The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-31


health and went to the real estate
business for a year He failed il
this. His associate dissolved the
partnership. Then at last his father
offered him 5000 4 year as clerk IL
his leather store at Galcna, ILL.,, and
thence he moved from ST, Louis. llc
worked there for year also, Dur
ing these seven years, though every.
thing looked dark, he ovcrcame IN .
great measure his weakness for strong
drink. But he was SO constituted tina,
il seemed impossible for him to earn
livlihood even when he had given
hostages 70 fortune in the shape OF q
wife and four children.
Then the Civil War came on,
Grant had never been dreamer OF
possible military glory. lie had gone
10 West Point because il offered him
an opportunity ior advancement; Of
fered him an opportunity Tor IN edu-
cation. He did not like the life at
West Point and while he seemed in
the Mexican War to be well adapted
to the command OF men, to be well
adapted to the duty OF quartermaster
he never had that vaulting military
ambition that present i'll the character
OF Napoleon and other military lead
ers. He rendered his services at the
beginning Of the war merely from a
sense Of duty and obligation for his
education. His having been stu
dent at West Point and regular
army officer necessarily brought him
to the front when military training
and experience were in such great de-
mand He modestly suggested in his
letter to the adjutant- general at Wash
ington that he believed he was fitted
to command regiment. He never
gave evidence Of military ambition.
He visited Cincinnati seekino to be.
come the staff officer OF Mcclellan,
but in vain. And then by great luck he
was made the colonel OF the 2lSt llli-
nois by Gov Yates,
From that time he took command
OF that regiment until the surrender
OF Appomattox his life was one well
we'll planned effort to sup
press the rebellion. From time on
his constant quest to find and tight
the enemy. Beginning with the bat
tie Of Belmont he was always in the
field and always seeking the Confed-
crate forces, though in the West he
suffered as did the western generals
from the interference OF the war de-
partment and the paper stragetist like
Halleck and the freedom of his move
ments were curtailed and his constant
activity restrained by timidity and
jealousy OF his superior officers. But
in spite of all OF this he pressed on
and by victories he won he compelled
the war department to give him
ireer hand Fort Henry, Fort Donel-
son and Shiloh were victories that
shone like stars in the darkness OF the
defeats OF other Union commanders,
md although in disgrace for short
period he finally was put in command
Of the army charged with the duty
taking Micksburg and he took it.
Then followed the great battle OF
and Missionary Ridge,
after which he was called to Washing
ton, made lieutenant general and COM
mander of the entire army Of the
United States Then for the first
time, he came against Lee and for a
year he measured swords with that
great military leader of the South
who ultimately succumbed and SUR
'endered to him the Army OF North |
.rn Virginia at Appomattox.
1t is not to be questioned that
Grants abilities to command devel-
,ped with his increased experience. 1t
5 not to be questioned that his sue
ess depended too upon the resources
II the North that furnished him men
nd equipment but in war as in other
hings in life as in all history merit
5 determined by the event, and it
vas Grant who led the armies and in
used his life into their leadership. 1t
vas Grant that finally subdued the
Rebellion. At one time it was GUS
to criticise Grants campaign
ng and to intimate that his knowledge
# military strategy was not such as
0 jurtlfy comparison Of him with
zee and other generals. Grant had
cry broad conception OF the work
which the North had before it in sub
uing the South, He had an oppor
unity in his life to know the South
rn people and discriminate in respect
0 them so as to understand that while
hey talked a great deal they could
lso do a great deal. He believed the
My way of subduing the rebellion
Ias by fighting the armies OF the re-
ellion and that after all the contests
etween the two parts OF this nation
yaS contest Of resources Of men
nd of wealth, In the end it proved
0 be so. His judgment was vindi-
atcd 1t is said that Grant was not
man Of military genius. 1t is diff
ult to define what genius is. Some
escribe it as the capacity for taking
1hnite pains If so Grant was
enlus. Halleck was a great authority
i military science and grand strategy
nd he never planned campaign un-
ess, like lawyer with his precedents,
c could turn to the page of the mill
ary text book and justify his plan by
reference to a battle Of Caesar, Ma
oleon or Frederick. Had he been
BILE to participate in Grants plan for
he taking Of Vicksburg he would GER
ainly have prevented it, and yet, in
the strategic ability of
rant with that Of other generals it
an truly be said that there is no
in the Civil War that show