The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-22
Mr.. Dana in the War-A Personal
View.

Those who were familiar with Mr..
DANA's character and manner of thought
are aware that while he was not given to
Standardization, there was one chapter in
his life of which he We" silently proud. 1t
was his field service in the army during
the civil war. Strange to relate, too, it
was a line of duty and labor entirely for
eign to his chosen profession of journalism
and letters, although his very great ability
therein was no doubt the primary cause of
his temporary and brilliant appearance in
another field.
Mr.. DANA was not engaged as n soldier
during the war; he was not armed with q
sword or musket, yet he saw some of it's
greatest battles, and was present through
out in several of it's most important cam.
paigns, not as n mere curious onlooker, but
as the representative of the Government, as
such being freely admitted to the counsels
of the commanders, and even participating
in counsels of war on the field of bat
tie. a most remarkable thing. 40 doubt,
too, the admonitions of this intelli.
gent civilian were of incalculaOle advan-
tagc to the military commanders in various
miscellaneous matters; there are evidences
in the records that Gen. GRANT, for in.
stance, valued MI. DANA's advice, espe.
cially in regard to the bearing of admins.
~trative and political interests upon mill.
tary operations. His thorough knowledge
of political economy is shown to nave been
turned to great advantage by GRANT in
dealing with complications in the Missis,
sippi Valley.
(,nN ED A Mt nnI M nA&A nnan -
have been in thorough accord on all ques
tions relating to the war. In fact, we know
from the records that one of the specific
objects sought by Secretary STANTON ir
sending Mr.. DANA to the Army Of the Ten
nessee was to have observation taken o
Gen. GRANTS character and personal habits
about which Mt that time, growing out o
the cloud e calumny, there was considera
BILE doubt. But on his arrival on the Mis-
sissippi Mr.. DANA quickly discovered tina
GRANT was a thoroughly honest, capabl,
officer, full of energy, and in dead earncs
in the work of putting down the rebellion
Indeed, Mr.. DANA's powerful pen and grca
personal influence with LINCOLN and STAN
TON bore a determining part in sustainin,
GRANT at Washington at a critical perio'
VI NV 'Sitio' ~ ouSt III IL
needed just such help as he got from tn
civilian.
Practically Mr.. DANA represented tn
President and Secretary of War with tn
armies, although his ostcnsible mission a
first was that of inspector of the pay dc
partment. His whole business, rs in tn
case of GRANT, was to make Observation
of the administrative and military opera
tions in distant quarters, where the Gen
erals commanding were almost Independent
of the central authority by reason of thei
remoteness real potentates in n sort c
way. He was expected to take the meas
ure of the various commanders and n
port to the authorities what he saw
and offer such suggestions and recommen
such improvements or changes as occurre
to him from day to day. He was a kccr
eyed observer, and his extraordinary gras
of the situation upon the various theatre
of war which he visited, his sagacity i
weighing the worth or worthlessncss Of til
great officers chosen to carry out the vas
military designs of the Government, h
acute discernment of their strong and wea
qualities, and above all the subtle powe
N scope of his vigorous reports to Seer,
tary STANTON of what he saw, make thel
the most remarkable, interesting and II
structiye collection of official document
relating to the rebellion.
These communications, covering almo'
every conceivable topic connected wit
military and some of the civil affairs {
; that day, were in the nature of conddentit
communications to the Secretary, for III
and the Presidents private informatio
; and instruction, hut they formed such
valuable aggregation of historical data thl
the War Records Bureau at a very ear
| date determined upon their introductio
into the volumes of official records in the
: proper chronological order, If Mr.. DANA
. assent could be obtained. Upon a prop