Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-30

or GalenaS many nils, anu ueVOCeu HIS
time to leather. Thus did the war and his
even knew of his existence. For him the
future held fame and honor in unstinted
measure wrapped in it's impenetrable folds.
But none saw the light of his star before it
rose; none read the riddle of his romantic
destiny, soon to reveal itself in events that
were to shake the world. He himself saw
not the signs that augured his future. He
carved out his career blindly.
Grant remained at Springfield and helped
to organize the volunteer troops of the
State. After five weeks of this work, which
his military education had specially fitted
him for, Gov. Yates offered him the TWen-
ty-first regiment of Illinois infantry. Be-
fore receiving his commission as colonel he
went to Cincinnati to see Maj. Gen. Nc
Clelian, then in command of Ohio volun-
teers. He had known Mcclellan in the old
army, and hoped he might offer him a place
on his staff. Twice he went to headquarters
without finding Mcclellan, and then re-
turned to Illinois without having mention
ed his errand to any one. He took COM
mand of his regiment early in June and
marched to Missouri. Reporting to Brig
Gen. Pope, he was stationed at Mexico,
about so miles north of the Missouri river.
The President commissioned him brigadler
general of volunteers in August, promo
tion he first heard of through the news
papers. At this time Mai. Gen. Fremont
was in command of the States and Terrific
ries known as the Western Department.
He transferred Grant to Ironton, then to
Jefferson City and to the command of the
district of Southeast Missouri, with head
quarters at Cairo.
Grants first military achievement was
the seizure of Paducah, Ky, which COM
manded the navigation of both the Tennes--
see and the Ohio. In this movement
which was accomplished in the night of
September 9TH, 1861, he saved the control
of the Ohio river, and caused the kentucky
Legislature to abandon the position of neu-
trality and pass resolutions favorable to
the Union.
For two months afterwards he held the
country at the junction of the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi and disciplined his forces, which by
November numbered nearly 10000 men.
lowed to make no movement Of Importance.
The next engagements in which he was
conspicuous were successively Belmont and
Fort DonelsOn. Belmont was fought on the
7th of November, 1861, and in January, 1862,
he moved on Fort Donelson. On the morn
ing of the 18th the siege was begun and on
the next day the Confederates, under Gen.
Buckner, surrendered. While this is re-
garded as the first great event of Grants
military life, it is also admitted to be the
first substantial victory won by Federal
arms. At this time Grant was district
commander under General Halleck, whose
headquarters were at St. Louis: From some
cause Grant fell under the displeasure OF
Halleck, and after the capitulation of Fort
Donelson, Halleck wrote to the war depart
ment at Washington ascribing the success
of that movement to Grants subaltern, Gen.
c.. +. Smith, and recommending Smith for
promotion to the rank of Major General.
Halleck also removed Grant from his COM
mand, placing in his stead Gen. Smith.
Halleck's recommendations were disre-
garded at Washington, however; Grant was
recognized as the hero of DOnelson and after
remaining from his command for two
months, again on the 18th of March assum-
ed command with the rank of Major Gener-
al. A few days later he removed his head
quarters to Savannah, his army consisting
of five divisions.
The celebrated battle of Shiloh was the
next in which he engaged, as commander
of the Union forces. This battle was fought
on the 9Th and 7th of April, 1862, and with
it's results Grant became convinced that the
war would be prolonged and he developed
his views as to the conduct oft. He thought
armies and not strongholds should be sub
dued or destroyed and urged upon the ad-
ministration the policy of a vigorous cam
paign. In this, as in all of Grants recon-
mendations, the authorities at Washington
coincided and with abundance of material,
war transports and men, he commenced his
march on Vicksburg. The stormlng OF this
stronghold was begun on the 10Th of May,
1863, and continued until July 3rd, when
w
defensive operations, the garrison capitulat-
ed to overwhelming numbers. On the 4th OF
July the garrison OF Vicksburg marched out
of the lines they had SO long and bravely
defended and stacked their arms IN front OF
their cOnquerors, and the surrender put into
Grants hands the largest capture of men
and materials made in the war.
In October following, Grant received an
order for new command, the military dl-
vision of the Mississippi, including all the
territory between the Alleghanies and the
Mississippi river, excepting what was occu'
pied by Banks in Louisiana. The three de-
land and the Ohio, were all Grants.
After the memorable campaign OF Chlca-
mauga came the battles Of Chattanooga,
Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain.
On the 23rd of November, 1868, the Confed-
crate pckets on Missionary Ridge looked
down on the plain and saw moving army,
with it's bayonets gancing in the sun. This
was Gen. Thomas battalions. So exact
were their movements that the pickets mis-
took it for parade till the skirmlshers
sent a rain of bullets on the Confederate
lines, and the heavy guns began to wake
the echoes. The cannon on Missionary
Ridge and the artillery of Fort Wood shook
the earth until nghtfall, and then the two
e1o
day the battle of Lookout Mountain 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 on one end of Missionary Ridge. On the
morning of the 25th Grants main line occu-
pied Orchard Knoll, which he had gained
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 Confederates' fire un-
til they gained possession. The Federals
regarded Chattanooga as the grandest battle
fought west of the Alleghanies. 1t covered
thirteen miles, and was fought by 10000
men under Grant, while the Confederate
forces all told numbered but $4,000.
On the Goth of February, 1864 a bill pass
ed both houses of the United States Con-
gress revivng the grade of Lieutenant Gen
eral in the armies of the United States, with
the idea of comforting this rank upon Grant,
thus giving him command of all the mill,
tary forces of the country, and on the 2nd
of March the Senate confirmed the appoint
ment He was ordered to Washington, and
received his commission directly from the
hands of President Lincoln, who had never