National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-06
GRANT AND LEE

from the Philadelphia All Day City Item;
Ever and anon certain British journalists
notably, the London IineS-go to great deal
of trouble to make it appear that General Lee
was a far greater captain than General Grant.
Nay they not only place him in advance of
Grant, but they compare him fayorably with
the greatest generals in the world-even
placing him on line with Hannibal and Ma
poleon. Now, General Lee, being dead, inscn-
sible alike to praise or censure, 1t would be
mean to do him injustice. We do not propose
to do any such thing. We will speak what we
think honestly, with the desire to do right to
the living and the dead.
General Lee had certain good qualities, but
he lacked the essentials that make great gen.
erslship. We believe 1t is susceptible of proof
that he never made successful attack In the
course of his career as general. lie was as
good as nearly all are when in the defensive,
but he generally failed when in the aggressive.
This proves that he was not good fighter, and
coed fighter is necessary quality in great
generalship.
Burnside had been driven back with dreadful
slaughter; Hooker was driven back with terri
bic slaughter, and whom Grant crossed the
Rapidan, Lee felt certain that he also would
be driven back with fearful slaughter. So Get.
tain was he Of this result that be sent detaei-
ment AROUND, at the close Of the first day Of
the Wilderness, for the purpose of intercept:
ing Grant and an1ihilating him. But Grant
had no such idea. He proposed 'sto fight 1t out
Oh that line even If it took all summer"
Grant throughout the whole of this CAM
paign GhoSed qualities 6f the highest order,
but most particularly that bulldog quality Of
lighting, Corning, Rp6h and night, until he
ssD 4 , BIZ sRss and finally bore him
And It Na ii tins Campaign that one of the
greate.t faats 81 shSlept or modern times was
Accomplished: Let il be remembered that
Giant CROSSED the James With that vast army
Without the loss Of man 81 gun,
For simplicity, intensity Of purpose, indie
fatlsable applicati4nt iot the loblsst, the high
q and sEgsass EssO .s e, grad results e.
; Take LIB baEifsis tsGts-Fors Donaldson,
Shiloh, Ehsttano6ga, SicgsbuTg-take the bat
ties sfoand vicEsburgi AND pothlhg in ancient
pr ID modern warfafe equals them. In the
best military schools Of the world they are
studied 5.daS as examplss Of what brilliant
ge1s nell, P seR Accomplish .S ,,-,, :. -, /,
plain to the average mind that the British press,
at least portion Of it, is trying 70 diminish the
fair fame, the hohest just fame of great sol-
dIer who never lost battle, who has taken
more prisbhers and more guns than any.cap-
tain Of any age, and who saved the life Of his
country.
Certainly no comparison can be instituted be-
tween Grant and Lee. Grant always made his
point, which was to smash his enemy.
Lee was distinguished on the other hand, as
we have said, for failure in every aggressive
movement. He was most disastrously beaten
on fr2 occasions in Pennsylvania. In the early
T.r = :he war he was overwhelmed in West
Il. ! ~ Rosecfans.
No., we DO not say these things for the pur-
pose OF undertaking General Lee, but simply to
do justice to the great soldier who honotably
officiates as the Executive of the nation, and
whose modssty Is as remarkable to-day ss
when he went to the Governor of Illinois to
seek command in the war for the preservation
of the Union.