The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-03-28

~
ish face, though marked with character
and quiet manner, gave none of that
evidence of what he has since shown he
possesses. .
Grants mental machineis of the pow
erful low pressure class, which conden-
ses its own steam and consumes its own
smoke; and which pushes steadily for
ward and drives all obstacles before it.
Sherman's belongs to the high pressure
class, which lets off both with puff
and a cloud, and dashes at its work with
resistless vigor, the result of a sound
boiler and plenty of fuel.
The question is often put to me
whether look upon Grant and Sher-
man as great men. To this there is but
zone reply Posterity alone, when the
clouds raised by passion, prejudice, and
partisanship, shall have been dissipated
and truth revealed in all her distictness,
will be competent to pronounce upon
this point. But, if great deeds, the re-
suits of high mental and moral powers
of magnanimity and generosity toward
public and private enemies are charac-
teristics of greatness, then cannot the
need of this ennobling patent be with
held, in our own day, from either of
these men.
In the selection of subordinates to
carry out their plans, and in discrimina-
tion of character, the faculty without
which no man can become a successful
leader in anything, both have shown
themselves equally happy. And of that
other faculty, directness of purpose,
equally essential to success, which keeps
the mind intent on the great object be-
fore it, and rejects all side issues, how
ever tempting, that might divert it from
this object, each has furnished striking
Their place in the classes of Generals
may perhaps be settled more readily
now; for their professional acts are as
fully before the public as they possibly
ever will be. Grant will take CON
splcuous placeinhistory-in that one to
which William of Orange, Turenne,
Frederick of Prussia, Washington, Mas
sena, Wellington, and Scott belong
Sherman, if below, not far from that
galaxy, brilliant with the scintillations
of genius, in which Alexander, Hanni-
bal, Caesar, and Napoleon are to be
found.
Wherever placed, they will 60 down
to all time as names dear to and honored
by the American heart, as connected
with the integrity of the Republic.
There is but one prayer that now, as
their old Instructor, l would form for
them, and that is that having passed
through so many perils of the battle
field and of pestilential climate, they
may also get, scatheless, through that
truly American ordeal, the cunningly-
wrought mesh-work of unscrupulous
politicians. As the Spaniards say,
| Quien sdbe?
Let us hope that, having borne them
selves so modestly and equally, under
such profuse showers of public aduIa-
ton, with the examples of the vituper-
alton poured upon Scott, Lincoln, and
johnson Immediately under their eyes,
and on the grand historic figure of
Washington looming up in the past,
they will not require the warning of
Scriptur against the temptings of am
bition in the words addressed to the
prophet: I" Is thy servant dog, that he
should do this great thing?" ..
Of all the incidents in the lives of
these two illustrious men, nothing, per-
haps, was more characteristic of them,
and none probably will be longer re-
membered by them with pleasure, than
their visit to their Alma Mater at West
Point, in June, 1865. More fortunate
than mortals generally, the lines of By
ron do not, in all, apply to them:
"Green and unfading blooms that schoolboy
spot,
Which we can ne'er forget, though we are
there forgot" a
In room in which the examination
for graduation, to which they had also
been subjected, was going on, the facul-
ty before whom they had passed their
ordeal still sitting in it, young class
of their comrades present, and crowded
with an eager, enthusiastic assemblage
Of ladies and many distinguished men,
Grant first appeared, leaning on the
arm of the Superintendent, shrinking
and half drawing back, as, with almost
feminine timidity depicted on his face,
he was led forward to be presented to
his old professors. Sherman, day OF
two after, passed through the same or
deal. With equal modesty, but with
that selfassertion of manner that has
become habit with him, he greeted
all around, and in few moments was
busy turning over the specimens of the
cadets drawings that were placed aside
on a table, comparing the present with
the past. Happy 4loaa Mater, in hav-
ing such sons to present to the Repub-
lie. More happy that the characters
tics of her flock, thus far, are personal
integrity and devotion to the public in
terests entrusted to them.
Very truly, yours,
D. H. MAHAN.
Vest Point, March 8, 1866.