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Show PITTSBURG LANDING. Mr. Whitelaw ReicFs letter to the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, so far as it relates to the character of that army is fine; his intimation intima-tion that it practically saved the battle ofTPitts-burg ofTPitts-burg Landing, and that a good deal of the history his-tory of that battle is wrong must be received with allowance. It is true that Grant's army was badly beaten the first day and driven back to the river bank, but It is also true that Beauregard's army (Albert Sidney Johnston had Seen killed) had sufferdd most severely, and the gunboats in the river had stopped its advance. It is true, too, that the division of General Lew Wallace of 13,000 men, having lost -their way, was not in the fight. Had Buell's army failed- to arrive, Grant would have had the fresh division of Wallace next morning morn-ing and would probably havd held the position of the river bank. But Buell's army changed the fape of things and his and Grant's army quickly swept the field. The history is correct enough. If' briefly is that Grant and Sherman were taken byi surprise early in the morning, while many of thrfir troops were still in bed, that General Wal-lape Wal-lape missed the right route to the field, that Gvant'si and Sherman's commands were rolled back, that Prentice with 1,500 men were captured, cap-tured, that at 11:30 a. m. it looked like a hopeless de.f6at for the Union army. Then General John stpn was fatally wounded and died within a half hour; that then Beauregard, who assumed command, com-mand, instead of rushing on his exultant and so far victorious army, halted it and spent two hours in; reforming his lines, which gave the Union army time to partially recover and to partially restore order; that when Beauregard advanced the Union troops continued to retire until the gunboats checked the Confederate advance; that in the evening the van of Buell's army appeared and the regulars in it under Gen. Nelson crossed the river to Grant's spent army, that the other divisions were crossed as they arrived and the noxt day rolled the Confederates back and took up the position hold by Grant when the battle opened the previous day. What might have been had Johnston lived; what might have been had Stonewall Jackson been in Beauregard's place; what might have been had Buell failed to arrive, are all merely speculations. But one thing must be considered in connection connec-tion with Whitelaw Reid's letter. Read hated Grant, Grant had no .use for Reld. The antipathy began In the army, it culminated in the Greely campaign, and that may still haye a little influence' influ-ence' on Mr. Reid, who has never been noted lor either generosity or chivalry. |