Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-06-11

Buell. told him that the transports at Pittsburg
Landing would not carry away one-third OF his
force Grant said: "If that becomes necessary
they will hold oil there are left" His Vitks-
burg campaign was against all the teachings of
the military schools aud the unanimous opin-
ions Of his council of war. A veteran strate-
gist cried In indignant remonstrance: "You will
cut loose from your base of supplies and that
Is contrary to all the rules" Grant answered !:
unless we 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 resistles5 power until
they felt the hand of this master. No better or
Drawer body OF soldiers ever marched or
It lost battles through bad generalship
capital intrigues. Thousands Of its heroes fell
superb confidence and courage: At last it found
a leader worthy of itself and after scores of
bloody victories ended the rebellion under
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 a foremost place among the commanders of
modern times. He possessed beyond most lead
ers the loyal and enthusiastic devotion OF his
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 bathed evSry
opponent for three years. and that, after a con-
test unparalleled Ia desperate valor, frightful
carnage and matchless 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 inhamed
when the Confederacy collapsed. Grief and
tellect Was possessed of an intuition which was
second to prophecy and was clothed with pow
of the hour that the seeded States must be ad-
mitted to the Union and their people vested
with all the rights of American citizenship and
all the . PRIVILEGES OF State government or the
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
joiciug after the victory will be to abstain from
all demonstrations in the field" He gave to the
Confederates their horses 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 unmolested so long as they observed
their paroles.
To enter Richmond, the capital of the Con-
federacy, whose spires had been in sight OF the
besiegers so long, would have been resistless
temptation for weaker man. But his mind
was not on spectacular display or triumphal
marches over humi1iated foes. 1t was bent ON
peace and paciacation. know OF no scene in
our history so dramatic as the meeting between
Lincoln and Grant at the White House three
days after the surrender at Appomattox. The
President who had so Loyalty sustained the
General, and the General who had SO magnif-
Gently responded to the confidence of the Presi-
dent, met for the last time In their lives. Grant
returned with deep emotion the frGternal grasp
of the only man in the country who fully I'M
derstood and was in complete accord with the
policy of reconciliation and repose. The work
of the warrior was done and the labor of the
statesman begun Yesterday 1t was destruc-
ton; tomorrow 1T must be reconstruction
That night the bullet of the assassin ended
the life of our greatest President since Wash
ington, and postponed the settlement of sec
tional difficulties and the. cementing of the
Union for many years.
There have been many Presidents OF the Un1-
ted States and the roll will be indefinitely ex-
tended. We have had O number of brilliant
soldiers, but only one great general. The honors
of civil life could add nothing to The fame of
General Grant, and it has been often argued
that his career in the Presidency detracted from
his reputation. Such will not be the judgment
OF the impartial historian. He was without
experience or training for public life and I'M
familiar with politicians and their methods
The spoils system, from which he could not
escape, nearly wrecked his first administra-
ton. His mistakes were due to a quality
which Is the noblest Of human ENTHUSIASTICALLY
to friends. Even at this short distance
from scenes SO vivid in our memories party
rancor has lost it's bitterness md blindness
On great questions affecting this honor and
credit Of the nation he was always found and
emphatic, and the administration OF Gen.
Grant will have q pIaco In hs annals OF the
world Tor in&ugurating and successfully carry