davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31

ity. Nine-tenths Of the captains in his army
lived more luxuriously. His food was that
uf the common mess Of the officers. A huge
Ere was built out doors in front Of the hut,
aad before this, wrapped in his old overcoat,
Rith two or three of his staff about him, the
general liked best of all to sit. Towards the
last, unknown to himself, these devoted
friends watched him night and day. Plots
Ggainst'h his life had been formed-an attempt
to blow up his headquarters witt a torpedo
had almost succeeded. In the final
days the general became ~sleepless,
and sometimes sat under the stars
in the cold night till 3 and 4 o'clock
in the morning. His staff made a private
plan to take turns in remaining up with him.
Even when he threw himself upon his camp
bed one or the other Of the faithful friends
watched in front Of the log-cabin door. "He
never knew Of this, u says Badeau, shut we
often bargained with one another for an hour
Or two of rest
The generals wife and children spent part
of the tedious months with him in the log
cabin. Our illustration shows them. The
picture is copied from a photograph taken on
the spot. The boy making the ridiculous face
in the picture is now the dignifed Col. Fred
erick Grant.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
WHAT NExra

Again n howl of Encouragement and dis
approval from civilians and the paper war
riors at home. But the coolheaded reader
of these days-of course all readers in these
days are coolheaded-should look upon the
map. If he will do that he will see that every
one of these successive positions was one step
nearer Richmond. After each, Grant in
trenched himself one stage nearer the
goal. He knew, if the country did not,
that after this month Of fighting Lees
army must be enfeebled. Behind him
self was the great North still, with generous
supplies Of men and money. He called per-
emptorily for Ie-enforcements. They were
sent him, and his army was filled up to its
original full fighting number. His plan
from the first had been to besiege Richmond
from the south side OF the james River. On
the 14th of June, 1854, thirty-seven days
after it had entered the Wilderness, the army
Of the Potomac began crossing to the south
side of the James. Grant telegrephed ia
President Lincoln: Sour forces Will COM
mence crossing the james to-day. The
enemy show no signs Of yet having brought
troops to the south side Of Richmond. ]
will have Petersburg secured if possible, be
fore they get there in much force" To
which Lincoln answered back Immediately:
81 begin to see it. You will succeed. God
bless you ALI
Then the General began the same strategy
that had been successful at Vicksburg. A
scare ran through the paper warriors
Of Washington and the country. Il
Grant went south of the James, whai
could hinder that Lee should run in ant
capture Washington AS usual, that scarf
did not matter to the imperturhahle man al
the head of the army. He meant to keep Lex
busy where be Yves. 1t was not Richmond
either, at which he was aiming. 1t was Lees
army. He meant to make the investment Of
Richmond the siege of an army rather thar
of O town.
One curious fact, however, that comes on
In the retrospect fs that the north side O
Richmond was never really invested by thu
Federal forces. From that side the bold Con
federate cavalry continually made dashes
land swept the valley and beat back tn
Union troops" Thence Early threatens
Washington. Grant, ON the other hand, wa
obliged to keep his whole line Of communities
tior open behind him while he was slowl.
and painfully extending his linesto the south
ward. This was the task before him.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
II SILENT SOLDIER.

He was as calm as Washington. Without
ais doing much during that winter, without
ls saying more than was necessary, the peo-
pie began at last to feel confidence in him.
In November, 1864, the General visited New
York city for the first time since he had
travelled thither by stage coach, in the days
when be was a student at West Point. He
went now to see his children who were at
school in New Jersey. Through all his career
Grant has been ~passionately attached to his
children. 1t could not help being noised
about that the General Of the armies Of the
United States was present wherever he trav-
eled. To those who asked him Of the war he
aid simply that the end was not far of. The
valley of the Shenandoah was a barren waste.
In the nature Of things, Lees army must
soon be starved out. "The ~Confederacy was
/ hollow shell. which Sherman was about to
penetrate. Old men and boys were pressed
INTO the Confederate ranks. The cradle and
he grave had been robbed to repair the
losses in the Wilderness and in the western
campaigns"
The tide Of popularity had SO turned in his
favor that his journey to New Jersey and
back was one triumph, ss if victory had
already been won. Enormous crowds gath
.red and eheered him wherever he appeared.
In Philadelphia, after an impromptu recep-
ton in Independence Hall, he was taken by a
private exit to O carriage. But the friendly
mob pressed around him and broke the car
rage windows open to have the privilege of
seeing Grant. From one mouth to another
the country over rang the words:
cat last we have found the man able to
End the war;
Like President Lincoln months before,
hey, too, at length ''began to see it,"
On his way back to camp Grant stopped at
Washington. He was preparing to throw of
all side weights for the final struggle. To
his end he called at the war Office and recon-
nended the mastering out Of service Of s. or
namental generals. They were mostly brig
ldiers, but some major generals were among
he lot. To let them down easy, he recon-
nended that numbers of them be permitted
10 resign. The president reminded him that
some Of these were his personal friends.
Grant knew that, but be only replied:
81 am satisfied the good Of the service will
be advanced by their withdrawal"
The winter wore away. Sherman marched
70 the sea, annihilating, as he went, like the
pirit of destruction. Crops, roads, arsenals
md factories disappeared in his track as il
visited by O tornado. The C~onfederacy wa,
lble to draw no more supplies from thai
rarter. Fort Fisher had been captured a
well, and Thomas had destroyed Hood
army. The fabric Jefferson Davis had bull
N paper was trembling upon its foundations
Meantime Grant had been silently creeping
ike a mole with his earthworks, towards TIL
Southside railFoad. At last the commando
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
GRANT AND

Yet the fall of Atlanta was only a part Of
the grand plan Grant himself had made.
Sherman ended the task Grant had laid out
in the west. War is terrible enough at its
best, yet in looking back over our great con-
test the perfect and abiding friendship of
Grant and Sherman gilds one part Of the
retrospect with perfect light Both had
enemies not a few on their own side of the
line; both had been abused and slandered
without end, in that amiable way American
journalists have Of treating their great men.
Able writers had even gone to the extent of
reporting that one Of our greatest generals
was an inebriate, the other q lunatic. At
this it is rumored that Sherman laughed and
remarked:
"Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and
I'll stand by him when he's drunk"
From the beginning Of the war to the end
they worked into each others hands. Be
tween the two large souls there was not q
thought Of jealousy or envy. When Grant
was appointed commanocr-in-chief Sherman
heard the news in sober silence at first, in
Grants presence. Then he said to his fast
friend:
81 cannot congratulate you. The response.
bility is too great.n
In January, 1865, after the triumphant
march to the sea, once more a strong feeling
in favor of Sherman arose. Again there
were those who said he ought to have beer
the head. Sherman heard Of it and wrote K
Grant:
81 have been told that congress meditates {
bill to make O lieutenant generalcy fol
me. have written to John Sherman to stnl
1t. It would be mischievous, for there ar
enough rascals who would try to SOW differ
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31

takes all summer"
It was at -Spotgsylvania that Gen. Hancock
made one of his most famous and brilliant
charges. Onl stopping to take time to pull
his army into lighting trim Grant pushed on
to North Anna. He was stopped again by
the sldllful movements of Lee. The man
whom nothing could discourage changed his
direction again and marched his army to
Cold Harbor. Lee was already intrenched
there in readiness. Grant made an assault
on his works. 1t was unsuccessful. The
reader who remembers the newspapers of the
time will recall that wise editors made some
times this remark: Grant does not know
when b is whipped" Some, too, who had
yet faith In him, quoted a saying of the Gem
erals wife OF one occasion early in the
war. That saying, along with 50 many Of
her husbands, has also become historic.
Said she; "Mr. Grant is a very obstinate
man,
Again no advantage had apparently been
gained at Cold Harbor. The assault was
made N the 9Oth of June; the splendid army
If the Potomac had now had 80 days of in
sessant fighting. At Cold Harbor Grant lost
more men than Lee did.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
Ia souTHslpE RAhRoAp AT LAST

The Immediate assault along the lines' was or
dered for 4 O'Clock Sunday, April 2. Betweens and
70 that morning the General telegraphed the wait
ing president:
Wright has gone through the enemy's line, and
now has a regiment tearing up the track on the
Southside railroad"
Grant had got the Southside railroad OF lastl
The hour had come, and he knew II. He tele-
graphed the oficer at City Point:
Make no more deliveries Of rebel prisoners while
the battle is going on"
The reader Of the Generals history cannot fail
again and again to be Impressed with his terse, ring
Ing dispatches-eveFy word in Its place, and not a
word too many; they are like the man. Another
dispatch Of that great day referred to his favorite
Sheridan:
"Ihave not yet heard from Sheridan, but l have
an abiding faith that he is in the right place and at
the right time"
The battle-ground extended from Five Forks to Pc
t~ersburg. A terrible assault was made on the latter
town. Its earthworks were finally broken through
by the famous Sixth corps, with Gen. Wright. The
last of It's defenscs 70 surrender was Fort Gregg. II
was held by 800 ConfedeFates, as brave and devoted
\ band Of men as ever lived. Among them was a
body OF common teamsterS mounted. They were
known in the Confederate army as walkers
Mules" How Walkers 'mules" fought that day Ia
a story to thrill the American heart. Many Of these
men fought at the last with bayonets and dubbed
muskets. Soldiers fell before Petersburg that day as
though mans life was worth no more than that OF
so many insects. The assault on Fort Gregg had
been ordered at O'Clock In the day. AT half.past Z
1t fell, the last defense Of Richmond and a lost
cause. Gen. Ord's men were the first TO plant the
national color5 upon It's walls.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
STAND FAST. STAND SURE

When Grant assumed command of the
splendid army of the Potomac, Gen. Oglesby
asked him:
How do you like the looks of itf'
''This is a very fine army" answered
Grant, land l am told these men have fought
with great courage and bravery. l think,
however, that the army of the Potomac has
never fought its battles through"
That was the secret of its success when its
last general took hold. Others had more
dash and originality, but none had the iron
hang-on of Grant. With him there was no
halt, and no looking backward. He said once
that it had never for a single moment oc-
Cured 10 him that be would not capture
Richmond. Wherever he set his foot down,
he set it to stay. As Lincoln expressed it, in
quaint words 50 like Grants own, he simply
''kept pegging away" There is something
well-nigh terrible in the persistence with
which he followed up the final cam
paign before Richmond. He rained blow
after blow for one year without giving the
enemy time to take breath. The prospect was
gloomy beyond description; the north was at
times disheartened. Civilians and warriors
on paper clamored for a change Of generals;
the silent man stood unmoved as a granite
pillar through it all with his face toward
Richmond. Once Early's forces threatened
Washington. The hair of the inhabitants of
that city Of boarding houses and Office
holders stood on end with alright. Grant,
down before Petersburg, was te~legraphed for
in hot haste to come with troops and defend
the capital. Lincoln himself added his per
sonal request to the message. Grant calmly
telegraphed back: II think it would have a
bad effect for me to leave here, aud did not
bulge a peg. Grantspersonal motto, it mey
be remarked, is that Of the Scottish clan
Grant: "Stand fast, stand firm, stand sure.'
So be stood that last year Of the war, in
the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania, at Cold
Harbor, at Petersburg, and finally at Apo
mattox. The army Of the Potomac at last
Fought its battles through"
Grant never asked advice. He obtained
all the information possible from all sources,
and listened without opening his mouth ex-
cept to ask questions. Then he went silently
and made out his orders. He made up his
mind, never was Hurried, and never lost his
head.
After the battles of Chattanooga, once at
Nashville be sat in his tent in silence putting
bis cigar. Gems. Meigs and W, F, Smith
we're with him. Smith was pacing the floor,
wrapped in thought.
"What are you thinking about, BaldyF
said Gen. MeigS.
Smith was so absorbed that be did not heal
the question.
"Baldy is studying strategy" said Meigs
to Grant, with a laugh
The chief took his cigar from his lips and
said, quite seriously:
II don't believe in strategy in the popular
understanding of the term. 1use it to get III
inst rs close to the enemy as practicable with
as little loss as possible"
sand what them asked MeigS.
Then? Then up, guards, and at 'enN re-
4 Piled Grant, with a touch of unusual spirit
n Por him.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
MADE LIEUTENANT GENERAL.

In view Of the stubbornness of the Confed-
eracy, on the goth of February, 1864, a bill
passed both houses Of congress revivtng the
grade Of lieutenant general in she armies Of
the United States, with the idea of comforting
this rank upon Grant, thus giving him com
mand OF fall the military forces of the country,
\ on the I'd of March the senate confirmed
1.-THE most important appointment ever made
II America" Washington and Scott were
the only men who had ever held this rank.
This, as well as every other promotion he ever
received, was made not only without s~olicita-
ton on his part, but without his knowledge
and consent. He was ordered to Washington,
and received his commission directly from
the hands of the president, who had never
before seen him,
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
GRANT AND LEE AT APpomATrox.

but, calm, inscIutable as ever, he said what was
necessary to say, and then stopped.
He sat down - o little table and wrote with his
own hand the formal terms Of surrender. They
were so generous as to surprise alike his enemies
and his eountrymen. He did not even demand the
sword OF HIS fallen foe. He could afford to be
generous. The starving army Of Lee were i'm
mediately fed from the supplies Of the national sol
diers. Grant requested his men TO abstain from all
signs OF rejoicing. 1.-THE rebels are our countrymen
again, " he said. April 70, in profound silence, the
southern army stacked their guns, and marched out
to civil life once more. Then, slowly furling their
flags, they laid them down, and many a veteran
stopped to kiss the stained and tattered colors I'M
der which he might fight no more"
On the 10th Of April Grant mounted his horse
and turned his face toward Washington without
having once entered the Confederate lines. Prob
ably he thought now was a good time 70 make up
some Of the slumber he had lost IN the last ten days.
All his life 1t has been his fashion to sleep regularly
nine hours out Of the "a.
In the prolonged siege Of Richmond Grant lost CO.,
900 men, q third OF his forces. 1t Is estimated that
Lee lost $1,000. half his available fighting men. Tho
expenses of the war to the North much OF the time
amounted 70 Sl,NO,090a day. II is said.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31

that won Lookout Mountain from
the enemy was fought in clouds Of smoke and
fog, with a rattle Of musketry and flashing Of
fire never to be forgotten, while Sherman
planted the flag IN the end Of Missionary
Ridge. On the morning of the 18th Grants
main line occupied Orchard Knoll, which he
had wTung from the enemy the day before;
Hooker was marching down Lookout; Bragg,
the Confederate leader, was on Missionary
Ridge, and all were looking down into the
valley where the contest was to be decided.
Sherman renewed his attack on Missionary
Ridge, and under Grants orders other forces
moved after him, and the men steadily
moved up the hillside under the enemys FIRE
till they gained possession, chasing whole
regiments OF the enemy down the slope and
turning his guns upon himself. The battle of
Chattanooga is considered the grandest
fought west Of the A~Ileghanies. It covered
thirteen miles, and Grants men numbered
10000, the Confederate forces 1900, with
every advantage of position.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
Ia ENp.

That morning Gen. Lee hurriedly donned his rich.
est uniform, with his s~tateliest sword. He knew 1t
was all up with the Southern Confederacy. When
1t was told him that his works had been carried, he
only said;
ut has happened as l thought. The lines have
been stretched till they broke"
Twenty minutes before Ii he sent this dispatch to
Richmond:
position here till night. am not certain / can do
that"
The dispatch was sent to Jefferson Davis. Davis
was at church, kneeling In his pew, when the dis.
patch reached him. He made hasty preparation
and left the city. His cabinet went with him, ex.
cept the secretary of war. He alone stood at his
post. Strangely enough not a word Of the Con
federate defeat at Five Forks the day before had
been permitted TO be announced in Richmond. At
z o'clock Sunday evening, that fateful April 2, Lee
sent to the Confederate secretary the last military
dispatch he ever wrote. 1t announced that he
would mike O hasty retreat with his army toward
the Danville railroad, which he hoped would still be
open.
But Grant was ready for the movement to Dan.
Vile. The distance between Lee and Johnston was
only $50 miles. II Yves a matter Of life and DEAN
that Lees army should be intercepted before the
junction was mada.
AFTER theml After theml' was the wat chword,
The fall OF Richmond was nothing. Tho rebel or.
niles are the only strategic points 70 strike at" said
the General.
Lee went flying along the north side Of the Apo
mattox with an r Of 1000 men. Grant and sher-
idan swept along the south side and headed him on.
Atragic and melancholy interest hoyers about
Lees last hour in Richmond. Gen A. z. Hill, his
friend and one Of his ablest commanders, had been
killed in the morning. They buried hin darkly, at
dead Of night, > like sir John Moore Lees last act
was to attend this hurried funeral by night. Then
he mounted his horse and rode rapidly away.
President Lincoln Immediately set out for Peters
| burg. Grant gave this simple order:
aSay to tho president that an officer and escort
/ will attend him; but as for myself, / start toward
the Danvllle road with the army"
! But the president reached Petersburg before
Grant LEFT. The meeting Of the TWO, Lincoln AMI
Grant-the good president and the victorious zen
eral-took place April 2 In the porch Of a privat,
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
PETERSBURG.


II Will have Petersburg secured if pos
sible," Grant had telegraphed lincoln. He
indeed got hts army south Of the Potomac
before a was made TO defend the town.
June 18th the Federal forces stormed Peters
burg. The outer works were taken. But
ZONE of Grants subordinates hesitated, de-
'layed, and the day was lost. Lee seized upon
the town, and as usual threw up the earth
intrenchments and filed them with his best
troops, and presented "a powerful fortress in
face of the foe" The opportunity was lost.
The assault VI continued some time with
tremendous losses. But on the 18th Grant
said: 'All has been done that could be done.
Now we will rest the men and use the spade
for their protection till a new vein can be
struck
So C more the army of the Potomac
went to lighting with the spade" Grant
was obliged to extend his lines still farther to
the south. The new vein" the General
struck was to get possession Of the Weldon
railroad. Lees supplies came by way of
this and of the Southside roads. Those roads
taken, then the Confederate army would bc
surely starved out.
For the possession of these Grant struggled
more than ~three-quarters of q year. Had be
not said: II shall take no backward steps'f
He got possession Of the Weldon road first.
What then! Once more the eternal earth
works to the south. Cold weather came,
and the soldiers built log huts and went into
them, with Grants headquarters still at City
Point. Winter wore away in seemingly
stupid inactivity before Richmond. The
nation grew weary. The only CLEAN of hope
it had had for more than half o year had
been the fall Of Atlanta, Sept. 2, 1854. Their
the people clamored, sherman is the only
victorious general, the man to lead ol
armies. Give us Sherman"
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
"FlNlsH THIS TAlNG.V

Sheridan and Sherman were Grants favor
tie generals. The objectionable military SHIN
his eyes was slcwness. These two could catch
4 plan and carry It out with h~ghtning-Aks
lash and boLiness. They could plan for
themselves, as well, and then of witha whirl
and a sweep to execute. Before slower men
could get a movement through their heads,
with these two-lol the thing was done.
To Sheridan, therefore, Grant intrusted the
work Of starting the movement which was to
finish this thing" The task was a welcome
one.
1T is to be hoped said Grant to Secretary
Stanton, ''that we viii have no use for more
men than we have now, but the number must
be kept up.n a!1
He insisted on that to the very end.
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
Z SURRENDER.

1t win be one Of the ever living scenes in Amert
can history. Leo and his stan were splendidly
dressed for the occasion. Lee was a noble looking
man. He wore a rich suit Of gray and gold. with
embroidered g~alintiets and q magnificent flashing
sworn. tne clothing OF Grant and hts statr m
the other hand, was soiled and worn and battle
stained. The two sides presented q marvellous ron
trast. Lee had the mannerof the grand gentleman
Grant, as ever, was simple and unpretenticus az q
child. He never aid anything for effect IN bis life
A looker-on might have supposed that Lee was the
victor and Grant the conquered. Grant did not even
wear asworl. He showed no emotion. Il he feltan
Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31

His successor was inaugurated March, 1871. and IN
May the General and Mr.. Grant sailed from Phila-
delnhia for Iiverpool. september, 1879, he set foot
once more upon his native soil upon the western
coast Of the United States, landing at San Francisco
from japan. That voyage has been described BY
John Russell Young IN his famous book Around tho
We'd with one another ia doing honor to TIE plain,
simple hearted American He dlned with the Queen
Of ENGLAND, and paid q visit Of state to Prince Bis
marck. The sacred Mikado Of Japan advanced and
shock hands with him ike q common man, anhonor
never before accorded to any human being. nntlhc
brightest, tenderest picture Of an Is that og ne htta