The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-06
FOUR GREAT GENERALS.
why sherman and sheridan A cknowieds I'd
Grants Leadership McPherseB's Abiit-
Montreal Gazette

lies.
Montreal Gazette
Tbs four greatest Generals prod need by
the great civil var in the United States On
the National side were Grant McPaers9n,
Shern an and Sheridan. Another name
snou be added - this list. Thorn ss-Oid
Pap Th0mas-is entitled by bis genius and
success to rank perhaps next to Grant az the
greatest General produced on the Union side
de WAS a Nirginian by birth and the fall
equal Of Lee IL military ability 0ae of
the most pleasant memories Of American his
tory is, aud forever will be the fact that Do.
tween these four great commanders there
was never the shadow OF jealousy or envy, II
is the highest honor that Grant ever received
from mems judgment of admiration that
these three able captains ali willingly and
always looked up 10 him as their superior.
MCPHERSON fell in battle before the splsn-
dor Of his abilities could attract the worlds
attention, but in his death Grant as he
declared. lost one OF the greatest-per-
hsps the very greatsst-of his lieutenants.
Sheridan, as is right or his Irish blood had
the fsrcest spirit in battle; Sherman the
greatest invention ia council; while McPher.
son could fight with the one and plan with
the other; but they all admitted, because
they knew and felt, that 1.-THE silently gray
eyed man" was greater than they. why"
/ asked General Sherman 0nce, did you and
Sheridan always acknowledge Grant to be
your leader! Because, ne responded IN
his quick, idomatie manner while could
map out q dozan plans for a campaign, every
one of which Sh Grid n would swear be could
fight out to victory, neither he nor could
tell which of the plans was the best
one; but Grant, who simply sat and listened,
and smoked while we had been talking over
the mape. would at the end of our talking
tell rs which was the best plan, and in
dozen or two words the reason of his de-
cision, and then il would be all so clear to
rs that he was right that Sheridan and |
would look at each other aud wonder why
we hadn't seen the advantage of it ourselves.
/ tell yOu." he continued, after q moments
pause, Grant is not appreciated yet. The
military critics OF Europe are too ignorant
of American geography 10 appreciate the
conditions OF his campaigns. What is it to
march an army from Berlin to PARISH Look
at the shor.ness Of the distance. Look st
the multitude OF roads. Look at the facili-
ties OF transportation Consider how many
times the tame ground has been fought over
by successive commanders. Is not every
point of vantage known What commander
csn bluder where al the conditions lie oDsn
campaigns for 100000 troops along
front line , 500 miles in length,
and send them marching to their OBJ.
jective points, through sections W here the
surveyors chain was never drawn, and
where the commissariat necess. lies alone
would have broken down anyt sOortation
system of Europe; and three nths later l
have seen those armies stand, g vhers he
said they should bs and what hs planned &C.
complisbsd; and I give ii as my military
opinion that General Grant is the greatest
commander of modern times. and with aim
only three others can stand-NapOieon,
Wellington and Moltke."