The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-05-30

river and Join Gen. Banks and when you
turned northward, east of of the Big Black,
| thought it was a mistake now wish to
make the personal acknowledgement that
you were right and | was wrong"
A victory which could call forth such a
letter as this from President Lincoln would
produce in the mind of the Executive the
most unbounded confidence in the capacity
of the commander by whom it was gaiacd.-
1t is gratifying that that confidence was never
betrayed and never disappointed. He first
justified the Presidents faith, soon after he
assumed the chief command in Tennessee,
by the brilliant victory at lookout Mountain,
driving the Rebel Gen. Bragg from the
Chattanooga Valley and Mission Ridge, and
opening up the way for Sherman's Great
March to the Sea. Then the National
House of Representatives passed unanl-
nous vote of thanks to Gen. Grant for his
victories and ordered medal to be struck
in his honor, while both Houses of Congress
concurred in the passage ofan act reviving
the grade OF Lieutenant General, n rank
never held by any one except Washington,
and Grant was recommended for the post,
it being prescribed that the Lieutenant
General should have command of the
armies. President Lincoln formally pre-
scented him with his commission March .,
final victory in the South West, he at once
proceeded to pave the way to success in the
Sout East.
The Grand Army Of the Potomac, smart
ing under its many misforunes, notwith
standing the bright spot of Gettysburg upon
its banners, and its imperishable record for
heroism, needed the prestige of Gen. Grant
to give it confidence in itself. Those noble
veterans felt that success was assured when
they found him willing to Join his great fame
with theirs, and to link his destines with
their fortune. 'He received his commission
from the hands ofthe President, with but few
words, and without indicating his purpose
left the Executive presence to begin his adj
vace upon Richmond. The Rapidan was
crossed, and Lee fought in the terrible bat
tie of the Wilderness then he advanced to
the North Anna River, and making flank
movement upon Cold Harbor, fought another
sangunary battle, the assault upon the Reb-
ell works at that place; and then swinging
around the intrenched lines of the enemy,
he crossed the James and invested Peters
burg. Desperate engagements followed,
and, during the investment, he mined and
blew up Fort He'll, Rebel stronghold, with
the view OF taking the town by assault; but
the operation failed, with severe punishment
on our side. and heavy losses to the enemy.
This. together with the desperate straits to
which Lee was reduced, emboldened him to
take the offensive, and on the night of the
9th of March, 1866, he moved three divi.
sions of his troops before Fort Stcadman,
and surprised and captured the POSITION
Before night it had been retaken, and at the
same time the battle Of Hatchers Run was
fought continuing until evening. On the
I'd OF April the Rebel intrenchments, with
5000 men, at Big Five Forks, was captured,
and an attack was ordered along the whole
line, under Grants direction. which ended
in driving Lee from his works and the aband-
onmcnt of Richmond. Lees retreat was
cut OIL by the rapid movements which Grant
instituted, and on the 9th of April, Just one
week after the last great battle, the army Of
Northern Virginia capitulalcd. Soon after
the Rebel Gen. Johnston surrendered TO
Gen Sherman, on the same terms granted
by Grant to Lee, and tic Great Civil War
was ended.
If Gen. Grant was appointed TO the com
naud of the armies with rank never held
by any one before except Washington, a
greater honor if possible was IN store for
him. He is now simply General Of the
United States Army, and soon he will be
President Of the United States.