In the history of that battle, written by (Badeau) who was not there and who could not have had personal knowledge of the facts in relation thereto, serious and gross injustice has been done you.

    Very respectfully,

    G.F.  McGinnis,
    Late Brigadier General U.S.A.

[General Fred Knefler’s letter to General Lew Wallace corroborating the statements made by the other members of the staff will be found on page 367—­ED.]

Captain Ware to General Wallace: 

    GENERAL:  I submit the following statement in regard to the
    movement of your division, on Sunday, April 6, 1862, as far as
    came under my observation.

The first intimation I had that an engagement was progressing was about 6 o’clock, A.M.  I heard firing in the direction of the camps at Pittsburg Landing.  Soon after I was ordered by you to proceed to Adamsville, where the Third Brigade, under Colonel Wood was encamped, with orders to have his tents, and baggage train sent immediately to the river, and his command to march back to the Second Brigade, which was then stationed two and a half miles from Crump’s Landing.  I also ordered the First Brigade, under Colonel Morgan L. Smith, to move out to the same point.  The Second Brigade, under Colonel John M. Thayer, was also ordered to be ready to move at a moment’s notice.  I returned to your headquarters and with you proceeded to the above-mentioned point.  At twenty minutes of 12 an order was to you delivered, by Captain Baxter, A.Q.M., directing “you to move your division up and join General Shermans’ right,” on the road leading from Pittsburg Landing to Purdy, that being the extreme right of General Grant’s position.

    Two Regiments of Infantry and one piece of artillery were left
    at the camp of the Second Brigade, to protect the camp equipage
    and baggage.  I am, General, very respectfully,

    Your obedient servant,

    AD WARE, JR., A.D.C.

    To MAJOR GENERAL LEW WALLACE.

General John M. Thayer to General Wallace: 

    UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,

    WASHINGTON.  March 4. 1868.

At the time of the battle of Pittsburg Landing I was in command of the Second Brigade of the division commanded by General Lew Wallace, and, with the Brigade, was in camp two and a half miles out from Crump’s Landing, at a place called Stony Lonesome.  At dawn of the morning of April 6, 1862, I heard cannonading in the direction of Pittsburg Landing.  At an early hour I received orders from General Wallace, through a Staff Officer, to “hold my command in readiness to march at a moment’s notice.”  General Wallace came to my camp, soon afterwards, and informed me that he was awaiting orders from General Grant to move to the battle-field.  I knew he was very impatient to receive such orders.  The Division was kept in readiness to move without delay.