Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-13
MORNING LEADER.
FRTB1Y M0RNISG. NAY Is, 1854.
G5neral Giant and General Lee.

G1neral Grant and General Lee
UndoubtedIy many Of our readers sup
posed that the advance Of Grant upon
Richmond would be upon the dOublequick;
taas once having defeated Lee, all that
would remain would be the triumphal en-
try, banners flying and bugels blowing,
int the doomed city Of Richmond.
A knowledge Of the topography Of tie
country between the Rspidan and Rich
mond is very unfavOrsble to such fond
hopes. Perhaps there is no equal area Of
territory on the continent that has more
natural facilities for defense than has
Southeastern Virginia. The region be-
tween the Wilderness snd Richmond, 8
distance Of 20 miles, is threaded with nu.
merous streams is studded with swsmps
snd positions Of natural defense in which
an army sntrenched can resist an sp-
preaching enemy. The York and the
James Rivers have numerous tributaries
in the region trsvsrsed by our armies
which are oslculated to impede progress,
and make Grants advance upon Rich
mond not only arduOus but slow.
The battles thus far sre illustrative Of
the character Of both Northern and South
ern soldiers. General Grant is ine en-
bodiment Of the Northern character. He
is cool, tenacious and possessed of stub
born ferceness Of purpose which cannot
tolerate the idea Of defeat BE isnot fas.
tered in battle by the evidences of weak
ness in any part of his lines, The de-
moniae yell Of the rebels does not unnerEe
him or strike terror 10 his heart
On the other hand all the fire, daeh
elan Of the Southern temperament is Wit
messed in the tactics OF Lee. BE
throws himself during one day with
fierce terrific energy upon his enemy.
His temperament cOmpels him to hurl all
the intense, burning desperation of great
courage in q bad cause, into the conflict
But ss his fighting is more intense and
concentrated, SO tbs sooner exhausted and
dispirited Night comes to him with the
fearful reaction Of feeling that results
from the previous immense outlay of en-
thusissm. These characteristic belong 10
the soldiers under the generals. The reb-
els have always displayed an impetuous
ii valor that has commanded the admiration
Of the world. Our own men, as at Cbica-
msuga when q few thousand held at bay
powerful army for half day, display an
unconquerable tenscity and determined
herOism not surpassed by any soldiers in
the world. The rebel advance is like The
fierce onset Of angry waves. The soldiers
Of the Republic are rock on which those
waves break and die.
Possibly in the opposite temperaments
Of Grant and Lee, illustrated in the sol
diers under their command, will yet be
found the solution Of the great wsr-prOb-
lem. The staunch, dogged tenscity Of
Grant will ovsrpoWer the fierce but soon
exhausted power Of the rebels.
It may also be observed in conclusion,
that the courage displayed by both armies
on 50 many battle fields will be bond Of
future union. Each will regard the per-
sonsl prowess Of the other more highly
History teaches us that civil distractions
have slI been forgotten in foreign wars
And when once the same courage now ex-
LsL;t.5 sd -oeHaists siraH bo us
played against foreign foe, the memory
Of these days will be lost in the mutual
emulation that will make the Republic
still more known and hOnored throughout
the world than ever before.