Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-06-12
dEMPMES APPEAL
TIE GREAT CAPTAIN.

~ II Is IN IDcsinio iOI any OASt Ndfo-
leon said, about the time of the battle Of
Dresden, I" to have less head than the
Duke Of Reggio:" and yet Oudinot
Duke OF Reggio), wss in some respects
a crest General.
The same Great Captain, one Of the
only three or four whom the world has
known, and whose only rivals are Cesar,
Hannibal, Marlborough, Turenne and
Frederick, would never permit Berthier,
his invaluable Chief Of Stsff, to attempt
TO manage armies on the field. Before
the battle Of Austerlitz, he had so disar-
ranged every thing, and separated the
corps Of the army, that Napoleon said
to him: "If were not perfectly AS
sured Of your devotion to me, should
believe you false and disIoyal."
He never trusted Ney with the con-
duet of great strategical operations.
Perhaps his greatest Marshals were Mas
sens, Macdonald, SouIt and Suehet; and
he knew the exact value Of each. Mas
sens practised, in Switzerland, what was
afterwards called the method of NRpo-
leon, and won q well deserved repu-
tatioa against Suwsrrow before Napoleon
commanded an army. Macdonald
should be immortal for his passage Of the
italian Alps, and his charge against the
ensmy's centre at Wsgram.
Either Of these men was an infinitely
greater soldier than Grant. Even Mar
mont, who committed so terrible blum
der by the flank movement that cost
France the defeat Of Salamancs, was
far ADLER General.
Read Napier's description ef the great
strategical struggles in Spain between
Wellington and Massens, and Yelling
ton and Soult, and then inquire with
what pretence of justice Grant can be
compared to these great Captains. Read
the history Of Napoleon's Italian cam
paign, where, with thirty-fve or forty
thousand men, moving with the rapidity
of lightning, he defeated forces amount
ing in the aggregate to three times the
number Of his own men.
General Grant has never won battle,
without having by far the larger force.
At Belmont be was utterly defeated, and
stated his loss at seventy or eighty men.
The Government has buried over three
thousand, we think, who fell on that
field.
As to his contest with Lee, when the
Federal soIdiery had become hardened
and disciplined veterans, the following
facts will show to what glory he is enti-
tied as q great commander!
"Grant, on assuming command, May
(, 1854, had Of effective men, besides the
reserve, when he crossed the Rspidan,
l25 000.
lice, at the same date, had an efTee-
tive force Of 81 600
Grants reinfoTcements up to the
battle Of Cold Harbor, June 5, were ST. /
600.
Lees reiuforeements, up TO the ssms |
date. were $1,000.
Grants total force, including rein /
was 222 coo.
Lees totsl force, including reinforce /
ments, was &c, 600
Returns 10 their respective Govern |
ments showed that when both armies |
had reached the James June 10TH, the I
number Of GrsBts army that had been |
put hOrS az combat was III, 600.
4" 20 to the same date, the number Of 4
Lees men who had been put hOrS dU |
combat was Is, 000."
Under Napoleon, Grant would never !
hsve been deemed to deserve the |
baton Of Marshal Of the Empire. His /
tory will, in due time, measure his
merits and assign him his true place on
the roll Of Generals, as 8 brave, persist |
ent, obstinate commander, who was in |
capable as a strstegist, and demanded, |
for success, & vast preponderance Of num- /
beTs.
Ability IS a Statesman be has not |
shown himself to possess. He is no
speaker, and has not proven himself a !
great thinker. For one thing, nevecthe- |
less, let US pay him due respect. He
showed himself q man Of honour, when |
be vindtcated the binding force Of the /
rights acquired by the paroles given by |
Generals. But for him, the |
Nation would have been utterly dishon-
oured by q shameful violation Of good /
faith.