The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-24


the wall that shuts in his garden. Such an opin- |
ion, however, will not go far among men who I
have seen in their entirety the mighty walls and I
the overshadowing sphere.
General Grant was essentially great in all his
attributes. Possessed of untllnchlng courage,
an indomitable WILL tempered and held IN cherk
by the supremest sense of duty, he was per
fectly self poised at every moment or his event
full life. Never, in all tne career that would |
have unsettled a smaller mind did he give evl-
dence of any other ambition than to do that TOR |
which no was chosen. Like the Duke Of Well
ington, who was servant of the crown, Grant
was servant of the people There does not ap-
pear to have been a moment in his life when ne
would not have cheerfully given way to another,
had the government demanded 1t. This was
apparent when he was causelessly put uhoer
arrest at PittSburg Landing, and subsequently
when he expressed himself ready at any time TO
give way in event better man could be found.
On the other hand, he never evinced the least
lack of confidence in himself, and never hestl
tated to undertake any enterprise, however,
perilous or stupendous Within the short space
of three years he rose from colonel or regl
ment to become acknowledgement of all the
forces in the field, distinction enjoyed by but
two other men in the history of the Nation, and
never with such vast numbers of men under
their command.
How we'll General Grant discharged his duties
is q matter OF history, in which it is recorded
that he never lost battle. He met temporary
IcVciSeS dG NIChSuUEEi dJ 0iItOtl, StlAL III LHC
Wilderness, but they only deferred the newt
able: his resis:less and persistent energy trl
umphed IN every campaign. Nicksburg q natu-
raj fortress, capable of defense by battalion
against an army was strengthened by every art
known to military science. 1t is said that fifty
six miles of earthworlls surrounded the place
But over these successive fortreSseS Grant slow
lily but surely pushed his men. Each night
found him in possession of all he mad wcn-each
morning little nearer the heart of the citadel of
the Mississippi. If Grant has grown familiar in
our eyes during the prosy days Of peace, what
was lie and what his stature on that ever mem
orabe 4th of July, 1863! Whose affection
was in every heart, whose praise ca.
ready great because of the victories at
Fort Henry, at Fort Donelson, at Corinth and
at Memphis, stepped into endless fame at Nlcks-
burg. Had he stopped there and achieved no
more than he had upto that time, he would have
gone into history as one of the greatest COM
manderS Of the age But all these victories were
but the threshold OF his career. From Vicks-
burg to Chattanooga, and from there to the
ful responsibility of the supreme command OF
the federal forces That lie did not falter, and,
more significant still. that he did not feel pufed
up but went forward with that same calm conf
dence that has ever marked his actions, were of
itself proof conclusive OF his greatness. Where
Grant was there was confidence. The army felt
enthused, not by his dash and brilliancy. for of
these he made no pretense and the Nation was
assured that he, If any man, could cut the Cor
dian knot Of civil war And so 1t was that the
friends of union and liberty set their hearts on
this man Of all men to deliver the country from
its peril, the people from the terrible stress and
disasters of war.
Tie supreme moment of General Grants mil
itary life was reached when, on the midnight Of
May 3, 1864. ne crossed the Rapidan and en-
tered the Wilderness with the expressed In
tention of forcing a fight with Gen. Robert f.
Lee q commander who up to that time, had
withstood the onslaught Of every general
: brought AGAINST him. Those old enough to re-
mem Der the events of the var will recall the
terrible suspense that held the country while
! the issue Of this daring movement was yet IN
settled. The greatest Of rebel leaders WAS man
worthy Of the honors put upon him, and rushed
his legions into the intricate and well-n!Gh i'm
passable Businesses Of that region. And then
the eight-days battle began, the slaughter of
which was appalling Lee had the advantage Of
greater familiarity with the ground and the ad-
ditiOnai advantage of entertainments at various
points. But the determined man sent against
I him this time was OF different metal from any
he had encountered. With a disregard for mill
tary etiquette born of confidence in himself,
Grant declined to wit draw for the purpose OF
repairing the losses he had suffered and TO re
cruit his shattered regiments. Forming them
anew, he issued stirring address of congratula-
ton to his troops. and sent word to Washington
that he proposed fchtinc it OUT on that line. In
any other man this might have appeared boast
full, but General Grants bluntne8s and contempt
for Ostert atlOn were too well known to all to al
! low MIN to suffer under the suspicion Of being
braggart The difference between Grants ut
terance and that Of Il boaster is the difference
between success and failure.
After the Wilderness came the slow work Of
reducing fortified cities, and series of desperate
fights took place at Petersburg While desu!tory
fighting occurred throughout Virginia between
federal and confederate forces. All this time
the original plan of Grant was being carried out,
with that same relentless method pursued at
Nicksburg, and with the same fate IN store for
Richmond unless abandoned, as it afterwards
was when Petersburg fell. OF the rest of Grants
field services little need be said for while it en-
braced the surrender of Lee and Of the last rebel
army i'll the field, and The stamping out Of the
rebellion these were but details OF the campaign
mapped out year previous and before the
Rapldan was crossed
Looking back over the military achievements
of him who now lies dead in the lap of the Ma
ton, what must be said OF him but that he was
! the peer Of the worlds greatest warriors; the
peer, but not the same. Grant was no warrior,
though ne fought a hundred battles; he was no
couqueror, though he triumphed over some Of
the finest armies and brayest soldiers ever
known. Grant was essentially a patient, patri-
otto se!fsacriticing soldier, intent doing his
whole duty and doing it we'll. He fought with
each of the grand armies. and never lost battle
Over 100 000 prisoners laid down their arms to
! him, and 100, coo moro fed to escape like fate
when the rebellion collapsed before him. All
tins within the space OF four years from the day
he was an obscure colonel Of q regiment of raw
volunteers, and while he restricted for the
greater part of that time to a subordinate posi-
ton AS we have said Grant was not a con
Queror. He will go into history simply as a
soldier whose ambition was satisfied when he
had done the work his country gave him to do
From the fed Of battle he went directly to
Washington. with the intention Of binding up
the wounds Of war as speedily as possible. The
armies in the field must be mustered out at once
to save the enormous expense and to send the
men back 10 the fields Of peace, there to help
build up the Nations shattered fortunes AS in
war, in peace, Grant was most active Of all in
promoting the interests Of the people, and did as
much any toward restoring the prosperous
ways Of peace.
His nomination for the presidency in 1865 was
a foregone conclusion. He was eminently the
man for the place. His triumphant election was
hnt the Ciuiicatinn Of his craat claims In 1872