Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-05-17

works. was one of those worthy bene-
nciaries whom the nation had educated
at the great military school that he
had won his spurs at the earliest battles
of the Mexican war that he had par.
ticipated in that series of hard.fought
engagements which carried triumphant.
ly the flag OF the Republic from the
shores OF the Gulf TO the lake.encircled
citadel of the ancient Aztecs that he
had won his full grade OF First Lieuten-
ant in those bloody hours when Moline
del Rey succumbed 10 the impetuosity
of our soldiery and his brevet OF Cap.
tain on that day, ever memorable In our
annals, when the steep and frowning
heights OF Cheputepec Were carried,
and the trembling city below implored
the mercy of our artillery.
THE FINAL GROWING.
When Gen. GRANT first entered upon
the general direction of affairs, four new
and controlling characteristics forthwith
reformed, invigorated and systemized
our military administraton-co-o
ton of purpose in our separated armies,
energy in attack, rapidty in pursuit,
ana wisdom in the selection of com
| manders OF armies, corps and divisions
the fit man for the fit place. cannot,
in this brief resume of his services which
1 am attempting, but barely alude 10
! the manner in which he combined the
scattered and independent operations of
our various armies in the field, conCen-
trated upon a single point the entire mil
| itary strength of the nation, and des-
trOyed that damaging eXpedieut by
! which the enemy in command of the in
| terror lines OF communication was en-
abed to reinforce any OF his armies
which were vigorously assaulted. The
| campaign upon which the Lieutenant
| General first entered is admitted by the
| highest military critics to have been
! grand and perfect in its conception, con.
! templating the simultaneous movement
| and the joint action OF four armies-thc
! Army of the Potomac the Army of the
| Cumberland, the Army of Western Vir-
ginia, and the Army of the James-each
with different objective point, but all
contributing to the great purpose of the
| campaign, the destruction OF the chief
army of the rebellion. If the plan par
italy failed, and what was designed TO
have been finished in the field was at
length completed by protracted siege,
it was not due to any want OF genius or
merit in the plan or skill and yigOr in
executing that part of it. under the i'm
mediate supervision OF the commanding
general. No man can contemplate,
without admiration and wonder, that
hand tO-hand fight in the blind thiCkets
. n tho hlnCHu WilHapppCS +ha+
| ant and infleXible advance against over
whelming natural obstacles. against 4
determined enemy entrenched in front
acquainted with every path and every
| point of attack and resistance, in pos
session, too, OF interior lines over which
he could rapidly hurry his troops, and
throw them impetu Ously in any direc-
| tiOn. No one can contemplate without
establishment and sympathy, the burden
! Of labor, anxiety and sOicitude
which he cheerfully bore during the i'm
mense labors Of that prOtracted siege,
and for its final success our thanks TO
GRANT unconsciously mingled with our
thanks to God. For this GROWING work
alone, so important in its immediate re-
suits, and charged with ultimate conse-
quences so mOmentOus to liberty, civil
zatlon, and the human race, let gratitude
unbounded, unmeasured infinite, be
freely rendered, and let substantial hon
or and reward be bestowed in some
| slight degree commensurate with the
obligations of q disenthralled and res
cued nation. | think | may safely in
woke the favor Of the representatives of
the people 10 the humble testimonial
| prottered by this bill. Let us not in this
| DAY OF our deliverance paralyZe failure
| herOlSm and reatfirm before the civilized
world the ingratitude Of republics by re-
fusing this small tribute to the foremost
soldier of this generation; to him who,
entering the war as Captrin, won in it's
battles every successive grade, and
emerged from it with a rank unsur-
passed in our service; to him who at
Fort Donelson first lghtened the des-
pondency OF trembling nation; to him
who at Shiloh first demOralized the
| spirit OF the haughtiest of foes: to him
! who at Vicksburg first released the loyal
Father Of Waters from forced completely
| with treason; to him who at Chattano0-
ga frSt opened the gates of Georgia that
| sherman might sweep from Atlanta to
the sea, and from the Savannah TO the
| Cape Fear; to him who received the !
swords of Buckner Pemberton ahd Lee. /
and the captHlatiOn of three great arm |
les Of the rebellion to him who success !
FULLY conducted two Of the most memo /
riable sieges in history; to him, finally, /
VINO dissolved the Confederacy at Rich |
mond, and struck every rebel flag from
the Rappahannock to the Rio Grande.
Time, it is said, devours the proudest
human memorial. The impress we have
mace as a nation may be Obiterated
our grandest achievements, even those
which we now fOndly deem eternal those
which embelish the walls of that his.
torlc Rotunda, may all drop from the
memory Of man; our civilization. liber-
W, arts, agriculture, though sculptured
IN the pediments of this Capitol, NAV all
De engulfed in Lethes dark waters this
massive structure, with its solid founda-
tions, expanded wings, towering col
umns, and bubbling dome may all be
buried with our Constitution, Govern
ment, laws AMI polity, in common