Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-14
LEE AND GRANT.
A European EstImafe of the two Great
est Commanders of the Civil War

The London Times, in opening a review OF
the military history OF General Grant, by
General Badeau, says: "The officer who for
| months welded all the United States armies
| during the war between the Northern and
| Southern States, and at length subjugated
| the latter, is one who assureoly deserves that
a careful and exhaustive history should be
written of his career as a commander. Six
teen years after his browning triumph such a
history has been given to the world. The
author is that officer who was General
Grants military secretary during the period
of his command in chief, and is, therefore,
in position which secures him both full
information as regards facts, and an accurate
knowledge of his chiefs plans, ideas
access to all the correspondence of the
headquarters Of the different North
ern armies, all papers under the control of
the war department, and mass of the reports
and returns of the Southern armies. Sill
further have his materials been swollen by
communications from many OF the principal
Na-,ha--- general staff and naval officers, as
well as from Mr.. Stanton, Federal secretary
of war during the gigantic struggle. Under
these favorable conditions the work could
hardly fail of being worthy of the subject
given-frst, reasonably good literary skill;
second, we'll balanced, impartial mind on
the part OF the writer. As regards the first
requisite, we think it will be admitted that
General Bldeau has arranged his story well
and writes with clearness, if not with bril-
liancy. AS to the second requisite. we cannot
pronounce SO favorable verdict. A bitter
feeling OF personal dislike to all Southerners
is apparent in every line, and colors the mar
rative so strongly that, though we may ac-
cept facts, we are rendered suspicious about
criticisms and deductions. Among the better
classes in the Northern States it is considered
bad taste to speak or write with rancor of their
opponents in the war and to characterize
them as rebels. Time is supposed to have con-
doned any offenses that may have been COM
mitted, and il is deemed true patriotism
to cast veil over the events of 1876.
General Badeau is profuse in his use of
| the terms rebels and rebellion and writes
of the gallant men against whom he fought
with an amount of vItuperation and petty
malice which savors more of the lower class
of Yankee politician than a pr fessional
American soldier. So great Is his virulence
that he never dreams of holding up to pub
lie disgust the authors OF some atrocities I'M
doHbtedly perpetrated by the general gov
eminent and officers, and rarely blames any
Federal commander save when he is antsg-
onistic to General Grant, or has failed 10
carry out his wishes. Indeed one would
almost imagine he was de scribing, not an
open, regular war between two groups OF the
North American States, but the suppression
of a mutIny akin to that which broke out in
India in 1857. OF Confederate generals his
praise, when given-which is rarely-is
grudgiugly bestowed, and, if possible, quail
fed. Even of Lee he speaks with affected
disparagement, though what, with his
scanty resources, he accomplished, is
more creditable 10 him than that which
was effected by his conqueror. Making,
however, all due allowances for partially
on the one side and prejudice on the other,
we believe that this book will greatly raise
General Grants reputation as a commander
An impression has been prevalent that, hav-
ing an enormous superiority in numbers and
stores, General Grant merely hammered
away till by brute force be smashed the Con-
federate army. 1t may be true that We'll
lington, Napoleon, Won Moltke, or a
Robert Lee would, by superior tactical skill,
have effected his object with less loss of life.
Still, it must be admitted that the conditions
OF the war were special, and that, granted
that the slogging system was best adapted to
the circumstances, that system was carried
out with much frmness and ability. 1t is
very certain that General Grant was some
thing more than a mere slogging general,
and that he possessed many of the qualities
of a commander Of the first order"