The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-17

other things, eff You can continue as hereto
| fore. to be yourself, simple honest and unpre-
| tending you will enjoy through life the respect
and love of friends and the homage of millions
of human beings that will award you large
share in securing to them and their
descendants government of law and stability.
| | repeat, you do General Mcpherson and
myself too much honor. At Belmont you mani
| tested your traits. neither of us being near. At
Donelson, also, you illustrated your whole char
| acter. ! was not near, and General Mcpherson
| in too subordinate capacity to influence you.
| Until you had won Donelson, confess was
almost cowed at the terrible array of anarchical
| elements that presented themselves at every
point; but that admitted ray of light have
| followed since. | believe you are as brave,
| patriotic and just as the great prototype Wash
| ington-as unselfsh kind hearted and honest as
man should be; but the chief characteristic is
the simple faith in success you have always
manifested, which | can liken to nothing else
than the faith 8 Christian has IN the
Savior This faith gave. you VIC
| tory at Shiloh and Vicksburg Also, when you
have completed your best preparations, you go
into battle without hesitation, as at Chattanooga
no doubts, no reServes-and tell you 1T was
| this that made us act with confidence. l knew,
wherever was, that you thought of me- and #
1 got in tight place, you would help me out if
alive" When he adopted the plan OF
| General Thomas for dslodging the enemy
from the control of the river approach
to Chattanooga, he gave full credit to the gal
| When he visited Sheridan at Charlestown, and
found him confident of success he gave him no
| order except authority to move; and he then
left the front and got as far possible from the
field before the attack, lest the newspapers might
| attribute to him what was due to Sheridan
Realizing as he did the extent and the conse-
| quences of his victories, they must have given
| him great satisfaction; but he never wrote a
| va1nglorious report or proclamation AS might
| be expected, he has decorously abstained from
| frpOuant N cd tO
/ On proper occasions, as in his response when he
| received his commission as acknowledgement
| from he hands of President Lincoln, he indi-
| Gated his reliance upon Providence He never
uses the name of the Deity profanely. In his
private relations, his life has been high example
of personal purity, domestic faithfulness, unsul-
lied honor, and unimpeached honesty He
has not much regard for money, except to
use it. He has expended considerable
| amounts for presents bestowed by him
in discharge of obligations placed upon him by
way of gifts. A personal friend Of his has told
| me that he once found him giving direction for
large outlay for such present to be sent to
an Eastern sovereign.
The words that embody thoughts that make
nations free are earnest Words the deeds that
establish or save nations liberties are wrought
by heroic men. There is no room for the mer-
ryman in motley upon battle fields
IN word, modest in manner grandly practical IN
thought, endowed with the genius of waiting.
| the personifcation of resstless energy, loyal
soul, worthy hero. Take him for all III all. he
is man to be believed in, honored and re-
warded.
Alas how often we are reminded of Solon's
answer to Croesus: mo man can be called truly
happy till happy death has closed happy life. "
lie Who twenty years ago, was the center OF. OF
the Nations hopes, the strong defender of its
loyal homes and their fortunes, the bulwark of
its civilization; whose service was above price;
upon whom, later, the people, whose gratitude
had no reserve, bestowed what they esteemed
the highest honor in their gift who later worth
lily bore our glory round the world, now goes
silent down the western slope of life upon a
a crutch despoiled of his substance by an in
famous scoundrel. A proud Nation is waiting
to see him whom it called to forsake
the emoluments of the military rank he had
won in its service, reduced to the humiliation
Of want. Already he has been compared with
Beisarius by the press of England, where for
leading well-furnlshed armies over PROSTATE
and halfnaked barbarians a man gains titles
and pensions. Some, whose great fortunes his
victories helped to make, or preserved, have
honored themselves by offering him temporary
relief. And old Tecumseh Sherman, bless
him proves true when his chief is ''in tight
place." Can it be that those who have the Ma
tons honor in their keeping will wait too long
to be just where they might be expected to be
generous! His proud heart urges him not to
accept, private charity. That he never
will be suppliant for public aid we may be
sure. We will hope that he may not be placed
falsely in such an attitude.
For what consideration would we tear out the
pages of our history made resplendenJ by him9
For what price would we sell the names of his
victories upon our battle-fags2 Happy the land
that rears herself son able to save her in her
hour of need, but happier the people who with
their pride of victory Iningle gratitude
Let rs not measure his guerdon merely by the
large number of cannon and flags he captured,
the many cities he reduced, the great armies he
DarOled, the long lines of communication he
opened, the sklful generals he overcame; but
let us look away to the free prosperous and har-
monious Union of the future, and seeing in it his
| glorious crown of victory. under the inspiration
| of that vision reward him. For his sake and for
our sakes. may the grand old hero never have
reason to doubt that NE is enthroned in the
proudest of earthly thrones, the hearts of the
people he served