The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1868-09-17

Napoleon. Eyes, and I am in the
habit Of accomplishing that which I
undertake; but must not be interfer.
ed with by orders from the Govern
ment," was the self-confident reply OF
the young, and then obscure officer
But IN his case, as in Grants, subse-
quent success justified the self-conf-
dence. In the able, self confidence is
admirable; but in the weak, whose
achievements do not answer to the
expectations their selfconfdence
awakens, itis called vanity and pre-
sumptuousness.
GRANT IS A sHREWD OBSERVER, A
NAN OF GREAT oUICKNEss OF PER
CEPTION, AND PROMPT ACTION.
Take an instance or two: In one OF
the battles near the City of Mexico,
while the regiment in which Grant
served as a lieutenant was, with
Others, attacking a strong barrier of
the enemy in front, Grant perceived
what his superior officers did not, that
by means Of a movement to the left
the right flank of the enemy could be
easily turned and the attack rendered
much more efficient. Acting promptly
upon the idea, and on his own
responsibility, he made, with the
men under his immediate command, a
movement to the left, and, opening
fire on the right flank of the enemy,
soon drove them from their position,
and-strange to say-thOugh an officer
Of humble grade, he got due credit for
his adrOit and successful movement.
1t will be recollected that at the
siege Of DonelsOn, and on the day
before the surrender, a division of the
enemy, ten thousand strong, with
thirty pieces of artillery, came out of
their works at daylight, and attacked
Grants right wing. The battle, one
Of the most terrible ones fought during
the war, lasted till almost noon. The
enemy, though they had driven our
forces from the position, became
disheartened and slowly retired. The
Union forces, greatly cut up and
disorganized, did not pursue. Neither
party, at that time, claimed a victory.
Each, no doubt, felt a sense of defeat.
just when affairs were in this condition.
Grant was informed that the enemy
who had made such q furious assault
on his right had marched to the attack
with knapsacks and haversacks on.
care the haversacks filled ?" asked
Grant.
The haversacks of some prisoners
were examined, and it was ascertained
that each contained three days rations.
"Theh,n y said Grant, "they mean to
cut their way out; they have no idea
of staying here to fight us;" and
perceiving that while the enemy were
slowly and sullenly retiring, his own
fearfully cut up right wing was not at
all disposed, by pursuing them, to
renew the fight, Grant exclaimed:
whichever party now first attacks
will whip, and the rebels will have to
be very quick if they beat me;" and
he instantly ordered his left wing
under General Smith, and which had
not, as yet, been engaged, to assault
the enemy's right. The assault was
successful, and the fate Of Donelson
was settled.
These instances of quick perception,
rapid reasoning and prompt decision
may, to some, seem unimportant and
scarcely worth mention here. 1t may
be said, any body might have per-
ceived what Grant did, and, it being
once perceived, every body would
have reasoned and acted just as he did.
This is easily said. Any body can
balance an egg on the smaller end
after he has seen another do it; the
process is SO simple. But the differ
ence is, in all such cases. that one man
perceives the simple process, and how
easily it is performed, while others
with equal opportunity, do not, and
perhaps never would.
Just before the commencement of
the battle of the Pyramids, Napoleon,
the enemy's position,
perceived-what no other officer did
that the enemy's cannon were on
immOvable carriages. He instantly
ordered such a disposition of his forces
as rendered the enemy's cannon
almost wholly unavailing. This is
recorded as an evidence of Napoleon
great military genius. What do the
instances 1 have mentioned of Grants
quickness of perception, rapid reason
ing, and prompt action tend to prove?
If had not already conceded that
Grant is not a genius, 1 might be
permitted to argue that they prove
him a genius.
GRANT Is A MAN OF SOUND JUDO
MENT AND GREAT PERTINACITY OF
PURPOSE.
Observing with diligence and ac-
curacy, and reasoning carefully, he
does not readily abandon an opinion,
once formed, or reIinquish a purpose
once conceived.
When in the evening of the first
days fighting at Shiloh, an officer
said to Grant: "The rebels have
whipped US" he replied: eyes, they
have whipped US to day, but we will
whip them tomorrow" No thought
of failure entered his mind. "This,"
said Dessaix to Napoleon, on the field
of Marengo, ais a battle lost" "I
think" sa id Napoleon, sit is a battle
gained. Charge with your column,
and I will rally the fugitives behind
you"
We all recolleet, and few of us will
forget while we live, Grants cheering
words Of high resolve: u propose to
fight it out on this line fit takes all
summer" Hewas fighting on ground
where all his predecessors had failed.
He was fighting the ablest General of
the Confederate arnies-One who had
baf1ed and defeated all our other Gen
erals Whom he had encountered, save
only that most estimable man and
able General, George Gordon Meade.
At the time ne wrote these words, he
had fought a battle every day for the
six next preceding days, and had, as
the rebels and Copperheads said and
as some of the loyal men of the North
were but too much inclined to believe,