Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-11

up TO him as an older, IL not better,
soldier, Though be was at the time
senior by commission. Not one word
81 complaint came from him, only the
general expression be had been wrongly
represented TO General Halleck, and be
advised me to give to General Smith nv
most loyal support Gensral SRaiih
Conducted the expedition up the Tea
nessee river TO Savannah, EAstport and
Ptttsbur9 Landing. He gave all orders
and Instructions up 10 vishin few days
Of the battle Of shiloh, when his health,
shattered by the rnerest accident, com
PEELED him 10 relinquish the command
70 Grant, Who quickly resumed it where
Smith had left of, accepted the sitns-
ton, made but fev or no changes, and
fought on the Rroend which had been
selected by General Suith the bloody
battle Of shiloh. During this ferceiy
contested battle be displayed the cool
ness. psrsonai courage. fsrethou9ht and
deiiberatiou which afterwards made
him famous among men. Yet was he
tradnoed, slandered and wroneed. not
only by the press universally, bot by
those who were il positions Of authority
over him. We, however. who were at
the battle front stood by him truly.
loyalty and veil. to his dying day. He
loved the army of the Tennessee above
all others, by reason of their loyalty TO
him in these darkest days of his
evsntful life. Nor has the end yet
come. After this great battle three ar
mics assembled on tsat bloody field;
Bueli's, Pope's and General Grants,
and General Halleck came in person
frsm 81. Louis to command the whole,
With she declared purpose TO assume the
bold offensive. The armies were reor
Ranized; Buell's army became the oen-
Ter, Pope's the iefs. and Grants was
broken up. One part, under General
Geo. II. Thomas. was styled right"
whilst the other. under General No
Ciernand, composed the reserve"
General Grant was absolutely left out
10 the cold, with she title of second IN
command" unknown 70 American his
tory. Ali moved forth to Corinth, con-
suming the whole mouth of May, and
during that month became oemented
the personal friendship between us,
which lasted 10 the end. Not CON-
plaiut came from him, not q criticism
on the work of bis sopsriors. yet the
trembling eyelid, silent tear, and avert
ed head, told that his big heart was
troubled. He knew every officer and
soldier that had followed him with
noble courage and simple faith at
Belmont, Henry, Donelson and Shiloh,
felt for him and understood the load Of
neglect, IL not OF positive insult, be was
carrying. He knew and felt he was 10
the way OF the comm andinR General,
a. IL were a fifth wheel TO the coach,
With no real authority, no command, no
positive right to order or even advise
his former sabordinates but | am sure
he knew he was ever welcome to our
bivouAos. and that We understood and
appreciated the entire situation. Then
occurred the most questio aable strategy
of the whole war that magnificent
army, nearly a hundred thousand of the
best men on this continent. who could.
II united, have marched to Vicksburg
or Mobile. vas deliberately scattered.
General Buell, With the army of the
Cumberland, which Thomas had re-
Joined, Was sent eastward toward Chat
tanoogn, and the others were scattered.
General Grant was sent to command at
Memphis. General Halleck himself
being summoned TO Washington, cast
about for a commander for the army Of
the Tennessee. He offered the post to
q most worthy quartermaster-a man
who had the good sense TO deoline-and
himself being compelled to leave the
eommard at the West, it devolved on
Grant, not by selection, but by virtue of
his superior commission. Thence for
ward bis career was ever onward and
upward. and when on the 4th day of
July, 1868, Nicksburg surrendered TO
him, and the mighty Mississippi went
unveXed to the sea. the whole country
arose and recognized in him a General
who was destined to guide Us TO haal
victory. These circumstances we're all
known to you, and at the time were
little appreciated. but they were In
truth first designed by Providence to
test the ability and courage Of him
on whom q vhels epoch Of
history was destined to hinge.
Others have told the whole story of the
var, and still others are repeating and
celebrating il. Even he himself, al
snost ip his dying hours, was engaged
in recording his experience. and We all
await the publication with profound
interest. have seen some Of the man-
uscript, and have been told OF the rest,
bus prefer to await the whole pubiica-
ton, certain that whatever be has re
corded of his own knowledge will stand
tie test Of time, and l am sure be him
self will have recognized the truth and
will have recorded the fact that bis
campaign from Belmont TO vicksburg
vas the most valuable of his whole life.
In that brief period he discovered the
power that was 10 him, that he In fsct
impersonated the great mass OF our
best people, who aohorred war and only
reeorted TO it vhen national honor and
safety demanded it. He knew little
and cared less about strategy" and
dorbt IL be ever read Domini Grstius
or any books on the art and laws of
var. except West Point text books. So
With tactics. He never. 90 far as can
recall, expressed preference for Hardee
over Scott. Casey or Morris. still be
loved TO see order and system. and
wanted his corps. divisions. brissdes
and regiments handy and veil instruct
ed when called for. He aimed
TO achieve results, caring little
for the manner by which
they were acconplishsd. He possessed
aad always asssrted the most psrfecs
faith in the jest,ss Of cur causs. and
always elair that sooner or later Il
must succeed, because the interest Of
all mankind demanded Just such q re-
public as xe had inherited. and that as
by the conesrrence Of political causes
the oonhist had fallen on us ve had
anIy b meet 10 like brave men, and con
aasr g 3 matter Of course. he dwAys
cfAiUed that we nzost follow up and de-
feat the rebel armies, and compel them
to submit 10 the suthority Of the Ma
sional Government. He believed in
deeds. rot words; in q war OF asRressisp.
cot one OF sssneaver. and frem Bel
mens 10 ApSonsftex his strategy and
tactics we're the same, ever straight 10
the mark. till all armed resistsnce had
ceased and absolute submission 20 law
sui authority vas promised. He vas
always outspokeu in his praises OF the
Array Of the Tennesses, by reason of
iss earnestness - Henry aud Donel-
son. iss stsbeofn courage 81 Shiloh. fts
quiet submission 10 nnfriesdly authority
al Corinth, its quick response 20 bis call
ai Iuka, and is splendid qualities dis
piAysd throughout the fiekssurR can
pAieu, Or In bis own words. % rscentiy
rccorded: sfhe campaign Of vicksburg
was suggested and developed by cir
eumssances. aud il nov looks a. thoosh
Providence hsd directed its ooarse,
while the Army Of the Tennessss exs-