MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD. OREGON
MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1963
Macmillan Under Heavy Fire; Political Survival Openly Questioned
'sr,& .THE
CIVIL WAR
WASTES
Bloody Battles in Two States
By MERTON T. AKERS
UPI coKetponoeni
The night before the battle
of Stones River (Murfrees
boro) the Union and Confed
erate armies lay within ear
shot of each other.
Before bedtime the bands
warmed up on both sides of
ih hattle line. The strains
of "Yankee-Doodle" and "Hail
Columbia" resounded irom
the Federal side across the
broken country and in the ce
dar glades. Confederate bands
answered with "Dixie" and
"The Bonny Blue Flag."
The bands alternated for a
time. Then one struck up
"Home Sweet Home."
As if some unseen band
master was directing, the sim
ple melody, so familiar to all
Northerners and Southerners,
was taken up, first by one
band and then another untill
all bands Blue and Gray
alike Joined in the tune.
Then the soldiers caught up
the melody, and nearly drown
ed out the brass as they sang
the song so close to all their
hearts.
Many a battle - hardened
soldier wiped away a tear as
the music ended on the line
-"There's no place like home"
-before rolling into his blan
ket for a few hours sleep be
fore the bloody business of
the morrow.
Two-Day Affair
The battle of Stones River
was a twoKlay affair strad
dling New Year's day of 1863.
The armies clashed at dawn
on Dec. 31. The Union army
about 46,000 men was
commanded by Maj. Gen. Wil
liam S. Rosecrans. Gen. Brax
ton Bragg led the Confederate
army of about 37,000. The
scene was along Stones River,
a few miles northwest of Mur
freesboro, Tenn., which is
about 35 miles southeast of
Nashville.
Each commander planned
to strike the other's right
wing. Rosecrans ordered his
attack for 7 a.m. to give his
men a chance to eat break
fast. But Bragg beat him to
the punch, attacking as soon
as it was light enough to see.
The Confederate attack was
spirited and dashing. One
Federal brigade on the right
was surprised while eating
breakfast and retired quickly.
Another fought back for a
time hut was forced to retire.
That deflected the force of
the Rebel attack against di
visions commanded by Brig.
Gen. Jefferson C. Davis and
Brig. Gen. Philip H. Sheri
dan. Davis' division was forc
ed to retreat but Sheridan's
stood fast and even counter
attacked until its ammunl
tion was exhausted.
Lin Comuleled by Noon
Sheridan's stand enabled
Rosecrans, his battle plan
abandoned in the face of
Brass's earlier attack, to form
a line along the Nashville
Pike at right angles to the
previous one. By noon this
line was completed, resting
its left in a four-score wood'
land called the Round Forest
in battle reports but dubbed
"Hells Half Acre" by the
soldiers.
To attack the position, the
Rebels had to cross open
ground against Federals post
ed among cedar copses and
behind boulders.
From noon until night the
Confederates threw brigade
after brigade against "Hell
Half Acre" and each time they
were repulsed with fantastic
loses. One Confederate regi
ment, the Eighth Tennessee,
lost 306 of 423 engaged.
At nightfall Rosecrans still
held his new line and deter
mined to remain on the field
and take the offensive the
next day if Bragg did not re
attack.
Neither attacked the next
morning and New Year's day
was auiet except for some
skirmishing and cavalry raid
ing. .
Starttd Again
But on Jan. 2 fighting start
ed again on the other side, of
Stones river where Rosecrans
had seized some high ground.
Bragg ordered the position
taken and at 4 p.m. the Con
federates tried, although Maj.
Gen. John C. Breckinridge,
commander of Bragg's right
wins and vice president un
der President Buchanan, said
the task was impossible.
His men charged to the
crest of the ridge and started
down the other side but 58
massed Federal cannon slaugh
tered them. Breckinridge lost
1,700 of 4,000 men.
On the night of Jan. 3-4,
Bragg withdrew his army to
wards Tullahoma, Tenn., leav
ing Rosecrans with an inde
cisive but timely victory.
Casualties were heavy.
Rosecrans lost 1.677 killed; 7,
543 wounded; 3,686 missing
total 12,906. Bragg's losses:
1,294 killed; 7,495 wounded;
2,500 missing total 11,289.
Sheridan, whose division
lost almost 40 per cent of Its
numbers, said:
In the remaining years of
the war-. . . I never experi
enced ... so high a rate of
casualties."
Not in Condition
Rosecrans did not follow
Bragg. "We were not in con
dition to pursue," Sheridan
wrote.
The North was in desper
ate need of victory after the
disaster at Fredericksburg,
Va., and Lincoln telegraphed
his congratulations to Rose
crans, ending "God bless you
and all with you."
Two days before Stones riv
er, Maj. Gen. William T. Sher
man made a stab as Vicks
burg, Miss., from the north
via the Yazoo river, a stream
which runs into the Mississip
pi above Vicksburg. The Con
federates had fortified Chick
asaw Bluffs north of the city
and Sherman proposed to car
ry the works by assault across
land which Horace ureeiey,
editor of the New York Trib
une, called "a profound mire,
restine on quicksand."
Greeley wrote the story of
the battle:
"On the 26th and 27th of
Dec. 1862, our men formed
in four columns, gradually
pushed forward and drove
back the enemy pickets to
ward the frowning bluffs . . .
Chickasaw Bayou was con
clusively ascertained to be
passable but at two points,
one a narrow levee, the other
a sandbar, each commanded
by the enemy's sharpshooters
. . . Maj. Gen. Frederick
Steele . . . found his progress
barred by an impassable
swamp . . . This venture he
properly declined . . .
"Brig. Gen. George W.
Morgan's division charged on
the 29th, but what could val
or avail against rifle pits fill
ed with sharpshooters whose
every bullet drew blood?
Against gunners who poured
grape and canister into our
dauntless heroes, who could
not advance and were stung
by the consciousness that they
were dying in vain? . . .
Fought Way To Bluffs
The Sixth Missouri (Union)
regiment succeeded in fight
ing its way to the bluffs but
could not climb the steep
bank.
"Some men of the Sixth . . .
actually scooped out with
their hands caves in the bank,
which sheltered them against
the fire of the enemy, who,
right over their heads, held
their muskets outside the par
apet vertically and fired
down," Sherman wrote later.
The Sixth withdrew after
dark.
Sherman tried again the
next night but it was so fog
gy that the Union gunboats
were unable to move. The fol
lowing night was brightly
moonlit, too light for any
surprise. Sherman's men were
encamped in a swamp that
was liable to overflow in a
moderate rain.
On Jan. 2 he decided to
withdraw, his attempt against
Vicksburg a failure.
Sherman's army sufferecM,
776 casualties in the opera
tion, the Confederates, 187.
The same day Sherman
gave up the fight, Maj. Gen.
John A. McClernand arrived
and took over the command.
He had been recruiting an
army for an expedition
against Vicksburg and under
stood that he was to com
mand it although Maj. Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant was in
charge of the department.
No sooner had McClernand
taken over than he began to
plan moves against several
minor Confederate points.
A showdown was nearing
between McClernand and
Grant over who would com
mand against Vicksburg.
STAB AT VICKSBURG Just two days before the Battle
of Stones River, near Murfreesboro, Tenn., Union Maj. Gen
William T. Sherman made a stab at Vicksburg from the
north. Moving over what hat been called a "profound mire,
resting on quicksand, Sherman proposed Confederate fori
tifications north of the city. He struck, but failed. The
Union suffered 1776 casualties, the Confederates 187. The
indications, however, were now clear. The fall of Vicks
burg was imminent. This map shows the route by which
sncrman sirucK ai ine cuy. iui-ij
Total Farm Debt Estimated To Be $29.3 Billion
Washington - (IIPD - The Ag
ricultural depa-tment e s t i
males that total farm debt on
Jan. 1 was about $29.3 bil
lion, an increase of about fj
per cent of $1.6 billion from
Jan. 1, 1962.
In a year-end agricultural
finance review, the depart
ment's E c o nomic Research
Service said farmers' use of
credit continued to rise strong
ly in 1962. This reflected con
tinued consolidation and en
largement of farms, further
increases in capital invest
ments, and higher prices paid
for farm real estate and some
purchased production goods.
Loan funds were generally
ample, and interest rates
edged slightly lower during
the year, ERS said. Payments
on loans were well maintain
ed, because farm incomes
London lUPD Prime Minis
ter Harold Macmillan has en
tered 1963 under heavy fire
for policies at home and
abroad, with political circles
here openly questioning whe
ther he will survive the year
in office.
Few persons in political
quarters doubt that Macmil
lan is entering the most de
cisive phase in his House of
Commons career stretching
over 40 turbulent years.
During 1963 he must choose
the date for the next general
elections, and decide whether
he is the man to lead the Con
servative party at the polls.
Deep-Rooted Uneasiness
He must find the answer
to these questions knowing
that his government appears
to have lost popularity among
voters, and aware that there
is some deep-rooted uneasiness
within his own party over the
Polaris for - Skybolt compro
mise he worked out with
President Kennedy in the Ba
hamas. Macmillan also knows that
Conservative M.P.S are not all
happy over the way Britain's
negotiations to enter the Eu
ropean Common Market have
been handled. He also knows
there is a hard core of 40 to
50 parliamentarians who
want this country to stay
out.
Another group has been
critical of the decision to al
low Nyasaland to pull out of
the Central African Federa
tion.
Many conservative M P.s
also are apprehensive about
the government's handling of
the country's economic situa-
tion.
Jobless Favor Labor Party
There is growing unemploy
ment, which has already hit
the half-million mark. Tradi
tionally in British politics.
areas with large numbers of
jobless vote for the Labor par
ty.
At present the Conserva
tives have 363 M.P.s against
259 for Labor and 7 for the
Liberals, with 1 Independent.
The trend in by-elections
has indicated that if Conserv
atives continue to lose popu
larity, the Labor party could
win a general election. The
Liberal party hopes to in
crease its representation.
Macmillan's government
does not have to call general
elections until October, 1964.
But it has frequently been
speculated that if the prime
minister can obtain satisfac
tory terms for Common Mar
ket entry quickly, he might
go to the polls this fall.
In any event he must choose
during 1963 when the elec
tion will be held,
Tim Needed 1
Conservative campaign
managers need time to get
their organization into gear
for a battle which is certain
to be tough.
In political circles it is gen
erally assumed that if Mac
millan feels he docs not want
to lead the party at the next
general elections, or that the '
party does not want him to
do so, then he will step down
well in advance to give his
successor time to make h i s
mark.
The big question is w h o
would succeed him. Not even
the most confident tipsters
claim to know for certain the
answer to that one.
TAX WORK
MADE EASY
Rent or Ltate
Adding Machine
Typewriter
Calculator
VOIGHT'S
8th & Gripe
Eny Perking
772-4100
Green Stemps
PLANS U. S. VISIT
Manila -IUPII- The newspa
per Philippine Herald report
ed today that President Dios
dado Macapagal may pay a
state visit to the United States
sometime this year. It said the
president told newsmen dur
ing an informal dinner Sun
day that he had "accepted in
principle" a standing invita
tion from President Kennedy
to make the trip.
We still have a ;
1963
Christian Art Calendars
If you would like one of these beautiful
calendars please stop in or call 772-6675
SIRVICE
I MIAU UD
tflcoio
I BUI PT
1 TU
li e prornpily re
pond lo ell colli,
Jay or num.
PERL
FUNERAL HOME
CORNER SIXTH AND OAKDALE
Spacious Parking Lot
MEMBER BY INVITATION
'Critic' Possibly
Biased in Review
New 'Sork OJPIt- A "critic"
reviewed the new musical
"Oliver!" which opened Sun
day night in New York dur
ing a newspaper blackout.
The review, read on a local
radio station, was filled with
descriptives like "breathtak
ing, the greatest musical of
all lime, marvelous, stagger
ing, transcendent, unique, in
comparable, s t u n n ing daz-
zler."
The "critic" was David
Merrick, the producer of the
musical.
were about steady and off-
farm earnings of farmers re
mained large. These condi
tions contributed to a confi
dent outlook of both lenders
and borrowers.
ERS said the ratio of total
farm debt to total farm assets
by the end of 1962 rose to
about 13.7 per cent because
debts increased a little more
rapidly than the value of farm
assets. Since not all operators
or landlords were in debt, this
ratio is higher for indebted
farms than for all farms. ERS
said the census sample survey
of agriculture in 1960 showed
that about 60 per cent of all
farms had debts - owned by
the operator, . landlord, or
both.
ST
THE UNITE0 STATU KTl(XtAi l 0 MITUND '
Mmx Ftul iHMKlM CfaltH
Parker HOODS Lcons Big
JANUARY
CLEARANCE
HUNDREDS OF ITEMS HAVE BEEN REDUCED AGAIN FOR FINAL CLEAR
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CLOTHING NEEDS . . . SHOP NOW AND SAVE ...
Dresses Coats
Four racks full of lovely styles . . . every- All seasonable coats . . . raincoats and
on. right out of our fell and winter reduted i
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Skirts Sweaters
Two big racks of fill and winter wools Two tablet full of beautiful fall and
in lots of popular stylet end colon . . . winter stylos . , .
Capri Pants Bras and Girdles
Cordt . . . winter cottont end twills . . . txquitite Form . . . Silt-skin . . . tome
beautiful wools . . . Playtex styles . . .
488" 167-4"
Shoes- "
I "Vi GREATEST SHOE EVENT OF THE YEAR
1 - ' HUNDREDS OF PAIRS GO ON SALE FOR
I ONE WEEK ONLY AT THESE TREMENDOUS SAVINGS
I ... MANY STYLES ARE GROUPED IN PRICES LOWER THAN
I v, ' THEIR ORIGINAL SO YOU KNOW THE SAVINGS ARE THE BEST
JX ... BRING A FRIEND AND SHARE THE COST ...
SHOES SIHIOHS
I Flats . . . formal sandalt . . . school types Many better grade flats and low heel stacks . . .
i limited sizes in this group ... also some mid and high heels . . .
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SCHIOHS SIHIOHS
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for Urb for HSr1
S HH1 H S "l,and Bags" 14 10 12 0,1
Includes some styles from each of our best lines Pflf (OF
g,orff Wilis
220 E. Main LCOH