Evening star., 1897-04-27
LORD ROBERTS on GRANT.
The British Generals Estimate of the
Great Commander.

The British Generals Estimate of the
Great Commander.
The New York World today contains let
ters from several of the great generals of
Europe, giving their estimate Of Gen.
Grant. The most interesting contribution
is that of the English general, Field Mar
shall Lord Roberts, now commander of the
forces in Ireland. Gen. Roberts says:
I'm my opinion. Gen. Grant, in common
with all other great leaders, owed his sue
cess to his determination of character
quite much to mis- military instinct
and his skill in handling troops. 1t Is i'm
possible, I think, to overrate the effect of
his tenacity of purpose on the great strug-
gle in which he took such a prominent
part when he decided, while the terrible
two days battle in the Wilderness was still
raging. to continue his march to Richmond,
despite the enormous losses he had sus-
tanned 1t was not only a supreme moment
in his career, but, SO far as we can see the
supreme moment In the history of the great
conflict between the states. Nor was his
resolution less admirable when, after the
disastrous battle of Cold Harbor, he deter
mined to cross the River James by a flank
march across Lees front. and to storm the
Petersburg intrenchments.
1t was not, however, on these occasions
alone that Gen. Grant displayed that firm
ness Of resolve and self-reliance which are
the most remarkable attributes Of the
greatest soldiers. Neither at Fort Donel-
son did he quail for moment before the
difficulties Of the situation or allow him.
self to be Influenced by the counsel of his
less daring and confident subordinates. or
to finch before the weight of his enormous
responsibilities. His strength of purpose
carried everything before him. For him
danger existed only to be overcome. and
obstacles before which others shrank ap-
palled served only to confirm his determine
ton to succeed
Il would not, however, be understood to
suggest that General Grants courage,
moral anc physical, was the one character
istic to which he owed his fame. He re-
garded war from a higher standpoint than
that Of the mere fighting general. From
the very first he showed a remarkabIe
grasp of the power Of moral influence.
So far as my knowledge of his campaigns
extends, he never planned q march or q
Taneuver, whether strategical or tactical
without calculating on the effect 1t would
produce on the minds Of his enemies, as
we'll on the morals of his own troops. He
was not only hard-hitting soldier, who
never knew when he was beaten. but a
leader Of men who used powerful in
tellect to prepare the way for his vigor-
Gus blows He never lost sight of the fact
| that, II he could shake the confidence Of
would be already half beaten.
Then. too General Grants unwearied
consideration for the comfort and require
| ments Of his men deserve the highest
praise. IL ls unQouDteOly true that when
an important object was to be attained
he was not sparing Of their lives, but he
never wasted them needlessly, and the ar
lrangements for the we'll being Of his troops
were SO carefully thought out that they
| never wanted for supplies. His sick and
wounded were his constant care, although
their necessities were never suffered to
stand In the way Of vigorous action.
r. General Grants powers Of organisation
were unQuestionably very great, especially
| a. displayed In the campaign against Gem
efal Lee. when his magazines were 80 fire.