Arizona republican., 1906-10-17
MEN WHO MADE HISTORY
 DURING Tilt CIVIL WAR
"Reminiscences of the Great Military Leaders of That Period-sherman the Greatest Strategist.

Washington, oct. 13-CSpeciaI cor respondence of The Republican-)-I re- call two conversations with General Grant, both of them connected with in cidents that took place during the war between the states. The first was in Washington while he was still the head of the army. At that time he was liv- ing in Georgetown. Two or three of his old companions in arms were about To call on him one evening and I was invited to accompany them. We found the general alone, quietly enjoying his cigar in the library He was styled the silent Man. but that evening he was in a chatty mood, and talked most de- IightfuIly about scenes he had wit messed. carefully avoiding anything personal to himself that would appear like bOasting Of his achievements.
 Among other things talked about was the capabilities of various command CTS, and what he said of some of those who had won fame on the federal side so impressed me that even if had not jOtted il down immediately after leav- ing him, it would never be erased from my mind. In speaking of General i Sherman he said, in substance:
 sherman is the greatest strategist the war produced on either side. In ] fact he will rank as one of the very l few great strategists of the worlds history. He could so maneuver his army as to bewilder his opponent. and force him to abandon, almost without a fight, his strongest positions. His campaign from Chattanooga to At lanta displayed the wonderful resources of the man, while that from Atlanta to the sea displayed his capacity for be- wildering his enemy and masking his ! own movements. With it all he was a fighting general but was much ! stronger as a strategist than as a tao tician. At the beginning of the war he was very impulsive, but as the war . progressed, while he lost none of his ! exuberance of spirits his impulsive- ness was tempered by caution. never found him wanting. Even when he did not approve some projected move :nent he never failed to give it his best support.
 1 Thomas was not so much of a ! strategist. but he excelled as tacti- ! clan. He was never fully at himself until the men began to- fall around him; then he instinctively knew where to place his men to the best advan- tage and to fight them to the greatest purpose. He was methOdical in mind and movement. frequently Over-cau- tious. There are always many risks in war but Thomas. if possible to avoid it. would not take any He ! would not move until everything was ready in the fullest sense, and then would not move rapidly. but when the battle opened his mind cleared and he was a veritable rock The battle Of .t Nashville was an example of this. E grew impatient and urged him again and again to attack Hood. but he | would rather have resigned the com mand than to move until in his judg- ment he was fully prepared. When he did move he won a great victory
 Sheridan might be called unique among commanders. Better than any other man in the army he knew how to command infantry. cavalry or ar tiIIery. separately or combined. With him each of the three arms of the l. service was always in it's proper place. and where it could do the most effect i've execution His eye was quick and his judgment as quick as his eye. and with him execution followed immedi- ately upon the conclusion of his judG- ment. He was both a strategist and a tactician. I could always rely on Sher- idan and Hancock being at the ap- pointed place at the appointed time. Other generals frequently failed, espe- cially in point of time, but Hancock and Sheridan never When the hour was fixed for opening a battle the guns of Hancock were sure to be heard at the appointed minute, and he always made a steady. aggressive battle
 The other conversation I more espe- ciaIIy recall took place shortly after his return from his tour around the world
 It was on a train going from Chicago to Indianapolis. had asked some questions about his tour and finally in- quired what he regarded the happiest moment of il all With an impressive ness and seriousness shall never for get, he said
 ''The happiest moment of all the triI
 was when we placed our feet on American soil at San Francisco. Happy from a devout thankfulness that kind Providence had so guarded us that we Thad been able to take such a journey
 and escape from all dangers. and re-
 turn in safety, and then because I came
 back more than ever convinced that
 America was the most precious country
 in the world in which to live"
 His return and the grand receptions
 rendered him had again started the
 discussion as to his merits as a com
 mander, and some of the papers were
 reverting to his famous phrase that Inc
 proposed to fight it out on that line
 if it took all summer l made bold tC ask him what was really Tn ms mlnC
 when he wrote that phrase. He in-
 quired why. and I replied that I re-
 called the various comments made al
 the time and the observations of some
 critics that he did not fight it out or
 that line, but abandoned it for another the one followed by Mcclellan, ana
 that the same criticisms had recently
 been reiterated. He said:
 Perhaps they misunderstood what meant by line From the very begin
 ming of the war. 'On to Richmond had
 been the cry. and Richmond was the objective point in each of the Dreced- ! ing campaigns. I began the campaign
 of 1864 with a different objective. 4
 being Lees army. It is true my army was headed toward Richmond, but
 was uOt caring very rnuch about the