The Denison review., 1914-12-16
REcoLLEcTions OF LINCOLN.

The Review is under obligations to
| General Grenville NJ. Dodge, OF Coun-
| Gil Bluffs, la. for the book which he
has recently published giving his per-
sonal recollections of Abraham Lin
coin, General Grant and General
Sherman.
No one is better qualified to write
concerning these distinguished char
acters than General Dodge. AS early
as 1859 and from that time as long
as they lived, general Dodge was
closely related to them by bonds Of
friendship rs well as military and
political ties. His personal acquaint-
ance with Abraham Lincoln began in
the summer of 1859 at a time whenl
Mr.. Lincoln visited Council Bluffs on
legal business and from that time un-
til the death Of the president, he
sought the counsel and advise of Gen
ere! Dodge on numerous occasions.
The time Mr.. Lincoln visited
Council Bluffs was soon after his
Joint debate with Stephen A. Douglas
in which Mr. Lincoln had laid the
foundation for his nomination and
election to the presidency. He was
requested to deliver speech while at
Council Bluffs and, although short
notice was given of the meeting, he
was faced by splendid audience
which was treated to remarkable
address.
The book treats in an impartial man
ner the history of General Grants
connection with the early events OF
the Civil war and discloses that Grant
was great general but a poor actor
He was little concerned about politics
and was above maneuvering in order
to win fav0rs from his superiors. He
depended rather upon his ability to
win victories from the enemy than up
on personal efforts to impress him
self upon his superiors. Notwith
standing his remarkable success in
winning the battles of Belmont, Ft
Henry and Ft. Donelson. his superiors
and, especially General Halleck. in
various ways sought to discredit him
and even to Orde: his arrest. General
Grant was patient under all the mis-
treatment accorded him and bided his
time depending upon the justice of
| his fellow countrymen for his vindi-
cation which came in due time and
with such unanimity that his critics
| were soon forgotten but his star rose
higher and higher until the people
with one accord proclaimed him as
the greatest military genius develop
! ed in the civil war. He pictures Cen
eral Grant not only great as mill
tary leader but as q statesman and
cites number OF instances to prove
the foresight of President Grant on
Legislative matters.
General Dodge was great admirer
of William r. Sherman and believed
| that he possessed military qualities
OF the highest order and he gives to
him great credit for the part he per.
formed in the Civil war. He traces
his record from the battle of Shiloh to
the close of the civil war and reaches
the conclusion that General Sherman
was second only to General Grant in
military leadership.
The people do not overlook the fact
that General Dodge, himself, ranks
along in character, ability and repu-
tatiOn with tile three great men whom
he eulogizes in his book When the
| war commenced he was civil en-
gineer and was distinctively a self
made man. His ability, however, was
recognized by Mr.. Lincoln before the
| war commenced and, notwithstanding
he was not graduate OF a military
school, he was appointed to respons-
ible positions and never failed to make
good in every duty imposed upon him.
He was made major general before
the war was over and he was ma jOr
general not only in name but in size
and enjoyed the full confidence of the