Evening journal., 1907-10-02
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
slxrEENTH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings


General Grant was known to the country at that time
just other officers known, as western
man whom the had brought into prominence and
commend general officer but nobody. in this
tion at least knew much else about him or was par
ticularly interested in him. But his
upon everybodys lips and the newspapers throughout
the North teemed with his praise and the answer
to the question who he was and what was,
soon came from his home in the West
II transpired that when lad of about seventeen
his father had informed him that he had procured for
him appointment cadet the Military Academy
at West Point, and the lad promptly informed
his father that he wouldn't gol But his father quietly
informed him that he guessed he would-and he
His career at the Academy and graduation not
spoken Of as being in way remarkable,
his subsequent the army, except that was
brave and valuable officer during the Mexican war;
after which he resigned from the army and
into business with his father Galena H., the
breaking out Of 'the war; found him. After Henry"
and Doneson the people Of this country thought they
had found him after their long and search
for leader
Before Grant the to the demand of the
try for tangible results Of the months of fighting had
been 'more menl" And when the Furnished
and the demand impatiently renewed. the answer
again more men!" old Hosea Bigow" shook his
stick in the direction Of Washington from up at
Jaalam" and voiced the sentiment of the people when
he thundered in the columns of THE Atlantic"
More More mani It's
There fail! Weak things
Grow weaker yt by engthnini
wut O. addn' the tail
When it's the heads in need
o. strength'nn'"
But when "Pittsburg Landing" and shiloh" and
"Corinth" and "Vcksburg' rest followed quick
y after the victories Of Henry" and "Donolson."
later. the the almost defeated army at Chat
tanooga" and Chickamauga, the people Of this country
had full confidence that the silent reserved gentle,
soldier, from Galena the right lead the
armies TO victory had been found and all of the crit
cisIn and carpng and fault-hnding and falsehood
around the War Department at Washington and else
where, prompted all believe then now by green
visaged envy" shook that confidence for
minute until the end reached Appomattoxl
Amid the grandeur and magnhcence Of the military
operations of the West and Southwest the Army Of the
Potomac almost lost sight of by people here
in Delaware, although almost all. if quite all. of
soldier boys" that splendid organization.
But events transpred and things progressed-and
they progressed rapidly now-we became again moro
Interested and absorbed In operations nearer home
When General Lee again crossed the Potomac and in
vaded Maryland and Pennsylvania that interest became
intense; and all turned towards the
ments Of the Confederate The battle OF "Getys
burg was approaching with rapid strides We did not
know II by that name then but all felt that
frghtful clash OF close at hand and the heart
OF many wife and mother in this community trembed
with anxiety and fear at the prospect II came at
Gettysburg and many Delaware soldiers were in it,
will not attempt to describe it for not there;
war was not the particular variety of patriotism that
attracted that time. and, another reason. it
has often been better described than could possibly
do It II had been there The Delaware soldiers in that
great battle acquitted themselves nobly all
counts and IL would TO be invidious particular
ze in respect of any one of them But there was one
young in that fight who performed an act such
conspicuous bravery that do not deem Il amss
single him out and mention it here without any in
tenton Of deractng from the credit OF others all
did so we'll He a captain of the First Regiment
of Delaware Volunteers detached from his regiment
and serving the stan Of of the general officers
During the thcest of the fight the memorable Second
July the front line of battle the general upon whose
order from his superior officer 10 send word 10 the
commander of some troops which were holding a barn.
10 take, and hold at all hazards house held by Con-
federate troops. The distance TO be traversed de-
liver this order the commander In the was about
hundred yards. and the messenger had to pass
within sixty yards of the house Evidently the man
who carried that dispatch would also carry his life
in his hand along with him. volunteer for the perl
ous undertaking was called for and Delaware boy
Immediately volunteered Stretched lengthwise his
horse he rode the distance delivered his despatch
rode back TO his post amid hail of Confederate bucts
unscathed He was complmented on the spot by
General Hancock who happened be passing
now wears the congressional Medal Of Honor which
in battle lie Is fellow -townsman of us all to-day.
prominent in the councils OF the Democratic party and
his name is James Parke Postes!
But I hasten the conclusion Of my "war
records" have remarked. things now progressed
swiftly; events of thrilling nature followed
other with great rapdity After his victories VicSs
burg and Missionary Ridge and the retreat OF Hoods
Army Southwark. General was called to Wash
ington and the command Of all the armies of the United
states was placed absolutely In his hands, and the
| try thought IL "the beginning the end" it
took two long and weary Of desperate lighting
and fearful carnage before that end reached. At
last however it was reached, and the Appo-
mattoN when Grant with the triumphant Army of the
Potomac met Lee with his battered and bruised but still
brave Army Of Northern Virginia where the one sur
rendered his army to the other and that other received
that surrender with all the geneness and consideration
of his noble nature, and instead of allowing a gun
triumph 10 be fired cheer OF Victory be raised
instead Of marching az the head of his army
through the streets Of the vanquished captured
capital Of the Confederacy General bade General
Lee an almost afectionate farewell and went quietly
on the same night 20 visit his boys school at
ington, New Jersey those showed 10 the whole
world the kind OF stun that are made OF.
THE cruel war over" indeed and the people Of
the whole country Joined in spirit l. in voice. in
the triumphant refrain of that distinguished Statesman
and most delightful poet James Russell Lowell