Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-07-03
WAR DAYS.
story OF President lltmcOln-lllx Abhl.
tty ~ u Strategist.

vious occasion, he proceeded to inform
us, which we did not positively know
before, that there were now three i'm.
portant movements being attempted by
our forces toward, points against which
our efforts bad previously proved un.
successful. One of these, he said, was
against Richmond, on the same general
plan substantially attempted by Burn.
side; one against Charleston, from the
sea, by the combined land and naval
forces aud one against Vicksburg, by
way of the Yazoo pass and the network
of bayous and small streams by which
the Mississippi is danked, and through
some of which it was hoped to transfer
General Grants forces to q point from
which successful assault might be
made on that great stronghold, which
bad thus far defed our most deter.
mined attacks.
"And I cannot see how either ol
these plans can succeed, ;" said he; and
forthwith throwing aside all reserve,
and speaking with as much apparent
frankness as. though conversing 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 advance that Grant
would again be foiled in his strategy
against Vicksburg, that Hooker would
fail to reach Richmond, and that Du
Pont and Hunter would be compelled
to retire baffled from before Charleston.
I do not now remember the reasons he
gave for his judgment in regard to the
movements last named, but recollect
we'll his clear description of the narrow
and winding water courses through
which Grant was endeavoring to con-
duct his gunboats. generally impass-
able for large craft either through to
high or too low water, aud capable OF
fatal obstruction in the forests which
they penetrate, by an enemy intimately
acquainted with every feature of the
country, and who had proved himself
only too we'll informed of all our move.
ments, ard equally active and success.
full in opposing our progress into his
own country.
II was known that Mr.. Lincoln enter.
tained military opinions quite indepen.
dent of and often ut variance with
those Of his advisors; and bad before
had striking proof of the correctness
of his judgment. I confess, however,
that I was rs much astonished rs dis
heartened by this unreserved condemn.
alton of the conduct of tho war on the
part of the Government of which he
was the head; and I scarcely know
whether I was most astcnished by the
remarkable frankness or annoyed at
his convincing argument. I said:
IF you feel so confident of disaster
in all these movements, Mr.. President,
why do you permit them to I've made e.
':Because cannot prevent it," he
replied.
':But you are Commander-in.C Chief, -
] rejoined. =
my dear SIR" he replied, II am
as powerless AZ any private citizen to
shape the military plans Of the gov
eminent. I have my generals and my
War Department., and my subordi-
mates are supposed to be more capable
than 1 am to decide what movements
shall or shall not be undertaken.
have once or twice attempted to act on
my own convictlons, and found that
it was impracticable to do 90. l see
campaigns undertaken in which i have
no faitll, and have no power to prevent
them and tell you that sometimes.
when I reflect ON the management OF
our forces, I am tempted to despair /;
my heart goes clear down into my
boots!"
With this characteristic climax he
practically closed the discussion Ris.
ing from his chair he moved u1easily
about the room, as though to shake of
some feeling that impressed him.
be seemed to realize that he
had been speaking too freely.
"Of course, gentlemen" said he,
i've are talking in confidence, and as
friends. None of this must get into
print or be repeated" -: 20
We took our leave soon after, but /
was long haunted with the recollection
of what I had heard. My admiration
for the man and his high moral and
intellectual qualities was increased,
and my confidence in our military chief
tains, never very high, previously, was
proportionately diminished. AS before,
the events justified his prediction.
Our attacking forces were beaten from
Charleston the Army of the Potomac
was hurled back upon the north al
Chancellorville and Grant and Porter
were completed y baf1led in their III.
Judged experiment in the hostile
swamps of the Mississippi, while they
attemDted to penetrate through
streams too narrow to turn gunboat
in, and surrounded by restless foe
everready to exhaust all the means Of
inpediment and destruction. And
though Mr.. Lincoln's opinions may
have owed their correctness to acci-
dent. vet strength of brain and sound
ness OF Judgment which measurably
supplied the want of military training,
and which fitted him better to plan
campaigns than any of the professional
soldiers to whose views he felt himself
compelled to yield.