Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-12

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we already discover the dawning of rare
sodierly qualities; from the time he
raised the stars and stripes over his first
conquered field of the Rebellion, valoy
and heroic skill mark the young Brigadier
for distinction. His glory ripened fast as
with his new troops he cut his way along
the Kentucky and Tennessee rivers,
climbing rife pits. scaling ramparts of
Forts Henry and Donaldson, moving i'm
mediately upon the enemy, with uncon-
ditional surrender as the watchword, the
first commander Of the army secured bis
| fame as he became the conquer at Cor
rinth, at the unparalleled siege of Vicks~
burg, where that awful underground ex-
plosion gave signal for that unfinching
assault at the head of which he spoke
the words: Il mean to stay here until
take this city if it takes thirty years."
On our national independence day,
1868, the white flag rose along the rebel
liEes, and the fall of Vicksburg that day
lifted the hero of the siege far toward his
place among the worlds greatest soldiers.
This unheard of military skill threw
open the Mississippi from Cairo to the
Gulf, and the victorious chief passed on
to New Orleans at his will.
But while triumph came to bis army,
his comrades in arms fought the sad field
of Chickamauga; repulsed, they lie in
their entertainments at Chattanooga
besieged by rebel force of eighty thous.
and men. General Grant sent these
words to General Thomas: Hold
Chattanooga at all hazards; l will be
there as soon as possible" General
Thomas replied: 81 will hold the town
until we starve." Four days after this
Grant rode into Chattanooga, drenched
and chilled by the long, rainy ride; the
storm of nature seemed in sympathy
with the gloom of the army; but the
heroic conduct of that one iindomitable
man inspired the entire army. Soon the
Richmond Enquirer said: The enemy
were out-fought at Chickamauga, but it
looks as though we had been out-gener-
aled at Chattanooga" 1t was the general
that did it, and that personal energy and
military skill has never been surpassed.
Helped on by General Sherman, the
Marshal Ney Of our army, and fighting
Joe Hooker, there followed Missionary
Ridge and Lookout Mountains that day
the matchless endurance Of the great
soldier gave his presence along the line
for many miles. 1t was an all-day of
blood, anguish aud death, but that day
pierced the heart of the rebellion, liber-
ated Kentucky and Tennessee, threw
open the gate for triumphant sweep Of
the army to Atlanta and the sea-
Congress passed vote of thanks, and a
memorial medal is struck in honor of the
triumphant chief, who now on horse
back visits, midst the storms and SHOWS
of winter, the out posts of his army at
Knoxville, Louisville, Lexington and ST.
| Louis, where he is received with great
enthusiasm; although not oblivious to
public admiration, keenly approaching
tie honor expressed by the throhgs
greeting him, yet he would not for a
moment permit himself to be drawn
aside from his straightforward duty of
the hour as an active soldier with an
enemy to conquer, showing that he who
had the courage to win glory, had also the
manliness to properly receive honors.
On the 4th of February, 1865, Con-
gress revived the grade of Lieutenant
General and conferred this rank on Gen.
| Grant, who on the 9th of March by
few chosen words from President Lincoln
received bis high commission with the
words: Il accept this commission. With
fought on so many fields it will be my
earnest desire not to disappoint your ex.
pectations. feel the full weight OF the
responsibility now upon me. | know
that if it is properly met, it will be due
10 these armies, and above all to the
favor of that Providence which leads both
nations and men
With this commission he turned frem
| Washington toward the great scene of
battle, the Wilderness, Petersburg and
the final surrender of the Confederate
army. His energies now armed anew,
he plans the termination iof the war; the
| whole continent trembles beneath the
tread of the mighty armies turned toward
| the central scene of an almost extermin-
ating struggle, through the Wilderness,
crossing the rivers in daily battles and
nightly marches, the most stupendous
campaign in the annals Of war was car
ried forward.
The rolling sun in the heavens by day,
the moaning winds in the Wilderness by
night marks the majestic movement OF
fighting columns, and the sad requiem of
dying thousands, while three hundred
thousand men like dashing waves beat
upon each other regardless of the night,
or the holy Sabbath day, and yet the un-
conquerable chieftain, with each recur-
ring day, standing amidst his slain, be-
loved dead, firmly anew commands the
deadly charge. until at last from the
mourning homes of nation and from an
appalled, world came the CRY "Is thers no
mercy? Can not this slaughter OF hero
ic men, turned by thousands into the
most fatal gulf OF destruction known in
history. Cannot this rearing dowa of
valiant lives by the most deadly imple-
| ments of war. Cannot this harvest oil I'm.
counted dead cease?" No one more moved
than he, who, with you surviving COM
rades, shared the chances of the slain,
none more keenly touched than he, and
none more in sorrow, but to him
the sun of Austerlitz revealed the day of
peace, he knew that the sacrifice must
come and would better be made at once,
and years of immediate and future peace
could have ample time to heal the wounds
IL