Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-07-30

of his own powers, and of the probable in
huence he would exert upon the course Of
affairs. The taking OF Fort Donelson, al
though it seemed 50 great an event to the
nation, was not in his opinion a specially re-
markable achievement. His part in the bat
tie of Shiloh was not very wonderful in his
eyes II was only after the Black river
campaign and the fall of Vicksbufs, that he
awoke 70 the fact that be was the possessor
Of military abilities Of the highest order, and
that the destinies Of the republic would
probably soon be committed entirely to
his hands, In this respect he
had hurled back and dispersed the mighty
multitude that sought to overthrow the Ma
tional convention, had turned the Alps at
the head of the army Of Italy, had won
victory after victory and beaten a succession
of Austrian and Piedmontese generals be-
fore it occurred to him that he was in any re-
speet great or extraordinary man. 1T was
only" as he himself said, .after the passage
of the bridge at Lodi that began to think
was destined to exert q decisive influence
upon the course of affairs Then first was
kindled the spark Of great ambition" So
with Grant. When he received the sword of
Pemberton at Vicksburg. he caught sight of
his own vast abilities and first saw that he
was defined to be the leading character Of
his country and his age.
From that great event marked change
took place in General Grants appearance.
He was the same taciturn, immovable une-
motional and imperturbable man that he
had been before; but the stolidity, apathy
and want of expression had largely disap-
peared. The second time 1 saw him was
shortly after he had arrived at Chattanooga
in the autumn of 1853. 1 was riding along
muddy road through the woods, in company
with Mr.. W. F. G. Shanks, who was then,
and indeed remained the leading war cor
respondent of the New York Herald. We
were going down the Tennessee in order to
watch the construction of q pontoon bridge
across the river. 1t was raining heavily at the
time. A group of officers closely enveloped
in rubbers and the ordinary blue overcoats
of private soldiers, overlook US and dashed
by on their mnd-bespattered steeds. -Shanks
closely surveyed the group, and suddenly
his eyes lighted up. "Why, there's GrantI'
he exclaimed, and he pointed out one of the
least conspicuous Of the group. "Let US
galIoped after them until the ferry or bridge
was reached. Shanks, who had met Grant
in some previous campaign, rode up and
spoke to him and then introduced me. The
name of the Cincinnati Gazette, for which
was correspondent, was perhaps not very
pleasing to the general, for it had criticised
severely some portion OF his previous mill
i, y
ally pierced me through and through, simply
said, 81 suppose you're having as rough
time es the rest Of u.s." and turned away.
Shanks and retired to little distance he
seemingly cool enough while / was in 9
hutter of excitement, for l was actually more
afraid of that stern, silent man than had
ever been before of any human creature or
was some little difficulty at the bridge.
Grant spoke half a dozen words to
a staff officer, the latter communi-
Gated them to those in charge
of the work and in few minutes the diff
Guilty disappeared like magic, and the gem
eral and the others gallOped back toward
Chattanooga. The fact that l wish to en-
phasize is that although l had closely
scanned Grants person and countenance
the first time I saw him, and but little more
than year had passed since then, the
change in his appearance was so great that
utterly failed 10 recognize him, and al
though he rode by but a>few feet from me
should not but for Mr.. Shanks's recognition
have known that it was he at all. After
that never heard any one say, on looking
at Grant, that he seemed to be under the in
hunce of liquor.
A number of times after that day and
previous to the great battle of Lookout
Mountain and Mission Ridge, l was present
at the generals headquarters. but nOtwith-
standing the searching look he gave me
when / was introduced to him, he had evi-
IDENTIFY not considered it worth while to re-
member me, and never spoke to me. His
staff officers always received me politely,
and answered questions succinctly and
briefly, yet freely; but Grant never seemed
aware of my presence atall. This nettlea me
a good deal.
At last the preparations were completed
for the great movement that was to drive
Bragg from his position before Chattanooga
and relieve that place from the state of
siege in which it had been held since the
battle of Chicamauga, September l9 and 20.
On the evening Of November Is General
Grant sent out his plan OF battle. Only the
corps commanders were favored with II and
such Of the correspondents as had been OH
cially recognized at General Grants head
quarters. of these, was one, and my recol-
lection is that there were but three others
present in the army. To the corps COM
manders and to these four correspondents
the plan of battle was known On the 18th,
and to no one else. | feel that l
must be very brief here and can
only state that this plan contemplated an
attack by General Sherman on the enemy's
right flank, which rested some distance from
the northern extremity OF Mission Ridge and
on strong emineEce of that ridge called
Tunnel hill
EARLY in the day General Grant had taken
position with officers of his staff, and most
of the time in company with General Thorn
as on Orchard Knob, from whose summit
the whole panorama of the battle could be
seen, from Lookout mountain on our right
across the Chicamauga valley and along the
sides and crest of Mission Ridge to the en-
emy's extreme right at Tunnel hill. 1t was
the most grandly spectacular of all the bat
ties of the war, and as if plsyed upon the
stage of some mighty theater.
Early in the day | left Orchard Knob,
knowing as did the plan of battle, and rode
over to our left in order to see Sherman take
Tunnel hill. But he didn't take it. Hour
after hour he Struggled. Brigade after
brigade was u-ged % the assault and the
brave fellows would climb the sides of the
hin only to be hurled back again to the foot
under the deadly IRE of the strongly posted
enemy.
If what 1 am about to relate now seems
egotistic trust the reader will forgive in
consideration Of my desire to say something
that will show General Grants traits on the
pattle field; and l assure said reader in sd
vance that lay no claim either to merit or
military foresight nor have the slightest
idea that what did or said that day intu-
enced either the course of the battle or the
current of General Grants plans and
thoughts by even somuch as the weight OF a
feather. But this is what occurred:
As soon as became convinced that Gem
eral Sherman could not carry Tunnel hill
1 rode hastily back toward Orchard Knob.
On my way met General Baird moving at
the head of his division toward the left.
"Where are Won going. general?' asked.