The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-10-29
ENSBURG. pa. THURSDAY. OCTOBER %, 1868.

science. history, but genius In the ht-
tie affair of Belmont, where he first showed
his incapacity to accept defeat at Donel
son, where be converted impending rout
into victory by ordering the famous charge
of Smith /; on the dark and bloody April
afternoon. when he told Sherman 1T Pitts
burg Landing how Donelson was Won, and
organized out Of apparent panic and ruin
that magnificent triumph OF the following
morning from Eicksburg to Chattanoo-
go, from the Wilderness to Richnlond, he
pursued the rebellion to Its doon-neYer
a foot misunderstanding unimpassioned-
tranquil. relentless rs destiny. have Izo
pretension to be judge of military affairs,
but to my humble apprehension, the cam
pairns of General Grant, especially those
of Vicksburg, of Chattanooga, and of
Richmond, viii the more closely they are
studied, the more decidedly reveal a ca
pacity of the highest order In the man
who conducted them. That they prove
perfect frmness, tenacity, and selfdeyo-
ton, is beyond dispute To be a great
soldier necessarily implies many Of the
highest intellectual faculties. No man
can be a great soldier without being a
thinker, and this Is the very reason why
successful soldiers are apt to be dangerous
in a Republic:
"sThey think too much, such men are dan
Not because he is great soldier-deep as
the debt Of gratitude IS which the nation
owes him-bUt because during the whole
Of his career he has manifested those civic
virtues which inspire confidence, do we
~ h.-,, Th-af ET,r~fc+..o+o
Cheerfulness and prophetic hope when
danger and disaster were thickest self
command in the hour of immense success
patience and self-forgetfulness under un-
merited obloquy-these qualities are as
striking in him as his utter Indifference
to a fame which might well dazzle and
lead astray the strongest intellect. He
seems utterly without ambition. and this
Is the reason why he is one of the few
successful soldiers Of history whom IL viii
seem safe for the people to have trusted
From The hour when he was surprised to
find In the newspapers that he had been
/ appointed brigadier-general Of volunteers,
down TO the moment when a higher grade
than ever known N our armies was crea-
ted for him, he IseFSr telt tl.1 least anxiety
! for 77rg-.lalie13 tzzeeoltr8I un5eEs
i unmerlteG ana prep5stef0Cs disgrace, how
! ever temporary, seems L. prove, more than
any Of his deeds. the greatness CT his char
acter. Remember that Immediately after
the famous victory of Fort Dcnnelson, in
which he had presented 1900 prisoners,
3,66J small arms, and 81 cannon to the
I tnlted States, he was most uniustly and
/ causelessly threatened with arrest and de-
prived OF his command and that he did
1 his best, while claiming justice from his
commanding officer before he would with
draw his resignation, to further that ex-
1 petition, In the command Of which he
had been superseded. No one, he said
TO the veteran Smith, can feel more pleas
ure than myself at your richly-deservod
promotion Anything you may require,
send back transports Tor, and, if within
my power, yea shall have It And at
Allhken's Bend, when preparing that last
magnificent movement against Nicksburg.
through which he saw his final triumph
assured when the country. weary Of de-
lays and aghast at his boldless, was clam
oring for his removal when cur enemies
al over the world were shouting. As well
pluck the stars from the SKY as to attegap;
the capture Of Yicksburg,' when even bis
friends turned from him bur when one
plain man who sat in the White House
said, rather ike the man | think we i
try him a little longer, how could sol
der prove greater claims upon the conf
dence Of the country than he did at that
moment Of almost universal dependency
Seeing already In his minds ere what nc
other eye could see, that quickly coming
y,Fz hot
campaign, the passage Of the great river
the FIVE battles In which, throwing him-
4 self between johnson and Pelaberton. he
destroyed one army, and drove the ether
into citadel soon to surrender 10 hiI
b ,000 strong; even when al that moment
OF anticipated triumph ho heard the loue
cry for his removal, he was incapable q
any thought save for the good OF th1
country. There are very few persons il
this Union, / suppose, who have not reat
the letter, precisely at that moment, wIliel
he charges has father 20 destroy. or a
least TO show 70 no one; and | do not envy
the man who Is not touched by its gran
deur Were 1t not for the natural desir.
Of proving myself equal to anything ex
Dected Of me, / would gladly accept a les
responsible position l VIII d.
my part toward putting down the Rebel
lion IN the shortest possible time, withou
expecting or desiring any other recogni
ton than a quiet approval of my course.
As long as the Republic breeds such citi
zens, her destiny Is safe. Sach seldier
are not dangerous. Certaialy, he did IN
part toward putting down the rebellion
: bat the approval Of his course has baen
little less quiet than he desired. But
forbear. His career is a history ia itself
ana h,s ALREADY engaged she labor Of bril