The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-05
Grant and Lee.


Some of his movements have shown to the
world that he possesses certain military quail
tiles that make him dangerous foe to Gen
eral who does not understand his tactics and
guard against them. To mass his troops and
attack the weak points in the battle lines ofhis
opponent has always been with Lee favorite
movement. And to such movements he owes
much of the reputation he has acquired as an
able and shrewd officer. Aud so far we give
him the credit that is his due.
But we believe, from careful review of his
military career thus far in the rebellion, that
General Lee lacks some of the qualifications
essential TO make a great commander. He
fails to heed the lessons which that great
schoolmaster, Experience, teaches, aud TO ig-
more the maxim, "learn from your enemy"
Gen. Lee has not fully appreciated the differ
ence In the characters of the Federal officers
who have met him on the battle fields. And
he seems especially to have failed to compre-
bend the true character Of Gen. Grant.
His plan of striking heavy blows at weak
points has sometimes had the effect ofstagger-
log his opponents aud driving them from the
scene of action. These sudden and bold at
taeks took some of our Generals by surprise,
aud made them believe they were fallen upon
by overpowerng forces, and they withdrew to
save their armies from becoming prisoners to
the rebels, when they might have shown lit
tie more perseverance and pluck and gained
| victories themselves. These retreats OF the
Union forces have encouraged Lee still to con-
til,ue his peculiar tactics. And these tactics
he learned from fighting such Generals at Nc
Clellan proved himself to be in several e.
gagements.
This officer was noted for extending his lines
enormously. No matter what the nature OF
the soil was, or how the grounds were situat-
ed, whether the swamps of the Chckahominy
or more billy country, he would spread out
his army. and make great parade, covering
minishing his power to offend or defend.
This willy rebel General also learned anoth-
er lesson from Mcclellan which he has often
| used TO much advantage. Aud that Is this -
/ Mcclellan had habit Of advancing boldly to-
wards his enemy, finding place OF safety and
there waiting for something to turn up" in.
aud winning victory which he might have
done in several instances. He began this
course of proceeding at Manassas where he III
beraated and waited patiently for an attack
His force was greatly superior to that of his
enemy, aud he might have driven the rebel
army from its position, aud gained substan-
tial victory ere he had began to prepare win
ter quarters for his brave boys who were ready
! and anxious 10 attack the rebels.
1 This was great blnnder ON the part OF
! Mcclellan, and no doubt Lee so considered Il
f. aud laughed in his sleeve at such want of
pluck and perseverance. Both armies passed
the winter safely and pleasantly, aud in the
spring the whole rebel army marched away
leaving their quaker guns to be captured by
the brave and cautious Mcclellan in case he
dared to make an attack upon them. This Is
true record, and the future historian of this
civil war will have some comments to make
upon it which will not add much fame TO this
General OF the Union forces.
With lessons learned from such sources. Lee
commenced his campaign with Grant, and in
some good degree governed himself In accord
ance with them. 1t is fair to presume from
this aspect OF affairs that Lee thought Grant
ought to have considered himself beaten. and
retrested, after the two days battle when he
crossed the Rapidan, and so ended the can
paign as some Of his predecessors had done,
aud as McClellon surely would have done,
had he occupied Grants place.
1t would seem that Lee had forgotten
Grants mode Of hghtng, as was abundantly
shown In his Western campaign Had the
rebel general bsen well posted up in regard
to these campaigns, and remembered them. he
might have learned some lessons quite differ.
ent from those taught hini ~ Mcclellan and
some other generals, and shaped his tactics
accordingly. He Gid, however, learn after
while, that Grant was neither beaten nor
dlsheartened by his terrible and mpetuous
attacks upon him. Grant did not retreat
from shat line" but followed up the severe
and terrible blows he had Inflicted on his foe
by renewed and more vigorous assaults. ill
he forced this able rebel officer to fall bscl,
slowly and sullenly from the Rapldan 10 Rich.
mond.
Finding Grants tactics so entirely differ
ent from those OF Mcclellan under like cir
cumsiances, Lee was glad 90 retreat and
place himself behind his entertainments |
anu seek safety under cover of his earth
works. These were severe lessons which
Grant taught his willy opponent, and II would
seem that SO shrewd an officer AS ha hos
shown himself to be would not soon have Cor.
COTTON them, but In his great anxiety and zeal
TO overpower Grant, either by force or s,ra,e-
gy he did forget or ignore them for brief time
The mining operation before Petersburg not
proving SO successful as Grant had good
reason 10 suppose 1t would, Lee forgot the
caution Grant had taught him, moderated his
stern opponent and again adopted his old tao
tics which seemed to cling to his mind With
power he finds it dificnlt to overcome.
ms single disaster occasioned by the par
uai failure Of the mining operation might. and
prooaoiy would, have driven sucb a general
as Mcclellan from the field and from The se;se
OF Petersburg and Richmond, but Lee ought
to have known Grant better than TO spnnosa
that single defeat like that would thus efsc,
him. Although Grant was foiled at that inno-
ture, he was Grant still and not Mcclellan
and Lee In bis subsequent attacks felt the
force Of that truth. Grant did not crouch be-
bind his esrthworks and wait for something