, 1864-02-09

| seek information. BE there met loyal
"Ametican citizen Of African descent - who
gave him Trustworthy information In regard
| to the country and the roads into the fnte-
1ior. Instantly The debarkation Of the troops
commenced, and the line Of march taken up
next morning, May /, 1858, the enemy WINS
encountered, aud the battle of Port Gibson,
the first of tie series resulting IN the cnpture
OF VickshnrE, was fought during TINT whole
day, fnsl1y resulting in the complete rout Of
the enemy ..-
And thu: which must ever be regarded By
the historian as. the most extraordinary tea-
turc Of this campaign is the astounding fact
that Wien Gen. Grant landed in the State Of
Mississippi, and. made his campaign In the
cnemy's country; he bad smaller force than
the enemy. There he TI1s, in the cuamy's
country, cut off in measure from his sup
plies, with great river in his rear, and in one
Of the most defcnsible Of countries, through
which he had to pass. To his indomitable
courage and energy, to his unparalleled celer-
ity of movement, striking the enemy in de-
tai], and beating him on every field, is the
cesses Of that campaign which have not ouly
challenged the gratitude and admiration OF
Cur own countrymeu, but the admiration of
the best military men Of MI nations. Mycol-
leaEue LII. Farnsworthl has well said that
Gen. Grant is no "carpet knight.'' Il gen
tlcmen could know him as 1 Know him, and
as hfs soldiers know him, they would not bo
so reluctant about comforting this honor. II
they could have seen him as I saw him on
tbat expedition; Il they conld have witnesged
ILLS u rrtb1e earncstness, his devotion to Ills
duty, his care, his vigilance, and his unchaI-
legged couraeee, ! think their opposition to
this 1s,, blll woull give way;
plantation, below Vie1ssburg, to enter on
that great campaign, be did not take with
linn tie tnppings and paraphcrnalia so COM
mon to mnDy military men. As all depended
on qu1ckness of movement, and as it was i'm |
portant to be encnmbered with as little bag
gnge as possible, he set IN example to ali |
under lin. He took with him neither q |
morse, nor an orderly, nor servant, camp |
chest, an oyercoat,. nor blanket, nor even a |
clean shirt. His entire baggage for six days
u was with him ut that tinle-was a tooth
brush. He fared like the commoncst soldier |
in his command, partaking Of his rations and |
sleeping upon the ground, with no covering
excepting the canopy Of heaven. How could
such a soldier fail to inspire confidence In IN t
army, and to lead it to victory and to glory? |
Confer upon him the rank contemplated by |
this bill, and You excite the enthusiasm of all |
your armies, nnd a1l your soldiers will be |
eager to follow his victorious banners.
But, gentlemen saJ, wait and confer this |
rank when the wari Is over Sir, l want 1t |
confirmed now, because it is my most solemn
and earnest conviction that General Grant fs
the man upon whom We must depend to
fight out this rebellion in the field, and bring
this war to speedy and triumphant close.
II is said that he will have to leave his army
il this rank is conferred upon him md come l.
to Washington. Let me say to gentlemen
tllat they need l,ayo no uneasfncss Upon that
score, Generl Grant, if this appointment
shall be conferred upon him, will never leave
the field, but he viii be with His army where
ever his presence is most needed he will be
with his soldiers to lead them on in this RI
gantic struggle to preserrc our God-gfTeu
In which lie, III common with
nll loyal men, have 80 great an interest