Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-08-14
D0OlittIe and Grant.
From the Neenah. Wis. Times. 1st

From the Neenah, Wis, Times i1st
- Hon. j. R. DooLITTLE has come out strongly
for Seymour and against General Grant for the
Presidency. ~ Democratic Exchanges.
Has he? Then perhaps it will be inter-
esting for the people to know Mr.. Doolit-
Grant, and see how the mind of the
earnest man. has changed within few
wears. The following "opinion I'VE heard
Mr.. Doolittle express in Pettibone Hall in
Neenah in 1864, and reported it at the
time for the columns of this paper:
+ From the Neenah Times, Novembers 8, 1854
A TRIBUTE TO GENERAL GRANT.
Hon. J. r. Doolittle, in his speech in
Neenah on the 27th ultimo, paM glow
ing tribute to the patriotism and military
skill of General u S. Grant He said
sThe President did not know who the
right man was when he was trying Nc
Clellan, Hooker, Meade and others in
command of the army of the Potomac, for
the war had not yet developed the true
hero. When the war broke out Grant
was tanning leather in Galena, Ill. He
offered hisservices to Governor Yates, who
did not see in him indications of great
military genius, so he placed him on his
staff with the rank Of Captain. When the
21st regiment was organized, he was ap-
pointed Colonel, and assumed command
on the 18th of June, 1861, and he was then
considered the most unpopular Colonel
that had been appointed in that State.
When ready to leave with his regiment
for the South, he avoided all display and
refused offers of suppers and honors
awarded to other regiments, and instead
of taking the cars, gave his regiment the
command, 'Forward-march! and on
foot they reached Cairo. When the regi-
ment reached this point it was consequent
ly fit for active duty. His first command
was Indicative of the mamie had been
marching forward ever since. First on
Fort Henry and then ON Fort Donelson,
when he was appointed a Brigadier
General for his heroism. Shiloh and
Corinth followed, showing that Cen
eral Grant was fast developing the
best military genius in our armies.
His success at Vicksburg gained him
the appointment of Major General of
volunteers. :. He then marched forward to
Chattanooga, when his brilliant success
well earned him his promotion to Lieuten
ant General, grade revived by Congress
for his especial benefit. He was then call
ed to take command of the whole United
States forces, and assumed personal super
vision of the Army of the Potomac. The
President had at last found the right man,
as his successes in that department prove.
He would relate an incident showing
Grants foresight and genius: Sixty days
before the Army of the Potomac arrived
at the James river, he sent letter to Sher-
man, whom he had left in command of the
army at Chattanooga instructing him to
rest his army on the banks of the Chatta-
hoochie, near Atlanta, on the 4th day OF
July, and said Grant, / will on nthatday
rest my army ON the north bank of the
James near Richmond Days passed away
the country was electrified by the grand
maneuvers Of Grant in Virginia and the
brilliant marches of Sherman in Georgia.
On the morning of the 4th of July Sher7
man telegraphed to General Grant: Last
night my army rested on the Chattahoo-
chiep On the same day General Grant
replied: Last night my army crossed the
James = ;" t.....
It would be impossible to- describe the
solemn, earnest, eloquent manner of the
Judge, as he related the closing incident,
in low, clear, musical tones, or to depict
the effect on the large audience who listen
ed to it. A breathless silence had prevail
ed during its delivery, but no sooner had
the last words left the lips of the speaker
than the immense crowd, swelling with
emotions of pride and affection for our
able General, burst forth into applause that
fairly shook the building, and re-echoed
again and again throughout the hall. We
have never heard better turned point,
nor one pet with wilder enthusiasm.