History of Murphysboro, (Jackson County) Illinois United States of America

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John Alexander Logan, statesman and soldier, was born in Murphysboro, Jackson county, Ill., Feb. 9, 1826; eldest son of Dr. John and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Logan. His father immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1823,' and settled in Cape Girardeau, Me., removing later to Jackson county, Ill., where He conducted a farm, practised his profession, was a representative in the state legislature and held several county offices. John A. Logan acquired his preparatory education chiefly under the instruction of Iris father and his tutor, and be attended Shiloh college in 1840. Upon the outbreak of the war with Mexico in 1846, he enlisted in the volunteer army and was appointed 2d lieutenant, 1st Illinois volunteers, and served as adjutant and quartermaster of the regiment in New Mexico. He returned to Illinois at the close of the war, studied law with his uncle, Alexander M. Jenkins, and in 1849 was elected clerk of Jackson county. He was graduated from the law department of Louisville university in 1851; was admitted to the bar in 1852; was a representative in the state legislature, 1852-53, 1856-57; prosecuting attorney of the third judicial district of Illinois, 1853-59; presidential elector on the Buchanan and Breckinridge ticket in 1856, and a Democratic representative in the 36th and 37th congresses, 1859-61 In July, 1861, during the extra session of the 37th congress he resigned his seat and joined the Federal army at Bull Run, fighting as a private in Colonel Richardson's regiment. He returned to Marion, Ill., where he organized and was made colonel of the 31st Illinois infantry. He commanded his regiment in McClernand's brigade in the battle of Belmont, where he led a bayonet charge and had a horse shot under him; also in the attack on Fort Henry, and at Fort Donelson, where he was severely wounded in the left shoulder. He joined General Grant at Pittsburg Landing, March 5, 1862, and was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers. He commanded a brigade at Jackson, Tenn., where he guarded the railroad lines with six regiments. In 1862 he declined the nomination for representative in the 38th congress. He commanded the 3d division, 17th army Corps, under General McPherson in Grant's northern Mississippi campaign; was promoted major-general, Nov. 26, 1862, and fought at Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill and at the siege of Vicksburg, where he was in command of McPherson's centre, his command entering Vicksburg immediately after the explosion of the mine. He was made the first military governor of Vicksburg, and for his gallantry during the siege he received from congress a medal of honor which bore the inscription "Vicksburg, July 4, 1863." he succeeded General Sherman in November, 1863, as the commander of the 15th army corps. He led the advance of the Army of the Tennessee at Resaca; and repulsed Hardee at Dallas, Where he was shot through the left arm. He temporarily succeeded General McPherson in command of the Army of the Tennessee upon the latter's death, July 22, 1864, and led his corps in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain and in the attack on Atlanta. After taking part in the presidential campaign of 1864, He rejoined Sherman at Savannah and continued in command of his corps until the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, April 26, 1865, when He succeeded General Howard as commander of the Army of the Tennessee, he resigned his commission in the army, and returned to his home at Marion, Ill., in August, 1865. He was a Republican representative in the 40th and 41st congresses, 1867-71, and was one of the managers of the impeachment trial of President Johnson. He was U.S. senator from Illinois, 1871-77, and 1879-86. He was a candidate for nomination for the Presidency June 3, 1884, and upon the nomination of James G. Blaine was chosen Republican candidate for Vice-President by acclamation. He was commander-in-chief of the Grand Amy of the Republic and it was on his proposal that May 30th was designated as Decoration Day and made a national holiday. He was married Nov. 27. 1855, to Mary Simmerson, daughter of Capt. John M. Cunningham, register of the land office at Shawneetown, Ill., who survived him. They had three children: the eldest, a son, died in infancy; the second, a daughter, married Maj. W. F. Tucker, U.S.A.; and the youngest, John A. Logan, Jr., was a major in the U.S. volunteer service in the war with Spain, served in Cuba as an adjutant-general on Gen. J. C. Bates's staff; was appointed major of the 33d U.S. volunteers August, 1899, and was killed while leading a charge at San Jacinto, Luzon, Philippine Islands, Nov. 11, 1899. General Logan is the author of: The Great Conspiracy (1886); The Volunteer Soldier of America (1887). An equestrian statue in bronze, on a bronze pedestal with bas relief portraits of the general officers serving with him, and scenes in the senate when he took the oath of office, and on battlefields in which he engaged, was unveiled in Washington, D.C., April 10, 1901. He died in Washington, D.C., Dec. 26, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Murphysboro, (Jackson County) Illinois

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