National Republican., 1885-10-03

ing, all under the immediate command Of
Grant, was striking Lees veteran army OF
northern Virginia wherever found. The
bloody battles OF the Wilderness, Spottsyl-
vania Court House, the siege Of Petersburg,
the ilanking marches and movements, as
well as battles In the advance from the
| Rapidan upon Richmond, all evidence the
Valor OF the Union troops, and the skill
| with which they were handled, as well as
/ that remarkable tenacity Of purpose,
which as much as any ether one
quality enabled Grant to earn the proud
| title Of "savior of his country" Through
that spring, summer, and winter the two
great armies advanced their lines and fought
their way In the direction Of the ultimate
point to be attained. On the I'd Of April,
| 1865, Petersburg fell. Richmond was at
once evacuated by Lee, who attempted to
move down In the direction Of and form
junction with Johnston's forces now In the
| front Of Sherman In North Carolina. But
the constant pounding that Grants army
was giving Lee, with vigorous pursuit, re-
| suited, April q, In Lees surrender. John
| ston's surrender soon followed, being only
a little more than the year predicted by
Grant for the destruction Of the two great
| armies of the rebellion. Thus the great
rebellion collapsed and ended. From the
| battle ut Belmont on the 7th Of November,
| 1861, up to the surrender Of Lee Mt Apo
mattoX, Grant was the great central figure,
| the all-compelling genius of the great
armies Of the republic.
His name was on the lips OF all the
civilized world as the great military com
mander Of the age. Filled with renown,
and covered with glory In the midst Of his
own people, and now receiving the new
grade OF general Of the army, never held
by any other person before him In this
| country, and which was created by law es-
| IN fhaGa
high honors, In his heart he hoped that he
. pight be permitted to enjoy in the future
> p comparative quiet which he had surely
n9ed. But IL was not to be. After the
!. | foHy and almost treason of Andrew
4 nowpn against those who placed him In
4 rountpnd against the best interests Of our
= mare ,y the people desired to secure a
a # fail thy successor of Abraham Lincoln.
4 the nati% lot to present Grants name to
4 was nroci, Republican convention. He
a 81 iha Ned the unanimous choice
4 sought not iIty. This honor he
Il necessities Of tRas thrust upon him by the
~ ~ bis fIrst term imes. AT the expiration
\ he our civic CHIEF, vas again called upon TO
}. that exists among l but for tradition
e written law permaneIpeopie' anu an un-
d of our people, believe nNeu IN tne minds
h chosen for third & would have been
II tbrongh Eurone and AsiA He travelled
d showered upon him by folSlch giits were
m municipalities. The heads u rulers anu
in great men Of the nations rulers anu
le | were bowed In his presence. Stthe eartn
is he impress the older nations ofueh Ila
If his greatness and justness thara Win
1t selected to settle international disp was
h. tween them as friendly arbitrator ne ne
Of return to his own country was made Ills
IN orable and historic by the ovations he'-
1t ceyed wherever his foot touched the SO
I'd From Belmont to the siege OF Vicksbul
In | | was near him In nearly all his marche
th campaigns, and battles, and was pc
ed mltted by him TO take possession OF WICK
C. burg with my command, on account OF
lg having approached nearer the enemy thu
Is any other. During my term as command
he of that city was with him almost eve
b. day, and from the time when, at the he
IS, of that glorious old army of the Tennesst
he of which he was the first commander and
ed its last marched by his reviewing stand
at the national capital, aud down to the Ii
elk painful days Of his memorable life,
Sig with him very often. During all this VIII
nd | was close observer OF him. Grant
,nt usually known and recognized as qu
nd and silent man, but, when engae
Ids IN conversation on any subject
ic- which he felt an interest, there were
nv few who excelled him as a conversational
,ed He wrote tersely and we'll, and AT tin
be- most eloQuently. The nation was at
to ferent times thrilled by his terse epigra
matte sentences. When he wrote to Bu
md ner, the commander at Fort Donelson, -
Ugh terms other than an unconditional and
Ugh mediate surrender can be accepted, I
ON pose to move Immediately upon y
ate works." his words burned with the glow
aud patriotic fire In the heart OF every lo
,ur- freeman.
asst, When he had fought the battle OF
by Wilderness, and wrote 10 the President
rat propose to ilghtit out on this line II 1t Ia