Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-31

10 uhAh W oAhkktThNos EOIlnNlNn MS HLrOnH
grip seized upon the problem Of Kidding the
region beyond the Alleghanies Of the last
great force. The relief OF the Army OF tho
Cumberland, which was defending Chattano-
"a, and the thorough beating Of Bragg, tho
Confederate general, were accomplished, and
then this general, who had a way Of smash
ing things, began 10 be considered a. possi-
BILE leader for the Eastern armies. The three
days fighting Rt Chattanooga In November
were followed by the act Of Congress In Feb
ruary, 1864, creating the grade Of lieutenant
general, 10 which he was appointed, and his
assumption Of the command Of the armies Of
the United States.
Grant reached Washington on March 8,
1864, a stranger 10 almost every one there.
The diners az Willards hotel did not know
the quiet, rather stumpy looking man who
came in leading little bOy-the boy who had
ridden by his fathers side through all the
campaign Of Vioksburg. But soon II was
whispered about who was In the room, and
demonstTative Congressman called for three
oheera for Ulysses b. Grant, which we're Civ
on with will. In the evening Grant met
Lincoln for the first time at the Presidents
reception. The next day Grant received his
commission from the hands Of the President
in the presence Of the Cabinet and General
Halleck. On the 18th Of March he issued his
first general order, assuming command of the
armies Of the United States, and announcing
that headquarters would be In the field, and
until further orders with the Army OF the Po.
tomac. For the first time since the opening
OF the war one General commanded all the
armies. Grant had 700, 600 men, and to aid
him there were 600 ships and 1000 cannon.
lie at once planned two campaigns against
the vitals of the Oonfederacy- under
General Meade against Richmond where Lee
was, and the other under Sherman against
Atlanta, where Johnston was.
The advance against Richmond began at
midnight of May 3, 1864. Eastern readers
are familiar with the record which began with
the Wilderness battles. Under previous com
manders the army OF the Potomac might have
reeled backward toward Washington, but
Grant was headed south, and was not 10
swerve. Acting on the principle that the
rebel army was the strategic point ne kept
pounding away" and when he reached the
James, he had lost G000 men killed, 2G, 600
wounded, and nearly 1000 missing. But Lee
had been suffering from the costly attrition,
and the long seige of Richmond would prob.
ably have stretched out much longer had il
not been for this sickening and yet necessary
policy OF advancing, and this steady striking
with the army Of the Potomac as with fate
full hammer. ShermRn's march 10 the sea
and Sheridan's fierce and mastery work kept
the Confederate leaders busy with other mat
ters than Grants army only. At last the
Confederacy found a hand at its throat that
would not let go. Richmond fell on April
and Lee surrendered on April .. The months
OF fighting Of waiting, Of plans TO break the
rebel lines, often defeated In part but never
relinquished, seemed a. nothing TO the coun-
try for the great Joy that the rebel lines had
at last been broken into pieces. April 20 saw
Johnston's surrender 10 Sherman. Finally
ha H.
of war.
By the 22d of August, Grant had succeeded
IN mastering out of the army 49, ,33S men,
and by November l5 1865. there had been
returned TO their homes 800, 9G3 men. This
was rapidly followed every month until l, ,O23,-
O2l had been discharged Congress once
more attested its appreciation Of Grants ser
vices by reviving the grade OF general, to
which he was duly appointed. On December
IL, 1867, President johnson made Grant SEQ.
retary of War dd interim, TO replace Secretary
Stanton, but when Congress refused 10 sano-
ton the suspension, Grant gracefully left a
place where he had done his duty and showed
once more his respect for law and for a policy
not opposed to the will of the people.
Certain dates OF his political preferment are
TO be given. May 81, 1865, he was unAni-
mously made the Republican nominee for the
presidency by the Chicago convention. In the
following November he received PA electoral
votes, while HoTatio Seymour had cc. Ad-
vancing Sherman and Sheridan, AZ soon a. he
had become President, as q token of his aft CO.
tion and not merely As q routine matter. and
early nominating Longstreet, an eX-confeder-
ate general, TO a civil Office, thus showing his
readiness to treat the South, Grant began q
civic career which was destined TO exhibit
both his strength and his weakness a. a prac-
tical politician and manager OF men. Some
OF the bright spots are easily pointed out
Grants first administration for example, is
made illustrious by the settlement OF the long
standing Alabama claims question, and un.
questionably Grants tact and dignifed persia-
tence had much to do with the issue Of the
negotiations On the other hand, there is no
Disgusting the unfortunate fact Of the San
Domingo controversy, Grant favoring an ao-
quisition OF portion of the island and the
senate declining to indOrae the scheme
The San Domingo difficulty and other
things gave Grants administration q Ger tain
disfavor which made possible the curious and
luckless movement in 1872 TO place Greeley
in the executive chair. Grants denomination,
though protested against by portion of the
Republican party, was rather q matter OF
course, and his electoral and popular majority
overwhelming. Greeley's pathetic death fol-
lowed soon after the election, Grant being
conspicuous among the throngs which gather
ed at Greeley's burial. The reduction in the
national debt, and the President's veto Of
bill TO increase the currency when the inhA-
tionists were eager and sangune stand out
conspicuousy among the financial events OF
Grants eight years of service az president II
must not be forgotten. that in the trying and
perilous period when the presidency was in
dispute between Hayes and Tilden, Grants
presence in the White House served TO keep
NnN Nhnla uaafrf IA ~ n - 4 H.
prepared, a. the country knew, 10 enforce the
laws at any cost. The political bitterness eI-
cited during Grants terms, and rekindled in
the later and famous "third term" movement
makes it early to pass judgment a. 10 the
political place in history reserved for him.
Doubtless in time proper allowance will be
made for his almost child-like confidence in
men who abused his regard and traded on the
intimacy with him.
After his retirement from the presidency,
Grant aade tour around the world, which
Is Of itself enough TO make passages of his
life seem dreamlike rather than real The
trip began on May H. 1877 and two years
and half later, he appeared once more in
Philadelphia, his point Of departure. He
stood before kings simple, unmoved, and yet
not unappreciative Of the almost unequalled
honors done him.
Grants later years, apart from the supreme
ly unfortunate business episode the memory
of which was recently revived by his testimo-
ny in his sick room, and allowing for posi-
BILE disappointment about third term in the
presidency, were almost ideal. He had no
occasion to worry about his support; he was
honOred with the attention which one of its
chief preservers always ought 10 receive from
a nation, and when tardily Congress placed
him on the retired list of the army the ooun-
try said, "Oh, II now he might live to round
out completely successful lifel"
1t was otherwise ordered. Patiently fighting
against an incurable disease, and drawing the
hearts Of the people TO himself as never before,
he passed through pathetioally deluding eX-
perience, hope rising only to sink away. But
it was the same Grant, in the trenches or in
the death chamber.