Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-15
THE DEAD HERO.

pletes its roll, there is little danger of
any contribution which will carry the
gravity and the epic possibilities which
were embodied in the careers of Grant
and Sherman. The hero of Appomat-
tox made his account render to the
wonder OF mankind and to the entire
satisfaction OF every one who takes note
either of heroic service or the accept
ance of his fellow countrymen. Grant,
when on the heights of Mt. McGregor
he rendered his soul to his Maker and
closed his accounts with his country
and mankind, was acclaimed as man
who had done everything epic and pat
riotic which might fitly round up the
story OF phenomenal war.
Close upon the heels OF Grant, at
every stage OF the most exciting phase
of the rebellion, stood Sherman. They
were perhaps the most heroic figures OF
the war, and it was the fortune of Grant
that he was called from the theater Of
the war in the west to superintend the
operations of the Army OF the Potomac at
the time when Sherman was left to be-
gin his celebrated march to the. sea, in
which he bisected the confederacy, and
in which he compelled the concentra-
ton of the expiring forces OF the ''Lost
Cause mainly around Richmond.
The fact that, at the, end, the real
military forces of the confederacy were
found confronting General Grant at
Richmond in no whit diminishes the
final splendid effort of Sherman in his
matchless march through Georgia. The
confederate government fully recognized
the tremendous agency of disintegration
to their cause involved in the move
ments of Sherman. Mr.. Davis, the
president OF the confederacy, saw that
in Sherman's success lay the death
knell of the cause. He first detailed
Hood and afterwards General Joseph E.
Johnston to obstruct the victorious fed
eral movement which meant dissection
and death to the cause of disunion.
Sherman rose superior to every diff
Guilty; and justified, in a conspicuous
manner, the confidence that had been
reposed in him. The destruction of
Atlanta and intermediate cities, which
followed his resistless advance. showed
that the stern arbitrament of war, in
most competent hands, was making
Grants success at the east more imper-
ative, and made the remaining efforts of
the rebellion more and more hopeless.
Grant successful at Appomattox, made
it very easy for Sherman to enforce the
capitulation OF Gen. Joseph E. Johnston
and his forces, and the extinction of the
rebellion, easy and conclusive.
Few people who followed the varying
fortunes of the war will fail to recall the
unpatriotic and contemplate interposi-
ton OF Stanton at this stage OF the hos
tilities. The death of Abraham Lin
coin, at the hands of John Wilkes
Booth, the assassin, created great
excitement in the north. 1t al
most compromised Grant himself
in the operations of the war department.
Stanton tried to take advantage OF this
episode to ruin Sherman. Fortunately
ior the hero of the march to the sea, he
had in Grant friend as reliable as was
David to Jon lthan. Instructed to 20
lown to North Carolina, to take charge
of Sherman's army and supersede him,
Grant simply delivered himself at the
headquarters of his friend, and unob-
trusively saw the carrying out OF the
Of Johntson' s army to Sher-
man, as Sherman prescribed the move
ment.
Then came the grand march OF the
hosts to Washington, and the
review in front of the white
house. Sherman and his victorious le-
yions-the memorable heroes who had
Xenophon's famous march of
The Ten Thousand-followed close upon
5he heels OF the army OF the Potomac.
By this time popular sentiment had be-
gun to turn, and the heroes of Atlanta,
md their splendid commander, were on
he top crest of popularity. The true char
.cter OF Sherman was then appreciated,
rs were his matchless services in rem
lering the war for the union invincible.
By this time, also, Stanton began to
rim for popular favor. When Sherman
arrived in front of the reviewing stand
n Washington, the Hero of Atlanta
laluted, and took his stand on the plat
orm of notables. Secretary Stanton
,bsequiously approached Sherman, and
extended his hand. The latter, in the
lace OF applauding multitudes, gave the
ll-conditioned secretary the cut direct,
20 the immense satisfaction of hundreds
)f thousands Of the soldiers of the war,
md to the delight of the whole country.
Sherman, with Grant and Sheridan,
o the popular appreciation, will always
ound up the trinity of the heroes of
he war. This might possibly be ad-
usted better as to the sympathies OF
many, but it is there to stay for all
line. Subsidiary to these principal
heroes may gather Meade, Hancock,
Mcclellan and others, but the names
will remain tacile princeps.
Sherman was man of strong and
marked personal characteristics. He
vas noted for an indefatigable activity,
which led him to go round the world
'nce in the Quaker City, with Mark
al