Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-09-05
A SILENT MAN.
Asking and Not Asking.

Judge William Johnson, of Ohio:
AS to Ulysses 8. Grant, through all
his brilliant career he has betrayed less
ofambition than any public man I ever
knew. When the attempt was made
by armed force to subvert the Republic
and erect on its ruins ian empire with
slavery for its corner stone," this silent
man was tanning and selling leather in
the town OF Galena. He had been edu-
Gated for soldier, OF the National Mill
tary Academy, and had seen some
service in Mexico; and thought 1t was
his duty, to offer his services in defence
of the Republic. Whether he was con-
scious OF his own power is uncertain;
but certain it is that he made no pre-
tensions. Without any commission, he
raised a company and marched to the
capital of Illinois, and offered his ser
vices to Gov. Yates in any capacity,
He was asked to take place in the
Adjutant Generals Office Of that State,
where he brought order out OF confu-
sion in so short time that Gov. Yates
thought he might command a regi-
ment, and commissioned him Colonel
of the First Illinois.
Here this silent man commenced the
most arduous, most brilliant, most sue
cessful career ever crowded into four
years of human life. Pelted by the
storms, drenched by the rains, chilled
by the frosts, scorched by the suns of
summer, with a patience that never
complained, constancy that never
wavered. a courage that never quailed,
a modesty that never boosted
Cannon to the right OF him
Cannon to the left of him,
Common in front Thin"
on he marched, conquering and to con-
quer, from Springfield to Cairo, from
Cairo to Belmont, from Belmont to
Fort Henry, from Fort Henry to Fort
Donaldson, from Fort Donaldson to
Shiloh, from Shiloh to Corinth, from
Corinth to Fort Gibson, from Fort Glib
son to Jackson, from Jackson to Champ
ion Hill, from Champion Hill to Big
Black, from Big Black to Vicksburg,
from Vicksburg to Chattanooga, from
Chattanooga to the Wilderness and
from the Wilderness to Spottsyivania,
from Spottsylyania to Fredericksburg,
to North Anna, from North Anna TO
Cold Harbor, from Cold Harbor to
Chickahominy, from Chickahominy to
Hatcher's Run, from Hatcher's Run to
Fort Steadman, from Fort Stealman to
Five Forks, from Five Forks to Peters,
burg, from Petersburg to Appromattox,
from Appomattox to Richmond.
Meanwhile the silent man asked for
nothing. Without solicitation, he was
promoted from the ranks Of a private
volunteer to the rank of Colonel. With
out solicitation, he was promoted from
the rank of Colonel to the rank Of Briga-
dier General. Without solicitation, he
was promoted from the rank of Briga-
dier General to the rank of Major Gen
eral. Without solicitation. he was pro-
NOTED from the rank of Major General
to the rank of Lieutenant General.
Without solicitation, he was promoted
from the rank of Lieutenant General to
the higher rank of General. And now,
having conquered rebellion, conquered
war, and conquered peace, this silent
man stands in the capital OF rebellion,
side by side with Abraham Lincoln,
the two most unpretending men that
ever lived, and still he asks for nothing
for himself.
For his country, for law and order
and liberty he asked for everything,
and never asked in vain. He asked
General Buckner for Fort Donaldson,
and received the strongest fertilization
in the West, fifteen Thousand prisoners
ofwar, sixty-fiye cannon, and twenty
thousand small arms. He asked for
Champion Hill, and received three
thousand prisoners of war, and thirty
pieces Of artillery. He asked General
Pemberton for Vicksburg, and receiv-
ed the Glbralter Of the Mississippi, 81,
153 officers, fifteen Generals, one hum
dred and seventy-two cannon, and
small arms without number. He asked
General Bragg for Chattanooga, and in
the thunder and lightning and earth
quake of battle ON Lookout Mountain
and Missionary Ridge-above the
clouds and below the clouds-drove the
daring rebel and his embattled hosts
from the central stronghold Of the
West. He asked GeneraiLee for Spott-
sylvania, and the old lion, covered
with gore, suddenly withdrew from his
intrenchment, leaving two Generals
and eight thousand men prisoners of
war, eighteen guns, and twenty-five
battle flags. He asked for the Five
Forks, and took the field and over Eve
thousand prisoners of war. He asked
for Petersburg, and received 1t. At
Appomattox Court House he asked
General Lee for what remained of his
veteran army, and received "a ,s05 pris-
oners of war, with all their warlike
materials.
How did this young Caesar behave
himself in this supreme hour of tri-
umph? What Is the testimony of Col
onel Mosby, that daring guerilla chief?
surely" he says, sno conqueror ever
bore himself more msgnanimously to
vanquished foe than did Grant when
he returned his sword to Lee and babe
him go in peace. The covenant made
that day has been sscredly kept. For
him there was no triumphal procession,
chanting paans Of victory, to humble
his conquered foe. He was no Achilles