St. Landry democrat., 1891-06-13
Some Estimates of SoldierhOOd.

When the death of Field Marshal Won Moltkt
was announced, the New York Recorder, in al
editorial article on the subject, gave expression
to the following:
"The six foremost generals of this century
will be recorded as Napoleon. Wellington
Grant, Won Moltke, the Archduke Charles dnG
Sherman Others, like SOult and Sheridan
hold places near the first rank but not Wlthln
it, either because, as in the case OF soult, they
were narrowly outclassed by more famous OPP
pOnents, or, as it was with Sheridan. had moi
opportunity for the supreme responsibilities OF
prolonged chief command for which those who
knew them best deemed them fitted Lee, too
will fail OF historic position among the leaders
partly by reason OF the lack OF originality III
his splendid and persistent defensive service,
but more on account of his failures in offensive
operations in Mary land aud Pennsylvania, and
especially the hesitation at Gettysburg, when
was succeeded by that desperate and fatal
charge after the Union army had been = ham
mered into an impregnable position"
Personal prejudice is too strong with many
of our countrymen Of the present generation to
permit them to express fair and honest estl-
mate Of the people who took part on the = 9th,
er side" in the Civil war. This is obviously the
case with the Recorder. But, it is difficult to
see with what consistency the Recorder can
place Grant and Sherman in the front rank OF
military commanders. when they won their
fame and glory i'll fighting the Confederate
commanders, who arc not even admitted to the
second rank This is truly inSEpicabe. Gen
eral Grant first encountered Lee at the Battle
OF the Wilderness in Virginia. The official
figures, as near as they are attainable, are given
for Grants forces at $4,000 men, while Lees
were 6 600. This was pitched battle lasting two
days, III which Grant made the attack. He was
utterly repIlsed and forced to "change his
base" an expression which was used during
the Civil war to describe the retirement OF re-
treat of a Worsted or foied army.
Six days after the last day at the Wilderness
Grant and Lee again met and fought at Spott-
sylvania Courthouse battle still more bloody
and desperate, and again Grant was repulsed
aud forced to change his base. The fighting
in the Wilderness had commenced seriously on
the 9Th of May. On the 1st OF June Grant and
Lee again contended for the mastery at Cold
Harb0r, where GRANTS defeat was so decisive
that he declared in his account oil the cam
paign that it was the one battle he regretted
he had ever fought
After this defeat General Grant retreated
until he reached the James river, which he
crossed on the 10Th OF June, and then COM
menced the slow processes of the siege OF Pc
tersburg, which was to continue nearly year
longer.
In that tremendous campaign from the Will
derness to Petersburg, General Grant lest a
total of 54,929 men, one for each OF Lees SOL
diers after counting his losses. The campaign
lasted for forty days and in every conflict
Grant was repulsed despite his vastly superior
force. In giving this brief statement our OBJ
iect has not been to detract one single laurel
from the well earned crown of General Grant,
but to show how inconsistent and contemplate
is the effort to ignore the genius for war and the
lncom parable soIdlern0od Oh the man VINO Toll
ed all Grants strategy aud repulsed his
every attack made in the field, and who yield
cd only to the forces OF starvation and all the
agencies of attrition which finally reduced lis
army to u handful.
But it matters not what envy aud detraction
may attempt Their assaults are harmless
against the facts OF history. General Lord
Wolseley, of the British Army, one OF the most
distinguished soldiers in the world, has stamp
ed the mark OF royal soldierhood on Lee. He
has unqualifiedly declared that Robert E. Lee
stands with those masters of war, Hannibal,
Caesar, Marlborough and Napoleon. Lee IS the
fifth in that grand galaxy. History has placed
him there, and there he stands.-Picayune.