Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-08-12

! battle. 4iy new post OF quartcrmaster is
considered to afford an officer an opportuni-
ty to pc relieved from fghting, but l do not,
and csnnot see It in tllas light You have
always taught me that the post of danger is
the post of duty Then, quoting Warren's
memorable reply to PutneuI, who had pro-
posed sending him to place of safuty-
Send me where tho fight may be the hot
tes. for there / can do the most good to my
country the young hero addcdS $50 feel
10 my position as qnartermaster. do not
| intend it shall keep me from fighting for
our dear old flag, when the hour Of battle
comes" ,,-.t,,,,s ~, ,.-,tb cd, .lIr,,.,,
q After the Mexican war, Captain Grant was
sent to the Pacific coast, where he, remained
for several years in garrison daty; 5ut grow
ing weary Of This duh routine, he resigned
his commissions in 1854, and returning to
Missouri, he settled down as plain farmer,
In st. Louis county. He gradually dropped
bis ASSOCIATIONS with military life, and the
opening of the war, as we have seen, found
him in Galena ut his old trade, but known
familiarly as the tanner brctlscr. The sonnd
of war, however, and especially of war in
defense of the nations life, broke his alngst
sluggish quietnde, and, reused within him
more than the fire of his Mexican Campaign,
in the flaming zeal of patriotism. He felt
that he owed his country the. military skill
and trimming she had given him, and he was
prompt tH lay these at her feet. Commis.
stoned by Governor Yates to recruit volun-
tsers for the quota of the State of Illinois,
he received colonelcy as a reward of his
success, and with his well drilled regiment
he was soon in active service in Missouri
Once in the field, Colonei Grant well knew
how to make his way yet the rapidity of
his promotion must have surprised himself
no less than the development Of his military
gsnIus amazed and dazzled the public.
1t would fe quite supcrfiuous to follow
in detail the battles of General Grant from
the brilliant victories of Forts Henry and
Donelson, which embazoIed lis name be.
side that of Admiral Foote, to the magni6-
cent sweep of his campaign through the
"Widerncss,r from the Potomac to the
James, which ended ut last ip the Capture
Of Richmond, and the principal army OF the
rebellion. Every body knows the story Of
the news-boy who was selling the "Liie of
General Grant" in Car, where Grant him
self was sitting. Being Pointed to the Gene
raj, by wagGish officer as probable Gus
! TONER, the boy was surprised ut Grants ask
ing him, whom is all this story abouta"
WELL" said he, turning away in contempt,
you must be greeny, ifyou don't know
Who General Grant ia" "s,rf.-e ..- .......
| If any reader of Hour, at Home does not
know who was the hero of Fort Henry and
! Doneson ;of Pittsburg Landing, Corinih,
and Iuka: of Vicksl,urg and Chattanooga
with the adjacent hcights of Missionary
Ridge and Lookout Mountain and Rich,
mond-we must leave him tn apply the
story. Our purpose is not to fight over upon
paper the campaigns Of General Grant, but
briefly to Indicate the salient qualities of
the General himself. ts5r = ~ ,-ta.
| The thoroughness with which he master
ed the situation, and the sagacity and bold
ness with which he took advantage of the
! critical opportunity, were first conspicuous
. at Fort Donelson.- By series of skillful
manUuvsrs he had completely invested the
fort and had gained command of the enc
m PapfiRsae is pSf5jiSEHis for grand
sauIt, word WAS brought from the front that
! the enemy was about to assume the offensive,
j and prisoner was sent to the General .
headquarters to confirm the report. In
stead of interrogating the man. Grant ex-
arnined his hsysrsack, and finding it well
stocked with rations, decided that Buckner
| Was preparing to eyAcuate the fort. He at
once ordered the assault, and before night
held the fort so securely in his grip that
the rebel General sent 3 flag of truce pro-
posed an armistice for terms of capitulation.
Grants quick reply WIS, mo terms other
than an immediate and unconditional surren-
der can be accepted. Ipropose to move i'm
I mediatcly on your works." and in little
/ time the flag of the UnioI Was waving ovei
the entire fort. r,',i.i,,e7,, .-...ig,f. Wi .s.
His confidence in his chosen position and
resources, and the superiority OF his will to
any emergency or disaster, were strikingiy
exhibited at ShiIoh, in disregard Of tactical
precedent, he placed himself between the
enemy and the banks of the Tennessee. =
When asked how he could have Ietreated
if beaten, he replied II didn't mean to be
beaten and besides, there were transports
to carry us across the river" When re
minded that the transports could only have
carried one fifth of his army, Grant quick y
rejoined "There was transportation enough
for all that wouIl have been left of u.s." IL
the judgement of some, the fortunate turr
OF the day BARELY saved him from sever,
military censure, for nis hazardous disposl
tion Of liis command, But was not the fac
, that he had staked all deliberately upon on
blow, the key to successa "Tbe diiierene
, betw cen Grant and myself" said Genera
Sherman, ''is this: ] fear no danger that
, can see aud Grant fears none that he can
see." His courage was always self contain
: ed. As lie himself opce saidr after the ex
, piosion OF she'll near his tent had scattere'
: his staff, who returned to find him quieti
smoking: "a military man should neye
!, get excited" .r |
q To these qualities OF thoroughness, bold
a ness, aud confdeucs, must be added tina
, j tenacity of purpose which FIRST itself upo
= the country iE the siege Of Yicksburgh, an
! whose success against the citidel of th
= Mississippi inspired the country with hop
!. and patience during the pIotracted siege {
!. / Petersburg and Richmond. 1t was theI
i that he illustrated his schoolboy mazim
d "hold on to what he got,"s .....i 81 2
70 At Chattanooga he, redeemed our arm
!, from, the Decentralization of despair; an
4, there also he displayed the vsstness OF IA
10 grasp 10 strategy ~ the power OF combinin
a. upon broad SCALE movements converg'n
ID towards one end with the certainty Of su
o. cess through, the careful adjustment of part
n and by gbslduess at the moment OF o
10 portunityu He Was mouth in maturing D
II plan, foJr disledging the enemy from Il
is mountsin astnesses Ground Chattanooga 81
- In getting up his own supplissi but wis
as the day for action arrived, his plan was
d once so comprehensive aud so minute tn
a - NI =. = 4