SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO - BIO: McPHERSON, James Birdseye (published 1888)
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Historical Collections of Ohio
Henry Howe LL. D.
Published 1904
copyright 1888
Sandusky County


JAMES BIRDSEYE McPHERSON,

General in the Union Army,  was born in Clyde,  Ohio,  November 14,
1828.  His father worked at blacksmithing while clearing his farm of one
hundred and sixty acres of woodland.  The boy grew up in the hardy
laborious backwoods life of the time.  When he was thirteen years of
age,  the oldest of four children,  his father died,  leaving the widow
to struggle against adverse circumstances,  to provide for her little
family.  James was a helpful son,  and to aid his mother secured
employment in a store at Green Spring.  He was a cheerful,  upright
youth,  and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.  During his leisure
hours he employed himself in study;  later he was enabled to spend two
years in the Norwalk Academy.  He received an appointment to West Point
and graduated in 1853,  first in a class of fifty-two members among whom
were Philip H. Sheridan,  John M. Schofield and John B. Hood.  He taught
for a year in West Point.  For three years he was engaged in engineering
duty on the Atlantic coast,  most of the time in New York Harbor.  At
the beginning of the war he was a lieutenant of engineers stationed in
California,  where for three years and a half he was in charge of the
fortifications in the harbor of San Fransisco.

He applied for active duty with the army in the field,  where his
promotion was very rapid.  He became Lieutenant-Colonel November 21, 
1861;  Colonel,  May 1,  1862;  Brigadeer-General of volunteers,  May
15,  1862.  Gen. Hellock placed him on his staff,  but in the spring of
1862 he was transferred to the staff of Ge. Grant and served as Chief
Engineer at Fort Henry,  Fort Donelson,  Shiloh,  the siege of Corinth
and Iuka.  In the reorganization of Grant's army in 1863,  he was
appointed to the command of the 17th army corps.  In the section
campaign against Vicksburg,  McPherson's corps bore a prominent part. 
When the army settled down to the regular siege of Vicksburg McPherson's
command had the center.  A year had rolled by since he was doing duty on
Grant's staff,  a newly fledged officer of volunteers.  Now he was firm
in his high position,  was the compeer of Sherman,  and a Lieutenant
trusted and honored by the General-in-Chief.  When Vicksburg was
surrendered he became one of the commissioners to arrange the terms, 
and as a recognition of his skill and personal daring throughout the
campaign,  from Port Gibson to the bloody salients of the enemy's
massive earthworks,  which withstood assault after assault,  he was made
full Brigadeer-General in the regular army.  From Captain to
Brigadeer-General in a year and a half!

When Grant at last turned over his command in the west to Sherman,  and
assumed the control of all the armies,  McPherson succeeded the latter
at the head at the Army of the Tennessee,  then over 60,000 strong,  and
when Sherman set out on his campaign to Atlanta,  followed him in person
with about 25,000 of his troops,  the 15th corps under Gen. John A.
Logan,  and the 16th under Gen. G.M. Dodge.

In the battles before Atlanta the new commander of the Army of the
Tennessee proved his fitness for the role and displayed the highest and
best quality of a soldier,  capacity for leadership.

When Sherman's army was before Atlanta and he was extending his left
flank to envelop the city,  Hood opened the movement with a series of
engagements from July 19 to July 21.  On July 22,  1864,  Hood withdrew
from the trenches in front of Thomas and Schofield,  and made a furious
attack on Sherman's left flank,  aiming at the destruction of
McPherson's command.  At the time the onslaught was made McPherson was
in consultation with Sherman.  He immediately issued an order for the
closing of a gap between two corps,  and then rode rapidly toward the
threatened point,  and while engaged in personally superintending the
disposition of the troops,  and passing from one column to another,  he
came suddenly upon a skirmish line of confederates.  They called
"Halt!"  whereupon he endeavored to turn into the woods and escape,  but
a volley was fired after him.  A musket ball passed through his right
lung,  and shattered his spine,  but he clung to his saddle until his
horse had carried him further into the woods and then fell to the
ground.  His orderly was captured.

About an hour after this had occurred a private of the 15th Iowa, 
George Reynolds,  who had been wounded and was making his way back into
the Union lines,  came across the body of his General.  Life was not yet
extinct,  but he could not speak.  Reynolds moistened his lips with
water from his canteen,  remained until he had expired and then went to
seek assistance.

The body was brought and laid out in the headquarters of Gen. Sherman, 
who,  as he paced back and fro issuing orders for the battle still going
on,  shed bitter tears over the death of his favorite general.  In
communicating the news of his death to the War Department,  Gen. Sherman
wrote:  "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 the nation had called into existence to vindicate its honor
and integrity."

McPherson was greatly beloved by the army,  and when the news reached
them that he had fallen or been taken captive,  a wild cry rose from the
whole army,  "McPherson or revenge,"  and the assault of the enemy was
beaten back with great slaughter.

Gen. McPherson's body was taken north and buried at Clyde,  Ohio,  and
an imposing monument now marks the place of his interment.  He was but
thirty five years of age at the time of his death,  beloved by all who
came in contact with him for his noble traits of character,  and in the
full tide of a brilliant career which promised the highest attainments. 
Gen. Grant placed a high estimate on his genius,  and always spoke of
him in words of praise.  In March,  1864,  he wrote to Sherman,  "I want
to express my thanks to you and McPherson,  as the men to whom,  above
all others,  I feel indebted for whatever I have had of success."

Gen. McPherson's personal appearance was very prepossessing.  Over six
feet tall,  well developed,  graceful and winning in manner.  He was
cheerful,  genial,  devoid of jealousy and had a keen sense of honor. 
At the time of his death he was betrothed to an estimable young lady of
Baltimore and expected soon to be married.  His affection for his family
was unusually strong,  and they were rarely absent from his thoughts. 
When the news of his death reached Clyde the following touching
correspondence ensued:

Clyde,  O.,  Aug. 5,  1864
"To General Grant:
DEAR SIR,
I hope you will pardon me for troubling you with the perusal of these
few lines from the trembling hand of the aged grandma of our beloved
General James B. McPherson,  who fell in battle.  When it was announced
at his funeral,  from the public print,  that when General Grant heard
of his death,  he went into his tent and wept like a child,  my heart
went out in thanks to you for the interest you manifested in him while
he was with you.  I have watched his progress from infancy up.  In
childhood he was obedient and kind;  in manhood,  interesting,  noble
and preservering,  looking to the wants of others.  Since he entered the
war,  others can appreciate his worth more than I can.  When it was
announced to us by telegraph that our loved one had fallen,  our hearts
were almost rent asunder;  but when we heard the Commander-in-Chief
could weep with us too,  we felt,  sir,  that you had been as a father
to him,  and this whole nation is mourning his death.  I wish to inform
you that his remains were conducted by a kind guard to the very parlor
where he spent a cheerful evening in 1861,  with his widowed mother, 
two brothers,  and only sister,  and his aged grandmother,  who is now
trying to write.  In the morning he took his leave at six o'clock, 
little dreaming he should fall by a ball from the enemy.  His funeral
services were attended in his mothers orchard,  where his youthful feet
had often pressed the soil to gather the falling fruit;  and his remains
are resting in the silent grave scarce half a mile from the place of his
birth.  His grave is on an eminence but a few rods from where the
funeral services were attended,  and near the grave of his father.

The grave,  no doubt,  will be marked,  so that passers-by will often
stop and drop a tear over the dear departed.  And now,  dear friend,  a
few lines from you would be gratefully received by the afflicted
friends.  I pray that the God of battles may be with you and go forth
with your arms till rebellion shall cease,  the Union be restored, and
the old flag wave over the entire land.

With much respect,  I remain your friend,
Lydia Slocum
Aged eighty-seven years and four months."


"Headquarters Armies of the United States
City Point,  Virginia,  Aug. 10,  1864

Mrs. Lydia Slocum,
MY DEAR MADAM,
Your very welcome letter of the 3rd instant has reached me.  I am glad
to know that the relatives of the lamented Major-General McPherson are
aware of the more than friendship that existed between him and myself. 
A Nation grieves at the loss of one so dear to our nation's cause.  It
is a selfish grief,  because the Nation had more to expect from him than
from almost anyone living.  I join in this selfish grief,  and add the
grief of personal love for the departed.  He formed,  for some time, 
one of my military family.  I knew him well;  to know him was to love. 
It may be some consolation to you,  his aged grandmother,  to know that
every officer and every soldier who served under your grandson felt the
highest reverence for his patriotism,  his zeal,  his great,  almost
unequaled ability,  his amiability and all the manly virtues that can
adorn a commander.  Your bereavement is great,  but cannot exceed mine.

Yours Truly,
U.S. Grant"


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