Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-06-09

ing roadway. Psdueala, Donslson, Shi-
loh, yiCksburs. Chattanooga. Can yon
match this in the annals Of WARP 1t 10
Napoleons Lodi, Marengo, Ansterlitz,
Jena, with Wsterloo left out The
second answer is found in the achieve |
meuts Of Grant in relation to the crit |
ical periods of the war. Before this list
of brilliant victories there had been
dullness, gloom and defeat. England
had acknowledged the belligerency Of
the southern states. Revelations Of in
competency, with suspicious Of dis.
honesty were common. Defeats in
battlefelds, blunders in administration
and growing enmity abroad. Napoleon
said he would hold the throne as long as
he could keep winning victories. But
there we're no victories. The nation
was in gloom. Lincoln was reading the
story of Gethsemane on his knees. All
was dark, when suddenly like a burst OF
sunlight from stormy sky came fash
ing over the wire the first great victory
of the war. Donelson had fallen, and
Grant had taken $4,000 prisoners. The
dropping spirits of the North rose, new
hope aud courage was born. Donelson
was quickly followed by Shiloh. Then
came Vicksburg and simultaneously the
victory of Gettysburg the frat eastern
success to stimulate the nations heart.
Chattanooga aud "ti,e battle above the
clouds. the most startlingly picturesque
battle of history, followed. Is there any
wonder that when the cry went up,
abraham Lincoln, find us a man" |
Lincoln should stretch forth his hand
aud find Grant?
Aud now the great hour for Grant has
come. Ia February, 1854, Congress re-
stores the grade of Lieutenant General
to the army with Grant in mind. In
March Grant appears in Washington
aud from the hand of Lincoln receives
, his commission. The two strong men
of the nation have met at last, face to
face. But eau Grant meet the de-
inands? Less than hundred miles
away to the South the army OF north
ern Virginia with General Robert f.
Lee in command, Not far beyond is
: Richmond. This army lies stretched in
the valley like hugh ferocious mastiff
guarding it's masters house. To the
+. north of the Rapidan lies the army OF
T the Potomac. A glance at the armie,
shows that under Lee are 10000 sol
= diers, and awaiting Grants command
4 are $4,000. But the Southern arm,
> will be on the defensive in a friendly
< and familiar country. So that in fight
e ing strength they are almost equal anc
f these armies know each other They
e have struggled at Fair Oaks, Malvern
s Hill, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg
d Garesville, Ante tam and Gettysburg
e They are seasoned men. They are tive
9 as nearly perfect armies as ever trsmpet
n on battlefield. But what about tn
y generals? By common consent Gran
and Lee stand forth as the two creates
military commanders of their RESPECTIVE
It sides. They are to face each other 70
/. the first time. There is, however,
5. difference between them. Grant hs
e met aud beaten the other three OF th
- quartette of Confederate genersls-A.
l. Johnston, Joe Johnston aud Longstreet
n But Lee has never met with the othe
n three of the quartette Of Union genel
+ ais, Thomas, Sherman and Sheridan
e Lee during the war has lost every often
d sive battle save Garisville. Grant la
r. fought only Que defensive battle, shiloh
l. which he won, aud also won ever
d offensive battle. So that Lee stands o
se his record AS great defensive, an
1t Grant as a great offensive general. Bu
+. they are alike in other particular
ye Both are brilliant and daring in strateg
is nd terribly Systematic. Each has hi
8, government at his back, and each r,
p spects the government behind him NOR
$, than he fears the enemy iu front. The
n were both born fighters. They wer
I'd soldiers as we'll as generals. But
A. great general is soldier first and
he general afterwards. The two creates
W fighters of the century are about 10 fac
al each other. In few days Lees soldie,
to will have to seize the rsins OF his hors
G, at Spottsylvania and refuse to fight u
th less he goes to the rear and finds
tn place of safety. And Grant had a b
of fighting in him. His maxim wa
n "Dont be over anxious about what 70,
he enemy is going to do to you, but mai
et him anxious about what you are goir
to to do to him" When A. r.. McClu
ar called on Lincoln to protest again
Grants appointment Lincoln said,
err can't spare this mamie fights. Al
A now the awful duel for mastery is