Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-06-15
Grant. C.urra,uI.tsr1 Order.

The war having been brought to close,
the Commanding General has congratu.
lated his comrades on the completion OF
the work. Never was such an address
more appropriate. The immense scale on
which the operations were conducted. the
vast expense, the numerous important
changes made in military science during
the struggle. the intelligence and wealth
of the common soldiers, the obstinacy
with which both sides fought, and the
great principles Of personal freedom and
national unity decided, have made this
the greatest of wars. II success, and sue
cess in the cause of human rights, could
Justify congratulation, when was success
more complete or the stake more i'm
portants
General Grant felicitAtes bis fellow
soldiers upon the lustre.of their marches.
sieges and battles, as well as upon their
ultimate success. Years will pass before
civilians will understand the battles and
appreciate the tactics of the war. The
improvements in arms have altered the
mode of fighting and the result OF com.
bats. As the advancement in the arts of
peace Is rapid, so is that in the art Of war.
There has been more change within ten
wears than there was in the whole eigh-
teenth century, or in the two preceding
centuries. Since the use of gunpowder
began, battles have not been so bloody as
they were among the ancients. The ter
nble agent, which appeared so destructive
to human life, made war far less sanguin-
airy than it had been before. At Gamma,
though Hannibal lost but few hundred
of his SO. 900 soldiers, only 10000 Of the
$4,000 Romans escaped alive. The 10000
were slaughtered on the field within few
hours. The historians do not speak Of the
wounded, they were too few to be taken
into account. The weapon was the
sword; the fighting did not commence
until the hostile armies were within arms
length of each other. When the Romans
had once been thrown into confusion,
they were at the mercy Of their enemy.
Although the musket of the last century
did little execution, and had no accuracy
of aim beyond one hundred yards, the
lines were much heightened and the dis
,ances between the forces greatly increased,
and thus the defeated party gained time.
Retreating swordsmen were at the mercy
of cavalry, but retreating musketeers, with
bayonets, were not. With gunpowder
the wounds ceased to be mortal, the re-
treats ceased to be slaughters. The in
provements in arms have strengthened the
defense and weakened the attack. These
circumstances are new to history, and
therefore we say that the time has not yet
come for just estimate Of the merit OF
our battles, but we doubt not that when
all the facts are appreciated no fault will
be found with General Grants praise Of
his armies. Our battles have not been 30
successful. 80 brief or 40 decisive Is those
Of Bonaparte, but the condition Of the art
of war did not permit it. Although the
new arms were used to only small eH-
tent in the Italian war, yet no such deci'
sive results were obtained at Magenta or
Solferino as At Wagrsm, Jena or Marengo.
Gen. Grant does not refer to these con-
siderations, but they must not be left out
Of sight by those who undertake to est.
mate the deeds of our army or the glory
Of the Nation. In conclusion, the address
congratulates the soldiers that they will
soon be permitted to return to their homes.
This language appears to indicate an e1-
2ectation Of peace, for which. so long az
consistent with the National interest and
honor. the people are anxious, so that the
wounds Of war may be healed. and good
feeling be again restored.-S. F. Alto.