The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-26

Few rsrs er arau,.

IN - octave volume Of tb0 pages. Col WIZ
wAM O. CHURCH has contributed 10 the Heroes
Of the Nation" series . compact discriminating.
and emlnently readable biography of Ulvsses s..
Graat (Putnsmsl The capital merit OF this book
n the clearnosp with which the author depicts
Grants personal character and brings out the
eausse Of bis military success, . success the
moro remarkable because IL was attained In tho
teeth not only Of opposition. In the nold. but also
Of Interference and obstruction on the part OF bis
superior of1cora, who continued TO overrule and
trammel him until his promotion to the post OF
Oommanderin-Cbief gave him an almost aoso'
Lutte control OF operations. Col. Church SHOWS
that the aco mpnshment OF grants plans was
In no instance, due 70 luck, but that, on the CON
trary, 90 far az accident played any part In
his campaigns, IL told against nim' mat henau
his share Of rovorsos TO encounter as IN tho
hrst dayb battle ut Fittsourg LANDING IN
tho earlier against VicRsours anu
In his furiously resisted march through the VIII
dernees; but hat no dinered from other con-
temporary Generals In this particular that re-
NsrSes and delays, instead OF WarpihR MN from
his purpose. served rather 10 intensity IT, inc
result being that, while ne might DC temporarily
foled, no was never subjected 10 dennite DC
feat. In this respect he can DO compared with
marlborough alone among tho great captains Oh
modern tunes, and IL is as true OF the ono N
ofthe other that their victories were otten won
In defiance OF the current rules OF war ana arc
consequently exasperatine rather nan instiue-
tive SUBJECTS OF STUDY 10 those VINO would learn
the art OF war from DOCKS. Inc common sense
81 MANKIND. however. In Rauglng the compe-
tence OF commanders, VIII always 90 governed
by results rather than oy methods' ana VIII
deem It q PROOF or superlativo ABILITY that, In
tho record or marlborough or Grant there Is
no retreat from RUSSIA, no Leipsio, and no
waterloo. we should add That Col. church Is
not only Just 10 tho Generai, out sympathetic to-
ward the man, and that he succeeds In com
municating 10 the reader his own feeling OF cor
dial regard for the subject ofthe biography.
Ills well known that Grant did not achieve dis
tnction at west Point, his standing at gradua-
eon being the twenty'hrstin list OF 80. ltseems
TO DO Q mistake, however,, to suppose that his
capabilities were entirely unrecognized. In
horsemanship he surpassed every other cadet. A
leap OF nve tect SIX ana one half inches made by
him on oid YORK. a horse that no one else dared
Side. etiii holds the record NJ west Point FOR
nigh )umpera Gen. James b. Fry, who happened
10 witness the performance, relates that " a few
months before graduation one OF Grants
James A. Hardie, said to his
friend and Instructor: wen, sir. II a great
emergency arises in this country during our
lifetime, sam Grant Will be the man to lead It.
If had heard Hardie's prediction. doubt not
should have believed 1t, for l thought the young
man who could perform the feat OF horseman-
snip described and who wore u sword could do
anything. Another incident recounted of
Grants youth was characteristic and prophetic.