The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-08

A Former Acknowledgement Talks of the
Qualities of the Two Commanders.

OuautfeS OF the Two COMMANDERS
"Gaths' New York Letter.
General Fry has been retired, but he was one
of the prominent adjutant generals of the war,
one OF those officers who has to carry the army
IN his head and be the mathematician and sta
tlstlclan OF the executive general lie is the
man whom Conkling attacked In a debate about
the quota of New York, and who was de-
Tended by Mr.. Blaine, aud from that debate
sprang extraordinary political consequences.
involving Mr. Blaine's defeat in 1884. General
Fry has polite address, is a spare -built man,
and has written book on General Bnell and his
campaigns had few words with him nearly
to this effect You knew General Buell. very
well supposep
Yes, | was his adjutant general. He was a
wise man, and fine commander"
WAS he popularl"
Not exactly popular, but highly respected.
His officers and his soldiers, too felt that he had
reliable qualities in command and they trusted
him, though he did not attempt to gain popular
ity, and was not perhaps, exactly popular in his
army, though they knew that he was both wise
and Just and devoted"
He married in Kentucky General Fry"
mo; he married Georgia lady He is living
IN Kentucky, managing property there
You consider General Grant also an able
manl'
Eyes, great man. Grant nowhere appears
IN al unfavorable light, or rather in modified
light except at Pittsburg Landing, and there
are reasons to excuse that Halleck had re-
aid not make his report after the battle prompt
ly. He was under such general fire at that
time that he probably felt somewhat out of
sorts, and his nature then was to be silent and
obstinate. But he was remarkable man, and
one of the best soldiers any country ever had.
The officer at Washington who has been COM
piling the military history of the war for the
government, which will probably amount to 10
read the reports and edit them, told
me recently that, with the exception
of Abraham Lincoln, Grant shows better
in his letters, papers and reports than any body
in the war; that is to say. he grows more and
more as the war proceeds. There was growth
in him steady and strong, ard, as have said of
Buell., he was wise You saw recent publlca-
tion where he wrote to his father-inlaw from
tialena, before he went into the war. The letter
corrects many erroneous statements of his crit
les it shows that he understood the situation;
that his head was set right from the beginning,
and his record is becoming more and more con-
slstent as 1t is examined We are getting out OF
the period Of surmises and misapprehensions,
and are coming down to the realities of that war.
and Grant is holding his own, | think, wonder
fully, as the documents and letters make their
appearance. General Buell. was so much of a
soldier that he, perhaps, moderated the
popular and political side of the
war: 1t was not a war fought at
ourselves, and politicians like Governors Yates
and Morton had to be considered whether it was
strictly military propriety to do so or not Some
OF mlsapprehension concerning Buell. may have
originated In his Impotence or overlooking OF
those popular accessories of such war, but
| think he will come out all right when the matter
is sfted in the genuine historical spirit"
Said I: General Fry, Halleck appears to
keep falling behind as the war is re-examined."
"Haleck was not up to the standard of the
men l have been talking about" said General
Fry, ''but he is rather made convenience of, a
make-shift, at present The disapprobation of
him is perhaps going little too far He had his
errors, but he also had his influence and served
certain purpose at the commencement OF the
war, giving discipline to the young generals as
they came forward and won popularity"