The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-03-25


one arm on this counter In the hotel ONCE, u
On attitude entirely devoid Of that dignity AM
grace which one naturally associates with tn
bearing of IN emminent military chicftain-
with the inevitable cigar in his mouth, and to
tallyunconcerned as to what was passing aroun'
him-secming unconscious Of the rude stare
two hundred eyes which wcro rivctcd upon him
and looking precisely as he Is described to hav
appeared on the 4th Of last July in his inter
view with Pemberton, under the trec ct Vicks
burg. A physiognomist would hnd little II
his countcnance to denote tho great General
or, in fact, greatness In any capacity. III
would pass for man Of fair ability nothing
more, nothing less. There are hundred mel
In Maine whom you would naturally select 4
conduct an arduous campaign. In preference
to Gen. Grant; and yet there is certain
logged determination indicated by his features
which Is, beyond question the secret Of his 70
markable success. Eminent rebel authoritie
attribute his success to the result Of accident
II this DO 80. he has been very unfortunate
General, meeting with innumerablc accidents
and very unfortunately, for the rebels, his &C
eidents have invariably resulted in Union vic
tories and rebel defeats, In which, besides kill
ing and wounding immense numbers Of thci
troops he has accidentally baggcd nearly on,
hundred thousand Of the flower Of the confeder
ate army. '-''
It may DO questioned whether It were polio,
at this time to confer upon any man the sig
nal honor which has hitherto rested securel,
and exclusively upon the shoulders OF Gen
Scott. All will concedc that the honor Il
not too great though It may not DO granted
once in century. In this case It can be moth
thing more than question Of time. There cor
DO no disputing the claims Of hero who come'
crowned with the glory Of score of success
sive and brilliant victories, commencing will
the capture Of Donelson, at time when thu
heart of the country was file with dcsponden'
cy; and eliminating in the equalization Of the
impregnablc fortress of vicksburg on the al
Of July, thus giving increased significance t.
our National anniversary.
After the presentation Of the commission al
the White House, the General dined with thu
Secretary of State; and next morning visited
the army Of the Potomac, where he spent Blu,
one day, and returned to Washington. It !.
said that he Is in favor Of concentrating suif
cient force to take Richmond, and that he vii
withdraw troops from the West for that pur.
pose, believing with many others, that, q.
Western troops have never yet failed In any
work to which they have boon assigned. they
/. will DO able to accomplish what tho army o.
the Potomac undertook three years ago.
Upon his return from the army he expressed
himself as decidedly opposed to ''shows" and
quite unexpectedly. to people here, took The
train foyNcw York. This sudden departure o.
the General quite seriously interfered with thu
arrangements which some 5000 persons had
made to see him on Friday evening. The pro-
prietor Of Growers theatre had had his build
ing beautifully decorated, and ornamented with
appropriate notices suitable for the OCCASION
conspicuous among which were Immediate
and unconditional surrender" &c., &c. On
the strength Of the announcement that Gen
Grant, and the President and Cabinet were tc
DO present every ticket was sold ut IN early
hour in tho morning. Those who purchased
tickets to sec the lion werc undoubtedly con.
soled In their disappointment by tho admira.
bic rendition of Mr.. Booths Hamlet.
II Is decided that General Grant take com.
mand of tho army of the Potomac, and 60 i'm.
mediately into the field. Hallcck is to be CHIEF
of staff and remain in Washington. It Is the
common opinion, constantly expressed among
officers here, that tho command Of this army
will ruin the military reputation Of any General
who may be 50 unfortunate rs to assume it,
Grant comes to the East loaded with oil the
honors of victory derived from three years
campaign which, in splendid results and com
pletencss of conquest. is the most successful
the world has ever witnessed. History in mar,
rating the events Of this war will accord to him
the lions share of glory. without the achieve
mcnts of Grant tho victories Of the Union
would seem infinitely mean and mcagre. As
success Is accepted among men as the proof oil
greatness, ho is honored by his country to n
degree which might satisfy the most vaulting
ambition. Under circumstances like these he Is
brave man who would attempt to accomplish
what great Generals have often attempted, and
rs often failed. But, armed with the confidence,
cngcndcred by his unvarying success no as.
sumes command Of the army OF tho Potomac,
while the country awaits with interest tho issue
of the coming campaign. II successful he
will be proved the worlds great general-if he
ell. h,, s,,Loro 4. M such word as fail ,,