Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-10-15

uniform of the conquered leader of the con-
federate armies contrasted strangely with
the plain and much worn habiliments of the
cOnqueror; but Grant was more intent upon
the result of the conference between them
than his own appearance in it. And it was
not the result of the surrender of the con-
federate armies and final cessation of nos
tIlltieS upon the north OF upon partisan poi-
itics that occupied his mini. In that SUI
preme moment he ceased to be the leader of
the union army only. and thought and acted
with broad and enlightened craftsmanship
and patriotism for the whole reunited cOun-
try. He thought of the feelings and sensi
bilities of the vanquished. and of making the
road towards patriotic citizenship easy for
them. He thought of the waste
lands and impoverished communities
of the south, which were again under the
old flag. and quickened q returning sense of
obligation to it by restoring to every con-
federate soldier the horse or mule which
had belonged to him, and might be used
again in making and garnering the crops on
which he and his family would depend for
their sustenance. He thought more of Civ
ing an impulse to the pursuits of peace and
iniustry amongst a disorganiZed people of
aiding them in the maintenance of them
selves. of bringing them back into social as
well as political relations with the rest of
the country, than upon his own part and lot
in the accomplishment of these salutary
ends.
The great confederate general was shown
that respect that generous natures Away
accord to misfortune bravely borne, and
proved by his conduct and bearing he truth
OF the remark, that the greatest reverses are
most easily sustained by dignity that be-
longs to them. He and those who fought
under him with unsurpassed courage were
touched by the victor's delicate considera-
ton for their feelings and welfare.
Grants magnanimOus nature was incapa-
be of anything else In the struggle that
ended in final capitulation he was never
actuated by the spirit of revenge or hate, or
by aught else than high sense of patriotic
duty. Wrong as they were, and as they will
ever be rated by impartial history, he "did
not question the sincerity Of the great mass
of those who were opposed to us II
should like to see impartial history written"
he also said '.Such history will do full
ere dit to the courage, endurance and
soldierly ability of the American citiz ~,
no matter what section of the country he
halls from, in what ranks he fought"
The failure of the southern people was
not due to any lack of couray.
or persistence, or leadership in the
field but it was the inevitable result of tn .r
having undertaken an Impossible task. 1t is
natural that men who were capable of such
effort should be cemented together in
bonds of sympathy and friendship, and SO
long as they #re loyal to the flag of the I'M
ion, brave and generous men will not CEN
sure them for cheriShinS an aHect1onate re-
gard for one another. and for strewing flow
ers on the graves of their fallen comrades.
The suppress ion effacem mt of ones
self is not always, and invariably. highly
mertOrious. modest estimate OF ones
powers may be quite justified bv the ia t..
An underestimate of ones powers may be a
fault Grant had extraordinary abilities,
and while he never dwelt upon, or thought
about their greatness OF measured or
compared them with the abilities of Others
he knew just what they were. their extent
and limitations, what might be accom-
plished bv them. and what was beyond their
reach. He was never misied by rating him
calf nn hifyh M inn al 6isfY mar
with which ne entered upon the engagement
at Belmont rapidly disappeared as his pow
ers were tested in subsequent campaigns
and battles. In Mexico he ha l shown
m stakabe sense and courage N u subordi-
nate capacity, but in our late war he began
the study of himself as a commander and
leader of men, and he soon mastered the
lesson.
AS he became conscious of his powers he
relied with mistaken confidence upon his
own Judgment. He held few if any councils
of war; He succeeded in gre 1t emergencies
by his native strength of will and intellect,
and his resOlute persistence where men of
more learning and better versed in military
science. but with less natural capacity
would have failed. What they are Obliged
to learn, he seemed to know intuitively. He
disregarded elementary maxms of war,
without hesitation. when they were plainly
the outgrowth of conditions radically differ
ent from those which confronted him. He
was equal to any command or emergency.
But there WaS no 8HecCatIOQ or dash
brilliancy about his movements. The
bOldcst of his campaigns and bat
ties were not determined upon without
deliberation and an intelligent comprehen-
sion of the obstacles in his path and the
means at his command tor overcoming
them. And having once entered upon the
execution of his plans, revefses which
would have dis, our ged less resolute and
far lighted men, never impaired his con-
fidence in ultimate success, or disqualified
/ m SpiZ unOn uneynSctod adVan.
and prOfiting by them. Obstacles which
which seemed in>urmountable to others
only served to inspire him with determine
ton to overcome them. peril siren CITIZEN ed
He saw facts and situations as they really
were and acted with reference to them as
realities. Napoleon's genius may have
been more active and brilliant, but if
he had been endowed with JUDGMENT
as strong and unerring he would new. have
ventured upon the disastrous Russian cam
paign. With a defin lite nd always in view,
without wavering or vacillatiOn. and ever
ready, with large resources, to adjust his
plans to any change of circumstances, Grant
pressed determinedly to invariably
successful termination. He never lost the
fruits of victory through inactivity. The
final movement on Vicksburg was begun at a
time when many patriotic people of the
north were losing confidence in the ability
of the government to suppress the rebellion
by arms, and some of them were ready to
terminate the flow of blood, AMI the lavish
expenditure of money, by compromise.
Voluntary enlistments had nearly
ceased. Delay was never more dan
gerous, and he realized that
speedy capture of the strongly fortified city
and the opening of the Mississippi river
from its source to its mouth were essential
to federal success. He boldly placed the
great river behind him while it was in pos
session of the enemy. both above and below
him. and with a vigor and skill which have
never been surpassed by the great soldiers
of any age country, he threw his army
against the divided forces of Pemberton,
confusing and defeating them at all points,
and ended with the Investment and capture
of the enemy's stronghold. The campaign
was begun and prosecuted amid the viruIent
censure of himself popular clamor for his
removal, the jealousy of martinets, and
the doubts and misgiv ngs OF some of
his sAs4& end trustworthy subordinates: