Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-03-05

But as We look upon the man as he stands upon
the lofty eminenee at Atlanta. another quality is
clearly visibe-he has remarkable foresight. This
Characteristic has sought IN vain impress itself
upon the world before but could gain no recogni-
ton. Ii was his foresight that made him protest
against snlistne soldiers at the opening of the war
for three months. He we'll knew that it was not an
insurreotion TO be quelled in few weeks by show
of force, but stubborn rebellion ON the part of
brave people, and a rebellion that would be sub
dued only after most terrible struggle. He was
not far wrong when he said it would take 2OO, 900
men to put an end to the war in the region OF the
Cumberland, and he was rsry far from being crazy.
But foresight may be a disadvantage sometim Is
as well as advantage. lie saw too clearly at
times the movements that the enemy might make,
and it made him over cautious He protested
against Grants plan Of warfare at vicksburg, be.
cause he clearly what would be the opportunity
OF the enemy what he would do If he were the
enemy. His experience, however, has not been in
vain. shiloh and cortnth and vieksburg and Chat
tanoogn, aud unfortunate Kenesaw were in the
past, but their lessons were stored in his memory
He had learned to risk and not see too clearly
the opportunities of the other side. He is now
trying to solve that problem how to put a speedy
end to the war. The North is growing tired and
may consent TO give up the struggles the great
southern Army under Hood is now in his rear NOV
ing westward and northward into Tennessee.
Evidently Hoods purpose is to draw sherman after
him and transfer the seat OF from the heart of
the eneny's country whence they drew their sup
plies into a border land that has already been
devastated by war and where there is nothing
more to destroy This would enable the enemy 10
prolong the contest. He saw all this clearly and
refused to follow Hood. He chosed rather TO leave
army in Tennessee that would be sufficient TO
keep Hood at bay until some other. part of the
national army could be released and sent 20 subdue
him.
He turned the light Of his eye southwark and
scanned the field Of the enemy. To spread the raw
ages of war all over the enemy's country destroy
their towns burn their stores of grain and cotton
and lay waste their fields, would be to sink the
southern people, already losing courage, into
despair without supplies they would be compelled
20 give up the struggle. Thus it would be that tho
most heartless thing he could apparently do would
be the most mercifu He saw, moreover, that con
ndence would be weakened If not destroyed. and
confederate money would be enormously deprecl-
ated. The Southern confederacy may have stood
on several legs, but like the three legged stool
every one necessary; II one is disabled the
others useless. Thus did Sherman see with his
clear vision that when the crash began all things
would work together for the downfall OF the south
ern confederacy. Financial panics due for
the most part to a loss of confidence. The credit
system enters largely into the commerce and trade
Of people but when there is loss OF confidence
the credit system is suspended and panic and
hard times ensue. To desoate the south would be
tn strike fatal blow at confidence, destroy credit
without which the could not be prolonged II
was in view of such considerations these that
Sherman induced 10 turn his back upon his
enemy His incentive was not the glory of war but
the boon of peace. We may ever hear OF Caesar
crossing the Rubicon, OF Buonaparte crossing the
Rhine, aud OF shermans march to the sea; how
alike in sound how alike liz exterior but how un
like in the spirit which animated the leaders; as
unlike selishness which worships at the shrine
of the ego aud that patriotic and loyal love which
embraces within its scope the whole multitude of
its fellow countrymen. These are deeds which lay
hold Of the imagination and around which gathers
the halo of romance These are the deeds that
furnish the poets with their subjects, and furnish
the foundation for legends, legends which start
with kernel of fact aud end with tn gorgeous
colorings of fancy.
Gen. sherman at Atlanta was nevertheless man
and let us not forget that fact We utter no words
Of disparagement we do no dishonor to the mem
DRY of the dead hero, when say that he made
mistakes His PRECEDENCE though remarkable was
not infalibe it was not divine; only divinely
human. But we would deny that he was a grim,
cruel heartless warrior. 1t is true that he called
war the science of barbarsm, and that his methods
-.
But suffering is a necessary incident OF war and ~
Sherman inflicted more Of suffering than seemed
necessary it was because he was radical in his
treatment. Like the surgeon with his knife he
TO cut deep and take out every root of
the disease that the suffering might not be pro
longed and another operation necessitated. II he
drove the Inhabitants out OF Atlanta It because
the dire necessities Of compelled him to turn
the city into military post, and To send the people
away, although 1t caused much suffering, was a
humane act. AZ he says, THE use of Atlanta for
warlke purposes Is inconsistent with its character
as "a home for families" But II was to shield the
millions of people outside Of Atlanta from further
suffering that he drove them out as he did
aud turned Atlant into a military post His pur-
pose was TO secure peace, To stop the war that
"desoates our once happy and favored country
TO do this the rebel armies must be defeated and he
could not.permit the suffering of a few thousand
people to stand in the way OF this end. lie had a
tender and generous spirit, bet be had a reason |
and will that held it in subjection; he was not
swayed by sympathy but ruled by No one
deprecated the horrors OF war more than he did |
or would have made more sacrifices for the sake Of
peace; he discAimed having had anything 10 do /
with making the and he said 'those who |
brought war on our country deserve all the curses
and maledietions a people pour out" He |
burnt Atlanta, he burnt Columbia, he burnt Cotton |
ind shops and stores Of grain; he destroyed rail-
roads and every thing that could be Of any service
% the enemy In prosecuting the war, and you call |
hat cruelty, heartless cruelty 1t is no more
cruelty than Is to take the weapon from the hand
If the child instead Of lighting with him until you
AVE killed him aud have received severe wounds
yourself In all that romantic march from Atlanta
georgia, down TO the and through the Carollnas
lp to Raleigh he but taking the weapon out Of
he hand Of the child Of the South.
The feature about this march TO the sea which
aptivates the imagination and invests this event