The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-28
BIRTHDAY OF GRANT.
Celebrated by BanquetS---Addresses
by Notable Men.

Boston. Ap-ll % The Grant dinner of
the Middlesex club at the Brunswick
last night In honor of the birthday oe
the great general was a fitting closing
of the banquet season. Not only did the
entire membership of the club turn out
to meet the invited guests. but the great
banquet hall OF the hotel was filled with
many OF the most prominent citizens
OF the commonwealth.
The guests of the evening-General
Longstreet OF the Confederate army,
Joseph H. Foraker Of Ohio, JaBes T..
Hoyt of Ohio. Senator Thurston of Me-
braska and Lieutenant Governor VOL
cott---were seated in places of prom
inence near the president of the club,
eX-Governor Bracket. and all were
greeted With most enthusiastic applause.
Governor Wolcott's speech OF well
rome was of the most generous charac-
ter and full OF broad liberal sentiment,
and found fitting response in the hearts
OF the great assembly.
General Longstrcet, when introduced,
was very warmly greeted. He said:
Grant returned to service in the
United States army in the hour of san
culinary war, at the head Of a regiment
OF volunteers. His work soon drew the
attention OF his superiors, and he began
TO rise. Modest as q maiden, the heavy
blows Of the strong arm OF an Ajax were
all there was to tell the story of work
that pushed him up, until at the end of
two years he found himself above all
officers that held superior rank, COM
manding armies of million soldiers.
spread out over lines OF thousands of
miles, yet humbly submissive to the gov
ernment he so ably defended If another
record marks such an epoch, fail to re-
call y
"Of all Union commanders he was
the great leader who accurately sur
vcyed the great Held of war, the clements
OF strength and points of error, and con-
sidered the vast means so necessary to
solve the problem. He realized the i'm
portance of covering the granaries of the
south. and applied his early energies and
talents To holding Kentucky and Ten
nessee, moving swiftly to the capture OF
Fort Henry and Fort Donaldson. There
his prescient mind called for the undis-
turbed flow OF commerce through the
Great Father OF waters" from the
mountains to the sea.
When offered the high command of
armies of the United States, the lieuten-
ant general declined TO be responsible for
the result of the operations unless he
could be assigned TO exclusive authority
over the movements of those armies. He
knew that the times called for aggressive
work. and though IL essential 20 success
that all should act in coordinate con-
Junction; that TO offer battle by one
army. while others were inactive. would
be waste OF strength while giving the
enemy time and opportunity. by skillful
use of his interior lines. 10 concentrate
in greater force against his isolated
army. giving advantage over him that
must make futile such operations by de-
taehments, and strengthen the enemy's
cause.
This condition the war secretary re-
fused him, but President Lincoln, after
mature deiiberation. found the import
ance OF the suggestion and its harden
Ing influence for successful work. and
ordered Grant to assume command and
exercise full authority I'm working out
hts own plans
II knew Grant as cadet: from boy
hood TO Mount Magregor; served in the
fourth United states regiment OF in
fontfy with hm. on his entrance into ac
tive army ne, ana We were t6Kcther a.
Worth's division or Scotts army OF
Mexico. where he was known and es-
teemed as one of Its most gallant and
promising young lieutenants. lie was
on the stan OF General Garland, my
father-in-law.
our first meeting In combat during the
internecinc war was I'm the wilderness.
on the 9Th .; May. 1864 where I received
his mark that must so with me to the