Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-11-27

J way Tor retreat, with trust in your valor h
gave the characteristic answer: II hav
not despaired of whipping them yet" An
Loyalty, on the morrow, was he vihdicate
IN that reliance, as he rode before hi
soidiery, driving the enemy over the victc
rious field prolonged applause
How dsrkly comes back in r. collectio,
the long and dismal toll in the pestilentia
swamps before impregnable Vicksburg. Tn
sky was overhung with gloom aud tn
soaked earth sunk under the foot. Uulit b,
tue flash Of powder, uuheraltled BY tn;
noise Of arms, in miserable darkness, tn,
last enemy irresistably piled his fatal work
changing the river levees-where only wa
solid ground for burial l-into tOmbs for ouJ
trehly decimated ranks. Then, again, new
light br ke from his troubled genius on III,
scene, and di-p'ayed the possible path fol
valor. Breaking past the rebel battlement
and across the great river he flung our arm,
into the midst of the hostile host, like ;
mighty gladiator surrounded by bis foes
choosing no escape but in victory. There
with fiery zest in fierce rapitity, he smotl
the foe the crushing strokes of Port Gib.on
Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills anC
Black River, and seized the doomed city
with the unrelenting grasp of his Army Of
the tennessee. And when, on the
new birthday of the republic, hel
dag shook out its beautiful folds ab.ve the
| ramparts of that boasted citadel, the terri.
tory of revolt was finally split in twain. the
backbone Of rebellion was broken. [Greal
enthusiasm.] Such, in glance, your splen.
DID story, companions, under our first com.
mander. He and his Army of the Tennessee
entered on the page of history together
Together they achieved the first great pro.
phelic ,riumphs for the Union; tovether
they followed and fought her enemies from
field to field, pushing our advancing arms
IN steady career toward the Gulf; nor were
their efforts for our country disunited until,
having dismembered the vast rebellion, the
beginning OF its utter downfall had been
seen.
lsafRSd to 'ngk onry 70 conquer ruf,ed
from him, it forgot not the teaching. Its
state save two, but never general anywhere
lamented over its retreat from the feld of
arms. Joyfully may we point to that ex.
alted fame, which, rising like pinnacle of
the Alps, breaks through the armament
above to carry up the name of the uncon.
quered Grant, for it is our felicity, that on
the solid base from which il lifts, history
has written the proud legend of the Army Of
the Tennessee, which never stunned, and
never lost. q battle with its foes.
Joined to it by such a story, and espe.
cially when so assembled, his old associates
and soldiers in war;, we may rightfuliy,
claim and speak the just measure of his
merit and renown. Nor shall his presence
deny that satisfaction to us. His re puta-
ton is not his, nor even his country's alone.
It. is, in fact, our peculiar possession. We
who fought to aid its rising, may well re-
joice in its meridian splendor.
The foundations of his title are deep.laid
and safe. There was reaction in the minds
of our people after The intense strain of the
war, and many distracting subjects for atten.
tion. But with regained composure and
reflection, his reputation augments. and its
foundations appear more and more IRE.
movably fixed for lasting duration. They
spring not from merely having enjoyed pos.
xs the esasS%sS
others have had them, too They lie not
specially on his shining courage and per-
sonal conduct before the enemy, who was
never outdone in calm intrepidity, nor in
the splendid daring with which he ever
urged the battle he Immediately ordered,
though long these will live in song and
story. Beyond the warriors distinction,
~hich was bis earlier glory, his is the true
genius of the general.
The stragetic learning of the military art
WAS to him simple implement, like colors
and brush to Raphael, rot letters to th .
mind. How like a weapon in q giants
hand did he WELD the vast aggregations of
soldiery whose immensity oppressed so
many minds! How easily moved his d.
How every soldier came to feel his partic!.
patton direct contribution to the general
success!
And when, at length, his merit won the
government Of the entire military power OF
the north, how perfect became, without
noise or friction, the co operation of every
army, Of every strength, throughout the
wide territory of war, toward ths common
end. Subordinate every will aud every
soul-the profound military wisdom of the
pitsl, even-to the clear purpose and
comprehensive grasp of the one command
ing mind. Thep, how rapidly crumbled on
every side the crushed revolt! Where shall
We find in past records the tale Of
tent, 30 nearly matched at the outset, 80
desperately contested, 80 effectively decided
Through what q course of uninterrupted
victory did he proceed from the earliest
ENGAGEMENTS to com plete dominion of the
vast catastrophel [Applause.l Nor should
| it be forgotten, he fought no barb rians, ill
equipped, undisciplined, not commanded
by educated skill; but against soldiers o.
| the finest spirit, armed with the best weap
ons, standing on their own familiar ground
and led by veteran generals of well.trained
science, one of whom, at least, was never
over-mstched on his chosen field before.
Spare, in pity, the poor brain which can
not sec in this career more than dogg.t
pertinacity! Out upon the unjust prejn
dice which will consciously disparage tn,
true need of genius. Leave it where hi
intrepid silence leaves it-leave it t,
history. Leave it to the world. .....
| But in the great cause, 20 we'll understood
aud the great results 10 men, 80 we'll accom-
plished. the basis of his renown is just],
broadened. For the salvation of this gov
ernment Of freedom for mankind We tool
up arms. When liberty was safe. they wer
laid again down. Risen in the highest sea
of power, he has descended as . citizen o
equal rank with all. This goes to the sou
of American liberty, ennobling individua
citizepship above all servants in Office. Hi
is indeed the noblest grandeur of manhood
power, above the ambition Of sell, to exa]
the ambition of humanity; denying th
spoils of the briet time to the last guerdol
OF immortal honor. The judgment Of i'm
mediate contemporaries has been apt to ris
too high, or fall too low. But let not detra&
tion or calumny misfssd. - They have eve
been the temporal accompaniments q
hnman kroatne1s. The glory can not 1il
beyond the clouds which passes not throug
the clouds. We may confidently accept th
Judgment Of the world. It has been unmi
taksbly delivered. But lately, as he hs
pressed his wandering course about th
round3 earth, mankind have eveyywhel
:, bowed in homage at his coming, a. th