US Con Logan, John A. - U.S. Congressman, IL

John Alexander "Black Jack" Logan​

Born: February 9, 1826

Birthplace: Murphysboro, Illinois

Father: Dr. John Logan 1788 – 1854

(Buried: Murphysboro City Cemetery Murphysboro, Illinois)​

Mother: Elizabeth Jenkins 1805 – 1874

(Buried: Murphysboro City Cemetery Murphysboro, Illinois)​

Wife: Mary Simmerson Cunningham 1838 – 1923

(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen's National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Married: November 27, 1855 in Gallatin County, Illinois

Children:

John Cunningham Logan 1856 – 1857​

(Buried: Murphysboro City Cemetery, Murphysboro, Illinois)​

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Mary Logan Tucker 1858 – 1940​

(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen's National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Major John Alexander Logan Jr. 1865 – 1899​

(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Youngstown, Ohio)​

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Signature:

Political Party: Republican Party

Occupation before War:

Served in Mexican – American War rising to the rank of Lt.

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1849: Clerk of Jackson County Illinois County Court​

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Attorney in Illinois​

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1852 – 1853: Illinois State Representative​

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1853 – 1857: Prosecuting Attorney for third judicial Circuit of Illinois​

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1856 – 1857: Illinois State Representative​

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1856: Democratic Party Presidential Elector​

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1859 – 1862: U.S. Congressman from Illinois​

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1859 – 1863: Congressional Chairman of Unfinished Business​

Civil War Career:

1859 – 1862: U.S. Congressman from Illinois​

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1859 – 1862: Congressional Chairman of Unfinished Business​

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1861: Served as an unattached Private at First Battle of Bull Run​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of 31st​ Illinois Volunteers Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Served in the Battle of Belmont, Missouri​

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1862: Wounded twice during the Battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee​

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1862: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee​

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1862: Served in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi​

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1862 – 1865: Major General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1863: Suffered from a case of acute rheumatism​

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1863: Served in the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi​

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1863: Received posterior thigh wound at Vicksburg, Mississippi​

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1863: Military Governor of Vicksburg, Mississippi​

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1864: During the Atlanta Campaign a ball struck right shoulder​

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1864: At Dalton Georgia a shot passed thru muscle of his arm​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Atlanta, Georgia​

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1864: Served as Corps Commander after McPherson's death​

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1864: Sent by General Grant to relieve Thomas but stopped​

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1865: Corps Commander during the Carolinas Campaign​

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1865: Led Army of the Tennessee during Grand Review in D.C.​

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Occupation after War:

1867 – 1871: U.S. Congressman from Illinois​

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1869 – 1871: Congressional Chairman of Military Affairs Committee​

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1868: One of the House Managers to conduct Impeachment of President​

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1868 – 1871: Commander – in – Chief of Grand Army of Republic​

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1871 – 1877: United States Senator from Illinois​

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1873 – 1877: Senate Chairman of Military Affairs Committee​

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1877 – 1879: Attorney in Chicago, Illinois​

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1879 – 1886: United States Senator from Illinois​

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1881 – 1885: Senate Chairman of Military Affairs Committee​

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1884: Unsuccessful Republican Vice – Presidential Candidate​

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1886: Spoke in the rain causing bilious attack aggravated by cold​

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1886: Suffering from an acute attack of rheumatism answered roll call​

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Member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of United States​

Died: December 26, 1886

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Primary acute rheumatism, congestion of the brain

Age at time of Death: 60 years old

Burial Place: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen's National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

 

[Rosie]

40 minute video from the Logan museum but the video jumps all over so I figure the Logan forum the best home for this link.
Logan Museum debuts final video in Civil War series

 

[frontrank2]

There is a story of Logan becoming a godfather to a destitute Southern family. He was riding alongside the chaplain when the request was made for him to christen the newborn. Logan accompanied the chaplain to a run down battle damaged home, where the general was asked to be the baby's godfather. Logan stood for a moment and gazed at the unhappy mother and fatherless child and the pitiful surroundings then exclaimed " I say boys, can't you straighten this up a little? Fix up that roof. There are plenty of stakes around that old stable - and push back that log into place, and help the old lady to clear out the litter and I don't think it would hurt you any to leave a part of your rations." The men leaned their muskets against some logs and did as they were asked. After the baptism was performed, the group proceeded to resume their march when Logan took a gold coin from his pocket - one he had carried for quite some time - and presented it to the grandmother as a gift for his god daughter. The remaining officers and men each contributed to the pot so that there was soon more money than the poor family had ever seen. As he parted, Logan cautioned them to put the money in a safe place " lest some bummer should steal it in spite of everything." He then ordered a guard be placed at the cabin until the last straggler had passed.

 

[Pollaco]

William T. Sherman considered John Logan to be "perfect in combat",
.

 

[Pollaco]

He became a Republican after resigning his commission on August 27, 1865 and declined a regular army brigadier generalship.

 

[Discipulus]

Widely considered to be one of the best "politically appointed" generals.

A hard fighter who had a gift for rallying his troops to fight.

 

[Discipulus]

From Wikipedia --

The State of Illinois commissioned an equestrian statue of the general that now stands in Chicago's Grant Park. Another equestrian statue stands in Logan Circle in Washington, D.C., which gives its name to the surrounding neighborhood.

Logan Square, Chicago and Logan Boulevard in Chicago are named after him, as well as Logan Avenue and the neighborhood of Logan Heights (aka Barrio Logan) in San Diego, and the community of Logan Township, New Jersey.
His hometown, Murphysboro, Illinois, is home to the General John A Logan Museum, as well as the General John A. Logan Elementary School; and, in nearby Carterville, Illinois, there is the John A. Logan College, a community college.
Camp Logan, Illinois, an Illinois National Guard base and rifle range from 1892 to the early 1970s, was also named for him. John A. Logan Elementary School in Washington, DC is also named in his honor.

Logan is one of only three individuals mentioned by name in the Illinois state song:

On the record of thy years,
Abraham Lincoln's name appears,
Grant and Logan, and our tears,
Illinois, Illinois,
Grant and Logan, and our tears,
Illinois.

Logan County, Illinois, was named after Logan's father, Dr. John Logan, an early pioneer physician. However, Logan County, Kansas was named after General Logan.
Logan County, Oklahoma, is named in his honor. The city of Guthrie is the county seat.
Logan County, Colorado, is named in his honor. The city of Sterling is the county seat.
Logan County, North Dakota, is named in his honor. The city of Napoleon is the county seat.
John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois is named in his honor.
Logan Junior High School in Princeton, Illinois is named in his honor.
The Logan House in Wilmington, Delaware is the oldest Irish Pub in the state and named in his honor.

 

[Pollaco]

Isn't there a Logan Airport in Boston or somewhere up north , who was it named after?

 

[Virginia Dave]

Thanks for post. Interesting fellow. Interesting story.

 

[Pollaco]

From what I've read in other biographies Logan did not much care for West Pointers after his command for the fallen McPherson was taken away in the Atlanta Campaign and given to Howard (a West Pointer). After the war he wrote "The Volunteer Soldier of America " in which He praised Volunteers over West Pointers.

 

[jackt62]

An interesting postscript to Sherman's refusal to appoint Logan as the permanent commander of the Army of the Tennessee after the death of MacPherson in combat. Years later, Logan was the Chairman of the Senate Military Affairs Committee, which was voting on reductions to the regular army, including pay reductions to senior officers including Sherman who was General of the Army. Logan voted in favor and the measure passed. Hard to imagine that Logan wasn't thinking about his wartime experience with Sherman.

 

[Pollaco]

In 1884 it was James G. Blaine on the top of the ticket that Logan unsuccessfully ran for vice-president. There was speculation that he was going to be on top of the ticket in the 1888 election but died before anything ever came of it.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Major General John A. Logan! Salutes remembering General Logan on his birthday.

 

[ErnieMac]

Isn't there a Logan Airport in Boston or somewhere up north , who was it named after?

Logan Airport (Boston MA) is officially the General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport and is named for the Massachusetts General and politician of that name.

 

[ErnieMac]

In 1868 while serving as the Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Logan became the most prominent advocate of a nationwide "Decoration Day" which is now Memorial Day.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Black Jack: John A. Logan and Southern Illinois in the Civil War Era by Professor James Pickett Jones PhD

Black Jack: John A. Logan and Southern Illinois in the Civil War Era (Shawnee Classics): Jones, James Pickett, Simon, John Y: 9780809320011: Amazon.com: Books

Black Jack: John A. Logan and Southern Illinois in the Civil War Era (Shawnee Classics) [Jones, James Pickett, Simon, John Y] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Black Jack: John A. Logan and Southern Illinois in the Civil War Era (Shawnee Classics)

www.amazon.com

Black Jack Logan: An Extraordinary Life in Peace and War by Gary Ecelbarger

Black Jack Logan: An Extraordinary Life In Peace And War: Ecelbarger, Gary: 9781592285662: Amazon.com: Books

Black Jack Logan: An Extraordinary Life In Peace And War [Ecelbarger, Gary] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Black Jack Logan: An Extraordinary Life In Peace And War

www.amazon.com

General John A. Logan : His Life and Times by Preston Michael Jones, Gary W. Kent, Carl D. Cottingham

General John A. Logan : His Life and Times: Jones, Preston Michael, Kent, Gary W., Cottingham, Carl D.: 9780913415115: Amazon.com: Books

General John A. Logan : His Life and Times [Jones, Preston Michael, Kent, Gary W., Cottingham, Carl D.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. General John A. Logan : His Life and Times

www.amazon.com

Reminiscences Of A Soldier's Wife An Autobiography by Mrs. John A. Logan

Reminiscences of a Soldier's Wife: An Autobiography (Shawnee Classics) | IndieBound.org

www.indiebound.org

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Luke Freet]

Logan turned out to be one of the best tactical field commanders on the Union side. He did spend the postwar years milking his victory at Bald Hill for all it was worth (with the massive cyclorama in Atlanta), but to be fair, it was an impressive showing for a man who had to take command in the middle of the fight, with the Confederates giving their all.
The man is also responsible for making Memorial Day a national holiday.
If I remember correctly, though, his personal politics weren't so scrupulous; he did a lot of race baiting when he was making his Vice Presidential run.

 

[Pollaco]

I was very impressed by frontrank 2's "God father story" from several years ago and of Logan's helping out that destitute family. Logan was probably one of the very few exceptions , most "invading armies" might have gotten a good laugh out of the situation and then burned the place down for more laughs. Like my wife said, "Maybe he was a Christian."

 

[Pollaco]

Logan Airport (Boston MA) is officially the General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport and is named for the Massachusetts General and politician of that name.

Much thanks, I had the wrong Logan.

 

[Irishtom29]

Logan was a good man and a Son of Illinois. I lived right down the street from his statue on Michigan Ave. and often strolled by it and sometimes sat on a park bench to smoke a cigar and contemplate the Hero of Atlanta.