The Portland daily press., 1868-07-09
Miscellany.
General Grants Appearance i'm Battle


General Grants Appearance i'm BmtsIe.
Poetry and painting have SO idealized the an
pearance and bearing of great commanders in
action, that the popular sentiment is apt to
be disappointed ii general is not always rep
resented with a prancing charger, waving
plume, and the "grand air" OF Washington in
Leutze's picture, or Frederick ION the last re-
view." The difference between the ideal and
real is well exempliied by David's painting of
Napoleon crossing the Alps" representing
him on charger-rampant, attempting to
scale a precipice, contrasted with the we'll
known tact, that he actually crossed the noun
tains seated upon mule, led by muleteer.
Nerslfers have represented Marlborough and
William "as turning thousands to FLIGHT by
their single prowess. as dyeing rivers with
the blood OF their enemies, or winning battles
merely by the strength of their muscle and
skill in fence" Macanlay intimates that such
description might do when battles were won.
as in Homers time, by chiefs eDcased in ce-
lestial armor, one of whom could with ease
hurl rocks which two sturdy kinds of a later
period could not lift, but that we must reject
them since war has become a science
and trade, and battles are won not
by the hand but by the head. When
an officer heads t5rlorn hope, or
charge, it is undoubtedly his duty to assume
the most animating and inspiring attitude:
and, if he Is the man for the place. he will be
on the lead with waving sword, and other
ministering indictments to audacity. But
generalin-chief, commanding at the engage
ment, heads no charges; it is his duty to
watch all the chances, to supervise all the
movements, and, in the 'midst of confusion,
uproar and slaughter, examine and dispose
everything with the serene wisdom OF high
er intelligence" His true attitude is one of
intent and rapt reflection, ready to move, but
not on perpetual caracole; and tragedy airs
are out of place, and indicate pretender
rather than the genuine master of battle,
Expect from Grants extreme simplicity no
such grand and statuesque attitudes. 1t is
said OF Lord Raglan that, "beyond and apart
nom just contempt for mere display, he
had strange hatred of the outward signs
and tokens of military energy. Versed of
old in real wal, he knew that the clatter of a
general briskly galloping hither and thither
with staff and orderlies did not, of necessity
imply any momentous resolve; that the aides
de-camp swiftly shot off like arrows from
bow We're No sure signs of dispatch or decis-
i've action" Grant, likewise, despises all
such flourish. He is neither brusque nor in |
sinuating in his address to the soldiers; he |
returns the salute in an off-hand way, He |
neither calls them by name nor makes them |
speech. His bearing in battle is subdued |
rather than excited calm instead of enthusi- |
oooiS. AAC oClCCto Tile SJduu-pOl0C most SER |
viceable for oversight He moves where the |
stress OF battle calls him his attitude, the one
which is most comfortable; and his manner, |
both to officers and privates, as simple and |
unassuming as If he were chaffering about |
the price OF sole-leather, over the counter at
Galena. His dress is, habitually, more unos-
tentatious than his behavior, consisting of |
the regulation undress-uniform, without sash |
or belt On this warm day his coat is unbut- |
toned. He wears low crowned felt hat, |
without any badge upon it of military rank |
or distinction.
II is unpuestionably true that this extreme |
simplicity of carriage and pIainness of speech
this absence OF external parade and
the grand air'-this demeanor in battle, SO
Unconditional, SO unpretendng-veiled for a
season, from the eye both of inferior and |
superior, the genuine military ability and |
force of Grant as a commander. Smith and |
Sherman understand his merits; but his |
manner DISCUSSES his value from such deyo-
TO high military style-West Point etiquette |
-as Helack and Buel.-Dening's Life of |
Grant.