Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-10
GRAxrASAGREAreENERAL.
His Virginia Campaign Crttt-
ciSed and Pronounced -
Eailare.
' .ha rai,0r nfihn ~ Trihane.

blow iron the pQOlNaQQu Ol OCneIAi
,tHumphrey's last volume OF The
Campaigns of the Civil War" Of
which the Tribune contained q review
yesterday. Most people who read
General Humphreys book will Be sat
i isfed from its frankness Of tone, clear
ness and accuracy Of detail, that he
has reached somewhere near the truth
of his subject. His statements are
indeed tacitly admitted BY other
writers on the last year Of the war in
Virgins, but have been either elouded
ever or not brought forward to the
importance they properly deserve.
Neither do / understand that he re-
fleets on the mistakes and failures of
the Union General with the severity
he might well employ, but leaves the
reader to draw an evident conclusion
for himself.
Colonel Hambley, of the British
army, in his great work on the Art Of
War. a work which have nevar seen
serious ' questioned, speaks OF Gen.
Grant as one who was successful on a
moderate terrain like Vicksburg. but
whose Virginia campaign was a fail
ure," and elsewhere of Grants useless
sacrifice of ten thousand men at Cold
Harbor. This Judgment is taeitly
supported in General Humphrey 5
book by what would seem to be a
column of indisputable facts. | un.
derstand from him that General Grant
was at least seven times conspicuously
aud with enormous loss defeated by
General Lee before the exhaustion OF
his war materials and the universal
collapse of the Confederacy compelled
the latter to surrender. These were
not reported as defeats in the bulle
tins OF the day, and some OF them
wee even supposed to be victories. as
in the case OF HancOek's magnificent
attempt to break through Lee center
at Spot 5ylvania Courthouse; but they
were defeats, nevertheless When a
commander assumes the offensive and
is repulscd by the enemy With severe
los7, it is defeat for him aud VIC
tory for his antagonist, although it NAV
not be decisive one. Many things
conspired to prevent General Lees
victories from beng decisive:the over
whelming superiority of the Union
army in numbers and munitions OF
war, his own lack OF absolutely neces.
sary war materisl-ior which we can
thank the blockade-the determined
bravery Of the Union forces, and the
lack Of an able coadJutor like Stone
wall jackson. One eau we'll believe
that had Jackson lived a year longer
Grant would not only have been de-
feated, but, rs a consequence of his
stubborn adhesion to a single military
idea, pretty nearly destroyed. Grant
possessed an advantage over all bis
predecessors in Virginia. that he never
was forced to contend with Jackson.
With Jackson t1ken from one side
and Sheridan added to the other it
ought not to have been so difficult to
get the better of Lee. As it happened,
oheridao's brilliant victory at Cedar
Run, battle gained with equal forces
and the most decisive ever fought in
Virginia, was all that saved US at that
period. The dry truth Of it is that
Grant lost more battle, in Virginia
than he ever won elsewhere.
General Grants tactics evidently
succeeded 10 the Wcst on account OF
their simplicity. They we're not too
GOOD for the then undiscil lined forces
WEIGH he commanded He said to
Gene al Sherman, | think it was after
the capture Of For Dontlson Il may
not give his exact words): Il notice
at Q certain point 10 our battles that
both sides are defeated, but if we
only hold on q little alter that we
whip them awfully." There can be
no question as to Grants fne qualities
as a soldier. The man who could
make such an observation and act
upon it with GOODNESS ard decision
was born for the battlefield; to pos
seq those qualities of mind which
constitute the great straiegist and
taciiciaD; 10 short, the qualities Of
great General, is az entirely different
thing. In the tenacity with which
Grant followed out a determination
once fixed 10 bis mind, perhaps no
man has ever surpassed HIM, but it
was an expensive virtue for
his soldiers, as the hundred
thousand men he lost in Virginia
are witness. Whether he should
have beea removed after Cold Harbor,
disastrous biIndsr only equalled By
Burnside at Frederi eksbuFg. is 9 diff
cult matter to determine. II he had
been, the fnal result would not have
differed much 10 all probability.
Yet this man, who happened 10 re-
ceiVe the surrendered sword Of Lee,
became on that account the supposed
hero Of the war; received the credit Of
having Suppressed the Confidence
without education Or experience 10
civil affairs was made President for
eight years. and fnally was carried
around the earth and exhibited 10 the
nations as the greatest prodigy oil the
age The people jn their exuberant
Joy at the return Of peace wished for a
Zero TO whom they could pay homage,
and, Aneelp being dead, seized upon
Grant as the nearest object. Happier
Tor him and for them bad hs been
allowed 10 continue, like Sherman and
sheridan, quietly at his post Of dutyl
America does not require celebrities
Of false lustre 10 satisfy her pride.
There are other7 who are deserving"
as Mr. Emerson said. Y. P.S.
College Hill, Mass, July4.
Wo0pBERRY, MD.-Rey. w. J. John
son says Y hgye used Browns Iron Bit
tefs in my family, aad they have proven
| a gnlQnlil health iuyi0orafEHN