Sketches of Great Captains-Duke of Parma...... Colonel J. G. Wilson.... 520 saved (a Memory of the Christian Commission).. C. D. Gardette... 254 THE UNITED STATES SERVICE MAGAZINE. VOL. IV.-JULY, 1865.-NO. I. WHAT TO DO WITH OUR GENERALS. THE rebel generals have come to grief, and been excluded from the amnesty: the punishment is merited. What shall we do with our own? They have earned great rewards. The rapidity with which the war came to a close, and the sudden disbandment of our armies, throws out of their offices and employment a large number of our generals, most of them of course of the volunteer force, and the question occurs,-What is to be done with and for the men who have commanded our victorious legions, and thus brought us so glorious a peace? It seems like a complicated one, but if analyzed it will be found quite simple. As a general principle, the volunteer generals will be disbanded, the retention of a few who have made themselves needed men being the exceptions to the rule. Those now disbanded will bear with them to civic life the honors of the Government and the gratitude of the country. Let the present list of regular generals remain subject to such modifications and reconstruction as may be proper. Most of them have earned their rank, and they and more will be needed for an army much larger than our old army before the war. But there is a class consisting of army officers, many of them of lower rank, who have risen to, be major-generals and briga 'ergenerals of volunteers. It is among these, and as to their future, that particular care and consideration are necessary. Without attempting an enumeration, we may instance Wright, Humphreys, and Gibbon, the latter of whom is only a captain of Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by C. B. RICHARDSON, in the Clerk's artillery. Now it seems quite unjust to put a man who has commanded a corps d'armée, and shown his entire capability to command it, back to the command of a company, and it should not be done: but how can it be remedied? In the first place, many will be glad to resign, and have only been waiting for the termination of the war to do so. Second, the useless generals who, like the war-horse of Scripture, have only "smelt the battle from afar," should be gotten rid of or reduced without compunction. Third, the number of regular generals will be increased, since the war will leave much unsettled and extra work,-boards, courts, tours of inspection, &c., &c.,-to be done; and the most meritorious generals should be repromoted for this purpose. Fourth, if, having made such appointments, it be more desirable to decrease the list as the work becomes less, then let there be no promotions among the generals, as they die or resign, until a certain limit is reached. Fifth, let all the worthy remaining officers, who have been generals of volunteers, be brevetted to the highest rank they have attained, and where it may be done, as it always can, let them have separate commands. Their honors belong to them, and the brave, unflinching, self-sacrificing commanders of the war should never be reduced in title and honor; time will soon re-establish the system. And lastly, let all this matter be confided to a competent and numerous board, which shall reorganize according to the principles here laid down. We only throw out these hints, feeling quite sure that the republic will not be ungrateful, and that if we shrink from introducing an English pension list "for so many lives," we shall at least give just rewards to those who have earned far more than the Government can ever pay. They staked all, and saved the country. Now is the time to acknowledge our debt, and reward them. Shi the Π di In W 11 I MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. THE subject of this sketch, John Alexander Logan, was born near the present town of Murphysboro', in the County of Jackson, Illinois, on the 9th of February, 1826. His father, Dr. John Logan, emigrated from Ireland and settled in Illinois in the year 1823. His mother, Elizabeth Jenkins, was a native of Tennessee. The fruits of this marriage were eleven children, John A. being the eldest. During young Logan's boyhood, schools were scarcely known in Illinois: accordingly, he had only such opportunities of education as presented themselves upon the appearance in the neighborhood of some itinerant schoolmaster. In 1840 he attended an institution known as Shiloh College, which was nothing more, however, than a country academy. Upon the outbreak of the war with Mexico, young Logan, though but twenty years of age, immediately volunteered, and was elected lieutenant in a company of the 1st Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. In the service of his regiment he bore a distinguished part, acting a portion of the time as adjutant. In 1848 he returned to Illinois and commenced the study of law, in which he made rapid progress. In November, 1849, he was elected clerk of his native county, and held the position until 1850. In that year he attended a course of law studies at Louisville, and in 1851 received his diploma. Upon his return home he at once commenced the practice of his profession, with his uncle, Alexander M. Jenkins, at present Judge of the Third Judicial District. The practical character of Mr. Logan's mind, and his pleasant manners, connected with his rare abilities as a ready speaker, soon fixed his popularity among the voters of his county. Success followed quickly. In 1852 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the then Third Judicial District. He now established his residence at Benton, Franklin County, Illinois, and in the autumn of the same year he was elected to the State Legislature, to represent Franklin and Jackson Counties. On November 27th, 1855, he married, at Shawneetown, Miss Mary S. Cunningham, daughter of John W. Cunningham. In May, 1856, he was appointed Presidential Elector for the Ninth Congressional District, and the following November was re-elected to the Legislature. In 1858 he carried the Ninth Congressional District for Congress by a large majority over his Republican opponent. In 1860 he was re-elected. In October, 1860, John Logan, as he is familiarly called in. his native State, visited Greenville, Bond County, Illinois, to help along the Douglas men in their efforts to elect Hon. P. B. Fouke to Congress. A number of distinguished Democrats from that portion of the State were conversing upon the political prospects of the party. Logan remarked that it was a hard matter to keep the Southern Democrats from kicking out of the harness and quitting Congress, thus breaking up the party. Mr. Stevenson, afterwards candidate for the State Senate, from Fayette County District, remarked: "Yes, we saw by the proceedings of Congress that you had warm times there." Logan, with one of those looks for which he is famous, turned around, and with emphasis said : "You know nothing about me by the papers. If I thought Mr. Lincoln would be elected, which, however, I hope will not be the case, I would not be a candidate for Congress at the coming election, for I have no desire to spend another such a |