The National tribune., 1890-02-27
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
DEFENSE OF GRANT.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Some of your
contributors. like Lord WolSeley. are not very
strong Grant ncn. have noted Camrade Bar
hours rcmal Ks, and hc consoles himself in the
thought that COnrAde Whitaker has not studied
history. will attempt 10 convince the com
rade in this short article that he has either for
gotten history or has been biased by reading
histories adapted 20 a purpose-t0 tickle the ear
Of The Conservative There are histories being
sold throughout our country so pleasing IN their
construction THAI they are acceptable to the
Southern sympathizcT. aud these are sO-cailed
Northern histories. OF course, Mcclellan has
many admirers, among them, as / understand,
Lord Nolscicy, commander Of the English
army 10 be. III Luri NolsclCy is great Gen
eral there may be time for him TO snow his
GcUCFalship. CCTtsiG3y. up 10 this time. there
has been no requirements bringing OUT his sol
dirrly qualities. There were aggressive wars
instituted bv England, Tor conquest, such rs the
Ashautee, Lulu. and tho war against Ricl.
ana his 500 halfhrced followers. of Manitoba.
These WARS were Of an incipieut character, and
did not cali forth military genius for their
suppression; hut they have made one lord
Moisciey noted 20 degree sufficient 10 elevate
him 10 The House of Lords and 10 the feast az
the public crib. la my Judgment Lord Nosc-
ley has not the military capacity 20 sit IN luGg-
meut Upoa The conduct OF our late war our
heroes Barbour quotes Gen. Lee rs saying. AZ
Lexington. Va: " lie feared Mcclellan more
than any ether commander OF the Army OF the
Potomac
Gen. Lee WAS too much Of military man 20
make use Of such language or 10 indulge
IN a criticism OF that kind. His acquaintance
with Grants achievements in the West, at Forts
Henry, DOnelsUu, Shiloh, NiC6sburg ana Chat
iaDUosa. and his subsequent maguanimity 10
lee aud his army Al App0ma;tox, does not
warrant or Justify this heraiing episode. Grant
Lad iIys.-l himself he
Mississippi. which divided the Southern Con
iedcTacy ana Cut of the main storchuCse of
supplies which their army depended upon.
10 is strange thai some OF OUr comrades forget
there was anything done in the West. aud APP
pear 20 think that everything centered in the
Army Of the Potomac. ] Will admit that the
last year OF the war this Was SO in part but not
during the prerious years. ] am prepared
10 show that the battle Of Shiloh was the
bioOdles! la tie 81 the war, and that the capt
ure OF AicksburE was the greatest military
achievement OF modern times. In regard 10
the forces commanded 10y Mcclellan and Grant,
what ! nave read recurs 20 me.
May {. 1864. Grant crossed the Rapidan
Grant had 9s 3I6 and under Butler y, 600 more,
making altogether l230l6 lee at the same
time had the EapiGaU j,942 and in and
about Richmond aud Petersburg - Goa making
IN All 1885. 80 Tar. then. by being ouinum-
beTec three 10 one 10y our troops, the rebels
were nearly even with Us. This is 30 quota.
ti0a from Pollard. such as Barnes quotes ia his
school history ia foot-uoie. This quotation
reminds me that Pollard WAS the author Of the
g Lost Cause, aud WIS the most biased aud
prejudced writer Of the South.
We have simply 10 set forth the fact that the
morning reports Of either Grants or Lees
army is our best evidence. Reading IaIbonr's
article has caused further reflection, when
everything was done for the advancement OF
Little Mac, or the Young Napoleon, as he was
Said 70 be. De had the finest army in the
world ia the Spring of 1862. An army OF vol
untecIs; no drafted men or substitutes. In
stead Of an army Of 10000, as the comTade
would have you believe, he is said 10 have had
more than 00OJ and the way was clear for
has advance, with DO bretstwoTks intervening
between Washington aud Richmond, except
those IN front OF Manassas
IN regard to Gen. Shem2H's movements, il
affords me an opportunity OF saying that /
followed bis plumcs 10 the sea and through the
CaToiIuas aud an Reil acquainted with his sue
cesscs.
April J. 1865 Sherman was at GoIdsboro,
\. &, 20J miles or more from Richmond.
Owing 10 bad roads be could not effect a iuBc-
ton with Grant at Petersburg or Richmond
before the lapse Of several days and the IN
fueuceol shcrmau's movements simply hasten
81 tie hnal struggle between Lee and Grant,
nothing more
Ab0ut the lst Of April, 1865. the left-flank
movement WAS commenced by Grant order
sHg Sheridan cavalry and Warren's infantry
around Lee right, which cut of every avenue
al escape save one, that via LynchbuTE and
Danyllle. This movement facilitated our efforts
ia the general assault IN front Of Petersburg
and did 50 much for the roundup al Apo
mstt0E.
Grant has been uBiustiy censured for the
needles slaughter Of his men. IL would be
impossible 10 advance upon an antagonist like
Lee, WHO Was iH tie killing business, without
someone getting hurt il has evidently been
proven tisat Grant husbaudcd his strength and
saved bis ucu by anticipating events, which
may be clearly illustrated ia the following:
April :. l5iiJ, i.c addressed = note TO Gen Lee
requesting h.m 10 surrender his army ia order
10 stop tue needless eifuslou II blood ToWhich
lie replied tie time nor the emergency had
not arrived lor him % surrender the Army
q Northern Virginia. IL not Lee responsible
for tie needless cfusioa Of blood from this
date until has surrender al Appomatlox April
&, I76J -. Z. PALMER, 3sd III, Normal, III.
s