Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-08-17
MacMahOn on Grant

n correspondent OF the Cincinnati
Enquirer reports Marshal MacMahon as
saying; We'll, please God, ! hope to
meet Gen, Grant, I have been very
interested observer in hin as soldier
and as a president of your great country
and, indeed, what great country it is!
| am always amazed at it's extent, its
diversity and its unity; for, say what
be the sectional sentiment ever so
strong; and neutrality-suspicious. be
most solicitous in maintaining this
unity, this purity, this peaceful, great
nation =
The Marshal spoke with some degree
of emotion, Resuming, he said; All
the generous English have given Gen.
Grant grand welcome. They are SUI
preme as hospitable receivers of their
guests; it makes one hungry to read Of
their banquets and bounties. And what
grateful tribute, too! | am sure Gen.
Grant and America esteem this as an
other link in the chain of amity. 1t is
such greetings that speak Of peace and
| would rather have one reace procla-
nation than twenty declarations of war.
He had some excellent officers. There
was one Gen McPherson-I presume he
was of Scotch or Irish origin-he was
good soldier. Then Gen. Sherman is a
very good soldier also. He is a serious
man, and think he loves his profession.
| was perusing the reports OF his great
March to the sea, as it is called. 1t
was great journey. But had he had to
b,t.Io w;+I 10, Tob,,or +bo o,,t;,o +;,,o
imagine he would have found a more
able commander than the young officer
who was so suddenly placed at his sue
cessor. Gen. Johnson l regard as very
superior officer. Is he still in American"
Yes, Marshal, [ think he is in Vir-
gina"
Does Gen. Grant retain good health?"
hOh, yes; he looks very healthy and
hearty man, with long lease of life
before him.
What excellent troops he had in your
Western States after the first two years
of your sad war. They grew into vet
Grams quickly. But in your country
you are all soldiers. Yon are familiar
with firearms from youth. Organic
alton and discipline soon follow with
experienced officers, because your men,
as rule are intelligent, and like q
FrencAman, love of country inspires you
very much. When | think Of it, the
vast number Of troops brought into ac-
ton under the command of Gen. Grant,
as the chief of the army, is very amaz-
ing, and particularly so when they be-
came such excellent troops in such a
little while. | view Gen. Grant with
much esteem. Look at the vast tori
tory he commanded and the forces he
engaged! To us those rivers, plains and
those interminable swamps where he
moved his men and material over and
through, are inconceivable. l thought
Algiers a very trying place in 1880, but
when | read of your Western country
campaign my experience became very
tame.
THE superior control eyinoed by Gen,
Grant, said the Marshal, lin moving
large masses of men, and his Opin,dtrete
in adhering to his plan of campaign,
mark him as the greatest of living gen
erals" am at loss to find an exact
equivalent in English for the French
word opiniatrete, conveying as it does
the idea of reasonable obstinacy. See
ing some visitor approaching | bid the
Marsha good-day, and left him and my