Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-02

points OF tho war II has been told Us that
Grant came into the headquarters tent on the
evening Of the first days bst.le, when, TO any
bui the most heroic spirits fortune seemed to
have deserted US, and said quietly, Well, gen.
tlemen, it was tough work to-day-but we'u
beat them tomorrow
Displaced by Buell., Grant uttered no word
Of complaint-no newspaper correspondent even
complained for him but he went quietly on in
bis appointed place. We may suppose that the
slow, timid, and unmilitary policy which
marked the long siege OF Corinth must often
bave chafed his spirit, yet one Of his merits is to
submit to his aupsriors, cheerfully doing his
own work without stopping to question or rec
tlty the work of others and even while igno-
rance or nslace traduoed bis character and be-
Titled his services, giving bis best ability TO the
turtherance Of the plans Of the hour. Foriu-
nately we had 10 the War Department a man
OF insight and decisivness, who very soon saw
tho value OF Grant, and put it to use. The
long and almost impracticable campaign against
NicksburR was submitted to his direction, and
led TO al brilliant u series of operations az the
greatest general Of modern days ever conceived
or executed.
Vlcksburg was the second of Grants fruitful
victories. A rebel army, with all its arms and
material, surrendered to him but this material
gam was the least Of the fruits of his success
for as the capIare Of ForI Donelson expelled
the rebel forces, without another blow, from all
kentucky and the greater part OF Tennessee
rom region OF country nearly as great as the
Island OF Great Britain, and third greater than
sagand aone-so the capture Of Vicksburg re.
opened the great Mississippi to navigation, and
drove the enemy IRON the larger part Of the
state OF Mississippi.
Chattanooga came next. Hold fast ; do
not give up Chattanooga II you starve," be tele-
graphed Gsnefal Thomas, upon whose suffering
army Bragg looked down from the heights op-
poslte, as bis certain prey. A single battle
again decided the campaign, relieved Cha,tanoo.
"a and drove Bragg out of Fast Tennessee and
into Georgia. lie did not this time capture the
forces OF the enemy, owing partly to the diiieult
nature OF the pursuit amid the intractable
mountains, and partly to the want Of skill in the
pursuit exhibited by one or two of his subordi-
males. But OF the battles fought on Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge history records
no parallel for subllmity of daring and pctur-
es9ueness OF effect, while tho consequences,
which were the division Of the Coniederacy into
two parts, were nestimable in their importance.
At last Grant was drown eastward, to COM
mand all the armies OF the nation. We have
no, forgotten the misgivings with which the
public heard Of this transfer to n more compre-
hensve field Of duty, and more exacting trials.
Would he prove adequate to the enormous labor3
Would he not be spoiled by promotion, or ru-
ned, as so many before him had been, BY the
difficulties of the operations in Virginia. Above
all, would he not be sacrificed by the bicksrines
nf thu Pntnmac oanaKala A.
tions asked on every hand. The Lieutenant
General however, needed them not and went his
way as taciturn, as silent, as self-conoentrate
as tenacious aud as indomitable as the brisadier
and major-general had been. He made no
speeches on his way to the east he did not ad-
dress the troops lying in winter quarters at Cul-
pepper but he took hold Of bis work at once
and by the handle. Under his eyes the cam
pAlgn which began last May has been uninter-
rnptcdly successful. His first blow at Lee, in
those prodigious and terrible battles OF the Will
derne's, so crippled the principal army of the
rebels tina, /. could do nothing for eleven months
afterwards but lie behind its strong works, and
maintain the defensive. BY this mastery stroke,
Sherman and Thomas were furnished with the
opportunity OF action which they well knew how
10 improve. All the while the dear old army of
.he Potomac, which had been 50 often battered
and broken, but never overcome, was assigned
to the disagreeable and seemingly inslorious
function Of holding Leo still before Petersburg
but the 0enera-ln-Cnlef shared their burden,
and left to his distant lieutensnts the more
promising and satisfactory task of active move
ment and battle. Sherman and Sheridan and
Thomas were allowed to reap very rich harvest
of laursls.
But the moment at iength came for which
Grant had waited 80 many weary months, endur-
ing the Iaunts oil the whole semi-rebel press at
home and abroad, which denounced him as
Butcher Grant, and demonstrated triumphantly
that his game was blocked, and that he was
forced to lie idle by the superior prowes and
strategy Of Lee lie sent forth on the 29.h of
March the poteu, command to move one nigh.
ty week Of battle compelled the Surrender OF a
third army Of the rebels, and with il the fall of
Richmond, the capital OF the Uonfederacy, the
dispersion Of the government, aud the termina-
ton OF the struggle as an organized and vital
contest