Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-01-29
FOR THE OLD COMMANDER.
Stirring Letter from Gen. Brisbin on Gen.
Grant-His Wonderful History and
His Present Sad Condition.

General Brisbin to the st. Louis Globe
Democrat on General Grant:
Boise BARRACKS, /. T.-The year Just
closed has been a sad year 10 many an old
soldier, and To none more sad than Ia our
old commander Gen. Grant. Aged
broken in health and spirits. with the
sheriff at his door. what sidder picture
could he presented than that OF this old
man writing lik. a common penny -a-liner
for his daily bread Twice President OF
the United States, for many years at the
head of th. arruies of the greatest nation
on earth, the first soldier of his age, work
ing while sick To get food for himself and
his family. Ii the nation Is not ashamed
of itself, the men who saved il from utter
ruin are ashamed of it,
Praise others a. we NAV, honor them as
we may, still Gen. Grant stands before the
world to-day the first soldier OF his coun
4 try-unique. remarkable, peculiar-the
study of all nations. In him we behold a
man silent, modest, unambitious: by his
\ great talents IN times of public danger
\ heaping beneiactions on his country until
+ his countrymen-proud, grateiul-unani
mously create an office that il may he
/ worthy OF the man. What an example
/ for the youth OF the nation! lie, the son
of farmer without friends, influence or
wealth, rising, not suddenly, but step by
step, in spite of the .jealousies of lesser
men, to the head of the armies, and then
the head of the nation, where. unspoiled
by honors, strong and self-poised, he ex-
hibits new talents, and maintains himself
for eight years, TO the great credit of his
fellow citizens, himself and the nation
How much have we forgotten? Before
Grant was 43 years old he had engaged in
two wars, captured 800 cannon, more than
10000 prisoners, quarter OF a million of
small arms, redeemed over 10000 square
miles of territory from hostile rule. re-
opened the Mississippi river to the com
merce of the world and freed - cities. Be-
fore he was 30 he had crushed the rebel
lion in the East, re-established the author
ity of the Union over a territory larger
than France, taken 300 battle-flags, scores
of cannon, thousands upon thousands of
prisoners and hundreds of thousands of
small arms At the close of the war he
might have been anything he pleased but
he modestly returned to the capital of the
nation, disband his army and lays his
sword at the feet of Congress to become a
priva.. citizen. The history Of tie whole
world furnishes but one other example of
such humility and greatness, and he, too,
was an American-George Washington.
Whether we consider Grants tribula
tions at Shiloh his tolls AT Vieksburg, his
battles in the Wilderness, his siege at
Petersburg, his capture of Lees army, his
conduct in the difficult position which the
President forced upon him, or his meas
ures during the impeachment trial, still we
see him a great. great man. / remember
seeing bim when the President was burst
ing with rage, when the War Minister was
hedged about with baySnets, when the
country was trembling from centre to cir
conference with excitemen., when the
Executive and the Congress each seemed
about to call out under erms their respec-
tive partisans and once anore plunge the
people into civil war, and amidst all
that terrific excitement the people looked
only with hope and confidence to General
Grant Unmoved by the tempest of pas
sion raging around him and spreading over
the land, conscious of bis own strength
and ability to control the storm and quiet
the elements, b. sat with his cigar in his
mouth quietly aud serenely in his head
quarters, now receiving anxious in
quiries from the Presidents friends and
anon receiving delegation of grave but
excited Senators, assuring all, nay convinc-
ing all, that the republic was safe
Some people have assumed To say that
Grant was merely fortunate man. that
at but few times in his life has he exhibited
marked abilities, but this is not true. If
ii were true why did not some one of our
hundred Generals capture Vicksburg?
Why did not some one of the dozen COM
manders of the Army of the Potomac drive /
Lee out of Richmond? Why did not some
other man of the hundred great men at |
the capital during the impeachment trial /
calm the storms of human passion and give /
confidence and stability to the country? |
No, Grant was great man, really "a very
great man, and saved his country, what |
Washington established-Grant with his /
mighty sword preserved to US and our chill I
dren-and when he is dead the names of /
Washington and Grant will stand side by /
side in marble and brass and fill every
niche of our country's fame to the latest /
posterity. The world will know us better |
the names of these two men than /
all the men who have lived before them or
shall likely follow after them.
And this man, the second name in all /
the history of his country-he who stands
next to the father who founded it's left
to die in neglect, broken-hearted, earning
his bread by the sweat OF his brow, even
while he is sick. Can this he possible in
Lonely to-day in the midst of
thousands; poor in the midst of untold
wealth sad while ali round him is mirth
and gayety. the greatest man of his day is
silently passing away in poverty and sor-
row to that grave from which no human
power can recall him. The nation has for
gotten him for time: the law-givers are
deaf to his claims and Indifferent to his
sufferings; the people, in the strength and
pleasure Of their latter years, have forgot
ten their weakness and s0rrows in former
times. They are busy with their own en-
oyments and have no time to remember
poor Gen. Grant
One Of these mornings We will hear he
IS dead. Then the nation will wake up
and sound his praise and build monuments
10 his name, hut the disgrace to us will be
III the same. Poise as we may before the
world boast Of our freedom and wealth
Is we may, the world will say: You
neglected and starved Gen. Grant shame,
shame upon you"
But whoever may forget the old hero of
Appomattox Court House. the men who
ought under him will never forget him,
and although they may not be able to re-
ieve his distress, on this New Years Day
blessings from the hearts Of his old sol
iiers throughout the length and breadth
If the land are waited to him in his sad
New York home
JAMES .. BRIsBIN.