Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-04-30


than majority of the delegates to the
national convention were in favor of
Grant, but many of them refused to
obey their instructions, and others
were led off by the Establishments of
other candidates. The result was that
neither Grant nor Blaine. his principal
opponent. had quite enough strength
to secure the nomination, and the dele
gates holding the balance of power
were not disposed to give their sup
port to either After long and ex-
ceedingly animated contest, the Blaine
delegates went with the scattering
ones and nominated James A. Garfield,
the ballot on which this was achieved
having shown SOC votes for Grant. In
commemoration of the fidelity of the
"Old guard as the third-termers
loved to style themselves, medals were
struck and distributed one year later to
all who had supported the general.
During the campaign that followed
Grant took an active interest in politics,
and on two or three occasions presided
over great political meetings held in
the interest of Garfield. After the as
sassination of the latter, however, he
took no part in politics. He lived
quietly IN New York city, and almost
his only public utterance during the
last two years were his manly appeals
to the president, to congress, and to
the people for justice to Gen. Fitz John
Porter. A bill was passed on the last
day of the recent congress putting
Grant on the retired list with the rank
of ~
fortunate as to lend his great name to
the Wall street specializing firm of
Ward and Grant, and the disastrous fail
ure of that concern embarrassed him
financially to such an extent that he
was forced to the humiliating necessity
of mortgaging his entire property, in
GLIDING his swords, medals and pres
ents,. to secure his creditors. These
souvenirs of the war and his journey
abroad, in accordance with an agree
ment made between Mrs. Grant and
MIR. William III. Vanderbilt. the prinei-
pal creditor, were presented to the
government.
GRANTS GREATNESS.
Gen. Badeau, in his military history
of Grant, gives the following interest
ing analysis of Grants military genius:
''When the war was over, Grant had
fought and beaten every important con-
federate in turn-Buckner at Donelson,
Beauregard at Shiloh, Pemberton and
Johnston at Vicksburg, Bragg at Chat
tanooga, Lee in Virginia, and all of
them altogether in the last year of the
rebellion. From Belmont, the initial
battle of his career, he had never been
driven from the field, and had never re-
ceded step in any of mis- campaigns,
except at Holly Springs, and then the
rebels were in retreat before him, and
Grant, unable to follow fast enough to
overtake them, withdrew, only to ad-
vance on another line.
''He went on steadily from the start,
gaining in reputation and skill, ac-
quiring experience, developing his pow
ers, but manifesting at the beginning
many of the traits which were always
conspicuous in his generalship. At
Belmont there was the same steadfast-
ness under difficulties, the same suffi-
cheney of resource. the same invention
in unexpected emergencies which were
afterward so often displayed; at Donel-
son, the same daring which attacked
superior numbers, and the fortitude I'M
dismayed at temporary reverse, as well
as the quick intuition which detected
the intention of the enemy from appar-
entity insignificant circumstances; and
above all, the perception that the crisis
had come when both armies were nearly
exhausted, and whichever first attacked
would win, and then he declared: The
rebels will have to be very quick if they
beat me- At Shiloh there was the
same indomitable perseverance and con-
tidence which made him say to Buell. at
the darkest moment of the fight, when
that commander inquired, What pre-
parations have you made for retreat
ing?' i haven't despaired of whipping
them yet, and inspired the orders to
Sherman to advance on the morrow be-
fore Buell. had arrived. At Vicksburg
he displayed again the untiring persist
ency, the willingness to try all schemes
bold conception of running the batter
les and separating his army from its
base, plunging into the interior between
the hostile forces, contrary to all the
rules of schools and the urgent counsel
of his ablest subordinates; and finally
the celebrity, the audacity, the strageti-
cal maneuyers, the marches. the coun-
ter marches, the five successful battles
of the great campaign except Apo
mattox week, the most brilliant episode
of the war.