The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-05-08
GEN. GRANT.
what -Gath- says or Him.
THE WESTERN BOSS.

THE WESTERN BOSS.
The overland campaign of Grant against
Lee was marked by unintermittent steadi-
ness and confidence. By Lee it was met
with clear tact and skill and brave army
Grant soon wore down Lees idea that he
must retreat, as all other Federal COM
manders had done, Meade falling back as
far as Bull Run only the previous autumn.
Unable to beat Lee, Grant kept onward
until at the last, when he crossed the
Chickahominy, Lee fell back To the defen-
ses of Richmond, believing that Grant
meant to follow him there. Then, cross
ing the James, Grant invested Pittsburg.
But it is not only as the resisent super
visOry commander of the Army of the Po-
tomac that Grant is to be estimated. He
was the lieutenant-g general over the whole
continent, and put in motion the expedi-
tion that broke the heart of the south by
burning the crops, destroying the mills
and supplies, and carrying poverty to the
skulking element which sacrificed their
sons to save their negroes. War in the
city campaigns was a political game-to
fight just little, save life and BE elected
the great compromise president, thus leav.
ing for future wars the miserable ques-
tions which had plagued our fathers.
| The man who entered Virginia with
Meade's army had the spirit with which
secession began the war-that he preferred
to kill people and expected to lose men
doing it. His commanders, many of them
very good, had been demoralized by jeal
ousies and laying responsibility on each
other. Grant set the example of accusing
nobody, never tattling, wedding out the
second-rates, and depending on his sol
diers. He sent six cock-a-dOodles to Wash
ington, made by newspapers, and reduced
the corps TO three, picking Hancock
Warren and Sedgwick, and reducing hi
personal staff to fourteen men instead o
McClellan's fortyahree.
4 Before this time public opinion com
manded the army. He commanded pub
lie opinion. Corps commanders had beer
great sweat and horror of the home party
Grant did not apologize for losses, Al
but unknown in the east, sphinx-visaged
with no beautiful sentiments attached 4
him and nobody to fear, he marched ol
where to finch would have been pardons
BILE in any other man. The average com
mander would have sat down and wep
before Spottsylvania or Cold Harbor
Grant merely lit cigar and marched b
, the left flank. The civil government wa
, so dependent on the man and the resul
that played second for the first time in tn
war. Lincoln hastened to Grant at the en-
, moral weight commanded reinforcement
and supplies; other commanders con
: planned that they had not been so we
7 supported, but they were not so muc
7 trusted. Lincoln loved Pope and Jo
, Hooker more than Grant; but he coul
: draw a bigger draft because he was bil
i ger man.
e This campaign overland is poorly show
f in the public mind. The impression e.
= lists that it was very long and the NOV
j ments much involved. This is mistak
1t was the usual campaign, only conducte
with never failing vigor. No movement
Early and Breckinridge could draw tn
army back. They penetrated to the eny
l. rons of Washington, but Grant stuck
Petersburg and Richmond. He was Il
, greatest in number, but he did not kno
C he roads through the wilderness whe
t Lee had a great advantage. The railroa'
e which Grant could scarcely use, conce
IT trated towards Lees base, and the count
WAS made ready at most places for d
d tense. The quartermaster's department
l. Grant worked like a clock, however, al
1t he went over rivers like duck.-[Cinci
1. natl Enquirer, May 3.