Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-01
ULYSSES S. GRANT.
THE DEAD SOLDIER EULoolzeD eY
CHAUNcEY NJ. OEPEW.
Address Delivered Mt the Laying OF the
Cornerstone of tho Proposed new
YORK; Monument. April .7th.


ana began To read from manuscript. lie
said in part;
Let the monument which Will rise
upon this cornerstone be worthy OK the
magnitude oe tho metropolis and the
grandeur OF tho subject. General Grant
needs no stately shaft or massive pile to
perpetuate his memory. The republic Is
his monument aud its history during what
must always be its most critical and IN
teresting period will DO the story Of his
deeds. But this memorial Will continue
for coming generations an oblect-lesson,
teaching the inestimable value OF the
Federal Union and the limitless range OF
American opportunity.
The civil war demonstrated that our
country was singularly rich IN excellent
brigade, division, and corps commanders.
1t developed three or four officers capable
of initiating and conducting military ope-
rations with immense forces and on
large field, but only one general. The IN
tellect which tired of the routine OF
soldiers life in times of peace. which could
not be reused 20 the successful manage
ment OF farm or a surveyors office. which
indifierently comprehended the duties OF
clerk or junior IN a merchants hrm,
was clarified under grave perils ana
expanded under great responsibilities.
Grant at 40 was an unknown ana IN
important citizen in western town,
and at AZ he was the hope of the army and
the hero Of the country. Self-conhdehce
is tho attribute OF great men and OF fools;
Bv il, the first illustrate their ability aad
the second demonstrate their folly. The
average mind needs and seeks both advice
and assistance. Grant was the most lnda-
pendent Of generals, and the result placed
him in the front rank of the great captains
of the world. He rarely held councis
of war, and never adopted ther
conclusions. He sometimes acted d.
rectly against the unanimous judgments
of the assemblage. After the cap
ture of Fort Henry. Halleck. then com
mander-ln-chief. advised him to tortity MS
position, and picks, shoyes, and entrench-
Ing tools would be sent HIM. Instead, he
marched upon DonelsOn. When all his OF
fcers were Of opinion that sally IN force
from the fort was TO be guarded against,
he made up his mind, from the full hayer-
sacks found Oh the Confederate dead, that
the enemy intended TO retreat. and. by or
deTing an immediate assault, captured
Donelson and gained his first real victory.
When General Buell. and other command
ers demonstrated with HIM for moving
from Pittsburg Landing, because there
were lOL IOulN NuUhEu W Ah.lAF wv 80
river one third of his force IN case he was de-
feated There are more than sufficient 20
carry all there will be lett Of It, was the
grim answer. and he marched 20 the VIC
tory of Shiloh. When General Sherman
aud ell the able officers about him protest
ed against the perilous movement 10 get
below Nicksburg and attack the city from
the other side because his army would be
cut OF from It's base OF supplies. Inc
North will cut OFF our supplies he SAID.
unless we do something and the Fourth
of July, 1868. became one OF the glorious
days IN the annals of war.
GRANT MLGsAsIMoUs.
"No man can be truly great. unless he is
also magnanimOus. Grant was the most
self-sacrifcing OF friends, and the most
generous OF foes. Inc Underlying Iorces
which stirred his feelings and prompted
his actions were profound sense of justice
and ardent patriotism. The triumphant
march from Atlanta to the sea mad aroused
tho enthusiasm and captured the I'm
agination of the people who had been
contemplating with sullen anger the losses
IN the Wilderness, and the bloody but
Intellectual battles about Richmond. They
demanded that Sherman be placed IN SUI
preme command. Sherman, with that
beautiful loyalty which he always showed
TO his chief, loudly protested and hatly
refused, but Grant calmly wrote: No
one would be more pleased at your
advancement than l. / would make the
same exertions to support you that you
have done to support me, and would DO
all in my power to make our cause win
" Unconditional surrender; | propose
20 move immediately on your works were
the conditions Grant offered Buckner at
Donelson, but in the darkness of the night
he entered the prisoners tent and sad,
'Buckner, you must have lost everything;
take my purse The failure TO capture
the Confederate capital had exhausted the
resources and impaired the reputation OF
all the generals who had preceded him,
but when It lay PROSTATE at his feet he
sternlv declined the triumph of al entry
at the head of his victorious army. A like
temptation had not been resisted by any
condueror of ancient or modern times.
But General Grant SAID, These people are
now and will be hereafter our brethren and
fellow-citizens, and they must not be hui
inflated
at was difficult 10 win his confidence, but
when once gained his heart. his efforts,
and his fortune were at command. To
Sherman and Sheridan he gave unstlnted
praise. Both in public and private he de-
clared them 10 be the greatest generals oil
modern times. He was so entirely free
from envy or jealousy. so enthusiastic II
his admiration OF these lieutenants that
he awarded 10 them the larger share of
credit for the ultimate triumph of the
Union cause. But these same qualities, so
crediIable 10 his ingenious and generous
nature. became the chief sources OF his
mistakes and troubles, when he was tread
ING with unframed steps amid the quick
sands Of political and business life.