New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-06
HIS VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN CRITICISED.
yhs Ed(for or The Tru0Hne.

To ne Edftor or rae Tribune
/ SIR: The attitude in which General Grant
has so long been posed before the world Is likely to re-
q blow fromthe publication ofGenera HUM
phreys's volume OF ~The Campaigns OF the Civil
War;" Of which The TRIBUNE contained review yes
teriav Most people who read General Humphreys's
book will be satisfied from It's fankness Of tone clear
ness and accuracy of detail that he has reached some
where the truth OF his subject HIS statements
indeed acy admitted by other writer's on the last
year the in Virginia. but havo been either eiouoed
over or not brought forward to the importance they
properly deserve. Neither do I understand that he
reflects the mistakes and failures of the Union Cen
eral with the severity he well might employ but leaves
the reader draw evident conclusion for himself
Colonel Hambey OF the British Army, In hts great
work the Art OF War; work which have never seen
seriously questioned speaks of General Grant as one
who successful ON moderate terrain like Vicks-
burg. but whose Virginia campaign was failure" and
elsewhere OF Grants useless sacrifice Of ten thousand
men at Cold Harbor" This judgment 10 tacitly sup
ported in General humphreys book by what would
seem TO be column Of ndisputabe facts understand
from him that General Grant was at least seven times
conspcuously and with loss defeated by Cen
era Lee before the exhaustion Of his war materials and
the universal collapse Of the Confederacy compelled the
latter surrender These were not reported as defeats
the bulletins the day. and some Of them were even
supposed be victories, I'm the case OF Hancocks
magnificent attempt to break through Lees centric at
Spotsyvana Court House, but they were defeats never
theless. When o commander assumes the offensive and
repused by the enemy with severe loss Ii Is defeat
for him and victory for his antagonist although It may
not be decisive one Many things conspred to pre-
vent General lees victories from being decisive; the
overwhelming superiority of the Union Army IN num-
bers and munitions OF war; his own lack OF absolutely
necessary war material-for which we can thank the
blockade the determined bravery of the Union Forces
and the Of able coadutor Ike stopewan jack
son. One can well believe that had Jackson lived
year longer would not only have been defeated
but as a consequence Of his stubborn adhesion 10
single military idea, pretty nearly destroyed Grant
possessed advantage oyer all his predecessors In
Virginia that he forced to contend with jack
son. With jackson taken from one side and Sheridan
added the other it ought not to have been so difficult
to get the better OF Lee. As 1t happened, Sheri-
dams brilliant victory at Cedar Rum battle gained
with equal forces and the most decisive ever fought In
Virginia was ali that saved ut that period The dry
truth of is Grant lost more battles In Virginia
than he ever elsewhere
General Grants tactics evidently succeeded In the
West on Of their simplicity They were not too
good for then undiscipned forces which he COM
handed He said to General Sherman, L think IL was
after capture of Fort Donelson Il may not give his
exact words): notice at certain point in our battles
that both sides are defeated, but II only hold on
little after that whip them awfuly There can be
no question as Grants fine qualities as soldier The
Il with GOODNESS and decision born for the battle
ed possess those qualities OF mind which constitute
the great sraegst and secian, IN short tho qualities
OF great general Is entirely different thing In the
tsnaety with which Grant followed out determination
once fixed in his mind perhaps no man has ever sur
passed him, but u expensive virtue Tor mis- sof
djers as the hundred thousand he lost in Virginia
are a witness Whether he should have been removed
BnrnsIde at Fredericksburg. Is difficult matter 10 de-
termne II he had been, the final resnt would not have
differed much In all probability. =, -
Yet this man who happened to receive the snrren-
dered Of Lee became that account the supposed
hero of the war; the credit OF having suppressed
the Confeeracy; without education for or experience 10
civil sairs made President sfor eight years; anu
finally was carried around tina earth and exhibited 10
the nations the gIeaeit prodigy OF the age. Inc
people In exuberant 10y ut the return OF peace
wshed for hero 10 om they could pay homage, and,
Line sln being dead seized upon Grant as the nearest
object Happier for him an for tn en- had he neen
allowed 10 contnue and Sheridan, quietly AZ
his post OF uty America does not require celebrities OF
a false satisfy her pride. There are others
| VIE are deserving" as Dir. Emerson said " r. D
COLLEGE Hill, Hdss.. July 4. 1883.