History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 56

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Young McPherson worked faithfully, and seemed contented while under the employ of Mr. Smith at Green Spring, but his ambition never permitted him to settle upon merchandizing as an employment. He devoured the contents of the well filled little bookcase of his employer, and received with heartfelt thankfulness the promise of an appointment to West Point. He had for a long time desired to make more out of himself than a country storekeeper, and a way was now open to the realization of his aspirations. Two seasons were spent in the academy at Norwalk, prepar- ing for the dreaded entrance examination, which he passed with credit. He entered the famous class of '53, composed of fifty-

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two members, among whom were Sheridan, Sill, Schofield, Bell, Tyler, Chandler, Vincent and others, who achieved renown daring the Rebellion; also his antagonist at Atlanta, James B. Hood. At the end of the first year McPherson stood second, and from then till the end of the course was always at the head of the class. He was not only a fine scholar, but a popular, kindhearted, generous cadet. He was familiarly called "Mac" by his classmates, who never asked of him a reasonable favor in vain. His principal offence while at the institution had for its cause a desire to relieve a part of the class of unnecessary burdens. He had been promoted, on the ground of merit, to the Cadet Captaincy, but his rank was reduced to the lieutenancy for the grave offence of permitting a part of his class to ride in an omnibus to engineering drill. Eighteen other marks of delinquency stand against him at West Point, showing that, although a perfect student, he, like others, was sometimes derelict according to the strict rule of West Point conduct. But his promotions at the academy followed each other in almost as quick succession as, a decade later, his promotions in the army.

Graduating at the head of his class, McPherson, according to the rules of the academy, was appointed to the engineering corps. He was retained the first year at the academy as assistant instructor of practical engineering-an honor never before conferred upon so young an officer. From a private letter we learn that McPherson felt, keenly, this splendid compliment, although the duties of the position did not suit his tastes. For the next three years he was engaged on engineering duty on the Atlantic coast; for three and a half years at Alcatraz Island, one of the defences of San Francisco harbor. Then came the war. While in New York he came in contact with the finest society in

the city, which, private letters show, engrossed a fair share of his attention. A promising young officer, handsome, ac- complished, and cordial in his bearing, there was no reason why he should not be a welcome guest in any home. He at length found his "pearl of great price" in the person of a Baltimore lady, whom he was to have married early in 1864, but the plan of the Atlanta campaign rendered it impossible to spare time from the army long enough to meet the engagement. Sherman, in a letter to the betrothed lady, explained affairs, and the marriage was postponed. We naturally have an interest in the woman whom a man of McPherson's culture and character would select for a wife. In a letter, written from California to his mother, he pictures in one sentence his idea of feminine loveliness. He says: "You will love her as I do, when you know her. She is intelligent, refined, generous-hearted and a Christian; this will suit you as it does me, for it lies at the foundation of every pure and elevated character."

The spirit of West Point during the period when the Abolition sentiment was organizing into an active movement, is well remembered. McPherson, like so many young officers of his day, imbibed the prejudices of the institution, and his opinions during the formative period of the Abolition movement are expressed in unmistakable language. In 1853 he writes to a friend in Ohio: "I believe, if I were to meddle with politics, I would be a Know Nothing." A year later he openly rejoiced in an Abolition defeat. He writes:

Not a few are highly gratified at the result of the recent elections in Massachusetts and in this State, which have been such a signal rebuke to Seward and his Abolition supporters. It is very seldom that military men meddle with politics, except when broad national principles are assailed; and then they feel it a duty to place themselves in the van and rally to the support of the Union. I have felt a good

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deal of interest in politics since I have seen the efforts which have been made to form a sectional party, a party with but one idea, and that one calculated to awaken a feeling of animosity from one extremity of the Union to the other, the fatal effects of which neither you nor I can predict. When I see men, endowed with superior powers of mind and occupying high stations, putting forward their utmost energies to excite dissension, and not only dissension but absolute hatred between the different sections of our country, I feel that it is time they should be shorn of their strength and rendered powerless to commit evil. Could I believe in their sincerity or patriotism, and that motives of humanity actuate them, I might be a little more charitable. But when such men as Salmon P. Chase, whose position gives him influence, gets up before a public assembly in Maine, or any other State, and declares that there is a deep feeling of hatred between the North and the South, that the Allies do not hate the Russians or the Russians the Allies any more than the people of the North hate the people of the South or the people of the South hate the people of the North, it is time all candid men should unite to defeat the schemes and machinations of such demagogues. I do not hesitate to say that I am gratified at the result of the elections; and I believe every Union Whig-Henry Clay and Daniel Webster Whig-can say the same.

The young engineer, it will be noticed, emphasized his devotion to the Union. It was not until the first overt acts of rebellion that McPherson saw his mistake as to who the real assailants of the Union were. A manly letter, written shortly after the beginning of secession, to his mother (published first in Hours at Home) shows that West Point training, although it had affected his prejudices, had not sullied his ardent patriotism. He says:

However men may have differed in politics, there is but one course now. Since the traitors have initiated hostilities and threatened to seize the National capital, give them blow for blow, and shot for shot until they are effectually humbled. I do not know whether I shall be kept here, or ordered East; but one thing I do know, and that is, that I am ready and willing to go where I can be of the most service in upholding the honor of the Government and assisting in crushing out rebellion; and I have faith to believe that you will see the day when the glorious old flag will wave more triumphantly than ever. I wish I were at home now to join the Ohio Volunteers. I swung my cap more than once on reading the telegraphic message of Governor Dennison: "What

Kentucky will not furnish, Ohio will." Now that the fires are kindled, I hope they will not be permitted to die out until Jeff. Davis and his fellow-conspirators are in Washington to be tried for treason, or, in the language of old Putnam, "tried, condemned and executed."

After such a letter, there is no mistaking the position of McPherson. He was ready to devote his energies and talent to the preservation of the Union. He became a martyr on the field of battle.

At the opening of the rebellion McPherson's talent did not receive proper recognition. He was a capable engineer, but little known. Incompetent drill masters were receiving promotion, while he was compelled to solicit a transfer to the service in the East. There he was given but a junior captaincy of engineers, and assigned to duty at Boston harbor. He was always modest, and refrained from actually seeking appointment, but we have information from private sources that he was ambitious to enter upon field duty. The time came when his well trained faculties were to have a broad scope and severe test. The result subsequent events show. In November, 1861, he was ap- pointed aide-de-camp to General Halleck, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Promotions followed rapidly. From assistant engineer of the Department of Missouri, he became chief engineer of the Army of the Tennessee in the expedition against Forts Henry and Donelson. He engineered the expedition against Corinth, with the rank of colonel. On the 15th of May, 1862, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers, and the following June was assigned to the general superintendency of military roads in East Tennessee. On his return from Corinth after the battle he was given a commission as major general of volunteers, to date from October 8, 1862 a position to which he had risen in little more than a year, from junior captaincy of engineers. His first experience as a com-

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mander was at Corinth. His subsequent operations were under the direction of Grant, in the campaign which terminated in the capture of Vicksburg.

McPherson in this campaign bore a conspicuous part. Port Gibson, Clinton, Jackson, and Champion Hill, first brought him into public notice and favor. After the fall of Vicksburg he was generally credited at the South with the planning of the whole campaign. This was certainly a mistake, but Grant owed a large measure of his success to McPherson's care, bravery, and ability in executing commands. While his private letters show that he was not insensible to the honor which promotion implied, yet he never permitted his ambition to lead him into expressing official reports in any other than the most simple and matter-of-fact terms. At Raymond, just as the issue of the battle seemed plain, his adjutant approached him with a dispatch to Grant, ready for the signature. It said that "he had met the enemy in immensely superior force, and had defeated him most disastrously, and was now in full pursuit." McPherson quietly tore up the paper and wrote: "We met the enemy about 3 P. M. today; have had a hard fight, and tip to this time have the advantage."

Grant generously acknowledged McPherson's services in a letter recommend- ing him for promotion to the rank*of brig- adier-general in the regular army. The letter reviews his record thus far and will be of interest at this time:

He has been with me in every battle since the com- mencement of the Rebellion, except Belmont; at Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, and the siege of Corinth, as a staff officer and engineer his services were conspic- uous and highly meritorious. At the second battle of Corinth his skill as a soldier was displayed in suc- cessfully carrying reinforcements to the besieged gar- rison when the enemy was between him and the point to be reached. In the advance to Central Mississippi, General McPherson commanded one wing of the army with all the ability possible to

show, he having the lead in the advance, and the rear retiring. In the campaign and siege terminating in the fall of Vicksburg, General McPherson has filled a conspicuous part. At the battle of Port Gibson it was under his direction that the enemy was driven late in the afternoon from a position they had succeeded in holding all day against an obstinate attack. His corps, the advance always, under his immediate eye were the pioneers from Port Gibson to Hankinson's Ferry. From the north fork of Bayou Pierre to the Black River it was a constant skirmish, the whole skillfully managed. The enemy was so closely pursued as to be unable to destroy their bridges of boats after them. From Hankinson's Ferry to Jackson the Seventeenth Army Corps marched on roads not travelled by other troops, fighting the entire battle of Raymond alone, and the bulls of Johnston's army was fought by his corps, entirely under the man- agement of General McPherson. At Champion Hills the Seventeenth Corps and General McPherson were conspicuous. All that could be termed a battle there was fought by the divisions of General McPherson's Corps and General Hovey's division of the Seventeenth Corps. In the assault of the 22d of May on the fortifications of Vicksburg and during the entire siege, General McPherson and his corps took unfading laurels. He is one of the ablest engineers and skilful generals. I would respectfully but urgently recommend his promotion to the position of brigadier-general of the regular army.

The request was granted and he was confirmed as such in December, 1863.

McPherson was given command of the district of Vicksburg, a well-earned com- pliment. During the winter his old chiefs, Grant and Sherman, were advanced, and in order of merit the command of the Army of the Tennessee fell to McPherson. He assumed the duties of his new position March 26, 1864. He repaired at once to Nashville and was present when the Georgia campaign was planned, before the glorious results of which were realized he was sleeping in an honored grave. The Army of the Tennessee was at this time widely scattered. The Seventeenth Corps was absent on veteran furlough; the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Corps were stationed from Huntsville to Memphis, while a portion was reinforcing Banks in the Red River campaign. McPherson at once concentrated these scattered forces and

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by the 5th of May had his columns in hand at Ringgold, Georgia. Two days later he commenced his march on Resaca, making the first flank movement of the celebrated Atlanta campaign.

We can not detail this whole campaign in which the Army of the Tennessee took so conspicuous a part. Nowhere in the Rebellion was finer generalship displayed than by Johnston in blocking the progress of Sherman's superior army. But Johnston was succeeded' at a critical point by Hood- McPherson's classmate at West Point. On the 17th of July, after a long series of engagements, generally successful, we find Sherman's army thus disposed before Atlanta, ready to move on the defences of the city: The Army of the Cumberland, under Thomas, occupied the right and the right centre, resting on the river northwest of the city; the Army of the Ohio, under Schofield, occupied the left centre, and the Army of the Tennessee took a position on the left, thus throwing Thomas and Schofield in front of the enemy's main line of fortifications. On the 18th McPherson, by a rapid swing, struck the Georgia railroad about fifteen miles northeast of the city, at Stone Moun- tain, and broke up four miles of road which brought supplies to the besieged city from the east. Schofield occupied Decatur, six miles east of Atlanta, and Thomas moved his forces toward Peach Tree Creek, north of Atlanta. On the 19th McPherson and Schofield passed eastward of Decatur, while Thomas, though meeting strong opposition, crossed from the north of Peach Tree Creek, in front of the enemy's entrenched lines. The Federal forces on the morning of the 20th then lay in a curved line from the railroad running northwest across the Chattahoochee, to beyond the Georgia railroad east of Atlanta. The position of the armies changed little during this or the following

day, although on the afternoon of the 10th Hooker, after a severely contested battle, repulsed an attempt of Hood to force through a gap between the armies of Schofield and Thomas. On the 21st Leggett's division of the Seventeenth Corps, under McPherson, carried a strong point commanding the city and the two main roads leading north and south. This was a strongly fortified hill which the rebels made two desperate but unsuccessful attempts to recover.

On the morning of the 22d the advance lines of the enemy were found abandoned, which led Sherman to believe that Hood meant to evacuate the city. He ordered a general advance, but McPherson was more prudent. He well knew the character of his old classmate and antagonist. Orders had been received from Sherman to employ the Sixteenth Corps, under Dodge, to break up the railroad, and with the rest of his command to move rapidly upon the city. Skirmish lines were advanced and McPherson, in company with Logan, made a personal examination of the fortifications from the crest of the hill overlooking the works and the city. Few persons could be seen either behind the fortifications or in the streets. Suspecting Hood's design to suddenly fall upon the advancing columns from the side and rear, McPherson, after giving some general directions to Logan and Dodge to maintain their positions, hastened to Sherman's headquarters to the right. His explanation to Sherman of the situation was interrupted by the sound of battle at the extreme left, which confirmed his suspicions. At full speed he rushed toward the sound. He found the Sixteenth Corps facing the left flank and struggling firmly against an as of terrible fierceness. The Seventeenth Corps was maintaining their fortified eminence, but between the two was a gap through which it was feared

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the enemy would force his way and cut off the Seventeenth Corps. Behind this gap lay a wood, through which a narrow road led to the eminence occupied by the Seventeenth Corps. McPherson, after sending his staff on various errands, accompanied by a single orderly, dashed along this road to the wood. He was met by a staff officer and informed that the Seventeenth Corps was being severely pressed by an overwhelming force. After a moment's hesitation the staff officer, John T. Raymond, was hurried back with orders to General Leggett to form his lines with all possible speed, parallel to the road. McPherson then, at full speed, hurried along the fated road, but already the enemy was crowding down into the gap. A shrill "halt!" rang out from behind the trees. The faithful steed, quickly obeying his master's bidding, dashed into the thick wood, followed by a volley from the skirmish line in gray. A minute later the riderless horse, with two wounds, came out of the thicket, while the brave, loved General of the Army of the Tennessee lay dying with lacerated lung and shattered spine. The subsequent battle is best described by Logan, who succeeded to the command;

The news of his death spread like lightning speed along the lines, sending a pang of keenest sorrow to every heart as it reached the ear. But especially terrible was the effect upon the Army of the Tennessee. It seemed as though a burning, fiery dart had pierced every breast, tearing asunder the flood gates of grief; but at the same time heaving to their very depths the fountains of revenge, the clenched hands seemed to sink into the weapons they held, and from the eyes gleamed forth flashes terrible as lightning. The cry, "McPherson! McPherson!" rose above the din of battle, and as it ran along the lines swelled in power, until the roll of musketry and booming of cannon seemed drowned by its echoes.

McPherson again seemed to lead his troops, and where he leads, victory is sure; each officer and soldier, from the succeeding commander to the lowest private, beheld, as it were, the form of their bleeding chieftain leading them on in battle. " McPherson," and "onward to victory," were the only thoughts;

bitter, terrible revenge their only aim. There was no such thought that day of stopping short of victory or death. The firm, spontaneous resolve was to win the day or perish with the slain leader on the bloody field. Fearfully was his death avenged that day. His army, maddened by his death and utterly reckless of life, rushed with savage delight into the fiercest onslaughts, and fearlessly plunged into the very jaws of death. As wave after wave of Hood's daring troops dashed with terrible fury upon our lines, they were hurled back with a fearful shock, breaking their columns into fragments, as the granite headland breaks into foam the ocean billows. Across the narrow line of works raged the fierce storm of battle, the hissing shot and bursting shell raining death on every hand. Over dead and dying, friends and foes, rushed the swaying hosts, the shout of rebels confident of victory only drowned by the battle cry " McPherson " which went up from the Army of the Tennessee.

Many thousand rebels bit the dust ere the night closed in, and the defeated and baffled enemy, after failing in their repeated and desperate assaults upon our lines, were compelled to give up the hopeless contest. Though compelled to fight in front and rear, victory crowned our arms.

A detail bf Union troops recovered the body, which was taken to the headquarters of the commanding General, and the following day was sent to its final resting place, in the beautiful cemetery at Clyde. Sherman wept bitterly, and Grant assured the broken- hearted, devoted mother, and affectionate grandmother, that their sorrow could not exceed his. But weeping was not confined to generals and friends at home. The rank and file of the Army of the Tennessee felt that they had lost a devoted personal friend. Their acquaintance was short, it is true, but so kind-hearted, so devoted to their comfort and safety had he been, that their admiration of his gentle manhood and splendid gallantry amounted to nothing less than love. Sherman, in his feeling official' announcement said: "General McPherson fell in battle, booted and spurred as the gallant knight and gentleman should wish."

Not his the loss; but the country and the army will mourn his death and cherish his memory as that of one who, though comparatively young, had risen by his merit and ability to the command of one of the best armies which the Nation had called into existence to vindicate its honor and integrity.

History tells us of but few who so blended the grace and gentleness of the friend, with the dignity, courage, faith, and manliness of the soldier.

But most deeply affecting was the funeral scene at Clyde a week later. The pure grief of a tender, devoted mother, and of a doting grandmother, was uncontrollable.

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The hundreds of strong men who had known the martyr hero from innocent boyhood, who remembered the friendly grasp of his tender hand which had always been extended to his old neighbors and friends during his annual visits home, these wiped with brawny hands from tanned faces, tears of profound sorrow. Mothers, friends of the grief-stricken parent, who had never known the young soldier by any other name than "Jimmie," dampened with weeping the sweet flowers with which fair hands had covered the sad but honorable tomb.

THE M'PHERSON MONUMENT.

General McPherson fell July 22, 1864. One year later the following circular was issued by General Logan:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, July 7, 1865

Many officers and soldiers of the Army of the Tennessee, having expressed a desire to pay some fitting tribute the memory of their late gallant commander, the noble McPherson, who fell in the front of battle, booted and spurred, on the bloody day of the 22d of July, I submit to the several corps and other commanding officers for their consideration the following plan of action :

I would suggest that each regimental commander have lists prepared for subscription, and that those soldiers of the army who may desire to subscribe register their names thereon; as soon as the lists have been completed, that they, with the funds raised, be forwarded to the brigade commander, and by him transmitted for the purchase and erection of a suitable monument at the grave of that gallant soldier. As soon as the monument has been erected these lists should be deposited at the grave.

I would further suggest as a member of the executive committee, Major General William B. Hazen, Brevet Major General M. D. Leggett and Brevet-Brigadier- General A. Hickenlooper, citizens of McPherson's native State, and in every way fitted to discharge the duty of their position.

Corps commanders will please take such steps in the matter as will insure the result desired.

JOHN A. LOGAN, Major General.

These circulars were distributed, as directed, among the soldiers of the various corps, at the first regular meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennes-

see, in Cincinnati, 1866. Reports were received, showing that three thousand nine hundred and fifty-six dollars had been received for the fund toward erecting a monument to General McPherson. The minutes of that meeting also show that a strong effort was made to have the McPherson monument located at West Point instead of Clyde. General Hickenlooper strongly opposed the proposed change of location. In a letter to General Hazen he said:

The subscriptions thus far received have been almost entirely from the rank and file of the army which McPherson commanded-probably two-thirds from his own corps-with the distinct understanding that the monument would be erected over his remains at Clyde. The feeling which prompted this action on the part of his officers and men was not such as usually actuates men to subscribe to such an object; it was not so much for the purpose of perpetuating his military success and renown, but as a testimonial of their love and affection for the man. The feelings of the mother, who gave such a son to her country, together with the remaining members of the family, should be consulted, and they are decidedly opposed to the removal of his remains to the Point, if a monument can be erected at Clyde. It appears very absurd to erect a monument at West Point, and leave the place where he was born and raised, and where his remains now lie, unmarked and uncared for.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 56

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