The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-12
Grants Opinions on Leading Generals.

General Grants opinions of the lead
ing generals in our war were reported
by John Russell Young, at length, and
submitted to the general for his revi-
sion and approval before they were pub
lished. We give several extracts
SToNEwALL JACKSON was a cou-
rageous, energetic, deeply religious man,
and fine soldier, but it is questionable
whether his great reputation is justified
by his campaigns in Virginia. He had
very commonplace men to deal with.
If he had met Sheridan, and had tried
on him, or on any of our great gener-
ais, the tactics which he attempted sue
cessfully on inferior captains, he would
have been beaten and destroyed.
GENERAL MCCLELLAN was a man of
unusual accomplishments. All my i'm
pressions as to his military skill are in
his favor His critics have never duly
considered the vast and cruel response
bility laid upon him, with everything
new and untried, with a restless people
and congress. If Mcclellan had gone
into the war as Sherman, Thomas,
Meade and others did, and fought his
way along and up, there is no reason
to doubt that he would have won as
high distinction as any of us. / should
say that the two disadvantages under
which he labored were his receiving a
high command before he was ready for
it, and the political sympathies which
he allowed himself to champion. When
the war broke out / was engaged in
business at Galena. / volunteered,
and, after while, obtained a leave of
absence and went to see Mcclellan,
then in command at Cincinnati. His
appointment as major-general delighted
me. | had all confidence in him, nor
has my confidence in his ability and
loyalty been weakened. | believed he
was the man to carry us through.
wanted to be ON his staff. l called
twice at his headquarters, but did not
find him at either time, and so i went
away.
ALBERT SYDNEY JOHNSON was uni
versally regarded as the coming man of
the confederacy. | shared that opinion.
When people wonder why the Southern
army was not more effectually defeated
at Shiloh, they forget that it was com
manded by a general as great as Sydney
Johnson. | do not think that his death
affected the result The battle was
against him when he was wounded
The courage and endurance of our
soldiers won that battle. The Northern
armies had staying power. | found
that the first day, or first period of q
battle, was most successful to the South
and that if we held on, we were sure tc
beat them.
GENERAL JOE JOHNSTON was 6
great soldier. | have had nearly al
the Southern generals in high command
before me, and Joe Johnston gave mt
more anxiety than any of the others.
was never half so anxious about Lee
Take it all in all, the South, in my
opinion, had no better soldier thar
Joe Johnston.
GENERAL FREMONT had as mucl
state as a sovereign, and was as Difficult
to approach. His headquarters alone
required as much transportation as {
division of troops. | was under hi
command for while, and remembe
how imposing was his manner of dom!
business. He sat in room, in full uni
form, with his maps before him. Whel
you went in, he would point out on
line or another in mysterious manner
You left without the least idea of wha
he meant, or what he wanted you to dc
GENERAL HALLECK had the sam
fondness for mystery, but was an abb
military man. His immense knowledg