Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-09
ApTpM.ATTOx---5I YEARS AGO.


April General Robert Il. Lee surren-
dered at Appomattox More than
$4,000 oonfcderates laid down their
arms They were what remained OF
the army of $4,000 that had defended
the d-Petersburg fortress
camp through the winter.
While Longstreet faced eastward to
repel the pursuers Gordon that morn
Ing of the ninth Ind attacked west
ward IN an effort 20 open the way 10
Lynchburg But Gordon succeeded
Ia driving back Sheridan's cavalry on
~ to discover two corps Of federal IN
fantry barring his further advance.
The Army Of Northern Virginia was
virtually cnyelopcd, its history was
made. It's lot decided Lee recognize
I'D the futilty of further cndcavor
and proved his judgment by promptly
captivating.
There was stll confederate army
IN the field. that OF Johnston In
North Carolina. but Il was soon 10
surrender TO sherman. The end of
the confedsracy may be regarded az
having befallen with the surrender 10
Lee.
Rhetoric has painted tho scene and
will do 50 many times more General
Grant IN his Memoirs" has given Il
picturesque account. The people who
have seen the "Bith OF Nation, -
during it, weeks show here. have
witnessed faithful picture OF the
dramatic incident Lee was man
II commanding presence. very
handsome man; he looked what he
wns--a great captain ana great gen.
iieman, Grant was rather inslgniil-
cent In figure. plain IN feature and
ba had no grand manner. II WAS a
case Of cavalier ana puritan over
aeain.
Lee is the hero OF the south. lie
IL becoming hero or the whole ma
ton. Great captain though he was
he was greater gentleman in the
higher sense of tic term. truly noble,
prc-eminently honorable. magnnn-
nous, ehivalrous. Christian, 1t Ia
as Il great gentleman that he appeals
most 10 the imagination Of the south.
Iii the operations that commenced
al the Wilderness and ended at Ap-
pomaitox. Grant earned the victory.
Lee reaped the glory As captains
they were quite evenly matched
Grant always commanded superior
forces His virtue was that be used
them as neither Mcclellan. nor Hook
en- nor Meade had resolution 10 IA.
II bio was careless OF life. much as
the German commanders are today,
that IS mark OF a great command
er when he has men to spare to at
tain an end To attain the end is
the only object and justification "
war.
What sort Of defensive commander
Grant would have made is matter
Of speculation and ia really nothing to
the point His time and position.
Ike temperament and resources.
made him a mighty captain Of Of
Tense and as such he undoubtedly
ranks with the, foremost
Lee was undoubtedly Grants su.
pcrior as tactlclan on the field ofi
battle. His defense was marvellous.
considering his limited resources. his
inferior numbers Yet II should be-
remembered that he was operating on
interior lines that he narrowly cs-
capped development az Spottsylvanla,
and that escape was more by good
fortune than By merit As strateglst.
Grant was his superior
II was d great conflict. that ended
fits one years ago. IN a military sense
as well as politically. II has been
studied by specialists OF every coun-
Try The raw lesies of 1861 became
good fighters in 1s62. veterans in
1868 constituted armies IN 1854 AMI
1856 as good as ever have marched
to victory or defeat on any continent.
In any age