New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-19

From Denning's Life Of Grant ]
Poetry and painting have so idealized
the appearance and bearing of great com
manders in action that the popular senti-
ment is apt to be disappointed if General
is not always represented with pranciDg
charger, waving plume, and the egrand air"
of Washington in Leutze'spicture, or Fred
erick ''on the last review" The differ
ence between the ideal and the real is well
exemplifed by Davids painting of "Napo-
leon crossing the Alps representing him
on charger rampant attempting to scale
preeipice, contrasted with the well known
fact that he actually crossed the mountain
seated upon mule led by muleteer.
Versiiers have represented Marlborough
and William las turning thousands to fight
by their single proves, as dyeing rivers
wi h the blood Of their enemies, or winning
battles merely by the strength of their
muscle and skill of fence Macaulay in
Inmates that such description might do
when battles were won, as in Homer's time,
by chiefs encased in celestial armmor,
one of whom could with ease hurl rocks
which two sturdy binds 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 for
lOrn 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 wav-
| lag sword and other indictments to aldaci-
| ty. But general-in-chief, commanding at
| the engagement, heads no charges: il is his
| duty to watch all the chances, to supervise
| all the movements, and in he midst of
confusion. uproar, and slaughter examine
and dispose everything with the serene wis
dom of higher intelligence His true
attitude is one of intent and wrapt reflec-
ton, ready to move, but not on perpetual
caraeole? and tragedy airs are out of place,
and indicate pretender rather than the
genuine master OF the battle.
Expect from Grants extreme simplicity
no such grand and statuesque attitudes. It
is said of Lord Raglan that beyond and
apart from just contempt for mere dis
play, he had strange hatred of the out
ward signs and tokens of military energy.
Versed of old in real war, he knew that the
clatter of General briskly galloping
hither and thither, with staff and orderlies,
| did not of necessity impel any momentous
resolve that the aidsdecamp, swiftly shot
off like arrows from the bow, were no sure
signs of dispatch or decisive action.'
| Grant, likewise, despises all such flourish
He is neither brusque nor insinuating in
his address to the soldiers /; he returns the
salute in an off-hand way. He neither calls
them by name nor makes them a speech
His bearing in battle is subdued rather
than excited; calm instead of enthusiastic
! He selects the standpoint most servicea-
Bile for oversight. He moves where the
stress of battle calls him his attitude
the one which is the most comfortable
and his manner both to officers and pri-
Yates, 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 transformations
than his behavior, consisting of the regula-
| ton undress uniform, without sash or belt.
On this warm day his coat is unbuttoned
He wears a low-crowned felt hat, without
any mark upon it Of military rank or dis
tinction.
1t is PROFESSIONALLY true that this ex-
treme simplicity of carriage and plainness
of speech-this absence of external parade
and tgrand airi-this demeanor in battle,
so International, so unpretending-va
for a season from the eye of both inferior
and superior, the genuine military ability
and force of Grant as a commander. Smith
and Sherman understood his merits; but
bis manner DISCUSSES his value from such
devotees to high military style-West Point
etiquette-as Halleck and Buell..