New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-05-22


General who was called to the head of the army
in the fervor of popular 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 com
manders lay on the banks of the Rappahannock, and
fought the Inflated battles of Fredericksburg and
Charlottesville, while Grant and Sherman were
quietly working out their plans the Mississippi
and the Yazoo. When Lee moved northward in
the Spring and Summer Of 1863. and Meade was cna-
bled to gain his great victory at Gettysburg, the
capitulation of PembertOn added Vicksburg to
Gettysburg i'm the associations connected with the
ever glorious Fourth of July. In detailing the APP
pointments of Major Generals which had been made
in the regular army, Grant once modesty said AT
ter the equalization of yicksburg was added as if
himself unconscious of the Importance of an event
that had given the army leader who conquered a
peace for the country, and makes him to-day the
candidate of the great Republican party for Presi-
dent an office which he would not desire were not
the people intent on giving him this last mark of
their confidence ard esteem.
One who was within the Rebel lines during the in
yason Of Pennsylvania in 1862 was told by AFRO
CANT 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 IL
there were no intronched enemy in front to pick them
off in detail But the same flash of the lightning
that brought the news of Meades victory at Getys-
bnrg brought word of PembertOns defeat at Nicks-
burg As a reward for this victory, Grant in his own
modest words, was added to the Major Generals
already appointed for the regular army, but unlike
the time when he commissioned baJOr-Generai
of Volunteers, fortune now could doom INN 10 IN
activity. Before he was ordered TO assume command
at Chattanooga, after the unfortunate battle
of Chickamauga President Lincoln wrote him
characteristic letter Ii was dated July H. 1863, and
was AS follows: MY Dear General: do not re-
member that you and ever met personally. write
this now as grateful acknowledgment for the almost
inestimable service you have done the country L
wish TO say q word further When you first reached
the vicinity of vicksburg, thought you should do
what you finally dd-march the troops across the
neck run the batteries with the transports and thus
20 below: and never had any faith, except general
hope that you knew better than |, that the Yazoo
expedition and the like could succeed. When you
got below and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and
vicinity. thought you should go down the river and
oin Gen. Banks; and when you turned northward.
east Of the Big Black, thought it a mistake.
now wish to make the personal acknowledgment 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 Executive the most unbounded conf
dence in the capacity Of the commander by whom II
was gained 1t is gratifying that that confidence
-ras never betrayed and never disappointed He ilrst
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 tho Chattanooga Valley ana
Mission Ridge, and opening up the way for
Shcrman's Great March to the Sea. Then the
National House of Representatives passed
unanimous vote of thanks to Gen. Grant
for his victories and ordered medal to be struck III
his honor while both Houses Of Congress concuTred
in the passage of an act reyiving the grade OF
Lieutenant General 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. Presi-
dent Lincoln formally presented him with his COM
mission March O. 1854 and having opened up the path
to the final victory in the Southwest, he at once
proceeded tn pave the way To success in the South
East.
The Grand Army of the Potomac smarting under
its many misfOrtunes notwithstanding the bright
spot of Gettysburg upon its banners. and its mper
ishablc 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
fortune. lie received his commission from
the hands of the President, with but few
words, and without indicating his purpose left
the Executive presence to begin his advance
upon Richmond. The Rapidan was crossed. and Lee
fought in the terrible battle of the Wilderness then
he advanced 20 the North Anna River and making
flank movement upon Cold HarbOr. fought another
sanguinary battle the assault upon the Rebel works
at that place and then swinging around the IN
trenched lines Of the enemy, he crossed the James
and invested Petersburg 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
heaey losses 10 the enemy. This together with the
desperate straits to which Lee was reduced, embod
ened him TO take the oiiensye and on the night OF
the 9th Of March, 1865 he moved three divisions OF
his troops before Fort Steadman, and surprised and
captured tho position. Before night il had been re-
taken, and at the same time the battle OF Hatchers
RIM was fought continuing until evening.
On the I'd of April the Rebel intrenchments
with 5000 men, Mt Big Five Forks, were captured
and an attack was ordered along the whole line I'M
der Grants direction, which ended in driving Lee
from his works and the abandonment Of Richmond.
Lees retreat was cut off 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 capitulated Soon after the Rebel
GEN Johnston surrendered to Gen. Sherman, on the
same terms granted by Grant to Lee, and the Great
Civil War was ended.
If Gen. Grant was appointed to tho command of
the armies with "A rank never held by any one before
except Washington, greater honor if possible was
if store for him. He is simply General of the
United States Army, and soon he will be President
of the United States
THE HON. SCHUYLER COLFAX.
SCHUYLER CoLFAX, the popular candidate of the