Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-08
Foreign Opinions of Gen. Grant.

The whole civilized world, includin0 all partias
m tsa ilguttt u eAA so Dsas NAfOPeAn "Iltofs CH
military science and civil administration has Tung
with praises Of General Grant. The rebel Democ-
raey wiz have hard work TO turn back q current as
resisless "as the Pontic sea- Speaking of his great
report after the battles that crushed the rebellion
an English journal said
General Grants report is about 10 become as IA
nous as Casare Common taries." Il is infinitely
more important, for in the recent civil war in Amer
lea Greek met Greek and Grant encountered more
formidable foe than Cesar. At first the report es-
capped attention. II came ia bundle of official
documents, all figures and few arguments; but when
the story of the campaign of 1854 was looked into
matter was found in il calculated to interest the
world st present and for all future time
General Grant neithar writes nor thinks like an
ordinary soldier-he is a philosopher, a historian,
and profound statesman, and he sinks self in his
narrative, but never fails 20 praise others with pal
pabe consciousness which bespeaks the utmost sim
cerity in perfect keeping with personal admiration
and friendship.
The war had endured three years when he was
called 10 the command Of the army. The call
made him the savior Of his country Unobtrusive
and humble minded, though full Of profound
thoughts, his merits discovered themselves when the
opportunity presented itself He was the man for
the time and the place, and he was the only fully
qualified one. Events approved of Lneoln's selec-
ton for, where Mcclellan proved an abortion,
Grant alone properly satisfied Judgment.
Sheridan, the Murat Of the Federal army, cleared
the Shenandoah Valley Of the enemy joined the
main army when his services were required, and
won the last great battle Of hundred fights Grant
takes pride in praising him, and on Sherman he
poars the tribute of his unbounded admiration but
as we have recently published Grants opinion OF
these two great soldiers il is not necessary TO intro
duce them here. General Grants report will for
ever occupy the attention Of soldiers statesmen and
nations.
And the London Times, not given TO praise o.
anything American, said
We have been accustomed 10 regard him merely
as commander Of the army Of the Potomac, because
he selected Virginia the scene Of his personal
ertions but the fact is that the army Of Virgins
was actually under the command of Meade, Just as
the army Of Tennessee was under the command Of
Sherman while Grant himself not only dictated the
plan Of the campaign, but exercised direct super
vision over all the armies at once. What renders
this report, too the more remarkable is that IL eX
plains new, and, as the event proved successful
suSt6nl Of tactics devised for tie occasion. When
Grant assumed the chief command, the Federal
forces were making little progress nor could any
body anticipate a speedy termination Of The war
but the new commander adopted q new method OF
warfare and the result was that in twelve months
time the war was at an end. What this method
was on what principle il was based and how il was
carried into execution is very intelligibly told.
His system was successful whore every other sys-
tenn had failed. his campaign brought the war TO
an end, whereas every former campaign had lef
the campaign pretty oepFly as It stood before. II
must be understood tee, wherever military science
appears more conspicuous than brute force, that
merit is Grants also. The scheme Of Shermant
campaign was dictated by Grant, as were others
less important and less fortunate The grand prin.
cipal Of the whole system was cooperation.