The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-08-27


er on trust if he would only come heralded
with a victory, however insignificant
Rich Mountain gave Mcclellan command
OF the Armies of the United States the
unfortunate expedition to Belmont doomed
Grant to comparative obscurity at Cairo,
until near the close of the first year ofthe
war. Then the brilliant victories Of Fort
Donelson and Pittsburg Landing, the first
of any significance gained by Union
army could do little for him, and while
the former made him a Major-General, the
latter deprived him of command. All
eyes were turned toward the Grand Army
of the Potomac, in anticipation Of the
great things it would accomplish when its
loader chose to move upon Lee at Manas-
eds anu oecisisc SsSsO-ISs=EE,,,yrs H. Cum
berland and the Tennessee were not con
sldered, while people were amused with
promises never to be realized, and kept in
constant expectation by assurances that all
was quiet along lines little nearer home
1t were useless to attempt description of
these actions now, but when Grant com
pleted victory that had begun as defeat,
by leading in person charge of six regi-
Inents, he showed that a General might
promise little and yet accomplish much
Soon after he had worsted the ablest rebel
leader IN the South, who was killed in that
fierce engagement at Shiloh Church, Hal
leck assumed command in the South West,
and the victor was rewarded for his two
successes by subsequent neglect until Sep
tember, 1862. He was then appointed to
the command of the Army of West Ten
nessee, his forces constituting the 18th
Army Corps, and fixed his headquarters
at jackson IN that State. In the mean
time NJ Clellan had been driven from be-
fore Richmond Pope had been defeated
at the second battle of Bull Run. and an
uncertain victory at Antietam had closed
the career OF General who was called to
the head OF the army in the fervor of pop
ular enthusiasm, and had been restored to
command IN moment Of popular despair
During the dark and terrible winter that
followed, the Army Of the Potomac under
its successive commanders lay on the banks
OF the Rappahannock, and fought the i'll
fated battle of Fredericksburg and Chan
cellorsyille, while Grant and Sherman were
quietly working out their plans on the
Mississippi and the Yazoo. When Lee
moved northward in the Spring and Sum
g. OF 1868, and Meade was enabled to
capItulatlon ot c,JEf'
burg to Gettysburg in the associations con-
nected with the ever-glorious Fourth of
July In detailing the appointments of
Major-Generals which had been made in
the regular army, Grant once modestly
said after the capitulation of Vicks-
burg 7 was added" as if himself uncon-
cious Of the Importance Of on event that
had given the army leader who conquer
ed g peace Coz the country, and makes him
to-day the candidate of the great Repub
hcan party fot President, an Office he
would not desire were not the people in
tent on giving him this last mark of their
confidence and esteem.
One who was within the rebel lines du-
ring the in gac;on OF Pennsylvania in 1868,
was told by an arrogant Southerner, whose
deserted home was near the spot where
Grants army lay, that the dark and fetid
waters Of the Yazoo would destroy his men
even if there were no intrenched enemy in
front to pick them off in detail But the
same fash of the lightning that brought
the news OF Meade's victory at Gettysburg
brought word OF Pemberton's defeat at
Vicksburg. As reward for this victory,
Grant, In MS own modest words, was ad-
ded to tie Major-Generals already appoint
ed for the regular army, but unlike the
tirne when he was commissioned a Major
General of Volunteers, no fortune now
could doom him to inactivity. Before he
was ordered TO assume command at Chat
tanooga, after the unfortunate battle of
Chickamauga, President Lincoln wrote him
characteristic letter Ii was dated July
13, 1863, and was Gs follows My Dear
General I do not remember that you and
I ever met personally. l write this now
as grateful Acknowledgements, for the al
most inestimable service you have done
the country. l wish to say word further.
When you first reached the vicinity Of
| Vieksburg, | thought you should do what
you finally did-march the troops across
/ the neck, run the batteries with the trans
ports, and thus 90 below and | never had
any faith, except general hope that you
knew better than |, that the Yazoo expe.
dition and the ike could succeed. When
you got below and took Port Gibson
/ Grand Gulf, and vicinity, [ thought you
| should go down the river and join Gen
| Banks; and when you turned northward
east of the Big Black, thought it was
mistake. l now wish to make the person
al acknowledgements that you were right
and | was wrong"
A victory which could call forth such
letter as this from President Lincoln
would produce in the mind of the Execu
tive the most unbounded confidence in the
capacity of the commander by whom it wa.
gained. 1t it gratifying that that conf
denee. was never betrayed and never dis
appointed. He first justified the Presi
] dnnt,a filth snnn. aftor ho ncS,1r,nad III.