The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-06-10
GRANTS SECOND VOLUME.

| GRANTS SECOND VOLUME.
some Extracts Showing Opinions of Men
and Events.
ON GENERAL LEN.
General Lee, who had led the Army
of Northern Virginia in all these con-
tests, was very highly estimated
man in the confederathe army and
states, and filled also a very high
place in the estimation of the northern
states. His praise was sounded
throughout the entire north after eve
ry action he was engaged in; the num-
Der of his forces was always lowered
and that of the National forces exag-
gerated. He vas large, austere man,
and, Judge, difficult OF approach to
his subordinates. To be extolled by
the entire press of the south after an
engagement, and by portion OF the
press north with equal vehemence,
was calculated to give him the
entire confidence of his troops and
to make him feared by his antago-
nists. 1t was not an uncommon thing
for my staff officers to hear from
Eastern officers, "Well, Grant has
never met Bobby Lee yet" There
were good and true officers who believe
now that the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia was superior to the Army OF the
Potomac man to man. do not be-
lieve so, except as the advantages
spoken of above made them so. Be-
fore the end l believe the difference was
the other way. The Army of North
ern Virginia became Respondent and
saw the end. 1t did not please them.
The National army saw the same
thing, and were encouraged by it.
ON JOHNSON S TACTICS AGAINST SHERMAN.
My own Judgment is that Johnston
acted very wisely; he husbanded his
men and saved as much of his terri
tory as he could without fighting de-
cisive battles in which all might be
lost. AS Sherman advanced, Us have
shown, his army became spread out,
until, if this had been continued, it
would have been easy to destroy it in
detail. President Davis removed
Johnston and gave the command to
! Hood. Both Sherman and were re-
joiced when we heard of the change.
Hood was unquestionably a brave,
gallant soldier, and not destitute of
ability; but unfortunately his policy
was to fight the enemy wherever he
saw him, without thinking much OF
the consequences of defeat.
OF Jefferson Davis, General Grant
says that ION several occasions dur
ing the war he came to the relief of the
Union army by superior military gen.
ius," on which he plumed himself
Grant permitting himself in thu phrase
a rare resort to italics. He thinks
Davis was wrong in removing John
ston. but in speaking of the subsequent
raiding on Sherman communications
says that "this part of Mr.. Davis
military plan was most admirable"
ON GENERAL THOMAS.
As my official letters on file in the
war department, as we'll as my re-
marks in this book, reflect upon Gen
eral Thomas by dwelling somewhat
upon his hardness, it is due to my
self, as well as to MIN, that I give my
estimate of him as soldier. The
same remark will apply also in the
case of General Candy. had been at
West point with Thomas one year,
and had known him later in the old
army. He was man of commanding
appearance, slow and deliberate in
speech and action; sensible, honest
and brave. He possessed valuable
soldierly qualities in an eminent de-
gree. He gained the confidence OF all
who served under him, and almost
their love. This implies very valua-
BILE quality which calls out the most
efficient services of the troops serving
under the commander possessing it.
Thomas's dispositions We're dellber-
ately made, and always good. He
could not be driven from n point he
was given to hold. He was not as
good, however, in pursuit as he was
in action. l do not believe that he
could ever have conducted Sherman
army from Chattanooga to Atlanta
against the defences and the command.
er guarding that line in 1864. On the
other hand, IL it had been given him to
hold the line which Johnston tried to
hold, neither that General nor Sher-
man, nor any other officer, could have
done it better.
Thomas was valuable officer, who
richly deserved, as he has received, the
plaudits of his countrymen for the
part he played in the great tragedy Of
1S61-'G5.
MEADE AND BURNSIDE.
"He had been an officer of the Engi
neer Corps before the war, and conse
quently had never served with troops
until he was over forty-six years o.
age. He never had, 1 believe q com
mand OF less than brigade. He saw
clearly and distinctly the posi-
ton OF the enemy and the topography
Of the country in front of his owr
position. His first idea was to take
advantage of the lay of the ground
sometimes without reference to thu
direction we wanted to move after
ward He was subordinate to his su
periors in rank to the extent That h
could execute an order which changed
his own plans with the same zeal h,
would have displayed if the plan hao
been his own. He was brave and con
scientious, and commanded the re
spect of all who knew him. He was
unfortunately OF q temper that woult
, get beyond his control at times anG
make him speak to officers of higl
; rank in the most offensive manner
No one saw this fault more plainly
than he himself, and no one regretted
! it more. This made it unpleasant Al
times, even in battle, for those around
him to approach him, even with in
iornation. In spite of this defect h
was q most valuable officer, and de
serves a high place in the annals o
his country.
!, General Burnside was an Office
, who was generally liked and respected
, He was not, however, fitted to com
mand an army. No one knew thi
better than himself He always ad
mitted his plumbers and extenuatet
those officers under him beyond wha
they were entitled to. 1t was hardl,
, his fault that he was ever assigned t.
, p separate command"
ON STANTON AND LINCOLN.