The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-05

line" despite his enormous losses, is the |
man who Is needed by every nation In the |
hour of its peril. Such stern resolution and
unhinching tenacity Of purpose constitutes
greatness as much as the academic capacity
to plot brilliant combinations with decorat-
ed pins on the headquarters map Of the
seat of war. All truly great commanders
must have this fixity OF purpose and un-
bending will, else the most luminous in
tellect becomes the sport Of every accident
and shift OF the battle field.
Lord Roberts has cited Grants flank
movement across the James river after the
unsuccessful assault OF Cold Harbor as q
special illustration OF his undaunted resoiu-
ton and magnificent perseverance, In gain
ing his objects Other generals, oil but the
very greatest no doubt, would have retreat
ed after that repulse But the flank move
ment across the James and the subsequent
attack on Petersburg was an exnlDltlon ol
something besides mere tenacity. IL was
one of the most successful, BEST planned
and best executed flank movements to be
found in the history Of war, and alone
stamps its designer and executor as great
master of the military art When we recall
the circumstances OF that great movement
how an army OF 100000 men was with
drawn from Lees front, marched many
miles and sent across a wide river on an
immense pontoon bridge, and finally plant
ed in front OF the Notifications OF Peters
burg, all happening so smoothly and quick
ly that Gen. Lee remained in absolute ig-
norance for days of the whereabouts Of the
army of the Potomac-when we recall these
facts we begin to realize that Gen. Grant
had great qualities as commander besides
tenacity and will. He was a man OF re-
sources. He not only did not quail before
great difficulties, but he knew how to over
come them. AT Cold Harbor he hoped to
penetrate Lees lines and crush him by
sheer weight and momentum; failing in
that he had mastery alternative which,
instantly executed, nearly brought the con-
federacy tumbling into ruins months before
its final fall.
Grant inevitably takes his place among
the great captains, and by Just desert,
There will be less and less disagreement on
this point as time passes, for without dis
paragement to other actors in the greatest
civil war of the ages, the supreme rank
must be given to him who fought most and
achieved most And 1t follows that he who
could win the highest place in so titanic a
struggle has won place among the great
est commanders of all history.
In respect of General Grants rank as
statesman, General Porter, in his ora
ton at the dedicatory ceremonies, pre-
scented what must be the unprecedented
judgment of posterity:
While his career as soldier eclipsed by
| its brilliancy his achievements as states
man, yet when we sum up the events Of the
| eight years during which he was president
! of the republic their magnitude and impor.
lance challenged comparison with those OF
any other chief magistrate since the inau-
| guration of the government. When he took
| the helm of state the country was in con-
dition of ferment and disorganization, which
| is always consequent upon long continued
| civil war The fifteenth amendment to the
constitution had not yet been ratified by
. Tn, fhn inff nc
and armed bands Of lawless menlwere Great
ing terror and defeating the ends of justice
| The prosperity of the country was still lag
| cling, the public debt was oppressive and
intlationsts and regulators were weaken
| ing the national credit. Our merchant ma
rine had dwindled to mere shadow of its
former self; political rancor had enven'
| omed whole sections Of the country. Indian
wars were brewing, unsettled disputes with
| foreign powers threatened the national
peace, and the new chief magistrate was
| confronted with problems 80 formidable
that they were enough to appall the stout
est heart and discourage the most hopeful
mind. In the letter OF acceptance Of his
nomination Tor the presidency, he uttered
one of the sublimest sentences ever penned
| by statesmen's hands Let us have
| peace" or all the many aphorisms which
emanated from him, this has been deemed
the most fitting to engrave indelibly over
the portals of his tomb. 1t is typical of his
nature, embematic of the eternal peace en-
| joyed by his soul. He began his admins
ton vigorously and firmly, but he declared
that he would have ono policy of his own
to enforce against the will of the people,
At the close of his eight years of honest
earnest, patriotic labor, he leftno unfinished
work to turn over to his successor. There
was peace within our borders peace with
all the world, prosperity among all the PEG
pie, and the name of America stood higher
than it ever stood before on the honor rol
Of nations.