The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-07
GRANTS PAST AND FUTURE
His Popularity Again Steadily on
the Increase.
CONFEDERATE WITNESSES TO THE FRONT.
Serious Charges Against Several
Union Generals.
IS THE Ex-PRESlDENT A SPHINX =?

IS THE Ex-PRESlDENT A SPHINX ?
GRANTS ''sNEEns' FOR oTH1R GENERALS IN
WIFE CRITICISMS OF HIS OWN CAREER-THE
OLD MILITARY JEALoUsIEs REVIVED.
From the ST Paul Globe, July 80
No one is disposed to-day question the ability Of
either Grant, Sherman or Sheridan They have made
for themselves enduring lame as the most success
full trio of generals OF the present century There is
no disposition TO detract one iota from their fame
But it Is unnecessary that their glory should De In
creased by deracton OF others that in order TO
honor tnem II is necessary to cast dishohor upon
other soldiers equally patriotic, as earnest and as
self-sacrihcing the cause oil the Union as they IL
was unnecessary that Grant should sneer at Rose
GRAMS Halleck, Warren, Mcclellan and other brave
and patriotic commanders, and to beiitte their
services might ada to his own glory and that
of Sherman ana Sheridan. These every
whit as bold as sincere and perhaps able generals
as our army could boast That they did not
succeed well the trio mentioned may DO at
tnbutcd to fault OF theirs, out rather TO those
VINO refused TO give them the support that It was
nrterwara found necessary TO give 10 their more for
tunate SUCCESSORS Win equal iorce and equal
encouragement from Washingtua, no one can say
ilat Mead, Mcclellan, Halleck, Rosecrans any OF
TIE called generals OF the early period
the war would not have made as brliiiant record
rs I'd Grant Sherman aud Sheridan. il must be re-
lneinb ered That the generals first named had every
thing to contend against and that the others had
every thing In their avor-had unlimited armies aud
ulsiinted at their command. 1t 10 not sur
prisinp therefore, that their achievements should DIFF
butt III becomes those who won success under such
favorable al and boiittle those
who, although as successful as could In reason be
Eeced, yet failed by reason OF the embarrassmenls
win winch they wore surrounded, In winning that
oil success winch gives glory to the military
Name.
<les OF the alone They wore ably supported by
scores oil commanders who quick 70 see the
vulnerable points OF the enemy ana tuke advantage
OF them as they-men who risked their lives for the
Union and fought Its battles 10 the death. Grants
bunders would consigned him 10 disgrace had IL
been tor the bravery ms troops VINO, by their
desperate effort, turned defeat into victory Beaten
and again IN the battle oi the Wilderness,
by dInt OF persistence his troops held their
GROUND, and, hnally, because they ouinumbered the
force OF tho enemy-through brute force spleiy-they
retrived the shameful blunders OF their commapder
and there broke the confederacy 10 pieces. NO man
more under obligations 10 General Mcclellan than
Grant. lie received from him great army, perfectly
disciplined, impregnaby situated, and hlied with
palriouc With this army, reinforced largely
from the commands OF other generals whom Gran.
ignores he was enabled TO battle
TO the army OF Lee aud ultimately to overcome IT,
Does Mcclellan merit The cavalier treatment which
Grant bestows upon him? No who served
uEGcr aim VIII say aye
Grants criticisms as a whole have done him little
bene1., If we muy judge from the reception they have
received, only from tho press. but from those
IRE directly Interested IN the events he PROCESSES 10
record ho has shown "a censurabie reckessness in
his statements OF facts, ana by the injustice OF his
ctictsms OF others has invied criticism of his own
career. aud though successful beyond any general
oil modcrn times, IL Will DO ouGd upon close lnspec-
ton that that success Is more attributable TO tor
tunate concurrence Of circumstances and to the good
gcneraiship oil his suuodinaes than to his excep
iiouai wisdom daring. Had he At to justice
superior ability might have oeen permitted TO 20 IN
challenged. But As he has sown The wind he need
not complain II he shall be forced ~ reap tie whrl-
wind.
THOSE CLOUDS AT LOOKOUT MoUNTAIN-wHERE
WAS HOOKER DURING THE BATTLE WAS
HE IN THE REAR OF THE QUARTERMAsTER's
DEPARTMENT.?
From the Syracuse journal, August 81
The Utica Obseruer Its say upon the romance"
OF 'the battle above the clouds" 1t has tho OF
n who within ten fifteen iest VI General
ice Hooker throughout the affair that at scarcely
than ordinary skirmish between the advance
of Geary's division OF HooKer's contingent and q
picket line OF Coniederates posted TO the road
from foot OF the mountain the signal stations
nj Point Lookout and summervile The rebels
not there to nghi serie rsy and they packed aud
lett, after exchanging lew shots with Geary aud
Walt Whitaker, because they saw tho Inevitable
effect OF Grants operations over against Missoa Ridge
would DO TO cooper them in II they remained"
Here Is another man wuo disputes the word Of that
Confederate colonel Who was picket at tho base OF
the mountain. The latter said that General Steven
sons DIVISION on the Diain, and that Of
The Conederaies, IRON General Bragg down, knew OF
ANY movement OF "tnc enemy" Until worL came that
Lookout bad been captured. fbe man at Joe uookers
,lDow IS further at inult, however, when says
there was only picket line masking the to tho
summt Tho taking OF u thousand or more prisoners
bones that statement. lie also at fault IN say ing
that the rebels not there because they the In
evtabe effect OF Grants operation over against MIS-
sion Ridge The that operations against Mission
Ridge did not begin uati the next day, and that they
we're as complete "a surprise as The capture Of the
Mountain, bail that statement. The Utica
lhaI thu ski:mIsh and occupation OF Lookout Point
occurred during drzzbg ram, which occasionally
oDscured the view OF Qua.termasier ~ neral Meigs
who was watching the movements from Granps
neid headquarters, at Fort Wood. nearly iour mics
away. The gentie Quartermaster General was suisse
quently inspired 10 the preparation OF "a war song
upon that theme, which was the origin OF tho "Batte
Above the Clouds" As We have said before respect
Ing the cloud" business, this statement 10 only
tally lrue. Tho battle was practically fought and
before tho clouds descendcd; but General
Hooker during the affair was almost ~ lar AWAY
General Meigs, and tue time knew lille OF what
was really gong on up IN the woods Wo shall con-
bnue 10 credt tho statement OF ''our artist The
tpo 10 preference to those Of any Confederate colo
mel or Of the man III Rockers elbow or even OF Gen
cral Grant himself. There "a almost impregna-
Bile position; there was ample force to dcicuu II
against an open attack; there was good sharp work
required 10 disocgo the rebels, although they
taken completely by surprise, and there were tang bio
results. 1nsre we're also clouds ana RAIN during
portion OF The nsnting that MA the valleys below
These are solid lacts ana u they are calculated
give Inspiration TO romance they also afford substan-
tial foundations Tor memorable history.
MORE ABOUT THE BATTLE OF SHILOH
CHARGES THAT GRANT AND SHERMAN WERE
CAUGHT NATURALIZATION by THE REBEL
COMMANDERS son.
From the Chicago Times, Augusta
Commanding the rebel army at shiloh, Albert sgd
ney Johnston fell at its head during tho Grst days
fight, and, fortunately for Grant and sherman and
the leoeral arms, pershed there. HIS son, colonel
Johnston, OF KENTUCKY, has written a biography OF
his father which has Just been published and,
attack At Shiloh was tho GROWING event OF his iifc
tho work properly concerns itself largely with that
critical battle The story OF tho campaign has been
told again ana again, but General Shermln In hts
memoirs denies tho commonly received opinion that