The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-03-30

GRANTS FIRST LESSON FOR
THE ARMY OF THE POTO-
MAC.
History tells fully ofthe manner in
which President Lincoln and father
met for the first time, when father went
to Washington tn be commissioned by
the president the commanding general
Of the Union Army" said Gen. Fred
D. Grant to me recently, "but it does
MT tell of the initial purpose that faith
er had in mind as regards the Army Of
the Potomac when he went East.
"You known, father Was never East
from the time he entered the Union
Army Is . colonel of an Illinois regi-
ment until after the Chickamauga and
Chattanooga campaigns, in the fall Of
1863. But he had studied pretty close
" the movements and characteristics
ofthe Army ofthe Potomac in its three
great campaigns up to that time, and
he had pretty we'll made up his mind,
even before he knew that he was to
command the Union armies, as to what
was the matter with the army that pro-
tected Washington.
AFTER it had become known that
father was to be lieutenant general,
and that he would take personal com.
mand of the Army Of the Potomac, a
great many persons with whom he was
acquainted, and some with whom he
was intimate, said to him at one time
or another before he started East:
Gen. Grant, what are you going to do
with the Army Of the Potomac:
What kind ola campaign against Gen.
Lee are you going tn make? Have
you formed any plans whatever for
offensive operations.
"Of course, none of these questions
father would answer. But have al.
ways thought that he at least became
convinced that it would be good plan
to tell some of his friends in . general
way what he would do Immediately
after he had assumed command Of the
Army Of the Potomac. So it happen
ed one day that when friend said to
HIM: Gen. Grant, what are you going
to do after you begin operations in the
Eastr he replied: The first thing /
shall try to do will be to teach the
Army of the Potomac not to be fright.
ened out Of its wits at every mention
of Bobby Lees men,
again, when another friend would
ask father . similar question he would
reply: 4 am going to train the Army
of the Potomac so that in will conquer
its fear of Bobby Lee And yet again,
when some one else had put the same
question to him, bis answer would be:
The first enemy that We have to con-
qaer is the fear that takes hold Of the
Army Of the Potomac whenever Gen.
Lees name is mentioned
Now, father said this is no dispar-
agement whatever Of Gen. Lee. He
had the highest admiration Of Lees
qualities Is q soldier and Of the purity
Of his character. But he had become
satisfied from his study Of the career Of
the Army of the Potomac that an un.
reasonable fear had seized it, due to
the very high repute of Gen. Lee IS a
soldier. In addition, he believed that
the Army ofthe Potomac had no more
reason to fear Gen. Lee than the arm.
les of the West had reason to stand in
dread Of the great commanders who
led the Confederate forces in that sec
ton Of the country; SO that before he
had left the West to become lieuten.
ant general his initial plan for the
Army Of the Potomac was to teach it
no longer to fear Bobby Lee. And
you will observe that father never told
any one what bis plan Of operation for
that army was until after he had
taught it not to shiver every time the
name Of the great Confederate com.
mander Was mentioned in its presen-
ce."-E. j. Edwards.