The Cecil Whig., 1872-06-08
GRANT.

been. At the breaking ont of the rebellion
we find him clerk in the Adjutant Gen.
erals Office of his native State,-a retired
officer of the regular army, having served
in the Mexican war with distinction as y
Lieutenant. Growing tired of the dull
routine of a soldiers life in the time of
peace, he resigned his commission and de-
voted his time to the pursuits Of peace.
Almost unknown, he became known to the
Governor of the State only by his being
known by some of the clerks as having
been in the army, and knowing how many
officers, commissioned and non- commits
stoned, with the number of men, it took to
make regiment. In short time, we see
him in command of a regiment. Without
waiting for transportation, he marched his
men hundreds of miles to the front; in
battle the first week; success marks his
every move. Soon the star of the Brigadier
replaces the eagle in his new rank, only to
add new laurels. Another star is placed
by the side of the first, while still wider
his banners. Passing over his lesser
achievements, Forts Donelson and Henry
flash before the country, being the COM
mencement Of series of victories which
forever wiped out rebellion in the west.
Pittsburgh Landing, with its terrible
fighting and slaughter; Vicksburg, its
might, falls before his conquering army;
Missionary Ridge, with scores of other les
ser engagements, show succession of bat
ties, in which he was pitted against the
best Generals of the South, and in which he
captured more men, more guns, more ter
ritory, Astounding in impregnable strong
holds and Notifications, than any other
General of the war.
Just at this time the eyes of the nation
we're turned toward him as the best quail
fled of all others to take command of the
Army of the Potomac. The martyred Lin
coin, whose every pulsation was in unison
with that of the country, appointed him
his headquarters with the Army of the
Potomac.
Arriving at headquarters early in the
Spring Of 1864, he found just the reverse
of what he deemed-a fighting army. In
stead Of being stripped for the fight, hun
dreds of gaily dressed women, saloons,
theatres, in short, every thing pertaining
to a city, (in small way, it is true,) were
found in the cluster of pines, which shell
tered tho Headquarters of the Army of the
Potomac, during the Winter and Spring of
1864. His practised eye soon saw the
trouble. First came an order that all
ladies and children should take the next
train for the rear. This was made light of
at first; but all soon saw that he meant
just what he said, ana every train for
| Washington, for many days. was loaded
with woman and children. Next the order
prohibiting horse-racing, except across the
river with the rebels, was issued, wall tents
were sent to the rear; all shipments of soft
bread from Washington WIRE prohibited;
hard tack only for all; the pet siege guns
of the army were shipped to the rear, which
made officers and men wonder what could
be done against Lees army without them,
for three years they had been its hope in
every immergency-now they were gone;
strong arms of the rank and file to depend
upon. But stranger still, he ordered a
| forward movement, and on the 9Th day OF
May, 1864, long lines were seen heading
for the Rapidan; bridges torn up in the
rear, notifying the Government that he had
all he wanted; the responsibility was his.
| The never-to-be forgotten Wilderness fol
lowed, when from day to day none could
tell which would be victorious, when the
former leader of the Army of the Potomac
would have retreated, and knowing the
the Rapidan was in the rear that to fall
back on Fredericksburg would be the only
resort, and that there was then only trans
portation for 1000 men-with the same
GOODNESS always characterizing him in the
field of battle, he said this was more than
ample to remove all he would take away
when he retreated. Next Spottsylvania,
and now comes the feat which should for
ever silence his traducers, who say that
brute force alone made him successful. He
divided his army into separate corps, in
the face of Lees united forces, marched
them square into the enomy's country, but
all SO nicely arranged that by the time Lee
was on single corps, the others were on
hand to assist. His subsequent capture
of Richmond, ending in the overthrown of
armed treason from one end of the country
to the other, is still fresh in the minds of
the people. We next find him combating
the treacheries of Andrew johnson; then
elected by the people as Chief Magistrate
Of the Nation, and we'll has it been for the
country that he was at the helm of the
ship of State, with his sterling opposition
to treason and wrong, standing by the
principles of the great party who elected
him, never wavering; as dead to the Dem
ocratic wall as he was to the rebel bayo-
nets; standing by the laws, arresting and
Furnishing the Kuklux in their career of
death and prescription.
AS he is again before the people, nothing
can be more appropriate than to quote the
words of Alexander H. Stephens, in his
late work or the War between the States,
and as few deny the authority of Mr..
Stephens or his ability to weigh men cor
rectly, let them hear his own words:
But in answer to your question, as to
what impression lie made upon me, will
say, in the first place, that was never so
much disappointed in my life, in my pre-
viously formed opinions, of either the per-
sonal appearance or bearings of any one,
about whom | had read and heard so much.
| The disappointment, moreover, was in
every respect favorable and agreeable.
was instantly struck with the great SIM
| plicity and perfect naturalness of his man
ners, and the entire absence of everything
| like afiectation, show, or even the usual
military air or mien of men in his position.
He was plainly attired, sitting in a log
cabin, busily writing on small table, by a
| Kerosene lamp. 1t was night when we
arrived. There was nothing in his appear
ance or Surroundings which indicated his
official rank. There were neither guards
nor aids about him. Upon Colonel Bah
! cocks rapping at his door, the response