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Civil War, General Order No. 72, Issued after the Battle of Vicksburg
Civil War, General Order No. 72, Issued after the Battle of Vicksburg
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Description:

Civil War

The Order That Got McClernand Fired After the Disaster at Vicksburg




"Comrades. As your Commander I am proud to congratulate you upon your constancy, valor, 
and success. History affords no more brilliant example of soldierly qualities. Your victories have 
followed in such rapid succession that their echoes have not yet reached the country. They will 
challenge its grateful and enthusiastic applause. Yourselves striking out a new path, your 
comrades of the Army of the Tennessee followed, and a way there was opened for them to 
redeem previous disappointments."




Following this glowing congratulation to his troops, which he also released to the press, General 
U.S. Grant promptly relieved McClernand of command.



JOHN McCLERNAND]. Manuscript Document Signed Secretarially, General Order No. 72, 
[Vicksburg, Mississippi.], May 30, 1863. 5 pp., 7" x 12". McClernand's congratulatory order, copied 
by Captain Joseph H. Livsey, Assistant Adjutant General to Brigadier General George F. 
McGinnis.



Historical Background



At the Battle of Champion's Hill on May 16, McClernand only engaged one of his corps, and 
after General Grant, then commander of the Army of the Tennessee, commented on his caution, 
McClernand withdrew entirely. After sustaining heavy losses and being beaten back by 
Confederate troops at Vicksburg on May 19 and 22, 1863, General Grant decided to lay siege to 
the city instead of attacking it head-on. Despite what was really a Union disaster, McClernand 
issued this long order heaping praise on his troops as the heroes of the battle. It was considered 
less than complimentary to Generals Grant, Sherman and McPherson.



More important, McClernand sent copies of the order directly to the northern press—a violation 
of military protocol. Grant, never impressed with McClernand's tactical abilities, responded by 
removing McClernand from command in favor of General Edward Ord on June 18, 1863.




John A. McClernand (1812-1900), though a political rival, was friends with Abraham Lincoln. 
They served together in the Illinois State Legislature and the U.S. Congress, and as attorneys, 
collaborated in the last case of Lincoln's legal career. In 1861, McClernand resigned from 
Congress to raise a brigade to fight for the union. Although he was an anti-abolitionist Democrat, 
Lincoln appointed him Brigadier General, recognizing that maintaining good relations with 
Douglas Democrats was important to the political stability of Illinois. McClernand's brigade 
fought respectably in the Battle of Belmont, Missouri, and the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. His 
military career survived his dismissal by Grant; he was appointed to another command in 1864. 
After the war, he served as an Illinois district judge.





"GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Number 72 



Battle-field, in rear of Vicksburg, May 30, 1863.



COMRADES: As your commander, I am proud to congratulate you upon your constancy, valor, 
and successes. History affords no more brilliant example of soldierly qualities. Your victories 
have followed in such rapid succession that their echoes have not yet reached the country. They 
will challenge its grateful and enthusiastic applause. Yourselves striking out a new path, your 
comrades of the Army of the Tennessee followed, and a way was thus opened for them to 
redeem previous disappointments. Your march through Louisiana, from Milliken's Bend to New 
Cartage and Perkins' plantation, on the Mississippi River, is one of the most remarkable on 
record. Bayous and miry roads, threatened with momentary inundation, obstructed your progress. 
All these were overcome by unceasing labor and unflagging energy. The 2,000 feet of bridging 
which was hastily improvised out of materials created on the spot, and over which you passed, 
must long be remembered as a marvel. Descending the Mississippi still lower, you were the first 
to cross the river at Bruin's Landing and to plant our colors in the State of Mississippi below 
Warrenton. Resuming the advance the same day, you pushed on until you came up to the enemy 
near Port Gibson. Only restrained by the darkness of night, you hastened to attack him on the 
morning of May 1, and by vigorously pressing him at all points drove him from his position, 
taking a large number of prisoners and small arms and five pieces of cannon. General Logan's 
DIVISION came up in time to gallantly share in consummating the most valuable victory won 
since the capture of Fort Donelson.



Taking the lead on the morning of the 2nd, you were the first to enter Port Gibson and to hasten 
the retreat of the enemy from the vicinity of that place. During the ensuing night, as a 
consequence of the victory at Port Gibson, the enemy spiked his guns at Grand Gulf and 
evacuated that place, retiring upon Vicksburg and Edwards Station. The fall of Grand Gulf was 
solely the result of the victory achieved by the land forces at Port Gibson. The armament and 
public stores captured there are but the just trophies of that victory. Hastening to bridge the 
South Branch of the Bayou Pierre, at Port Gibson, you crossed on the morning of the 3rd, and 
pushed on to Willow Springs, Big Sandy, and the main crossing of Fourteen Mile Creek, 4 miles 
from Edwards Station. A detachment of the enemy was immediately driven away from the 
crossing, and you advanced, passed over, and rested during the night of the 12th within 3 miles 
of the enemy, in large force at the station.



On the morning of the 13th, the objective point of the army's movements having been changed 
from Edwards Station to Jackson, in pursuance of an order from the commander of the 
department, you moved on the north side of Fourteen Mile Creek toward Raymond. This delicate 
and hazardous movement was executed by a portion of your number cover of Hovey's 
DIVISION, which made a feint of attack in line of battle upon Edwards Station. Too late to harm 
you, the enemy attacked the rear of that DIVISION, but was promptly and decisively repulsed.


 
Resting near Raymond that night, on the morning of the 14th you entered that place, one 
DIVISION moving on to Mississippi Sprin, in support of General Sherman; another to Clinton, 
in support of General McPherson; a THIRD remaining at Raymond, and a fourth at Old Auburn, 
to bring up the army trains.


On the 15th, you again led the advance toward Edwards Station, which again more became the 
objective point. Expelling the enemy's pickets from Bolton the same day, you secured and held 
that important position.



On the 16th, you led the advance, in three columns upon three roads, against Edward Station. 
Meeting the enemy on the way in strong force, you heavily engaged him near Champion's Hill, 
and after a sanguinary and obstinate battle, with the assistance of General McPherson's corps, 
beat and routed him, taking many prisoners and small arms and several pieces of cannon. 
Continuing to lead the advance, you rapidly pursued the enemy to Edwards Station, capturing 
that place, a large quantity of public stores, and many prisoners. Night only stopped you.
At day dawn on the 17th, you resumed the advance, and early coming upon the enemy strongly 
intrenched in elaborate works, both before and behind Big Black River, immediately opened 
with artillery upon him, followed by a daring and heroic charge at the point of the bayonet, 
which put him to rout, leaving eighteen pieces of cannon and more than 1,000 prisoners in your 
hands.


By an early hour on the 18th, you had constructed a bridge across the Big Black, and had 
commenced the advance upon Vicksburg.



On the 19th, 20th, and 21st you continued to reconnoiter and skirmish until you had gained a 
near approach to the enemy's works.



On the 22nd, in pursuance of the order from the commander of the department, you assaulted the 
enemy's defenses in front at 10 a. m., and within thirty minutes had made a lodgment and 
planted your colors upon two of his bastions. This partial success called into exercise the highest 
heroism, and was only gained by a bloody and protracted struggle; yet it was gained, and was the 
first and largests success achieved anywhere along the whole line of our army. For nearly eight 
hours, under a scorching sun and destructive fire, you firmly held your footing, and only 
withdrew when the enemy had largely massed their forces and concentrated their attack upon 
you. How and why the general assault failed, it would be useless now to explain. The Thirteenth 
Army Corps, acknowledging the good intentions of all, would scorn indulgence in weak regrets 
and idle criminations. According justice to all, it would only defend itself If, while the enemy 
was massing to crush it, assistance was asked for by a diversion at other points, or by re-
enforcement, it only asked what in one case Major-General Grant had specifically and 
peremptorily ordered, namely, simultaneous and persistent attack all along our lines until the 
enemy's outer works should be carried, and what, in the other, by massing a strong force in time 
upon a weakened point, would have probably insured success.


Comrades, you have done much, yet something more remains to be done. The enemy's odious 
defenses still block your access to Vicksburg. Treason still rules that rebellious city, and closes 
the Mississippi River against rightful use by the Illinois who inhabit its sources and the great
Northwest. Shall not our flag float over Vicksburg? Shall not the great Father of Waters be 
opened to lawful commerce? Methinks the emphatic response of one and all of you is, "It shall 
be so. "Then let us rise to the level of a crowning trial. Let our common sufferings and glories, 
while uniting as a band of brothers, rouse us to new and surpassing efforts. Let us resolve upon 
success, God helping us.


I join with you, comrades, in your sympathy for the wounded and sorrow for the dead. May we 
not trust, nay, is it not so, that history will associate the martyrs of this sacred struggle for law 
and order, liberty and justice, with the honored martyrs of Monmouth and Bunker Hill?


JOHN A. McClernand,


Major-General, Commanding."



This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.


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