Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-06-12
VOL. Z, NO. 24.l

tcut oh eiViuS hiul tnls idsl marx vi theif
confidence and esteem.
Que who was within the Rebel lines
during the invasion OF Pennsylvania in
1868, was told by an arrogant Southerner,
whose deserted home was near the spot
where Grants army lay, that the dark and
fetid waters OF the Yazoo would destroy
his men even ii there we're no inirenched
enemy in front to pick them off 10 detail.
But the same fash Of the lightning that
brough the news Of Meade's victory at
Gettysburg brought word Of Pemberton's
defeat at Vicksburg. AS reward for
this victory, Grant, in his own modest
words. was added TO the Major Generals
already appointed for the regular army,
but unlike the time when he was commis
stoned Msjor-General of Volunteer, no
! fortune now could doom him 10 inactivity
Before he was ordefed to essune command
4 at tChattunooga, after the unfortunate bat
tie at Chickamauga, President Lincoln
wrote him n Characteristic letter. 1t was
dated july l3 1863, aud was as follows:
My dear General.-I do not remember
that you aud ever met personally. /
write this now as grateful acknowledge
for the almost inestimable service you
have done the country. wish to say a
word further. When you first reached
the vicinity of Vicksburg, | thought you
should do what you finally did--march
the troops across the neck, run the bat
teries with the Transports, and thus 60
below; aud never had any faith, except
general hope that you knew better tha N
/ that tho Xu1no ex,adtt,oo and tli. 4, L q
could succeed Whes you got below and
took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf. aud vi,
entity, thought you should 20 down the
river aud join Gen. Banks, aud when YOU
turned norIhwurd, east of the Big Black
| thought it was a mistake. now wish
to make the personal ackhowledg cement
that YOU were right aud / was wong"
A victory which could call forth such
a letter as this from President Lincoln
would produce in the mind of the Exec
utive the most unbounded confidence in
the capacity of the commander by whom
twas gained. IL is gratifying that that
confidence was never betrayed and never
Disappointed. lie first justified the Pres
denI's faith soon alter he assumed the
chef command in Tennessee; by the
brilliant victory at Lookout Mountain,
driving the rebel Gen. Bragg from the
Chattanooga Valley aud Mission Ridge.
|, aud opening up the way for Sherman :
Great March to the Sea. Then the Ma
! tiOnul House of Representatives passed a
unanimous vote OF thunks to General
+ Grant for his victories and ordered med
al TO be struck in his honor. while both
Houses OF Congress concurred in the pas
sage of al act reviving the graue of Lieut.
enant General, a rank never held by any
one except " ashington, and Grant was
recon mended for the post, it being pre-
scribed that the eLicuteuant-Geuerals should
bave command OF the armies. President
Lincoln formally presented him with his
commission March D, 1861. and having
opened up the path TO the fnal victory 10
the Southwest, he AZ once proceeded to
pave the way to success in the South East.
The Grand Army of the Potomac,
smarting under its msfortunes. norwith
standing the bright spot Of Gettysburg
upon its banners, aud its imperlshable
record for hcroism, needed the prestige OF
Gen. Grant to give IL confidence in itself
Those noble veterans felt that success was
assured when they found him willing 10
join has great fame with theirs, aud to
link his destinies with theii fortune. lie
received his commission from the hands
OF the President. with but few words. aud
without indicating his purpose left the
Executive presence 10 begin his advance
upon Richmond. The Rapdan was cross
ed. and Lee fought in the terrible battle
OF the Wilderness. then he advanced TO
the North Anna River, aud making flank
mo, ,ement upon Cold llarbor, fought an
other sanguinary battle, the assault upon
the.Rebel works at that place; aud then
swinging around the inlreuched lines of
the enemy, be crossed the James aud To-
vested Petersburg. Desperate engage
menls followed, aud, during the Invest
ment, he mined aud blew up Fort He'll, a
Rebel stronghold, with the view of taking
the town by assault; but the operation
failed, with seyervc punishment on our
side, and heavy losses TO the enemy. This
together with the desperate straits TO which
Lee was reduced, emboldened him TO take
the offensive, and on the night of the 9th
of March, 1865, he moved three divisions
Of his troops before Fort stcadmsn, aud
surprised aud captured the position. BE
fore night II had been retaken, and at the
same time the battle Of Haicher's Run
was Fought. continuing until evening.
On the I'd Of April the Rebel iutrcnch
nents, with 5000 men, a, Big Five Forks,
were captured aud an attack was ordered
along the whole line, under Grants di-
rcctIon, which ended in driving Lee from
his works aud the abandonment of Rich
4 mond. Lees retreat was cut of by the
rapid move ments which Grant instituted,
aud on the Och of April just Que week
alter the last great battle, the army of
Northern Virginia capitulated. Soon af
ter the Rebel Gen. Johnston surrendered
TO Gen. Sherman, on the same terms grant.
ed by Grant to Lee, and the Great Civil
War was ended.
Ii Gen. Grant was appointed to the
command of the armies with a rank new
er held by any one<betore except Wash
ington, greater honor If possible was in
store for him. lie is now simply Gener.
al of the United States Army. and soon
he will be President of the United States.
The Hon. Schuyler Colfax.
Schuyler Coliax the popular candidate
Of the National Union Republican party
for the ofiee Of Vice President is a ma