Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-07-22
Grant and Lee Compared.

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An interesting comparison Of Grant
and Lee, as commanders, appears in the
N. Y. Times, from the pen of Prof. Ma
han, of West Point, Of whom both were
pupils. We quote the most important
part of the article
Gen. Lee is now advancing in bis
55th year. He was graduated at the
Military Academy in 1929, in his Oath
year, and although second on the roll oI
merit in his class, he made no mark in
it, nor did he leave any tradition of great
ability behind him, like Mason, who wa:
graduated Mt the head Of bis class, ant
Buckingham, who was lower down. Al
an officer of engineers he has left nothing
that can be pointed to as denoting other
than mere ordinary ability. No one ever
thought of quoting him as an authority
in his corps, as they would Totten, Thay-
er, Delafield, Barnard and others.
Soon after the Mexican war Lee was
sent as superintendent to the Military
Academy, in which capacity be served
for about three years. His administra-
tior of the institution was respectable,
and nothing more. He resigned his po-
sition in the acadamy and his commits
sion as engineer officer in 1856, to ac-
cept that of lieutenant-colonel of one of
the new cavalry regiments organized by
JEFF. Davis, then Secretary of War
Placed in command of troops for the first
time during bis military career, his essay
was generally spoken of as a failure,
shown in the want of the soldierly quali-
ties in command. Subsequently to this
be spent most of his time at Arlington,
on protracted leave of absence, where
the secession of Virginia found him and
carried him into its vortex.
We now come to Lees new career,
upon which bis present claims to the
characteristics of military genius rest
His chief work here was the least CON-
plex of military problems-that Of de-
Tending a territory extremely difficult to
penetrate, Offering number of strong
delensible positions, assailable only at
the risk of great loss to the assalant in
front, and subjecting him to the greater
risks of flank movement in his at
tempts to turn them. Having had years
of time to prepare these defensive points,
with a minute knowledge Of every inch
of ground, having communications to the
rear ample and unobstructed, and pop
ulation deadly hostile to the invading
force, general must, indeed, have been
below mediocrity who would not have
bis campaigns as respectfully
Is Gen. Lee has done. He has been
atisfed with an almost passive resis-
ance, and when he has assumed the Of
ensive, it has always been with an eager
ook to the rear.
At the second battle of Bull Run, no
'ble general would have let go SO easily
lis grasp on the demoralized troops of
Pope. subsequently at Antietam, with
IN exhausted and almost demoralized
rmy to contend with, no able general,
With the advantages that Lee bad already
ecured, would have failed TO have struck
Iome, with a momentous stake within
lis reach. In the perilous condition Of
Burnside at Fredericksburg, it required :,
at ordinary military skill to have driven
is army into the Rappahannock. Gems.
Hooker and Sedgwick owed more to this
'ant of true military appreciation of
be moment in Lee, than to the fighting
ualities of his troops. Finally, at Get
ysburg, after a handsome first success,
'ith his troops concentrated and well in
and, would an able general have been
ltisfed to get himself out of the scrape
nd withdraw when Lee did, with such {
respects a second time before him P
or his present position and reputation, {
zen. Lee is indebted, in no small de- [
rec, to his family connections and TO
lat serviceable talent which is the tower t
strength of men of mediocrity, de. a
Amiable, thoroughly moral, ?
ID in his social relations, of strict in Il
gritty, be always challenges respect '
1T with these he is lacking in those IL
,od qualities, of commander which Il
,get the enthusiasm and implicit reli- '
ice of the soldier under all circumstan- "
e. There is more confidence felt in ii
S prudence than in his boldness ;--of tC
ldacity he has shown none. d
Grant is Lees junior in age Is years, a
ID was graduated at the military acade-
y IA years after Lee. He is remem- .
red at his alma mater, as having a