The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-06-11

country rested upon his shoulders, this 1nd1ffer-
ent farmer, business man, merchant, became
the foremost figure of the century. The re-
serve powers of q dominant intellect, which Or
binary affairs could not move, came into action
A mighty mind which God had kept for the hour
of supreme danger TO the republic grasped the
scattered elements of strength, sOHd1hed them
into resistless force and organized victory.
He OWNED the purposes OF the enemy as well as
he knew his plans. His brain became
clearer his strategy more perfect and his conf
dence in himself more serene as his power in
creased. He could lead the assault at Donelson
or the forlorn hope at Shiloh or maneuver his
forces with exquisite skill and rare originality
of resources at Vicksburg as the best OF brigade
or corps commanders, or before Richmond
calmly conduct a campaign covering CONT
nent and many armies with consummate gen.
eralship.
His plans did not contemplate defeat. The
movement he always made was advance" The
order he always gave was forward" When
Buell. told him that the transports at Pittsburg
Landing would not carry away One-thlrd OF his
force Grant said "If tnat becomes necessary
they will hold all there left" His Vicks-
burg campaign was against all the teachings of
the military schools and the unanimous opin-
ions of his council of war. veteran strate-
gist cried in indignant remOnstraDce: you will
cut loose from your base OF supplies, and that
is contrary to all the rules" Grant answered
Unless capture Vicksburg the North will
cut off our supplies" And the sorely bereaved
and disheartened people were transported with
JOY and hope by the Fourth of July message:
"Vicksburg has surrendered" The Western
armies never knew their resistless power until
they felt the hand of this master. No better or
Drawer body of soldiers ever marched or
fought than the Army. of the Potomac.
1t lost battles through bad generalship
and generals by camp jealous1es and
capital intrigues. Thousands of it's heroes fell
in fruitless fights, but never wavered in its
superb confidence and courage. AT last 1t found
q leader worthy of itself and after scores of
bloody victories ended the rebellion under
Grant. We are not yet far enough from the
passions of the civil strife to do full Justice to
The genius of the general who commanded the
rebel army. England's greatest living general,
Lord WolSeley, who served with him, assigns
him foremost place among the commanders OF
modern times He possessed beyond most lead
ers the loyal and enthu siastic devotion of bis
people, and he was the idol of his army. In es
| timating the results and awarding the credit of
| the last campaign of the war, must remem-
| Der that Gen. Lee had defeated or baff1ed every
| opponent for three years, and that, after con-
test unparalleled in desperate valor, frightfu1
carnage and match1ess strategy, he surrendered
| his sword to Grant.
The most signal services rendered by Grant to
his country were at Appomattox, and in his
contest with President Johnson. The passions
aroused by the civil war were most infamed
when the Confederacy collapsed Grief and
| tellect was possessed Of an intuition which was
second to prophecy and was clothed with pow
or. He saw through the vtndlctive suggestions
| of the hour that the seeded States must be adj
! mitted to the Union and their people vested
! with all the rights of American citizenship and
! all the privileges of State government, or the
| war had been fought in vain He sternly re-
pressed the expressions of Joy by his troops as
/ the vanquished enemy marched by, with his
| famous order, "The war is over, the rebels are
! our countrymen again and the best sign OF re-
| joicing after the victory will be TO abstain from
] all demonstrations in the field" He gave to the
/ Confederates their hol ses and belongings and
| told them to go home. cultivate their farms and
repair the ravages OF war. he assured ALL from
! Lee to the private soldier. that they would be
! safe and unlno1ested long they observed
| their paroles.