The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-03-12

that those who had the best opportunities
estimating his merits, and who were most
concerned TO estimate them justly, (their
own reputation being staked on the success
of subsequent movemests,) ascribed the
success at Fort Donelson to the subOrdi-
| nate they placed over him. General
Smith unfortunately fell sick and died
and the disgraceful first day at Pittsburg
Landing showed how great a loss the
country sustained in his death, and vindi-
Gated the judgment which bad been FORM
ed of Gen. Grant. Although Gen.
Grant was attacked by an inferior force,
nothing but the timely arrival of Gen.
Buell. saved his army from total destruc-
ton. Forrest, who had escaped from
Fort Donelson with his cavalry the night
previous to the surrender, had gone to
join Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, who
thus had the means of learning from a
very alert observer the opinion which had
cen formed of the military ability of Gen.
Grant by those who fought against him
at Fort Donelson. 1t is of some interest
to know what estimate had been made
of Grant by capable judges on the other
side. We quote again from Greeleys
history of the war: "Having a spy in
nearly every dwelling in Southern Tennes-
see, he Gen. Johnston was doubtless
aware that the command of that army
lad just been turned over by General G.
+. Smith, an experienced and capable
soldier, to General Grant, so recently from
civil life and he had no doubt of his
ability TO accomplish It's destruction"
Which he was in a fair way of doing
VIXEN lie fell in battle, and General Beau>
regard would have finished the job. if
Buell. had not arrived just in time to re-
trieve Il shameful disaster We do not
propose, at present, to. review That dis
graceful Sunday. Our object in referring
20 it is merely to show that the estimate
of General Grant by those who fought
against him, and who had the strongest
motives to guage his capacity correctly,
was identical with that formed by his
military superiors who did not think it
safe to put him in ,mmand of the new
movement. The judgment formed on
both 81 les was fully indicated by what
Immediately took place at Pit;sbuTg Land
6.
1t is proper to say few words more
about FoSt Donelson. Its capture was
Qike all Gen. Grants successes. achieved
by the sheer force of vastly preponde-at-
ing numbers. The number of prisoners
received i'll surrender by General Grant at
Fort Donelson, aside from the wounded,
was only eight thousand, as estimated by
Mr.. Greeley, (although reported by Gen.
Grant at nearly doulle that numbcr);
and Grants own force at the time was
something like forty thousand. That the
capture was due to mere numbers is proved
by General Halleck's letter of thanks to
General Hunter, in which he says "To
you, more than to any other man out of
this department, are we indebted for our
success at Fort Donelson. In my strait
for troops to reinforce General Grant, I
applied to you. You responded nobly,
placing your forces at my disposition.
This enabled US to win The victory"
The rebel numbers were so few that they
could not relieve their men on duty, who
at last succumbed to physical exhaustion
and not 10 the strategy of General Grant.
Mr. Greeley says, speaking of the time of
surrender: "Their outnumbered, rough
ly-handled force, had endured eighty-fou
hours of alternate fighting and watching,
while suffering all the hardships of win
ter campaign, and were so outworn as to
fall asleep standing in line of battle VIXEN
actually under fire Gen Grants great
achievement consisted in the capture of
eight thousand of such wornout, unresist-
ing soldiers, with an army of forty
btu d.
We shall examine Gen. Grants other
successes (of which this ranks as one of
the most brilliantly when his friends invite
attention to them by celebrating their an
nlVerSarics.