The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-09
GENERAL GRANTS REPORT.
OPERATIONS SINCE GRANT ASSUMED CHIEF
COMM AND. el

This report begins at the date atwhich
General Grant took command Of all the
armies, and ends with the close Of the
rebellion. It occupies only forty-four
pages, and is as modest, concise and
clear as all that the General has done or
written. We have space only for pas
sages in which he clears up points not
hitherto generally understood. His
general idea Of the operations necessary
is here given: '''a '-.
/" From an early period i'm the rebel
lion had been impressed with the idea
that active aud continuous operations of
all the troops that could be brought into
the field, regardless of season and wea-
ther, were necessary to speedy termi-
nation of the war. The resources of the
enemy and his. numerical strength were
far inferior to ours; but as all offset TO
this we had vast territory with popu-
lation hostile to the government TO gar
rison, and long lines of river and rail
road communications to protect to ena-
BILE us to supply the operating armies.
"The armies in the East and West
acted independently aud without con
cert, like u balky team, no two ever
pulling together, enabling the enemy to
use to great advantage his interior lines
of communication for transporting troops
from east to west, reinforcing the army
most vigorously pressed, and to fnrlongh
large numbers during seasons of inac-
tivity on our part to go to their homes
aud do the work of producing for the
support of their armies. 1t was ques-
ton " neither our numerical strength and
resources were not more than balanced
bv these disadvantages and the enemy's
superior position
"From the first, wasfirm in the con-
vctiOn that no peace could be had that
would be stable and conducive 10 the
happiness of the people, both north and
south, until the military power of the
rebellion was entirely broken.
~ therefore determined, first, to use
tile greatest number of troops practica-
BILE against the armed force of the enemy;
preventing him from using the same
force at different seasons against first one
and then another of our armies, and the
possibility of repose for refitting and
producing necessary supplies for carry
ing on resistance. Second, to ham mer
continuously against the armed force of
the eDttuN anu icSouitS'I ny
mere attriiion, if in no otherway, there
should be nothing left to him but an
equal submission with the loyal section
of our common country to the Comstitu-
ton and laws of the land.
THE TWO GREAT COMMANDS.
"Maior- General w. It. Sherman, who
was appointed to the command Of the
military division of the Mississippi, EN-
bracing all the armies and territory east
of the Mississippi river TO the Allegha.
MES, and the department of Arkansas
west of the Mississippi, had the imme
date command of the armies operating
against Johnston. UEan pes I
i1'.Major-General George @. Meade had
| the Immediate command of the ARMY o
| the Potomac, from where i exercised
general supervision of the movements O
| all our armies. 1539iHfF na.lhtas
| General Sherman was instructed tC
move against Johnston's army to break
ii up, and to go into the interior of the
enemy's country as far as he could, inflict
| ing all the damage he could upon theil
war resources. If the enemy in bis
/ front showed signs of Joining Lee, te