The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-05-18

Donelson surrendered to Grant IL
was in connection with this event
that he wrote his famous answer to
Gen. Buokner, commander of Fort
Donelson, who asked for commits
sioncrs TO arrange terms of capitula-
ton: "No terms other than an nm
conditional and immediate surrender
can be accepted. | propose to move
Immediately upon your works.
This message and its result electri-
fed the northern heart and gave
Grant his first national reputation,
and as reward he was made n
major-gcneral, dating from Feb. l6,
when Donelson fell.
April 6, 1862, federal force of
10000 which had been despatched
up the Tennessee river under Gen.
c. f. Smith (who had meanwhile
died) was surprised by an over
whelming confederate force and
routed. Gen. Grant had just been
assigned to it, rs successor to Gen.
Smith, and on the next day, with
rc-inforcemcnts, drove back the
rebels, with heavy loss--about
10000 on each side. Gen. Grant
was wounded at this time. Gen.
Halleck soon after arrived and as
sumed command. On the appoint
ment of Halleck as commander-in-
chief, Grant became department
commander of West Tennessee, and
in the following October the depart
ment was enlarged so as to embrace
part of Mississippi, and altogether
was designated as the 18th army
corps.
After various strategic operations,
which were in the main successful,
Gen. Grant secured the surrender
of the city of Vicksburg, July 4,
1868. This victory gave him pro-
motion to the rank of major-general
in the Regular army ; yet it is related
in Gen. Sherman's memoirs that, a
little before this, Grant was ON the
verge of resigning his commission
and returning to private life. Some
of his operations in Tennessee had
met with disapproval from Hallecll,
and Grants sensitive nature was so
stung that he had firmly resolved to
retire from the field. Sherman with
much difficulty persuaded him to
bear the affront and remain where
he was-another illustration of the
narrow border-line which so often
separates success from failure. Had
Grant left the front at that time, he
would in all probability have been
unknown beyond little circle
to-day; he certainly could not have
gained that prestige which subsc-
quently gave him such splendid
history.
In October, 1868, having contri-
buted to the victories of Sherman on
the Big Black river, Grant was made
chief of the military division of the
Mississippi, comprising the depart
ments of Burnside, Hooker, Sher-
man and Thomas. He concentrated
for the defence of Chattanooga, and
Nov. "a and 25 added to his laurels
by the triumphs of Missionary ridge
and Lookout mountain. The rebel
Longstreet was then driven from his
investment of Knoxville. General
Halleck pronounced Grant. tactics
in this campaign among the most
brilliant in the history of warfare !;
and congress awarded the hero a
gold-medal and a vote of thanks !;
various state.legislatures also passed
resolutions in his praise. March ],
1864, Prest. Lincoln signed bill
which had passed congress, rcviving
the office of lieut.. general, and
March 0 Grant received his COM
mission us such in Washington, from
Prest. Lincoln himself. March II,
he issued his first general order in
his new relation, as commander o
all the armies of the United States
being at the time not quite az years
of age, and in less than two year:
having risen to that proud height
from mere captain of volunteers
Here, indeed, was man of destiny
and thenceforward, until old age, hil
star of prosperity continued in the
ascendant.
With force of 100000 under
arms, Grant at once planned two
main campaigns, to subdue the re
bellious confederacy. The first Of
these, with which he was himselt
more Immediately identified, was
directed against the city of Rich
mond, in which Lee was beleaguered
the other was the movement O
Sherman against Atlanta, followed
later ON Sherman's own responsible
lity by that brilliant march to thu
sea" and along the Atlantic ststeI
northerly, till junction was effectet
with the main army, and the rebel
t lion was dead. Both plans wer
: completely successful. An uninter
] rupted series of battles gave Grant