The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-01
NEW ORLEANS SUNDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 1, 1874
Grant and Lee and tho American Armies.

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Grant and Lee and tho American Armies.
NEW STORY OF THE SURRENDER OF LEE
From London Review of Lieut.. Col. Uhesney's
says and Biographies.'l
Four of these essays relate to the great war
in America, the events of which: perhaps in
themselves as interesting in military sense
as those in any war the world has ever seen,
have not received the careful attention which
they ruerit, owing to the distraction of the
more recent continental Sampaigns. As Col
ton to regard the American generals and
troops which they led as altogether inferior to
regular soldiers. This prejudice was born out
cd by undisciplned volunteers at tho outset
faults amply atoned for by the stubborn cour
age displayed on both sides throughout the
rest of the struggle; while, If mans claims
by the amount of actual fighting he has gone
through, the most seasoned soldiers Of Europe
are but as conscripts compared with the sur
The essays on Gems. Grant and Lee are the
most valuable and exhaustive studies. His
structures on Grants reckless sacrifice Of his
ing the battle Of Cold Harbor, after he should
| have learned by the experience of the long
and butchering battles of the Wilderness and
ing" in which he had somewhat boastfully
| trusted, might break the instrument while it's
work was yet unfinished, are both severe and
| we'll founded. He calls the battle of Cold
| Harbor "the darkest spot on the career of
Grant as commander. 1t
| requires" he continues, more excuse than
| has anywhere been offered for the sacrifice. 1t
maybe that Gen. Grants usual imperturbable
| temper was ruff1ed by the continued readiness
in which his adversary met him; or that he
\ believed the Confederates already SO worn
able to man their works; or that he judged
that his new command had not been sufficient
| ly put to the proof by the stern doings of the
month just passed; or that all these es causes
more than all by the uneasy consciousness that
he had brought the criticism of the whole
world upon his strategy BY his famous 1S;n dis
If it takes all summer for had not this line
been already abandoned, and no result won
Col. Chesney accurately apportions between
Grant and Sheridan the merit of the final
effort which forced Lee to surrender, of which
merit Americans are becoming more prone to
assign an undue share to the subordinate CON-
mander.
" Like Napoleon, his troops soon learnt to be-
lieve him equal to any emergency which wal
could bring. Like Hannibal, he could speah
lightly and calmly at the gravest moments
being then himself least grave. Like Raglan
he preserved sweetness of temper that nj
person or circumstance could ruft1e. Like
| Caesar, he mixed with the crowd of soldier!
freely. and mover feared that his position
} would be forgotten. Like Blucher, his ont
, recognized fault was that which the soldier
, readily forgives, readiness to expose his LIT
beyond the proper limits permitted by modern
war to the commander-in-chief. What won
der then, If he commanded an army in which
each man would have died for him; an arm.
from which his parting wrung tears NOR
: bitter than any the fall of their cause coult
8 extort; an army which followed him, after
three years of glorious vcisstudes, into pri
9 vate life, without one thought of further re
, distance against the fate to which their adore'
o chief yielded without q murnur1 But will
5 all this warm enlogy he imPartially points on
9 the faults and failings OF Lee-how ne mad
o his authority to purge his command OF ineR
. cient officers failed to enforce on the govern
ment the vital necessity of bringing the fuI
nishing of supRljes Hore directly under hi
, own control, go that his army starved il
q Richmond while large supplies were availabl
= had proper energy been used by the War De
Q calvary of their legs, that in their last cam
~ psign the Confederates were left alnos
Il destitute off that most necessary arm: Bu
d these shortcomings, although the mliitaL !;
critic must notice them, are but the inevitabl
specks on the bright surface OF an illustriou
y military character; on Lees personal char"c
)" ter there fingers no breath OF tarnlSh-
Inexpressibly pathetic in its simplicity
Col Cbesney's brief account of the bitter end
ing of his long struggle and matchless strat'
gy. Gordon sent back the word that the wa
Of escape was completely barred and no
% there confron ted him nothing but the ineviti
= BILE capitalization. For moment those WI
looked on him saw him almost overcome an
the first words of complaint ever heard fro
M his lips during the war, broke sharply fort
" had rather die q Thousand deathsp Musin
rs sadly for few seconds, as his mems favori
cry broke on his ear, There's Uncle Robert
in Deep sad tones he said to those near hiI
% How soon could 1 end all this and be
?. rest! IT'S but to ride down the line and giN
a. the word, aud all would be over Then pr
sently recovering his natural voice, he o.
ie swered one who urged that surrender mig
D be misunderstood: That is not the questio
az The question is whether it is right. And If
"A is right take the responsibility Then, att
"a a brief silence, he added, with q sigh, 1t
n our duty to live. What will become of q
wives and children of the South II We are n