The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-22

We come to the Spring of 1864 The Army OF
the Potomac. under Gen. Meade, was encaGlped
along the Rapidan; the Army of the West, at
Chattanooga. The Mississippi was open once
more for the passage OF steamboats, IRON 81
Louis TO New Orleans. Both sides were pre-
paring for the final struggle. From the be-
ginning of the war the operations of the armies
had been directed from Washington chiefly by
Gen. Hallecll. The time had come for change.
Out of ali the Generals one had achieved sue
cess far beyond others-Gen. Grant, who had
never lost a battle. President Lincoln had
never seen him. but he believed in him
LIEUTENANT-GENE
On March 90 Congress made him Lieutenant,
General, grade higher than Major General
which would give him command of all the
armies Gen. Grant was in Nashville, 1enn
when a dispatch reached him calling him to
Washington To comprehend how great man
he was let us see him on his way TO Washing
ton. People riding with him III the cars little
know what he is thinking of-that he is laying
out plan for the consolidation OF the armies
for a final movement which shall crush the
rebellion We did not know it then, but we
now know what thoughts were coursing through
his brain. He sees that the country Is DIVIDED
into - military departments. The department
commanders are independent OF each other
receiving their orders from Washington. he
sees that the army movements East ana v est
nave nOt DSCH SIN bi41'l ttAS. I'M
a team in which the horses Go not pull together.
Hewill have them move at the same time. The
Union troops are scattered everywhere. Ire
theory of Gen. Halleck and the War Depart
ment has been that if section Of the rebel
States is once conquered ii must be held. Gen:
Grant sees that the best way to hold conquered
territory is to crush the rebel army. More than
this, he sees that the idea in Washington ana
throughout the country has been that the
Army OF the Potomac must capture Richmond
When the war began the Cry was On TO
Richmond" Gen. Mcclellan moved down the
Potomac and up the Peninsula from Yorktown
TO capture Richmond. HIS operations before
the city were the Siege of Richmond" But
Richmond, in the eyes Of Gen. Grant, is Of little
account. He proposes to strike the rebel armies
East and West When they are crushed there
viii be no need of moving 10 Richmond.
GEN. GRANTS ACTIVITY.
On March 9 Gen. Grant reaches Washington
and receives his commission from President
Lincoln.
"Yru viii have entire control of the armies"
said the President
1t was trust which had been conferred upon
no other commander.
He assured Gen. Grant that everything pos
sible should be done TO add 10 the efficiency of
the armies. The Secretary Of War, Mr. Stan
ton, said the same.
81 do not wish TO know your plans" said
Mr.. Lincoln, who believed that the man who
had won Donclson, rolled back the rebels at
Shiloh, captured Vicksburg and won the great
victory at Chattanooga would make wise plans
for the future.
On March 10 Gen. Grant is at Brandy Sta
tion, so miles from Washington, looking for
the first time into the faces Of the soldiers of
the Army of the Potomac. He has seen what
the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps Of that grand
army could do sweeping up the sides of Look
out Mountain. He has the same confidence in
the men Of the East that he has in the men of
the West.
Rain is falling, the mud is deep; but Gen.
Meade is at the station to receive his old friend,
whom he last met ON the battlefields OF Mexico
when they were Lieutenants.
The ru,uor is abroad that Gen. Meade is to
be Removed: that Grant intends to appoint
more acEiye commander.
Gen. Meade is true patriot. He took COM
mand OF the army at Frederick three days
before Gettysburg. Under him the army fought
the great decisive battle of the war, evermore a
turning point in history. He has rendered eff
cient service. True. he did not strike blow
which he might have given after that battle,
but he has built up the army.
He has foiled Lee in a movement upon
Washington. He withdrew the troops from
Mine Run, south of the Rapidan, when he saw
that il would result in disaster. He is wise
and prudent. More than this, he is loyal.
" The emergency OF the country is superior
TO all other considerations; remove NE at once,
without any delicacy, if it suits your plans"
are the words OF Meade.
I" L see no reason for displacing you" is the
quiet reply.
Alone the two commanders talk about the
army, the country, roads, rivers, Lees force,
the situation of the two armies.
IL the morning Gen. Grant is on his way 10
Washington. President Lincoln has arranged
dinner III his honor, but Gen. Grant cannot
stay 10 cat He has no time for the reception
of honor. He is thinking out a great plan.
Were he 10 stop to sit an hour or two at the
Presidential table, to listen 10 the stories that
would b. told, he wonld lose so much time, and
it might break into his line Of thought He
sends his respects to President Lincoln. steps
into the cars, and is whirling westward over
the Alleg2nies.
GRANT AND SHERMAN.
While he is flying on the express train the
lightning is bearing q dispatch TO Gen Sher-
man At Memphis" Meet me 1T Nashville"
A man 70 be a great military commander
FAUST understand men. The country did not
know mach about Gen. Sherman He had
commanded brigade IL the first Bull Run,
but won 30 particular distinction. Because he
had seen the need for an army of 100000 men
IA Kentucky at the beginning Of tine var the
idea w:ls abroad that he was crazy. 1t was said
that he was surprised at Shiloh; that he failed
at Ckicllasaw Bluffs. He had done efficient
service under Grant at jackson, Vieksburg and
Chattanooga. Gen. Grant saw that he
was the man who could be trusted to
command III the West. Gen Halleck doubted
if Sherman was the right man; but President
Lincoln desired that Grant should have his
own way, and the order which assigned him
20 command ali the armies made Sherman
Commander Of the Military Division of the
Mississippi
On March Il Sherman arrived at Nashville
Sherman wanted Grant TO remain in the West
and direct affairs.
"Ycu are at home here; the soldiers know
you; you are acquainted with the ground and
with your officers"
Gen. Ggaut saw diferently-that the army
under Lee was the strongest Of the Confederate
armies; that Lee was the ablest Confcd-