior force. In five minutes after the first firing was heard, General Grant and staff were on board a steamboat on their way to the battle-field, and instead of not reaching the field till ten o'clock, or, as has been still more falsely represented, till noon, I have a letter before me from one of his aids who was with him, and who says he arrived there at eight o'clock in the morning, and immediately assumed command. There he directed the movements, and was always on that part of the field where his presence was most required, exposing his life, and evincing in his dispositions the genius of the greatest commanders. With what desperate bravery that battle of Sunday was fought! What display of prowess and courage! What prodigies of valor! Our troops, less than forty thousand, attacked by more than eighty thousand of the picked men of the rebels, led by their most distinguished generals!

"But it is gravely charged by these military critics who sit by the fireside while our soldiers are risking their lives on the field of conflict, that Grant was to blame in having his troops on the same side of the river with the enemy. I suppose they would have the river interpose between our army and the enemy, and permit that enemy to intrench himself on the other side, and then undertake to cross in his face. It was, in the judgment of the best military men, a wise disposition of his forces, placing them where he did. To have done otherwise, would have been like keeping the entire Army of the Potomac on this side of the river, instead of crossing it when it could be done, and advancing on the other side.

"After fighting all day with immensely superior numbers of the enemy, they only drove our forces back two and one-half miles, and then it was to face the gunboats and the terrible batteries so skilfully arranged and worked by the gallant and accomplished officers, Webster and Callender, and which brought the countless host of the enemy to a stand. And when night came, this unconquerable army stood substantially triumphant on that

bloody field. I am not here to speak disparagingly of the troops of any other State, but I will speak in praise of the troops of my own State. No Illinois regiment, no Illinois company, no Illinois soldier, fled from the battlefield. If any did flee, they were not from Illinois, and they would be the ones who, after their own flight, would seek to cover up their own disgrace, but only add to it, by attacks upon an Illinois general.

"I have something to say about the generals and the soldiers who fought in the battle. I have a word to say about the brave McClernand, so lately our colleague here, who, as I learn from a man who was on the battle-field on that Sunday, was seen riding at the head of his division, holding his flag in the face of the enemy, daring them to come on. I would say something in relation to the bravery and skill of Hurlburt, from my own district, who commanded another division there, and won great glory. I would say something in defence of another man who has been charged with having his division surprised, and having been taken prisoner at the time. I mean General Prentiss. I have a letter upon my desk which says, that instead of being surprised on Sunday morning, the writer saw him at half-past two o'clock of that day fighting most gallantly at the head of his division. rejoice to have this opportunity to make that statement in justice to a brave man and true soldier.

I

"If I had time I would like to speak of others; I would speak of General Wallace, of my State, who fell nobly fighting at the head of his division, a soldier by nature, a pure and noble man, whose memory will be ever honored in Illinois. I would speak of the gallant Colonel Ellis, falling at the head of the Fifteenth, and of Major Goddard, of the same regiment, also killed; of Davis, of the Forty-sixth, terribly wounded while gallantly bearing in his own hands the colors of his regiment. I would speak of the deeds of valor of the lead-mine Forty-fifth, covering itself with undying honor; of Captains Connor and Johnson, falling at the head of their companies; of the genial and impetuous young Irishman, Lieutenant George Moore, mortally wounded; of Captains Wayne,

HON. E. B. WASHBURNE ON GRANT.

147 and Nase, and Brownell-all killed. Nor would I fail to mention Brigadier-General McArthur and Acting Brigadier-General Kirk, who boldly led their brigades wherever duty called and danger threatened, and were at last carried from the field badly wounded. And of Colonel Chetlain, of the old Twelfth, rising from a sick-bed and entering into the thickest of the fight. And, too, I would like to speak of the dauntless valor of Rawlings, and Rowley, and Campbell, and of many others who distinguished themselves on that field.

"I see before me my friend from Pennsylvania (Mr. McPherson), which reminds me of a friend of us bothyoung Baugher, a lieutenant in the lead-mine regiment, who, wounded six times, refused to leave the field; and, when finally carried off, waved his sword in defiance to the enemy. But who shall attempt to do justice to the bravery of the soldiers and the daring and skill of the officers; who shall describe all the valor exhibited on those days; who shall presume to speak of all the glory won on that blood-stained field? I have spoken of those more particularly from my own part of the State; but it is because I know them best, and not because I claim more credit for them than I know to be due to the troops from all parts of the State. They all exhibited the same bravery, the same unbounded devotion, the same ardor in vindicating the honor and glory of the flag, and maintaining the prestige of our State.

"I have detained the House too long, but I have felt called upon to say this much. I came only to claim public justice; the battle of Pittsburg Landing, though a bloody one, yet it will make a bright page in our history. The final charge of General Grant at the head of his reserves will have a place, too, in history. While watching the progress of the battle, on Monday afternoon, word came to him that the enemy was faltering on the left. With the genius that belongs only to the true military man, he saw that the time for the final blow had come. In quick words he said, 'Now is the time to drive them.' It was worthy the world-renowned order of Wellington, 'Up, Guards, and at them!'

"Word was sent by his body-guard to the different regiments to be ready to charge when the order was given; then, riding out in front amid a storm of bullets, he led the charge in person, and Beauregard was driven howling to his intrenchments. His left was broken, and a retreat commenced which soon degenerated into a perfect rout. The loss of the enemy was three to our two in men, and in much greater proportion in the demoralization of an army which follows a defeat. That battle has laid the foundation for finally driving the rebels from the Southwest. So much for the battle of Pittsburg Landing, which has evoked such unjust and cruel criticism, but which history will record as one of the most glorious victories that has ever illustrated the annals of á great nation."

General Halleck does not appear to have been influenced at all by the attempts to injure his most successful general. On the contrary, May 1st, he expressed his strengthening confidence in the ability of the patient, dignified officer, whose silence amid detraction and misrepresentation was a sublime assurance of his true greatness-by placing him second in command to himself over the grand army, and allowing him to retain the personal command of his own special forces on the right, and of the District of Tennessee, in which the expected battle was to be fought.

General Beauregard being advised of the manner of procedure of the Union troops, and expecting a severe battle, called for all the re-enforcements he could obtain. On the 2d of May, 1862, a strong rebel force concentrated at Corinth, and to this united command he issued a very spirited address.

Reconnoissances were continually sent out, and, on the 8th of May, the cavalry penetrated the enemy's lines within a mile and a half of Corinth. The rebels made several dashes upon our front, and succeeded in compelling some of the forces on the left to retire.

On the 11th of May, a consultation of the officers was held at General Halleck's head-quarters, and it was decided that a general advance should be made. Shortly

THE MOVEMENT TOWARD CORINTH.

after, the movement of the troops commenced.

149

Steadily

they marched forward toward a common centre, which was understood to be Corinth, with enthusiasm, sobered by the anticipation of a terrific battle to secure victory.

The rebels did not intend to let the Union troops arrive at Corinth, or in its close vicinity, without a struggle. And, on May 17, 1862, General Sherman's Fifth Division of General Grant's Army of the Tennessee was brought into conflict with the enemy at Russell's House, on the road to that city. They were forced back to their strongholds, while the Union forces continued to occupy this former rebel position, which they in

trenched.

When the strength of Corinth was definitely ascertained, the plan was to reduce the fortified city by regular approaches. General Beauregard, as an engineer officer, being fully aware of the ultimate result, began to withdraw his garrison by the roads still open to him. This movement became the more necessary, as the United States naval forces were rapidly approaching Memphis from above, and New Orleans and other points of the Mississippi River below had already fallen into our hands. Should Memphis and Vicksburg be taken before his forces could escape from Corinth, it was more than likely that his whole command, which was becoming demoralized, would have surrendered, rather than endure the horrors of a siege.

To cover his retrograde movements, General Beauregard sent out a force to resist the advance of our troops, who were about to take possession of the ridge to the north of Phillip's Creek. On May 21st, the Second Division of General Grant's Army of the Tennessee, under General T. A. Davis, made the necessary movements to occupy the elevation, but found the rebels very strongly posted. By a feint of a retreat the garrison was brought out of their works, and, after a vigorous contest, was completely routed. The Union division then took possession of the heights, securing at the same time several prisoners, with their arms, camp, and equipage. A recon