Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-03-31
General Belz1aap.

sits, as Secretary OF War, man en-
dowed with such plenitude OF lite that
to look on HIM it seems as it death
could never touch him. General Bel
KNAPP possesses that powerful vital tenn
permanent which, when combined with
high mental and emotional qualities
attracts and sways all who come with
in its influence, This temperament is
the reservoir of personal magnetism,
and, even when unaccompanied by
large moral endowment, always gives
to its possssor wonderful personality.
Men OF this temperament always make
magnificent soldiers, through their very
capacity of going out of themselves,
and Of carrying thousands OF men with
them to victory, through the very eclat
of their personal enthusiasm. In bat.
tie their men are ready to go with
them alike to death or to glory, uncon'
scious of fear, regardless of Danger
anywhere, everywhere, it they but iol.
low the beloved leader. Such sol.
der by right Of Nature would be Gen.
eral Belknap; such soldier by word
OF record we learn that he is. In In
gersoll's "Iowa and the Rebellion we
find much concerning General Belknap
then Colonel of the Fifteenth Regi
ment. The following refers to his
conduct at the battle of Corinth
"Many individual acts of heroism here
occurred. The flags of two opposing
regiments would meet on the opposite
sides of the same works, and be Haunted
by their respective bearers in each 9TH
er's faces; men were bayoneted across
the walls, and officers with their swords
fought hand to, hand with men with
bay yonets. Colonel Belknap took pris-
cner Colonel Lampiey, OF the Forty.
fifth Alabama, by pulling him over the
works by his coatcollar, being several
times fired at by men at his side.
The colors of the regiment were
taken at the same time. Colonel Belk
nap displayed at all times the highest
qualities OF the soldier, cheering his
men by his voice and encouraging them
by all personal disregard of danger. .
Like Rawlins, General Belknap left
the profession Of law to enter the ar
my in the autumn OF 1861. He en-
tered as Major of the Fifteenth IowaIn.
fantry, and rose through all the inter-
mediate grades to his present rank
Like Eawlins, also, he is an intimate
and trusted friend of Generals Grant
aud Sherman. General Belknap Is lit
tie II any over forty, and to all out
ward appearance his grand phys lque
has brought him forth from years OF
war in uEbroken health. II tempera.
ment is faith, presence is as often for
tune. In this, General Belknap carries
the guaranty of success, tor il inspires
confidence quite as much as it attracts
admiration. He has fair hair and
beard, both, almost imperceptih)y
touched with gray; fine; features eyes
OF dark blue, with quick, keen glance,
which almost unconsciously seems to
make up its mind about you at once.
Nine persons out Of ten would call
him handsome man, and at least half
OF that number would find some way
OF telling HIM so. II he were vain
man, herein would lie his greatest dan.
ger. For, to come suddenly into an
atmosphere of adulation and fiattery,
still to remain supremely conscious Of
human infirmlty and shortcoming, is
the truest test Of personal greatness.
He has versatile mental powers, and
the rarer power rofmaking his gifts avail
able. He has not imagination enough
to dazzle his judgment, sees clearly, acts
decidedly. When he believes it to be
his duty, he can say ''No" frankly, kind
ly and finally. His manner is atfable,
sincere, sufficiently sympathetic, but
not flattering, For this alone we have
hope Of him that he will never degen-
crate into mere seeker OF place or a
hackneyed politician. He is your
friend because you command his con-
tidcnce and possess his esteem: thus
he must be your friend through lite
and death. Gen. Belknap, a brave,
high-minded, honest man, is in the tru.
est sense the successor of Stanton and
OF Rawllns. We can offer him no bet
ter wish than that he may carry on to
the end OF his lite, the spotless record
OF his past.
OF the Cincinnati Judges who dccid-