New-York tribune., 1868-09-12

ne +bc nossession Of the Mississippi, and with
it the whole South-West-aganst the Judgment
of his fellow commanders, ana almost against
the orders of the Government. sherman IelU
compelled 10 protest to Grant against perse-
verance i'm the movement; Lincoln earnestly de-
sired that Grant should abandon Nicksburg
and ioin Ranks mt Port Hudson the North
looked with distrust and the South with JOY
upon the bold and mysterious plans
which the best soldiers in the army
condemned. Had Grant failed in this
campaien tbe result would have been terrible
disaster TO the country ana absolute rum 10
himself Crossing the Mississippi was as daring
an act as the crossing OF the Rublcon buC
this letter shows that Grant was as calm ana
confident, amid this universal doubt and tear
"a if the victory had been already won. " lt
ais painful 10 me,n he wrote, as matter OF
&C course. To see the course pursued by some OF
Z" the papers. But there is no one less disturbed
"by them than myself" He knew 1t was
folly to attack the enemys fortIhcatl0ns rs
long as he had the prospect of turning thell'
Immediate attack might have been total de-
feat. "Full of hope for complete success
he did his best, and that was better thah tne
most sanguine dared to expect. NlcksDurg ieil'
But in that long period of national suspense
when Uoratio Seymour. like sick raven on
n dead tree. croaked of nothing but misery anu
ruin, who was the single man who saw lnVisl-
bic Victory like far-away star III the darkheSS'
unknown 10 Others but flaming across his path'
and Frightening as it approached Ii was the
one man upon whom all the responsibility
rest d. and who had not only accepted, but had
created and chcerfully assumed 1t. Grant
knew in April what the nation could hardly
realize in July, that the road to Nicksbnrg was
by way of Millkens Bend; and when Pcmber-
ton delivered up his sword, Grant WAS per
haps the only man in the country who was not
in the least astonshed.
II never expect to have an army under my
command whipped, unless it is very badly
whipped and can't help it.' When Grant
wrote these words he could scarcely have an
tcipated that he would be called upon to cross
swords with Lee, and to take command OF an
army which, under Mcclellan, and Mcdowell,
and Burnside, and Pope, and Hooker, had been
repeatedly defeated But the self-conlident cx-
preston was right-thc army he commanded
never was whipped, and this straightforward
assurance To his father that disaster was
not to be feared throws a new light upon
the man. lie did not blunder into success.
He succeeded by never placing himself in a
position to be defeated. And during this long
and weary time, when he was struggling with
his most dangerous enemy-the general lgn0-
rance of his greatness and the jealous distrust
with which his superiors regarded lim-Grants
highest ambition was to prove himself equal
TO anything expected of him. He was
ready To accept an humber position; he
did not seek power. All his aims were his
country's. 81 want, and will do my part to-
"ward it, TO put down the Rebellion in the
Shortest possible time without expecting or
"dcsrlng any other recognition than n quiet
approval of my course" That approval he
unquestionably has, and if it is not 'quiet
ornnt must blame the American people, who
think that. though he may be properly silent
concerning his wonderful success, silence in
them would bc ingrntitude and shame.