Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-02-09
LINCOLN AND GRANT.
Opposition to the Grade of Lieuten-
ant General.

Opposition to the Grade of Lieuten-
ant-General.
Mr.. Noah Brooks was one of the
best known newspaper men in Wash
ington during war times, and he was
admitted to unusual intimacy with
Lincoln. Mr.. Brooks has been con-
tributing series of personal recollec-
tons of Lincoln and Of the members
of his cabinet to the Century. In the
FEBRUARY number of the magazine he
says:
1t is interesting to call to mind
some of the forces which made Grant
the general-in-chief OF the armies Of
the United States. and some of the incl
dents that attended the contamination
of that historic work. 1t was by no
means a grateful task for the Con-
greSsmen of that time to lend hand
in creating the grade of lieutenant
general in the army, although there
was no question as to the man on
whom that distinction should be con
/ ferred. | question very much if the
bill to revive the grade of lieutenant
general would have gone through
Congress then if it had not been for
the very general dissatisfaction with
Gen. Halleek, who was acting as gen
eral-in-chief with headquarters at
Washington. This dissatisfaction
was constantly increasing, and al
though the country at large did not
seem to be very keenly alive to Hal
leck's inadequacy to the situation,
Washington, and especially the cham
bers of Congress, resounded with COM
plants of his sluggishness, his unwill-
ingness to take sponsibilities, and
his supposed incapacity to grasp tie
whole military situation | doubt if
the most outspoken and malignant
Copperhead in Congress was 50 dis.
| liked, SO rallied against, and SO revil-
ed by the more radical members as
this unfortunate general-in chief.
The belief that some new man, no
matter who he might be, could vigor-
ously prosecute the war and bring a
speedy peace if he were in Halleck 5
place, made possible the passage of
the bill reviving the rank of heuten-
ant general of the army. Oddly
enough, men who complained that
the President chung tenaciously to
Gen. Halleck as his military adviser.
never doubted for a moment that Mr.
Lincoln was more than willing that
the rank should be revived with the
distinct understanding that Grant
should be the wearer of the title, and
by virtue thereof become at once the
generalissimo of all the military forces
Of the United States.
That the President did cling to Hal.
leck, in spite of the very general pop
nlar disfavor with which the general
was regarded, is well known. When
l ventured, one day, to say to the
President that Halleck was disliked
because many people supposed that
ne was too tirnid and hesitating in
ais military conduct. Mr. Lincoln S
ace at once wore a sober, almost Sc
we're, expression as he said that he
vas Halleck friend because nobody
else was. Other men had received
from the President somewhat SINH
liar impression; and. whatever may
have been thought of the very remote
possibility that any other man than
Gen. Grant would be called to the
head of the armies, congressman who
were clamorous for a more vigorous
prosecution of the war were eagerly
: turning to the ''lieutenant-general
BILL" as it was called, as the readiesl
way to be rid of Gen. Halleck's al.
legged slowness.
If there was any doubt as TO the
popularity Of Grant in Washington
land he was disposed to regard that
city as place of snares). the arrival
of the newly created lieutenant-geuer-
al efectually dissipated it. He had
been called to the capital, and had ar
rived there late in the afternoon OF
March s. 1864.
That evening as it chanced. was the
occasion OF the usual weekly recep.
ton at the White House, and thither
Gen Grant went by special invitation.
Thither too went throngs of people
: when it was known that he would be
on view with the President. So great
; was the crowd, and so wild the rush
to get near the general. that he was
obliged at last to mount sofa where
he could be seen, and where he was
secure, at least for a time, from the
madness of the multitude. Woman
were caught I'D and whifled in the
torrent which swept through the great
East room. Ladies suffered dire dis.
aster in the crush and confusion
their laces were torn and crinolines
mashed; and people got upon sofas,
chairs, and tables to be out of harm s
way or to get better view Of the
spectacle.
1t was the only real mob l ever saw
in the White House. 1t was an in
describable scene of curiosity. Joy, and
pleasure. For once at least the Pres.
ident of the United States was not the
chief figure in the picture The little
{ scared looking man who stood on a
crimson-eovered sofa was the idol Of
the hour. He remained on view fot
a short time: then he was quietly
| struggled out by friendly hands, and
next day he departed from the city,
which he then appeared to dread SC
much. to begin the last and mightiest
: chapter in his military career