Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-01

wears ago was marked by a Sc
ries OF important events in the
career OF General L. 3. Grant
On the Sth he met in Washington for
the first time in his life President Lin
coin. He had been summoned from
Nashville TO the capital for reasons
which he supposed related TO his fu-
ture control OF all the forces in the
field In the evening at n reception In
the White House. attended by over 500
of the most distinguished people In
Washington. he was the hero.
In his memoirs Grant wrote OF his
meeting with the president as follows:
I'm my first interview with Mr.. Lin
coin alone he stated 20 me that he had
never professed to be military man
or to know how campaigns should be
conducted and never wanted TO inter.
fere with them. but that procrastina-
ton on the part OF commanders ana
the pressure from the people a the
north and from congress, which was
always with him, forced him Into issu-
ing his series of military orderS-No.
1 No. .. No. 8. etc. He did not know
that they were not all wrong and did
know that some Of them were
Grant Made Lieutenant General.
commission as lieutenant general
was handed to Grant on March bE
the president in person, who said:
General Grant. the nations appre-
ciation Of what you have done and It's
reliance upon you for what remains to
he done in the existing great struggle
are now presented with this commits
sion constituting you lieutenant gen
oral in the army of the United States.
with this high honor deyolves upon
con also a corresponding responsible
ity.'
To this Grant replied: with the aid
Of the noble armies that have fought in
80 many fields for our common country
IL will be my earnest endeavor not 10
disappOint your expectations. feel the
fuII weight Of the responsibility now
devolvinc on me, and l know that II
they are met it will be due to those
armies and. above all. TO the Provi-
depce which leads both nations and
men,
Next day Grant appeared nj the
headquarters Of the Army or the 20
tomac on the Rapidan. where he met
its commander. General George G..
Meade They had served together in
the Mexican war. but had not met
since Meade was then Grants superior
in rank: also the elder Of the two.
Meade-s headquarters flag was very
SNOWY, having a golden eagle in n sill
yer wreath as the emblem. embroid-
cred on a sOlferino ground. A. X.
Wand. the war artist. said that when
Grant saw it first be glanced around
in mock wonderment and exclaimed.
us imperial Caesar anywhere about
'hereEr
Meade promptly assured Grant that
he would yield before any choice Grant
might make for new leader in his
army but Grant assured him that he
vas expected 10 stay. After spending
n day in Meade's camp Grant started
the night OF the 18th for Nashville 70
plan the Atlanta Mobile campGiGn with
Sherman. Next day he was officially
Mississippi to aid Banks on Red river
General \. J. Smith was the leader ol
the column. and General I. Kilby
Smith and General 4. J. Mower COM
manded the divisions. Leaving Nicks-
burg on March 10. Smith Joined the
Z1nboat feet OF Admiral j.. ID. Porter
at the mouth OF Red river next day.
the combined force being under i'm
rne 18th.
There was no time to be lost. for the
waters were at high food. The ex-
petition set out on the 18th. At the
mouth Of the AIchafalayn Porter
turned of from the column with nine
gunboats 10 clear out any force in the
adjoining waters. leaving Commander
L. $. Phelps in charge Of the gunboats
30 Smith, a
transports up to Fort De Russy.
The River Channel Blocked.
About nine miles below Fort De
Russy Phelps found the river blocked
ny distinctions formed from a row OF
ti-iven piles with sunken logs wedged
between. and the troops were put
ashore TO make their way overland to
the Confederate stronghold. Phelps
intended TO sail up in front OF the fort
and engage the attention OF its defend
ers until the army could inclose it ON
the land side. This plan was defeated
By the distractions In the channel.
Smiths force landed on the morning
of the 18th and at nightfalI took up
the march for the fort, distant on the
route Travelled about twenty-five 10
thirty miles. Mowers division led Of
and Immediately ran into a Confeder.
ate brigade intrenched on Yellow
bayou. This force was quickly
brushed aside. and by a forced march
Mower drew his lines up in front OF
Fort De Russy the afternoon OF the
18th. The position consisted IF two
earthworks connected By a covered
way for the shelter OF troops. IL
mounted eight siege guns and two
eeId pieces and was garrisoned by 300
men.
There remained three days in which
20 take the fort, scatter the enemy and
march 10 Alexandria, but General
Mover tool<sno chances and with his
vearied troops rushed 20 the attack. |
General W. F.Lynch led ont tbe Fifty |