St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-06-27
President Lincoln as a strateeist

President Lincoln as a Strategist.
This affair concluded. the President
seemed disposed to prolong the inter
/ View. Our conversation took Il military
direction. and embraced the various
movements being made al known to hc
+ III contemplation. Mr.. Lincoln seemed
pleased to discuss the wHr: ia fact the
nt"rnal nature OF our cOny yerSatinu WAS
Il rcllet 10 his mind. oveIw0lkrd and
lad'd lis lie WAS 10y all the cares. official
ami political. to which he was dali,
subjected. Presently h" startled It's b,
declaring that he saw no hope of sue
cess for amy of the campaigns now ne
ing opened.
Having gone thu> far. and seeing our
surprise and pcrpI"yity. he seemed ami
mated by desire to justify his state
memt. Going to the wall. aud again
taking doWu the large map which he
! had pressed into service on the previous
occasion. he proceeded to inform us.
. which We did not positively know he
fore, that there were now three inpor-
tant movements heiag attempted bv
ou forces towards points against which
"ui efforts had previously proved uu-
successful. One of these. he Suid. WIS
against Richmond. ON the same general
/ plan substantially attempted by Burn
side: "nc "G.tin>t Charleston. from the
sea. 10y the combined land and naval
forces: and one against Wick kShurm. H.,
way OF the aZOn pass and the network
of hayOus and small streams hv which
the Mississippi Is thanked. and through
some of which it was hoped to tr;,n>tc!
, General Grants forces to II point from
which successful assault might I've.
made on that great stronghold which
had thus fan dcticd 0ui most determined
attacks.
And | cannot SEE how either of thc,,.
plans can succeed. said he: and forth
with throwing aside all reserve. and
speaking with rs much apparent frank
ness a> though conVcrSiug with hi~
confidential advisers. hc freely cIi,iri~,G
the conduct nt The campaigns in uic>-
ti"n. going int" all the details of q
military argument. and logically dem
onStrdtcd in advance that Grant WOULD
again he foilcd III his >uategl a.aiu>.
Nick>hurg. that Hooker would fail to
reach Richmond, aud that Du Puuf and
Hunter would hr compelled tu retire
haIticd from before Charleston. I do
not now remcmh,r the reasons hr gave
t"r his Judgment in regard Ia the move
mcnt> last named. hut rccollcct well
his clcal description at the narrow IuG
winding WateT-cOTr>c> fhrnu.h ..hirh
Grant WAS cndravorin@ tn c"adl,t hi>
glnh"at~. generally impa>>aiaI, iti IHr.c
craft. either through too high "i toe
la" wat"l. and capahl" OF tatd ol.-
>tuctinn in the forests which ,h..
penetrate. hv an enemy Intimately g,-
quaintcd with every feature ul ,hr
country. and who had proved himself
only too well Informed OF i'll nm move
ments. and equally active and >urcr,>
tul i'll opposing our proglr>s into hi
, own country.
II VIZ hh"WI mat ~. ihn'"h t'
trr'dl!itd military opinions qWt" NJ
uel'en"cit "i ana "ft'h al variance viii
mos" "i ms advisers: amt hat before
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