Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-07-03
A Story of President Liucoln-His
Ability as a Strategist.::


seemed disposed to prolong the inter
view. Our conversation took mil
itary direction, and embraced the
various movements being made or
known to be in contemplation Mr..
Lincoln seemed pleased to discuss
the war; in fact the informal nature
of our conversation was a relief to his
mind, overworked and jaded as he
was by all the cares, official and po-
litical, to which he was daily subject
ed. Presently he startled us by de-
cIaring that he saw no hope of sue
cess for any of the campaigns now
being opened.
Having gone thus far, and seeing
our surprise and preplexity, be SEEM
ed animated by a desire to justify
bis statement. Going to the wall,
and again taking down the large map
which he had pressed into service on
the previous occasion, he proceeded
to inform us, which we did not posi-
lively know before, that there were
now three important movements be-
ing attempted by our forces toward
points against which our efforts had
previously proved unsuccessful. One
of these, he said, was against Rich
mond, on the same general plan SUBJ
.antially attempted by Burnside
one against Charleston, from the seal
by the combined land and nava,
forces and one against Vicksburg,
by way of the Yazoo pass and the
network Of bayous and small streams
by which the Mississippi is fanked,
and through some of which it was
hoped to transfer General Grants
forces to O point from which suc>
cessful assault might be made on
that great stronghold, which had
thus far defed our most determined
attacks.
"And | cannot see how either Of
these plans can succeed" said he
and forthwith throwing aside all re-
serve, and speaking with as much APP
parent frankness as though convers-
ing with his confidential advisers, he
freely criticised the conduct of the
campaigns in question, going into all
the details of military argument,
and logically demonstrated in ad-
vance that Grant would again be foil
ed in his strategy against Vicksburg,
that Hooker would fail to reach Rich
mond, and that Du Pont and Hunter
would be compelled to retire baffied
from before Charleston. | do not
now remember the reasons he gave
for his judgement in regard to the
recolsctT 8ef ils Clear 5ffss aegefdpt RHt d
the narrow aud winding water
courses through which Grant was en-
deavoring to conduct his gunboats,
generally impossible for large craft,
either through too high Ca too low
water, and capable of fatal obstruc-
ton in the forests which they pe%e-
trate, by an enemy intimately &C.
quainted with every feature of the
country, and who had proved himself
only to we'll informed of all our move
ments, and equally active and sue
cessful in opposing our progress into
his own country.
1t was known that Mr.. Lincoln en-
tertained military opinions quite in
dependent of and often at variance
With those of his advisors and |
had before had striking proof of the
correctness of his judgement. | con-
fess, however, that was as much as
tonished as disheartened by this un-
reserved condemnation Of the con-
duct OF the war on the part of the
government of which he was the
head; end 1 scarcely knew whether
| was most astonished by the re-
markaibIe frankness or annoyed at
his convincing argument. | said
"If You feel so confident of disaster
in all tn csc movements, Mr.. Presi-
dent, why do yoG permit them to be
made ?"
"Because / cannot paevent it." he
replied.
"But you are Commandments"
rejoined.
shy dear sir" he replied, 81 am as
pewerless as any private citizen to
shape the military plans OF the gov
eminent. / have my generals and
my War Department, and my subor-
dinates are supposed to be more
capable than l am to decide what
movements shall not be undertaken.
| have once or twice tempted to
act on my own conviction, and found
that it was impraeticable to- do so. 1
see campaigns undertaken in which
have no faith, and have no power to
prevent them; and | tell You that
sometimes, when | reflect an the
management of our forces, = am
tempted to despair my heart goes
clear down into my boots !"
With this characteristic climax be
practically closed the discussion.
Rising from his chair he moved I'M
easily about the room, as though to
shake off some feeling that oppressed
him. Suddenly he seemed to realize
that he had been speaking too freely.
"Of course gentlemen" said he,
1--WE are talking in confidence, and as
friends. None of this must get into
print, or be repeated"
We took our leave soon after, but
l was long haunted with the recol-
lection of what had heard. My ad-
miration for the man and his high
moral and intellectual qualities was
increased, and my confidence in our
military chieftains, never very high
previously, was proportionately d.
minished. As before, the events
justified bis prediction. Our attack.
ing forces were beaten from Charles
ton and the Army of the Potomoc
was hurled back upon the north at
Charlottesville and Grant and Por-
ter were completely baffied in their
ill-judged experiment in the hostile
swamps of the Mississippi, which
they attempted to penetrate through
streams too narrow to turn gunboat
in and surrounded by restless foe