New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-27
GEN. GRANTS BIRTHDAY
Interesting Stories of the Famous
american Soldier.

Survivors % the great American army which
prevented the disruption Of the Union in the war
~ the SOS viii remember that to-day is the birth
day OF Ulysses Simpson Grant. their greatest cap
tain Survivors % ;hat other great American army
81 the COS viii remember that to-day is the birth
day OF mighty foeman. who magnani-
nous IN victory he brave in battle. Had
ne iyed he would have been eighty-hve years old
today little younger than Edward Everett Hale.
sti the Junior OF Senator Pettus, OF Alabama, and
about the same age Senator Whyte. Of Mary
land. Grant might have been alive to-day if the
dread cancer had not cut him on when ne was
siXty-three.
The fame Grant must he forever coupled with
the name OF Lee whose defeat he accomplished
and who was his greatest adversary. Indeed.
writers OF as wide information Theodore Roose-
Welt have not hestated 10 say that Lee was the
greater soldier. Whatever may be the judgment
OF history 20 the relative merits OF the two great
commanders. Grant the victor I'm the campaign
81 lS6465, and HIS victory ended civil war in the
United States. While the methods OF Grant and
Lee radically different each Of them knew
his man." and was able often TO calculate TO a
nicely What the other about do. To illus
trate this quality possessed by Grant one turns
TO the story Of Cold FIarbor. At Cold Harbor Grant
did not know how strongly the Confederates were
intrenched or he would never have ordered the at
tack But he did know what TO expect OF Lee II
lee had the men.
Dr. Lawson. a too old to be in the army
stances, on the morning OF the battle. General
Grant recognized him a non-combatant. al
though knowing HIS sympRthies 10 be with the
Confectionery. The battle OF Cold Harbor fought
on June 3. 1854. an early morning affairs and
the bloOdest the entire war for the two or three
hours II lasted Richmond the objective point OF
Grants army and Of The hopes OF the North was
only six miles away. Just dawn was breaking
General Grant standing with a group OF off,
GERS with his back against a tree. DR. Lawson
was standing near. Grant took out his watch
II don't hear his guns in ten minutes Rich
mond is ours" he said. DR.. Lawson took out his
watch also. Grant waited and watched the NOV
ing hands. One minute-two minutes-three-four-
hve-sX-and then the gates OF he'll were opened
as Lees artillery replied TO the silent challenge ~
the silent commander.
I'm checked again. said Grant and returned
his watch TO his pocket He seemed TO know in a
minute that his plan would not be successful The
Oa''e was stopped before the morning was half
over out ten or twelve thousand boys in blue were
left on the field. il meant that Grant would have
10 wait almost year for the evacuation and FAN
OF the capital Of the Confederacy But 10 let old
Dr. Lawson draw his conclusions: I knew thar
$1,000 IN me presence Of great general-the equal
OF our own Lee. When two men commanding
great armies can play the game that a margin
OF ten minutes means victory or defeat # rro,,.s
that each army is captained by genius of war
General Grant a soldier through and Through
although the army not his overpowerinf- srb,
ton from his boyhood for he protested aRainet
going 10 west Point when his father told him IA
mao secured an appointment. After HIS service IN
me mexican War and in the Far West he rasie,,a,
from the army because his SALARY ,-as -. -
enough 10 enable him to support his Wiz a., -.
ohiaren. When the Civil War came on CRAVE
"rsl apphcation 70 Washington for coonelcv v,a
MOI considered important enough to merit Z renIy
Al mat very time at a council OF Southern ,,,,i
tary leaders in Richmond General F2e,,r..., -
ihere is one West Pointer whom hone tho
Norlhern people VIII not find out: I mean Sam.
''9"', knew rum well AZ West Point and In Mex
leo. He is clear-h headed quick and daring
Grant was given commad OF an Illinois regi
rhenl and his first campaign was that against
tolonei Thomas Harris and his Confederate reei-
ms ne In Missouri in The summer Of 1861 AS Grant
taIfls hsa been in camp he said his heart acnt
ht3, , enc nigheI IN his throat, and he Vould
6a5' 1870 .ter N ne held, and would have cared
1I9nsbility Il heading the attasL weighed On MIN
rs had ben 80, CaIed 80 ne found that Har-
men Grant found himself. The surrender Of I-'Tf
capture of vicsburg following his frs, ie tr,; anG
a. VEiieala otloilaCy over General Leonidas Polk
ewes Of the world 10 centre on Grant srJ 7 iri
genera sisSS tlAoea nm IN command Lieutenant;
AFTER the terrific fighting in the Wilderness |
Where Grant gained no signal advantage. Lee ana |
ms generals were in council They expected Grant
10 retreat upon Washington. as the federal -, /
eas hao done before under like circumstances A.,
aoe-de-cainp care up and reported: The enemy Is
moving by ms left flank toward Rchmond,'' Gen |
eral Lee exclaimed To your postst The order fs |
70 move oy our right flank. The Union army has |
~ last found general" Grant was then yvrs,i,, |
his famous message - Washington. endins, ,y,tb
propose TO night ii out this line n it takes an
summer al |
"hen II had all come 10 an end and Gram r,5 |
brought Lee 10 position where he could do Mob
INK Dut give up the struggle the federal com
mander was naturally exultant when he receir.a |
Lees letter asking for the conference But vrbo,
ne came 10 Apponaftox and the two men me- .I
talked Tor long time over days in the old ar,,,