The Portland daily press., 1865-04-27

The Army Of tbs Potomac and Grant
Great armies must necessarily move SLOW
but how gloriousiy this able and promising
and indomitable officer has sfought y GUY GA
this linel' when he came to sucn ieSoin ~,
ton and determination we have gooo reason
to believe he saw the end from the oeglnniDg.
He has never stopped and dug ditches OF
thrown up entrenchments where It was posi-
bic to advance. And, better still, ana more
worthy of praise and commendation, ne has
nat set down in his tent and written long polit
zeal articles, complaining OF his government
and trying to bolster up or plaster over his iep
utatlon with santempered MORTAR" but he
has pursued the even tenor Of his way and
fought on his own chosen sline." Hstaai ( u
It wa, on that line that Lees forces must
be attacked and II possible overcome Lee
had powerful, vigorous and well organized
army, audit had tbs prestige Of success to
encourage their hearts and strengthen their
arms, but the Army of the Potomac had not
such encouragement In too many instances
they had been badly handled, but Grant soon
Infused into them the right spirit, and they
were ready, under such leader, to fight on
"that line," or any other. Grant knew
weltthe starch must be taken out Of his OPP
ponents, aud on that line was the place to do
it. The terrible battle of the Wilderness, in
which the Lieut.. General displayed his deter
mined will and military genius, the brill mt
charge at Spottsylvania Court House, with the
tremendous lighting Immediately afterwards,
many smaller engagements st different placer,
his flank movements, the dreadful conflict at
Coal Harbor,--al these, and more, were Sc
we're blows on the rebel army, and tended to
demorallzs Lees soldiers and unfit them, In
some good degree, for the defence Of the rebel
capital. "a
The battles "on that line" prepared the way
for more brilliant achievements and more inn
portant successes. And never were battles
better conducted or more bravely fought
True, many lives were 1ost, but Lees army
could not be overcome without the flow Of
much blood. So 1t has been ordered by a
Power higher than any earthly potentate. We
have always considered these battles of great
Significance, and such they have proved.
When thing is well done, 1t Is often wise to
look back and see how 1t was done. 1t has
now become evident to the world that Grant
not only knows how to prepare for and fight
great battles, but also how to select his men
to lead in the work. Sherman and Sheridan
nave been his great Lieutenants, and their en-
ergy, and foresight, and intrepedity, have full
ly justified his choice. There are many other
officers whose military powers will adorn the
pages Of history when the events of this great
struggle shall have been recorded -
Grant had been sholding on" SO long that
people began to be almost impatient for
the fall OF Richmond, and to forget the
struggle at Black River and the brilliant VIC
tory at Vicksburg. Sherman's triumphant
march through the heart Of the Confederacy,
and Pail. Sherdan's dashing raids, seemed al
most to eclipse Grants former victories and
70 throw them iato the back ground. Heat
less, ambitions military officers and politicians,
began to wonder why the General in Chief
should thus permit his interiors in rank to
reap such harvests of glory and renown. But
such men don't know how to appreciate true
greatness. Blind. d by ambition and moving
In narrow, selfish circles, they could not un
derstand how Grant could be SO patient and
apparently inactive under such circum-
stances.
His seeming patience and inactivity are nov
fully explained and well understood. Grant
knew his own plans and was waiting for the
opportune moment to carry them into execu-
ton. His military genius now shines the
brighter for having been, seemingly, under q
cloud. Lee and his army had become des
perate BY being held in bondage SO long. This
rebel leader began to see and feel that he had
been compelled to hug Richmond quite toolong,
and hence his desperate and powerful attacks
on our lines. His.forces fought well, and be-
gan to feel much encouraged. At first success
seemed to crown their arms, but the tide of
battle turned against them. i.s q "a ss
Now what did Grant do? Was he satisfied
With such victories? We're Petersburg and
Richmond his only, objective pointsp Not SO.
He knew the vital power Of the rebellion was
not concentrated in Richmond, Charleston,
nor in any other rebel city, hut In Lee and his
army, and that II they could be captured or
broken up, the life giving energy of the strug-
gle on the part of The rebels would be gone,
and the Union sentiment ofthe South set free.
After the surrender Of Richmond and Peters
burg, Grant did not set down, write flaming
dispatches, and publish to the world high
sounding bulletins in which his proves and
achievements were painted in all The brilliant
colors Of rhetoric. No such thing. Lees ar
my must be captured, or Grants plans would
net be thoroughly Ayeouied The pursuit Of
the retreating rebels was promptly commence
ed, and followed up with vigor and deter
mination that knew no bounds. This pursuit
Of the flying foe displays a skill and energy
which all Generals do not possess. To plan
aud effect retreat after a battle Is lost has
always been considered mark of good gen.
eralship, but herein Lee failed and Grants
military genius shone with peculiar .splendor.
The truth is, Grant has outgeneraled Lee, and
such will be the judgement of the world.
General Sherman's Paaoa Negotiatione.