Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-05


had has approval. In war and in peace be
wss the wisest and safest guide this nation
has had since "the Father of His Country"
ascenSed to his reward.
For his clear and certain imagination,
the future loomed before him clothed with
the sctuality of the present. Read bis mil
itary orders, and they prophesy the history
| of the battles he fought he foresaw the
enemy's plans as though he had assisted at
their councils of war. He was one of thoee
extraordinary men who, from the suprema-
cy of their wills, force all objects to do
their bidding. By the promptitude of his
action he left no time for its contrayention.
Times, places and persons he comprehended
with mathematical accuracy. Nothing es-
capped his penetration. Such was the per-
petual calmness of his intellect that he
could traneact the most important affairs
when the storm of battle was raging highest
His soul was the home of hope, sustained
and offered BY the certsinties of his mind
and the power of his faith. His was
The Mathematical genius
of a great General, rather than of great
soldier. BY this endowment he proved him
self equal to the unexpected, and that with
the precision Of seer. THE race is not to
the swift nor the battle to the strong" be.
cause the unexpected happens to every msu
The grapdest campaigns are often defeats,
the most brilliant plans are unconsumatedr
the most wished-for opportunities are un-
realized, because baffled by the unexpected
at the very moment ef expected fal6llment.
But he appeared greatest in the presence Of
~ ina
as resistless as the march Of a Whirlwind, as
when on the second night of the battle OF
the Wilderness, when he changed the entire
front Of the line of battle and quietly said
in response to messenger, IF Lee is in my
rear, am in bis"
In the history Of great General there
come supreme moments, when long mstur-
ing plans are to be consumated and long
deferred hopes are to be realized. Some
men can work up to that point and excite
the admiration Of mankind by the care and
push whsrewith they move toward the OBJ
iectiye, but tail in the crucial moment. The
preparations of this wonderful man rarely
excited the applause Of the people, because
the workings of his mssterful mind was hid
den beneath the silence OF his lips; but
when the supreme moment came, there
came also an intellectual elevation, an up
lifting of the whole being, transformation
Of the silent, thoughtful General which sur
prised his foes and astonished his friends.
He eliminated at the crisis. He was at
his best when most needed.
He Responded in an Emergency.
He is one of the few men in history who
did more than was expected. Some men
excite great expectation by the brillisucy OF
their preparations, but this quiet, medits.
tive, undemonstrative man exceeded all ex-
pectations by doing more than he had prom
ised, and by doing what all others had failed
10 do. Others had done their best with a
conscientiousness worthy of all praise; they
had worked upto their maximum strength
and accomplished much; they had contrib
uted largely to the final victory, and shall
receive well Of their country. 1t was no
fault of theirs if nature had not endowed
them for the ultimate achievement. But
this man, pre-eminent by the happy combi-
nation OF both nature and Providence, rose
superior in the supreme moment, forced all
things to do his bidding, and, like another
Joshua, could have commanded sun and
moon to stand still to illuminate his final
path to victory. His latent resources seemed
inexhaustible. Was Fort Douelson es.
teemed impregnable? 1t yielded to his
command for an immediate and "uncondi-
tionsl surrender" Did Yicksburg defy his
sixth plan OF capture? His seventh plan
was success Did Richmond hurl defiance
at all previous attempts? His final effort
was a triumph, and over the doomed cspi.
tai of the Couiederacy triumphantly aoated
the flag of the Union.
Such were his
Untold Hidden Resources
of adaptation ever unfolding to meet the de-
nand Of new situations that he would have
proved himself equal to any position OF
trust and to any emergency that might
arise.
When he rose to supreme command, the
Nation demanded one dominant spirit,
mighty to grasp, strong to execute, power
ful TO inspire The country was one, the
Rebellion was one, and the armies OF the
Union should be one; and the General who
could mould, control inspire, an army
million strorg and make them think, feel
and fight as one mao was the desire OF the
Republic. Such one was he, around whose
bier Nation weeps to-day. To be every
where present at once by his spirit and orders
was in him realized fact. His laconic order
vas: "All strike together He impaired to
I'll his own spirit and all things became
possihlr to his faith. The Nation felt her
mighty change, aud the Rebellion went
down beneath the power of one master
mind He was the logician Of war. He con.
uuered by logic He reasoned out his VIC
tories. In all the annals of war, there is no
such splendid reasoning on the certainty Of
.ssults Others have conquered by the su'
periority of material force, but he, BY the
superiority Of mind over mind. Alas Alas!
that be Can no longer think for Us.
Greater Than n Warrior.
TODAY. you are filed with the glory Of
bis military triumphs. You are recalling
Belmont. and Henry, and Donelson, and
| Shiloh, and Vicksburg, and Chattanooga
ard Richmond. You are calling him the
greatest of soldiers; and you do well: But
| do not degrade him 10 the level OF those
famous heroes who fought for empire and
for glory: Lift him up to higher Pedes'
tai around which shall forever stand JUS
tice. and Liberty, and Peace, aud Law, and
| Order, and Civilization, and Religion, Win
chsplets in their hands wherewith to crown
him. He fought for the right; to end the
war; be conquered apesce. He hated war
| He looked upon it as ghsstly monster
whose march is 70 the music Of the widow 8
sishs and the orphans cry. He loved peace
and pursued il. BLESSED are the peace
makers, for they shall be called the children
! Of God" was his beatitude. In his London
speech in 1871, he said: Although q
soldier By education aud profession, have
never felt any sort of tondness for war, and
have never advocated it except as q means
Of peace" This was the energy OF his
| courage.
The Time COnqueror.
He would not waste life and treasure to
paiu advantage, while the means were lett
10 the enemy to regain them. He under
stood the necessity Of sacrifice to achieve a