The Shasta courier., 1868-08-22
SHASTA COURIER.
General Grants Appearance i'm Battle.

Poetry and painting have 80 idealized the
appearance and bearing Of great commanders
IN acrion. that the popular sentiment is apt
to be disappointed If General is not repre-
sented with q prancing charger, waving
nlume. and the :. Grand air" Of Washington
IN Leutze's picture, of Frederick ''on the
last reyiew." The difference between tho
ideal and the real is well exemplifed by
David's painting of " Napoleon Crossing the
Alps" representing him on charger ram
pant. attem pting to scale a precipice, con-
strasted with the well known fact, that he
actually crossed the mountains seated upon
a mule. led by muleteer. Versi6ers have
represented Marlborough and William las
turning thousands to fight by their single
prowess, and dyeing rivers with the blood of
their enemies, or winning battles merely by
the strength of their muscle and skill in
fence" Macaulay intimates that such de
scriptions might do when battles were won,
as in Homer's time, by chiefs encased in
celestial armour. one of whom could with
ease hurl rocks which two sturdy hands of
later period could not lift, but that we
must reject them since the war has become
science AMI a trade, and battles are won not
by the hand but by the head. When an of
fcer heads forlorn hope, or charge, it is
undoubtedly his duty to assume the most an
imating and inspiring attitude; and. if he is
the man for the place. he will be on the lead
with waving sword. and other ministering in
elements to audacity. But General-n
Chief. commanding at the engagement. heads
chances, to supervise all the movements,
and in the " midst of confusion. uproar and
slaughter. examine and dispose everything
xrish ha cd Nf In.
gence." His true attitude is one of intent
and rapt reflection, ready TO move, but not
on a perpetual caraeole and the tragedy airs
are out of place. and indicate pretender
rather than the genuine master of battle.
Expect from Grants extreme simplicity no
such grand and statuesque attitude. 1t is
said of Lord Raglan that, "beynnd and
apart from just contempt for mere display,
lie had Il strange hatred of the outward slgn>
and tokens of military energy. Fersed ot
old in real war, he knew that the glitter of a
General briskly galloping hither and thither
with staff and orderlies did not, OF necessity,
imply any momentous resolve that the
aides-de-camp swiftly shot off like arrows
from IA bow were M sure signs of dispatch or
decisive action" Grant. likewise, despises
nil snch fourishes. He is neither brusqme
nor insinuating in his address 10 the soldiers;
ne returns tue Salut6 III dH uu-uduu WHY. -
lie neither calls them by name nor makes
them speech. His bearing in battle is sub
dued rather than excited calm instead Of
enthusiastic. He selects the standpoint most
serviceable for oversight. He moves where
the stress of battle calls him his attitude,
the one which is M at comfortable; and his
manner, both to officers and privates. "a SIM
Pile and unassuming. as if he were chafering
about the plice of sole leather over the coun.
ter at Gaena. His dress is, habitually, more
unostentatious THAI his behavior, consisting
of the regulation undress unifarm, without
sash or belt. On this warm day his coat is
unbutnned He wears a low-cruwned felt
hat, without any badge upon it of military
rank or distinction.
1t is unquestionably true that this extreme
simplicity of carriage and plainness of speech
this absence of external parade and the
"grand air'-this demeanor in battle, so un-
emotional, 80 unpretending-valed for sea
son from the eye both of inferior and super
Tor, the genuine military ability and force of
Grant as commander. Smith and Sherman
understood his merits; but his manner dis.
guises his value from such devotees to high
military style-Wesr Point etiquette--as Hal
leck and Buell.. l.-Deming's Life Of Grant.