M. H. ROURKE, Bookseller and Stationer, 94 N. Pearl Street, Albany, N. Y. dass_f Book 1 fSO I '1 : ^ ■' ~ .X jL. RECEIVING HIS commission AS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL THE T ANNE R-B O Y HOW HE BECAME LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. By MAJOR PENNIMAN. D^-72] Son, CkeLrl, e*> VV/ieeUr- The boy is father to the man." FIFTH THOUSAND. BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 143, Washington Street. 1864. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 18&i, by ROBERTS BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. a . CHAPTER IX. HIS FIKST CAMPAIGN. OUR young friends have most if not all of them heard of the war between the republic of Mexico and the United States of America. It was begun in the year 1844, to resist an armed claim set up by Mexico to a part of the territory of Texas lying with- in our lines, and to recover certain debts owed by Mexicans to American merchants which they refused to pay. Some influential parties in the Southern portion of our country had encouraged the declaration of this war, and had joined with others to vote for it through Congress the necessary men and supplies to carry it on, for the purpose of acquiring more land on which to employ slaves, and thereby enrich those who pretended to own them. You must, however, bear this in mind, boys, that no man ever had any right to own another man. We do not even own ourselves : we all belong to God. How, then, if we do not own ourselves, can we own other people ? It would be just as fair for other people to own us as it would be for us to own them. God, says the Major, never made a slave. He [60] FIEST CAMPAIGN. 61 once allowed men to hold slaves, many years a^o, in the darker ages of the world ; but he told them he only allowed it because their own hearts were so hard they would do it. As soon as they had shown how far they would go in this great wickedness, he commanded them everywhere to repent, to break every yoke, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free. When they refused to do this, he punished them for many years ; and then sent his only Son, the blessed Savior of the world, to tell them and all mankind to do unto others as they would that others should do unto them. If this divine precept of the great Eedeemer were to be everywhere carried out, there would be no such thing as slavery, or any other sin, all over the world. Now, so far as this war with Mexico was designed by wicked men to extend and perpetuate the dreadful curse of slavery, it was a cruel wrong. But there were some who believed that even if the territory con- quered from Mexico should be used, at first, for keep- ing more men longer in bondage, in the end it would all become a free country. Of this number Ulysses Grant was one. Immediately after graduating from West Point, on the 1st of July, 1843, he was honored with a com- mission in the regular army of the United States as a brevet second lieutenant of infantry. This word " brevet," as before partly explained, means an hono- rary position in the army above the actual rank and 62 THE TAI^ER-BOY. pay of the officer holding it. Thus a major, by brevet or honorary distinction, serves as captain, and receives pay as such. Commissions of this kind were given in honor to the officers of the American army who did such good service to our country during the Eevo- lutionary War. They were brevetted for their bravery to grades of rank above those they held in the army. So young Grant, who had been serving as a cadet sergeant, was called, by brevet, or honor, a second lieutenant. With this rank he joined the Fourth Eegiment of the Regular Infantry, and was stationed on the western borders of the Territory of Missouri. He engaged in this service in pursuance of his oath, taken on entering the academy at West Point, to serve the United states, in the national army, for the period of eight years from the time he received his warrant as a cadet. A " warrant," you must learn from the Major, is different from a " commission " in this respect. A commission in the army or navy is an authority committed to an officer which empowers him to act, in a degree, independently. A warrant is a document, without the distinctive seals of a com- mission attached to it, given to officers below the rank of captain or lieutenant. The exchange of a warrant, therefore, for a commission, was an honor to our cadet, and at once inspired him with new hopes of other and higher promotions in his country's service. He entered at once on his duties as lieutenant, and passed immediately to the frontiers. The Indians of FIRST CAMPAIGN. G3 that region were then quite troublesome to the set- tlers ; and the protection of the territory from their savage incursions was a work of responsibility and danger. Grant engaged in it with all his character- istic zeal, and devotion to duty. The country was wild and romantic. Broad prairies, rolling like great round billows of the sea turned suddenly into earth and covered with turf, opened out before him, in wide contrast with the more limited area of the farms of Ohio, and more especially of the romantic though narrow defiles of West Point. In the sum- mer of his arrival the wild flowers were scattered, like autumn leaves, all over the ground, — the blue- bell, the harebell, the violet and the rose. Their fragrance at times, after a passing shower was over, filled all the air on every side. In some places the prairie was spread out like an ocean of space. Not a mound nor a hill nor a shrub nor a stone appeared in view. All was as level and smooth as the floor of a room, save the gentle wave -like undulation over his head. The clouds sailed along like ships on an unbounded sea, with no mountain or tree or spire in the distance to break the even surface of the circle of blue. Standing in the midst of the prairie the cadet-guard could feel how small a thing man is, as he looked up into the fathomless expanse of the sky, and over the unbroken area of earth, that, for sixty miles, swept its circuit around him. His companions, beside his little command and the 64 THE TANNER-BOY. scattered tribes of Indians', were the buffaloes, the deer, the wild turkeys, and prairie hens and ducks, that found a rich harvest always sowed for them by the kind Father in heaven, who opens his hand and supplies the wants of every living thing. This was not a spot in which Ulysses could be idle ; for, indeed, he could not be idle anywhere. He began immediately to assist the settlers as they moved in ; helping them, as a volunteer, to raise their houses of logs, lay out their roads, build their rail fences, plough and sow their fields, and thus to open and protect the progress of civilization. It was in this way he showed the practical points of his cha- racter to good effect, — that as he had been at home and at the academy, so he was now, and would always be, — for use rather than for show, for the substance and not the shadow. His course here on the Western prairies will show our boy-friends how much good they may accomplish in connection with their regular duties, if they but set about it as Ulysses did, — with a will. In the course of the ensuing year (1845) he was transferred, with the regiment to which he was then attached, into Texas. It was at Corpus Christi, in that territory, soon after his arrival, that his full com- mission as second lieutenant reached him. By this document he was transferred from the Fourth to the Seventh Regiment of Regular Infantry, and placed in the Texan Army of Occupation under the FIKST CAMPAIGN. 65 brave old General Zachary Taylor. It was deter- mined with this force to occupy Texas, and to main- tain it as a possession rightfully belonging to the United States. The port of Corpus Christi is situ- ated on the Texan shore of the river that separates a part of Texas from Mexico. The Americans at once took possession of and held it, for what is called, in military language, a base of operations, — a place from which they might send out their troops, and learn the condition of the Mexicans in that vicinity. We must now begin to -follow the path of Lieu- tenant Grant into new and untried fields. We shall see, as we progress, that his traits of character remain the same ; for such was the attachment awakened by him among his immediate comrades, and so great was the confidence in him, that at their request, in only a few weeks after he had been ordered to the Seventh Eegiment, he was honored by authority from the War Department at Washington with being replaced as full second lieutenant in his old Fourth Eegiment. The troops of Mexico and of the United States now joined battle in Texas. CHAPTER X. HIS CAMPAIGN CONTINUES. THE first battle-ground to which Lieut. Grant marched was for the relief of a besieged gar- rison. It was at Fort Brown, on the Texan side of the river known as the Rio Grande. The Mexi- cans had crossed the stream near this point with a large force, for the purpose of capturing the fort, and then driving the Americans from the territory. With the promptness and decision which always character- ized all the movements of that great American sol- dier, General Taylor moved forward to the fort. The garrison was already engaged, defending itself against the superior forces of the enemy, when Taylor marched to the spot. Young Grant, with his regiment, was soon on the field. It was the field of Palo Alto, fought on the 8th of May, 1846. The coolness, steadiness, and self-possession of his earlier youth, which had been rendered more perfect by a right application of the discipline of West Point, were now found to be of practical service to his country and himself. The few orders that it devolved on him to give were given in a few words, spoken in a low, [6G] CAMPAIGN CONTINUES. 67 collected tone. His manner, in the midst of danger for the first time, clearly proved that he understood perfectly well what he was about. His comrades all united to testify to his bravery and skill. The Fourth Kegiment won new honors on the occasion. Several brevets were appropriately conferred on senior offi- cers. The modest young lieutenant was noticed in a becoming manner at headquarters. It was his first fight, — his first public impulse to duty in the field. On the next day, as Taylor pressed on in his steady march to the beleaguered fort, occurred the battle of Eesaca de la Palma. This was a still harder fought one than that of Palo Alto. The Fourth Eegiment was again distinguished. Lieut. Grant was repeat- edly noticed for his deeds of gallantry. He was a true soldier. All saw and admitted that. Calm, quiet, retiring, his position as a junior officer was made at once on the field of battle. Driving the defeated Mexicans before it the army of Taylor moved on. Fort Brown was at once re- lieved. Its guns were speedily turned by the victors on the scattering enemy, who were driven in disorder across the Kio Grande, back again into Mexico. The advance of the army up the river speedily re- leased the country of Texas from the thraldom of Mexican jurisdiction. Our young lieutenant partici- pated in every march, and shared in every conflict ; entering the territory of Mexico, with the victorious Taylor, on the navigable waters at New Leon. From 68 THE TANNER-BOY. this point lie passed with his regiment to Monterey, where the enemy occupied a strongly fortified posi- tion. Here Grant had his first opportunity of learn- ing; in battle the nature of intrenchments, the best manner of approaching them, and the means most likely to dislodge an enemy. His instructions at West Point flashed upon him in a moment, and he profited at once by what he had learned. His own part in the brilliant engagement of Taylor with the batteries on that occasion was quite humble, as became his position of lieutenant ; but he made his own observations, and possessed his practical mind of both the strong and weak points of the situation. When the time came for driving the enemy from the intrenchments Grant was there, at his post, and shared in the triumph of the scene. At this point in the history of the Mexican cam- paign new features were developed. It was now in the fall of the year 1846, and General Scott was about leading the whole American force as com- mander-in-chief. A regular declaration of war had been made by the Congress of the United States. In a short time, Vera Cruz, the strongest port in Mexico on the sea-coast, was in our possession. It was decided that the movement on the city of Mexico, the capital of the nation, by what was called the northern route, on which General Taylor had been pursuing his victorious march, should be abandoned, and the approach be made by the way of Vera Cruz. Portions SCENES IN MEXICO. 69 of the troops of Taylor were taken from him, carried down the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico, and joined to those of Scott. The Fourth Regiment of Infantry was of this force ; and, of course, Lieut. Grant accompanied them to the new theatre of war. In the ensuing month of April he went forward with Scott's wing of the army. Unusual prepara- tions, requiring much tact, energy and skill, were demanded in the various departments to secure the safe and speedy transit through a strange territory of so large a body of men, with their provisions, horses, artillery, siege-trains and other munitions of war. Grant was seen at once to be peculiarly fitted for this responsible position ; and he was therefore appointed regimental quartermaster. He remained at this post on the staff during all the residue of the campaign in Mexico. Entering on the march from Vera Cruz, toward the interior the novelty of the country instructed and pleased his active mind. With his usual industry and tact he found time to write an occasional letter home. In one of these, he thus discourses : — In Camp, ex route to Mexico, May 10, 1847. My dear Parents, — We are progressing steadily to- ward the Mexican capital. Since I last wrote you my position has been rendered more responsible and laborious. You may learn the progress of the old Fourth by the pa- 70 THE TANNER-BOY. pers; and I do not mean you shall ever hear of my shirking my duty in battle. My new post of quartermaster is con- sidered to afford an officer an opportunity to be relieved from fighting ; but I do not and cannot see it in that light. You have always taught me that the post of danger is the post of duty. That is* the way Warren looked at it, you remember, when he asked Gen. Putnam where he would send him, in the battle of Bunker Hill. " I shall send you, Mr. President," replied Putnam (for you recol- lect that Warren was the President of the Continental Con- gress at that time), " to a place of safety." — " No, General," said Warren quickly : " send me where the fight may be the hottest ; for there I can do the most good to my country." So I feel in my position as quartermaster. I do not in- tend it shall keep me from fighting for our dear old flag, when the hour of battle comes. But I must not talk all the time about war. I shall try to give you a few descriptions of what I see in this coun- try. It has in it many wonderful things, you are aware, so different from Ohio, West Point, and the Indian territories of Missouri. Mexico is in many parts very mountainous. Its hill- sides are crowned with tall palms, whose waving leaves at a height of fifty or sixty feet from the ground present a splendid appearance. They toss to and fro in the winds like plumes in a helmet ; their deep green glistening in the sunshine, or glittering in the moonbeams, in the most beau- tiful manner. The table-land is high and pleasant, inter- spersed with many verdant valleys. Some of the mountains, near the coast of the Pacific Ocean, are very lofty, and vol- canic in their character. One of these, on the extreme northern border, is over ten thousand feet high above the SCENES IN MEXICO. 71 plain ; and the plain is supposed to be eight thousand feet above the level of the sea. The more central part of the country, through which we are passing, does not have so many high .mountains ; but it is very much broken, and some of the cliffs are very steep, and the gorges below very deep. As we pass along from the seaboard to the interior we cannot but be struck with the influence produced on the atmosphere by this mountain air. Mexico, you recollect, is located in the torrid zone, where the weather is supposed to be always warm ; but here we find it temperate and healthy to a remarkable degree. The soil abounds with grain, such as wheat and maize, and vegetables, sugar-cane, roots, and fruits of vari- ous kinds. With proper cultivation, cotton can be pro- duced in large quantities. The number of plants that yield balsams, gums, resins, and oils, is very great. Below the surface of the earth are to be found gold, silver, cop- per, lead, iron, tin, zinc, sulphur, alum, vitriol, cinnibar, ochre, quicksilver, and other mineral productions. In some places are to be found diamonds, amethysts, cornelians, and other precious stones. There are in the hills, sometimes, great masses of loadstones, as large as the largest houses ; and quarries of jasper, porphyry, and most beautiful green and golden marble. The manufactures are earthen and stone ware, glass, spirits, sugars, tissues of cotton, paper, woollen and silk fabrics. Very large supplies of medical minerals and herbs are constantly produced from the in- terior. # All kinds of horned cattle abound in these parts of Mexico. They range over the immense plains in droves, occasionally numbering forty thousand. Their meat is not always the most desirable ; but their hides are sent in great 72 THE TANNER-BOY. quantities to England, France, and the United States. Over ten millions of hides of cattle, and skins of smaller ani- mals, are at times sent away from Mexico in a single year. I have been much delighted with the Mexican birds. They are found here in immense numbers. There are over two hundred different kinds peculiar to the country. Many of these have a plumage that is superlatively splendid; but the display of their music does not equal that of their colors. The singing of the Mexican birds, as a general thing, is not as clear nor as strong nor as varied as that of the birds of the United States. They beat ours in show ; but they do not equal them in harmony. The city of Mexico, to which we are now marching, and which we expect to possess in a few weeks, is, as you know, one of the most beautifully located in the world. It was originally built with great care. The streets are wide ; and as the cooling winds come down from the neigh- boring mountains, sweeping over fields of clover, groves of magnolias, orchards of oranges, and gardens of flowers, they fill the air with a delightful and healthful fragrance. The city is built at right angles, with perfect regularity. In this respect it will compare favorably with any other capital or metropolis in either of the four quarters of the earth. But I hear the taps as I write, and must be on the move. I have written this letter with my sword fastened on my side, and my pistols within reach ; not knowing but that the next moment I may be called into 'battle again. With remembrance to all our friends, I remain, Dear parents, your son, U. S. Grant. Mr. Jesse R. Grant, Georgetown, Brown County, 0. CHAPTER XI. TAKES PART IN BATTLES. aUARTERMASTER GRANT was now mov- ing forward with the main army under Gen. Scott. He discharged his duties faithfully in the quartermaster's department, but determined to lose no opportunity on that account to share in the con- flicts of his comrades. The battle of Molino del Rey, one of the most sanguinary of the war, was fought on the ensuing 8th of September, 1847. Leaving his disposition of quarters in good hands, he stepped quietly into the fight, and at once took an active part. His courage and tact were so conspicuous on this occasion that he was appointed a first lieutenant of infantry, on the field. The Congress of the United States proposed to confirm this as a brevet appointment ; but Grant modestly declined, saying thaWie preferred to reach the post by regular gradations of service. Five days later, — Sept. 13, 1847, — followed the sanguinary engagement of Chepultepec. Grant was again in the field, more active than ever. His gal- lantry was so marked as to attract attention on every side. 7 [73] 74 THE TANNEK-BOY. " Did you see young Grant ? " inquired one officer of another the next morning after the battle. " Yes : I saw he was in the right spot just in the nick of time," replied his associate. " How was it ? " asked another, who had been in a different part of the field. " Why," added the first speaker, his eye lighting up as he spoke, " it was a splendid thing in Grant. I had just succeeded in reaching the fort with a mere handful of men. We were all tired out climbing up the steep bank, and our ammunition was nearly exhausted. Grant dashed in with a squad of brave fellows from his Fourth Infantry. We joined our forces together, and divided ammunition. We then pushed forward in the face of a furious fire, carried the strong field-work of the enemy, and completely turned his right." " I saw Lieut. Grant at the first barrier," said a soldier of the gallant Fourth to a comrade, as they rested together in victory under the shade of a chap- arral. " The enemy was in strong force, and stood his ground well. We had to be very cautious how we came up under hi^ raking fire ; for, you see, he enfiladed us the whole length of the line. So up we went slowly, creeping along, until the head of the battalion was within short musket-range of the bar- rier. At this point, Lieut. Grant came up hand- somely, pushed forward with our men, and drove in the enemy's flank." TAKES PART IN BATTLES. 75 "I knew the command the moment it came up," added the fellow-soldier. "The rear of the enemy had made a good stand, the breastwork was strong, and the conflict was a sharp one. One of our howit- zers was mounted on the top of a convent* near by, and Lieut. Grant helped to manage it. His aim was splendid, and every shot told. I never saw nobler conduct in any battle." This spontaneous testimony of his comrades was well attested by his superiors. The brave hero, Gen. Worth, mentions him with credit in his report of the battle of Chepultepec ; and other officers do the same in theirs. The bravery of Grant was so distinguished on this occasion that he was singled out for honorable mention. But one other officer was thus noticed out of his whole brigade in the field. This meritorious conduct at once secured him the rank of brevet captain in the regular army. His commission dated from Sept. 13, 1847, — the day of the Chepultepec battle. Congress confirmed this brevet at the subsequent session of 1849 ; and it so stands on the official records of the War Department at Washington. While holding this brevet rank of captain he was duly promoted to a first lieutenancy in the old Fourth Regiment of Re- gular Infantry ; a confirmation of his good conduct in the service. Cadets Augur and Judah, now generals in the United-States Army, fellow-students of Grant at 76 THE TANNER-BOY. West Point, were in Mexico, and shared with him the dangers and honors of several battles. But whatever may be the distinctions these and others of his associates have reached, or may yet reach, his own career is sufficiently marked to render it one full of instruction, especially to the young. He went to Mexico an unknown officer in a large regi- ment of regular troops. He had no outside influences of wealth and power to bring in his favor : neither the commander-in-chief, Gen. Scott, nor the sec- ond in command, Gen. Taylor, knew him by per- son from any other second lieutenant in the army. The reason that he succeeded, therefore, was, not that others helped, but because the true elements of success were in him. He was obedient to his parents, when a boy : therefore he profited by then good ad- vice. He was industrious : therefore he made con- stant progress with his studies. He was honorable and courteous : therefore his comrades among the cadets gave him their respect and esteem. He was practical : therefore he took hold of all kinds of useful work, and was ready to help the hardy pioneers of the wilderness. He was courageous : therefore he was found in the front of the battle, doing his whole duty like a man. Where is the boy who will not go and do like- wise? CHAPTER XH. AT THE SURRENDER OF MEXICO. HAYING taken part in nearly all the battles that preceded the surrender of the city of Mexico, Lieut. Grant had the happiness to participate in that occasion. The surrender took place on the fourteenth of September, 1847. Grant was present, with the Fourth Regiment of Infantry, within the gates, and saw the American flag hoisted* in triumph on the national palace. It was a proud hour to him, as it was to every American ; for the events connected with it had proved the power of the % United States as it had never been proved before. The claim of this nation to the territory in Texas was settled ; and, to pay the expenses of the war, Mexico ceded all the country known as California and New Mexico to the American Union. The volunteer troops of the United-States Army were now disbanded, and returned to their several homes. The portion of the regular army that had been employed in Mexico was ordered back in a body to different military posts. The regiment to which Grant belonged was landed in the city of New York, [77] 78 ' THE TANNER-BOY. and received handsome attentions from the citizens. But little did they think, as the young lieutenant stepped on shore at the Battery and quietly reported himself for duty, as ordered by his superior officer, to the United - States commandant on Governor's Island, in the harbor, that he would, in a few years, pass through their great city in the possession of the highest military honors in the power of his grateful country to bestow upon him. His position as Brevet Capt. Grant was now fixed in the service. The Fourth was broken up into com- panies, and ordered to detached service. He was again sent to the frontiers ; but, this time, it was to the North instead of the South. His station was in command of his confpany in the northern part of the State of New York. As he passed up the Hudson River, and came in sight of the lofty promontories of West Point and vicinity, what a rush of feelings swept the heart of Capt. Grant ! From that dear spot of study and discipline he had gone forth to the wilds of the West, among Indian marauders, to the everglades and swamps of Texas, and to the plains and moun- tains of Mexico, in the service of his native land. How kindly had the great Father in heaven led him along, preserved his life from danger, and brought him back to the haunts of other days ! The young captain lifted his thoughts in gratitude to the Su- preme Being, and passed on to his new post of duty. His parents soon heard of his return, and STATIONED AT THE WEST. 79 gladly welcomed him with their letters ; while he promptly acknowledged their affectionate remem- brance. The stay in the New- York Department was but of short duration. Grant was ordered to rejoin his regi- ment, which was then sent to the Department of the Pacific. Here was an entirely new field. A battal- ion of the regiment, with Grant attached, was for- warded up the coast, and stationed in Oregon. The country of Oregon borders on the Pacific Ocean, west of the Rocky Mountains. Like all the region around it is mountainous, but abounds in fer- tile valleys, and has three distinct divisions of soil, productions and climate. At the time Capt. Grant reached it, the territory was much molested by hostile Indians. Some of the white people, in turn, had become lawless ; having rushed in with a thirst for gold from nearly all quarters of the world. This class needed as much restraint from the strong arm of military law as the Indians did. The nature of the Oregon country was, in some respects, well suited to the inquiring and expanding mind of the young captain. He saw at a glance that he was again at the outposts of civilization , and that there was much patriotic work for him to do. His headquarters were at Fort Dallas, and the ordinary duties of the garrison were comparatively circum- scribed. But without, and beyond, the waves of pop- ulation were rolling in. The country was being settled 80 THE TANNER-BOY. under a republican form of government ; and he held it in trust as of the first importance that it should be settled right. There was an area around him of two hundred and ten thousand square miles, and millions of inhabitants could find good homes in the territory. The division called the Cascade Range he saw to be genial in its climate throughout the year. The valley of the Willamette, in this region, is exceedingly fer- tile. The intervals and prairies are the best of land, abounding in rich pasturage, with valuable timber. The division between the Cascade Range and the Blue Mountains is generally a light soil, interspersed with some beautiful vales. The west of it is a fine grazing region. The remaining division lies between the Rocky Mountains and Blue Mountains, and is nearly all rocky and rough, with some valleys of great fer- tility. Gold is found in the southern portion of the territory. Live stock, wheat, wool, Indian corn, butter, and vegetables, are abundant ; and the streams swarm with fish, and the woods with game. The principal articles of export are lumber and agricul- tural produce. It was in this region, in the year 1808, that the first trading post was planted on the banks of the Lewis River. After this, in 1810, the Pacific Fur Company, under the great American merchant, John Jacob Astor, of New York, was formed. In 1811, this company founded the colony of " Astoria," at the mouth of the Columbia River. The colony was called after Mr. Astor, and .the river ENTERS CIVIL LIFE. 81 after the ship c Columbia,'' of Boston ; in which vessel Capt. Robert Gray discovered it, in the year 1792, and opened it to commerce and civilization. This was the broad area to which our Capt. Grant was now sent in command of a United States fort. While there on duty he received his full promotion to the rank of captain of infantry. His commission bore date from August, 1853. The Government permanently attached him to the Department of the West ; and there was every prospect that he wouM remain in this portion of the service. Young as he was his influence for good was felt all among the natives and settlers who came within the sphere of the fort. The prayers of his good Christian mother followed him from the shores of the Atlantic to those of the Pacific. The faithful counsels of his father continued to be pressed upon him in letters from home. His example for temperance, modest and consistent deportment, was a credit to the service of the United States. But the active mind of Grant could not be satisfied with the mere routine of military life in time of peace. He entered the army for work, not for rest ; to serve his country, when attacked; not to be support- ed in comparative idleness. Anticipating, from the prospects opening to the nation, that there was a long-continued period of inactivity before him as an army officer, in the year 1854 he tendered his resig- nation. 82 THE TANNER-BOY. We now behold him in an entirely new field. How will he succeed? We shall see. It was the right use of his military talents that made the tanner-boy a Lieutenant-General of the United-States Army. But he was as well adapted for success in civil life. Having been brought up to work he turned to it natu- rally, as every boy who has been educated right will do when he becomes a man. Capt. Grant (for he still retained his title by cour- tesy) was now about thirty years of age. He had served his country faithfully, as a cadet and soldier, nearly fifteen years. Having married Miss Dent, of St. Louis, a lady of sterling sense and elegant man- ners, he settled near that city, in the State of Missouri, and devoted himself to the independent business of farming. "Who's that coining down the street there, with that load of wood for sale ? " inquired a gentleman of one of his neighbors in one of the streets of Caronde- let, Mo. "Ask him, and he will tell you," was the ready but courteous reply. The woodman, meanwhile, was steadily approach- ing where the two neighbors were standing. " May I inquire of you how far you have brought your wood ? " said the first speaker to the farmer. " Certainly you may ask me, sir ; and I will tell BECOMES A FARMER. 83 you with pleasure. I brought the load from a few miles to the south-west of St. Louis." "Did you cut it yourself?" "Yes, sir." "What is your price?" " I ask only the market-price, — four dollars a cord." " I will take it. You may drive your load to my cellar-door, and dump it there." No sooner said than done. The purchaser walked along by the side of the team. The driver was dressed in a blue blowze ; his pants were crowded in at the top of his strong boots ; and his head was surmounted with a plain felt-hat, suited to his work. He looked, as he was, an honest, industrious American farmer, earning his living by the sweat of his brow. As the gentleman buying the load of wood handed the farmer his money (having previously noticed something in his manner that struck him) , he politely inquired, — "I am about to enter my purchase, and may want more wood ; will you be kind enough to give me your name ? " "My name is Grant, sir, — U. S. Grant." " Are you from Ohio ? " "Yes, sir : I was born in Clermont County, about twenty-five miles above Cincinnati." " I thought so. It struck me I knew you, when I 84 THE TANNER-BOY. first saw you up the street. Your father is Jesse R. Grant, the tanner, of Brown County?" "Yes, sir; the same." " Captain Grant, allow me to take your hand. Some of us have heard of you in Texas and Mexico. Your coming here, sir, is a pleasure to us." These kind expressions of the people were often repeated, as Farmer Grant carried his wood and other produce of his industry to market. His home here, as it always had been everywhere, was a place of study as well as toil. The library of his neat little dwelling was not numerous ; but it con- tained all the really valuable books suitable to his position. Prominent among them might be seen the Holy Bible, and by the side of that was the Constitu- tion of the United States. Next in order was a History of America, and next to that the Life of George Washington. He was partial, also, to the Memoirs of La Fayette, Barons de Kalb and Steu- ben, and the brave Kosciusko, whose monument he loved so well to visit when a cadet at West Point. In military works, those of a strictly scientific character were his choice. Mingled with these, his modest shelves were well filled with select miscellaneous books, clearly indicating the bent of his mind as a sturdy, thoughtful, well-informed Ame- rican citizen. His neighbors, reposing confidence in his strict in- A COLLECTOR FOR THE PEOPLE. 85 tegrity and sedate habits, selected him to transact their business for them in the way of collecting their* dues. It was now winter. The snow lay thick, at times, on the frozen ground. " You will oblige me by collecting this bill for me to-day," said one of his nearest townsmen to- him early one morning. " Are you ready ? " " Yes, sir," he replied : " I am ready, if it's all right." " What do you mean by all right ? You don't in- tend to imply, I presume, that I would hand you an unjust bill to collect?" "Not at all, sir," responded our new civil officer. "I meant nothing of the kind." "What then?" "Why, sir, the winter is upon us, and the weather is bitter cold." "True, Capt. Grant. I admit that, sir. But you've been in the army several years ; you've seen some hard service < I hope you don't mean to shrink back on account of the weather ? " "By no means, sir!" quickly responded Grant, raising his voice a little. "You entirely misunder- stand me, sir. I am not in the habit of shirking any duty, however irksome. What I mean is this, sir. The present is a time of suffering among the poor, from various causes, which some of them cannot 86 THE TANNER-BOY. help. May I ask you if these persons who owe you this bill are sober, industrious people, who are doing the best they can ? " n Why — yes — I believe they are." "Do you learn that they are in distress for money ? " " Yes, sir : I understand they are rather hard up." K And is that the reason you want me to press them to pay your bill ? " "Yes, captain; that is my object in coming to you." " Then, sir, allow me to say, with all due respect, that you may collect your bill yourself; for I can't do it." The neighbor folded #p his bill, and put it away in his pocket. He looked at Capt. Grant, then at the snow-covered earth, and went home feeling better than he did toward the poor. It must not be understood from this incident that Farmer Grant was utterly indifferent to the honest acquisition of money. He put a right estimate on money as one of the means of promoting usefulness and happiness in human society. But he did not fall down to it, nor worship it, nor exalt those who had it merely because they had it, nor despise those who had it not. He set a good example of industry by being always at work at something honorable. There was not an idle bone in his body. His personal habits were simple, frugal, economical. When he BEFRIENDS THE POOR. 87 contracted debts, he made every effort in bis power to pay them ; and always repaid, as promptly as possi- ble, every dollar of borrowed money. Temperate, indefatigable, persevering, he was ever ready, while he worked hard for himself and family, to share his wood and other products of his little farm with the worthy poor. Noble Ulysses ! he had not lived in vain as the tanner-boy. CHAPTER XIII. CONTINUES IN CIVIL LITE. THE resignation by Capt. Grant of his former position in the regular army was the result of a conscientious conviction of duty. He had been faithfully serving his country for more than two years, four hundred miles in the deep forests of Oregon, away from his family. Returning to his home, honorably discharged, his occupation as a farmer was continued in the county of St. Louis, Mo., until in the year 1859, he entered into business with his" father. They opened a leather and saddlery store in the town of Galena, Illinois, under the firm of Jesse R. Grant and Son. Galena is a flourishing town, situated on the river Fever. The site is nearly six miles above the point where the Fever forms a junction with the Mis- sissippi. Like other places in that region it is built on a high bluff, with the ' streets running parallel with the river, and laid out in the form of parapets, one above another. Passages are opened from street to street by means of flights of steps. It is an important town, having the great American [88J AT GALENA. 89 lead-mines in its vicinity. Being located on the Chicago and Galena Railway, not far from Spring- field, the capital of the State of Illinois, and having a navigable river at its base, where the largest West- ern steamboats come and go at all seasons of the year, it possesses many points of commercial impor- tance. It may well be called the lead metropolis of America. Steamboats, rail-cars and stages centre around it in abundance, keeping up constant inter- course with Chicago, Springfield, Cincinnati, Louis- ville, St. Louis and New Orleans. Some idea of the trade of Galena may be formed from the fact that more than fifty millions of pounds of lead were sent from the city recently during a single year. The value of this article, even at former prices, or before the Slaveholders' Rebellion broke out in 1861, was over two millions of dollars per annum. At least three thousand persons have been steadily em- ployed at the mines. Different kinds of ores of zinc and copper, with their sulphurs and carbons, are very productive in the vicinity of Galena. Zinc is lying on the surface in thousands of tons ; and, as fast as coal can be procured, the ore is smelted, and brought to market. Sheets of sulphate of iron, ranging as deep as six feet under the earth, are found in large extent, and are being turned to profitable account. It was in the midst of this rich country that young Capt. Grant now made his home. Here he learned 8 90 THE TAXNER-BOY. more and more, by a practical business experience, the vast value of the Union that binds the loyal American States together. He saw the mountains, rivers and plains all united together in the common bond of creation. He traced the navigable waters of the great river of the West from near his own door to the delta of the Gulf of Mexico ; and he said to himself " This country is all one ; and, by the help of God, it shall be kept one for ever." Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, are all connected in trade with Galena. The interests of freedom are identified with its prosperity. Hence, when Capt. Grant went into business at such an important point, he comprehended at once the whole scope of the position. He entered into trade and commerce with the same devotion that he had shown in his boyhood to his early pursuits at his books, at drills at West Point and in the battle-fields of Texas and Mexico. As it had always been with him, as whatever he undertook he engaged in with all his heart, so it was now in the leather store. He per- fectly mastered the arts, mysteries, and routine of the traffic. Nothing was left half done. There was no such word as " can't " in his business dictionary. It was a sufficient guaranty for a hide or skin of leather that the dealer could say — "It comes from the store of Grant and Son, Galena." In such active scenes as these, the patriotic con- victions of his mind grew deeper and stronger every NO POLITICIAN. 91 day. He rose above the turmoil of party politics. All attempts to enlist him in petty political squabbles always failed. He loved all parts of his country alike ; for he had faithfully served it all in the dangers and privations of war. The North and the South, the East and the West, were equally dear to his heart ; and he felt ready, at any moment, to peril his life again on their united behalf. " Good-morning, sir ! " said one of his neighbors, a talkative politician, who had dropped in at the store. "Have you heard the news?" "What news?" " Why, the news of the election down in Egypt ? " "No, sir; I have not heard it: and, to tell you the truth, I don't care to hear it." " But you have your opinion about such matters." "Yes, sir; I have a firm conviction with regard to our national affairs : above every thing else, I agree with Washington and Jackson, that our Union should be preserved. But, sir, as to mere party politics, I don't know any thing about them ; and, what is more, I don't want to. I am not in the habit of associating with mere politicians, and I am rather inclined to think I never shall be. Those who con- sult my wishes will never broach party politics to me. Excuse me, sir ; but there is one subject on which I feel perfectly at home. Talk to me about that, my friend, and I shall be happy to hear you." "What is that, captain?" 92 THE TANNER-BOY. " Tanning leather ! " This characteristic reply is now a matter of history. It shows he was not above his business ; that he was not ashamed of it ; that he was still the tanner-boy, and no mere party politician. CHAPTER XIV. PUTS ON HIS ARMOR AGAIN. " "ITYTELL, father ! the traitors have fired on old * I Sumter ! " cried Capt. Grant, as he entered the store in Galena on the morning of the 15 th of April, 1861. "What! fired on the American flag?" " Yes ! A body of seven thousand rebels have attacked Major Anderson in the fort, set the barracks on fire, and driven our brave boys out ! " " Did Anderson give up the colors ? " "No, sir: he has carried them with him, and brought them off in triumph ! God bless him ! " "This is startling news, my son. What shall we do to restore the flag?" "I tell you what I shall do, sir! I shall volun- teer ! " " Good ! I like your pluck. I would do the same, if I were not too old. But what will your wife say to it?" " My family, father, are in the hands of my God and my country. I believe that both God and coun- try are calling me to volunteer ; and I am not afraid to leave my family in such good hands." [931 94 THE TANNER-BOY. In a few moments more our hero was across the threshold of his house. " Wife, what do you say ? I am going again to •war ! " There was an answering look that met his at that moment. It was more tender than that of the father in the store. Its brief glance told a sweet story of home joys. The witnessing tears that gushed silently to the eyelashes, and trembled a moment there ere they were dashed gently away, spoke louder than the father's words had spoken. But a moment more, and the firm consent followed. It was such a consent as a hero's wife loves to give a hero. In yet another moment the mother steps quietly forward. " Go, Ulysses ! go, my dear son ! And may the blessing of Jehovah of hosts go with you ! " " I knew you would all consent," said the captain, as he glanced his eye quickly and firmly to where some portions of his former armor were suspended ; " for, if ever there was a just cause for fighting, it is this in which I now volunteer." Brief, though tender and loving, were the parting words. In a few hours more Capt. Grant was on his way to the capital and governor of the State. "Governor Yates," said he, the moment he came into the executive council-chamber, " will you accept my services as a volunteer from Illinois ? " "Most gladly I will, Capt. Grant," replied the governor ; " and will immediately appoint you on my VOLUNTEERS FOR THE UNION. 95 staff, with the position of mustering-officer of volun- teers for the State." " I desire more active service, governor, if I can obtain it. I am anxious to go forward as soon as possible to the front." " President Lincoln has called for seventy thousand volunteers, and his own State of Illinois must furnish her full quota. You will be much needed, Capt. Grant, in the work of gathering and preparing the men." "All right, governor; all right, sir. But allow me to say I went to West Point and served my country as a cadet, to learn to fight men in the field, rather than to recruit them at home." " Very true, captain ; but your experience in Mex- ico will be of great service in preparing our officers and men at home. When the time comes, at the first moment, you shall have a regiment, and go for- ward." "Thank you, governor. That offer is more than I expected. You give me more than I deserve. But I have always felt, sir, that the cadets of West Point owe every thing they are or may be to our country. Our first duty is to her. All that we have of educa- tion, skill, discipline, and experience, should be laid at once on her altar, especially at a time when the very existence of our national fabric is assailed by treason." "You shall have the appointment of colonel, sir," 96 THE TANNER-BOY. concluded the governor ; and Capt. Grant went in- stantly to work. His substantial military education and competent business habits were now turned to good account. The whole of the great State of Illinois had to be canvassed for men. It embraces an area of nearly sixty thousand square miles, — almost as large as all England and Wales. There are one hundred coun- ties, containing several large towns, and a population of nineteen hundred thousand. Thanks to the justice, wisdom, and patriotism of the fathers, there are no slaves in the State. To this fact, under the approving smiles of Heaven, may be attributed its astonishing growth in comparison with the neighboring slave States. Those free, independent yeomen, therefore, rallied at the call of their governor ; and Grant soon found himself surrounded by a busy multitude, eager for the defence of the insulted banner of the Repub- lic. His exertions in obtaining volunteers were crowned with complete success. The quota of Illi- nois was more than filled at the appointed time, and at once set in the field. His work well done, Grant waited not long for the redemption of the promise of the governor. His commission soon came as colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Infantry. It was dated in June, — the Bunker-Hill month, — 1861, and found him all ready to enter instantly on his arduous duties. Without a moment's delay he left the capital of the State, and placed himself at the head AITOINTED COLONEL. 97 of his regiment. Their equipment and drill he super- intended in person, entering into the feelings of his men with the minuteness and patience of detail that we have seen distinguish his character. It was not long before he was ordered to active duty in Missouri. That State was then" a part of the seat of war. He was called to guard the Hannibal and Hudson Railway, — an important branch of travel and transportation running across the northern part of the State, from the Mississippi to the town of St. Joseph, near the Kansas border, and connecting, through the main lines, the East and West. This was a very responsible post, especially in that gueril- la portion of the country. In a short time he was called to garrison the post of Pilot Knob, still nearer the point of hostilities. The erection of fortifications here afforded Col. Grant an opportunity to apply his powers in his usual thorough manner. From thence he marched to Ironton, in the same State ; and still further forward, to Marble Creek, where another fort was thrown up by his regiment. On the 23d of August, while busily engaged with his active duties in the field, our colonel was raised to the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers ; his commission dating from May 17, 1861. At the commencement of the year 1864, his name stands in the list of the generals appointed on the same day with him, just where it stands in the list of his fellow- graduates at West Point, — right in the centre. Ilia 98 THE TANNER-BOY. promotion was perfectly in accordance with liis mer- its. No outside or political influence was brought to bear in his favor. He had done his duty faithfully. His knowledge of his business, the result of hard study, was superior. His personal manners were agreeable, and his habits were good. Hence his promotion, — more rapid and eminent for distin- guished services than that of any general of our day. His transfer to the great central point of Cairo followed his appointment as brigadier-general. This town, like the magnificent city in Egypt from which it derives its name, is situated in the midst of a well- watered country, and commands the resources of an immense and very fruitful agricultural district. The post commanded by Gen. Grant included within its military jurisdiction the Missouri shore of the Mis- sissippi Eiver, from Cape Girardeau to New Madrid. The State of Kentucky, at that time, as a border slave State, was supposed to occupy a neutral posi- tion. Of this fact the leaders of the Rebellion took every advantage in then power. They stationed their forces close by the Kentucky border* so that they could cross over at a moment's warning, and, by secret strategy, gain occasional successes. Grant immediately perceived this operation, and proceeded to check it. His post commanded the mouth of the river Ohio, and was the key to the Upper Mississippi and Upper* Missouri. He determined that Cairo, CAIRO CAMPAIGN. 99 thus situated, should not be merely a base for army supplies, but the theatre of active operations upon the enemy. He knew that he could hold it against all comers as a defensive military position of the greatest possible value. He immediately seized the town of Paducah, a strong post on the Tennessee River, in Kentucky. The act showed his strategy ; for he at once commanded by it large portions of interior navigable waters which the traitors had sur- reptitiously possessed, and through which they were forcing all the supplies they could obtain. While his headquarters were still retained at Cairo, he forti- fied himself at all the adjacent strong points. The possession of Smithland, at the mouth of the river Cumberland, soon after followed ; and thus the De- partment of South-eastern Missouri was enlarged and enriched as a base of future operations. But his command at Cairo and his consequent control over an extended and wealthy region did not inflate Gen. Grant. The spirit that ruled so well the tanner-boy now ruled the general. When he came to enter Paducah the flags of the Rebellion were flying from many parts of the town. Only a short distance off was a large body of well-armed rebel troops, ready, it was reported, to turn back on the entering Union soldiers at a given signal. The loyal inhabitants joined together to welcome us ; but there was a strong body of rebel sympathizers waiting for the moment to come when they could begin their 100 THE TANNER-BOY. outrages. It was a critical emergency for Gen. Grant, and well did he prove himself equal to it. As soon as he took possession of all the strong points of the town, — the telegraph-office, the railway-station, the hospitals, hotels, and warehouses, — he displayed his moderation and caution in a plain, straightforward address, in which he said to the inhabitants : — " I am come among you, not as an enemy, but as your fellow- American ; not to maltreat and annoy you, but to respect and enforce the rights of all loyal citizens. I am here to defend you against the common enemy, who has planted his guns on your soil, and fired upon you ; and to assist the authority and sovereignty of your Government. I have nothing to do with opinions, and shall deal only with armed rebellion and its aiders and abettors. You can pursue your usual avocations without fear. The strong arm of the Government is here to protect its friends, and punish its enemies. Whenever it is manifest that you are able to defend yourselves, maintain the authority of the Government, and protect the rights of loyal citizens, I shall withdraw the forces under my command. % "U. S. Grant, "Brig.- Gen. Commanding. ' ' How happily does this military document show the soldierly spirit of Grant ! He was in the midst of enemies, with an ample force at his command ; in the presence of an excited mob, who were heaping curses and insults on the flag of our country ; yet so perfect was his self-possession, so calm was the temper to NO GEW-GAWS. 101 which discipline had enabled him to reach, that he put forth no exercise of power beyond the ordinary police regulations of the town. Our worst revilers were compelled to admit his noble magnanimity and strict sense of justice. The camp at Cairo was now established. Like that at West Point it was on the bluff of a river, although much more extensive. In his demeanor he was the same here that we saw him to be when a cadet. " Who is that plain-looking officer ? " inquired one visitor of another, as they passed through the fort. " That officer with the slouehed hat and open coat, that look as if they were just ready to fall off? " re- sponded his friend. " Yes ; that's the one. I reckon he is in the habit of thinking of something else beside dress." " That's so ; and something much more important." " Why, look at some of the other officers ! They seem as if they had just come out of a lady's band- box and a barber's chair. See their bright buttons ! their glistening shoulder-straps ! their sashes crossed and recrossed, with the long tassels hanging down ! " "Ay, look at that elegant little army-regulation cap, so jauntily set on one side of the head to show off the curling ringlets, so well polished with oil, and so sweetly scented with perfume ! " " What a contrast between these officers and the one I inquired about ! Who did you say he was ? " 102 THE TANNER-BOY. " That, sir, is Gen. Grant, every inch a soldier and a gentleman." "I notice him now. I see his eye and step. I have ' no doubt you have characterized him cor- rectly." And so he had. CHAPTER XV. TESTIMONY TO HIS ASSOCIATES. ONE of the noblest traits in the character of Grant is the candor and merit with which he speaks of his associates in command and service. At the battles which followed the capture of Paducah, he was surrounded by many new and untried men. Some of them had never seen a battle ; yet their behavior was such that he bore the most ample testi- mony to their valor, endurance, and skill. The course of Grant in this respect is precisely like that of old Rough and Ready. He was ever in- clined to pay full tributes to the meritorious conduct of all around him in action, not only regulars but volunteers. The courage of men on the field was the test with Grant, — not their show on parade. Speaking of those who took part with him in a successful and daring expedition, he says, — " The men all showed great courage. I can say with much gratification that every colonel, without a single exception, set an example to the command that inspired a confidence which will always insure victory when there is the slightest possibility of gaining one. I feel truly proud to command such men. [103] 104 THE TANNER-BOY. " We fought our way from tree to tree, through the woods, to Belmont, about two and a half miles ; the enemy contesting every foot of ground. Here he had strengthened his position by felling the trees for two or three hundred yards, and sharpening their limbs, making a kind of abattis. Our men charged through, making the victory complete ; giving us possession of their camp and garrison equipage, artillery, and every thing else on the ground." To show the quick perception that dictated this well -deserved praise, he adds, in a public de- spatch : — " It has been the fortune of the commanding general to take part in all the battles fought in Mexico by Gens. Scott and Taylor, save Buena Vista ; and he never saw one more hotly contested, or where troops behaved with more gallantry. " Such courage will insure a victory wherever our flag may be borne and protected by such a class of men. " To the brave men who fell, the sympathy of the coun- try is due, and will be manifested in a manner unmistaka- ble." It was in this battle, the first of the kind in which he took personal lead of his troops as brigadier- general, that he rushed into the hottest of the en- gagement. The heavy shots of the enemy, from their large guns at Columbus, crashed through our ranks, mowing down the men like grass before the scythe. Grant was in every part of the field, cheer- ENLARGED DEPARTMENT. 105 ino- and urging on his troops. His horse was shot under him; but he mounted again at once, and pressed forward in the fight. His gallant presence and bearing inspired all hearts. But the caution of his character appears immedi- ately in connection with the results at Belmont. In speaking of the position, he says, — " Belmont is entirely covered by the batteries from Columbus. It is worth nothing as a military position, and cannot be held without Columbus." Subsequent events proved the sagacity of the man, and established the scientific correctness of his views. It is no wonder that Gen. Grant is so popular with his officers and men, when such is the spirit lie displays toward them. Neither is it surprising that his countrymen so generally are ready to repose confidence in him, when they see his courage so com- bined with practical caution. We are now entering with Grant on a department materially enlarged. He is placed in command of one of the largest military divisions of the United States. The district of Cairo included all the south- ern part of Illinois, that portion of Kentucky west of the Cumberland Biver, and the southern counties of Missouri below Cape Girardeau. The entire army posted on the banks of tjie Ohio, both sides, 106 THE TANNER-BOY. east of Caledonia and to the mouth of the Cumber- land, came under the command of Grant. With his usual energy and tact he began imme- diately to re-organize his troops under his own per- sonal inspection. He held all his army well in hand, as Ins purpose always is, when about to strike a de- cisive blow. His distribution of his forces was such that it was next to impossible for the enemy to ascer- tain his real strength. The skill and strategy of Grant are well illustrated by this fact in his history. We are to judge him, not by what he says he is going to do, nor by what he seems to be doing, but by what he does. His departure from Cairo, therefore, on the 10th of January, 1862, was quietly done. He blew ho trumpets before him, and left no bulletins to be published behind him. Five different columns of troops, all arranged by his word, left their places at a given signal on the south shore of the beauti- ful Ohio, and marched without show or parade into the interior of that part of Kentucky lying between the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers. The expedi- tion was designed to ascertain the exact location and feel the strength of the enemy ; and in these important results it was one of the most successful campaigns of the war. The course of the commanding general with regard to picket-shooting, one of the abuses of warfare, especially in woodland countries, is set forth in a de- spatch issued by him from his headquarters at Cairo, dated Jan. 11, 1862*: — STRICT REGULATIONS. 107 " I understand that four of our pickets were shot this morning. If this is so (and the appearances indicate that the assassins were citizens, not regularly organized in the rebel army), the whole country should be cleared out for six miles around, and word given that all citizens making their appearance within those limits are liable to be shot. " Send out patrols in all directions, and bring into camp all citizens, together with their subsistence, and require them to remain, under penalty of death and destruction of their property, until properly relieved. " Let no harm befall these people, if they quietly sub- mit ; but bring them in, and place them in camp, below the breastwork^ and have them properly guarded. "U. S. Grant, " Brigadier -General Commanding." This plan to keep away spies was most happily conceived, in view of the secret nature of his expedi- tion. His course in this respect may well be put on record for the guidance of all in similar command. It is easy to see how certain disasters would have been avoided, had equal caution and tact prevailed on all occasions. The high moral character of the motives control- ling Grant is apparent in one of the orders he issued in connection with this expedition. One of these orders contains the following explicit and manly language : — " Disgrace having been brought on our brave fellows by the bad conduct of some of their members showing on 108 THE TANNER-BOY. all occasions, when marching through territory occupied by sympathizers with the enemy, a total disregard of the rights of citizens,, and being guilty of wanton destruction of private property, the general commanding desires and intends to enforce a change in this respect. " The interpreting of confiscation-acts by troops them- selves has a demoralizing effect : it weakens them in exact proportion to the demoralization, and makes open and armed enemies of many, who, from opposite treatment, would become friends, or, at most, non-combatants. " It is ordered, therefore, that the severest punishment be inflicted on every soldier who is guilty of taking or destroying private property ; and any commissioned officer guilty of like conduct or of countenancing it shall be deprived of his sword, and expelled from the camp, not to be permitted to return. " U. S. Grant, " Brigadier -General Commanding." How high-minded and honorable is this conduct of Grant ! With what lustre it shines on the pages of history ! His respect for the rights of private property, even among the persons and estates of the people where the Kebellion prevailed, was thus dictat- ed by a sense of justice and mercy which a conquer- ing army was constrained to obey. Nor can we overlook the impartiality he shows between his officers and men, holding out the same motives to good conduct and the same 'measure of punishment equally to all. Surely he had profited, when a boy, by the" noble lessons of integrity taught him at the fireside. ^ PRIVATIONS. 109 With his usual determination to overcome difficul- ties, he started one part of his expedition on the 14th of January, 1862, when the Mississippi was full of floating ice. At the same time another part of the column made such demonstrations as completely deceived the rebels and threw them off their guard. Meanwhile he came up in force from Paducah, in just the spot where and at just the time when the enemy did not expect him. Instead of following the road they looked for him to take he turned in a different direction entirely, and thus completely led them astray. During the intervals of the marches the infantry of the principal body of the force trav- elled over severity-five miles in six days, and the cavalry over one hundred and forty miles, along icy and miry roads, through an enemy's country, and at the most inclement season of the year. The most of his troops had never before seen such service. They were nearly all citizen volunteers, who, like their commanding general, had left the sweet endear- ments of home at their country's call. They endured these privations not from compulsion, not because tyrants compelled them, not on account of wages or pensions, but solely because they honored in their hearts the glorious flag of our fathers, and were ready and willing to suffer in its defence. Noble men ! Your country will remember you. The patriotic object of this strategy of Grant was all accomplished. By his rapid and secret marches 110 THE TANNER-BOY. g| he uncovered the positions of the rebels in some of their strongholds, showed the extent of their force in that part of the South-west, and discovered a number of valuable side-roads not at that time laid down in any of our maps. It was an admirable feint, and displayed the military tact of the general to the greatest advantage. The ablest commanders of men are always the most courteous toward enemies. The truly great man can always afford to be magnanimous. Such were the convictions and such the conduct of Grant in connection with the battle of Fort Henry, Tenn. That splendid victory was won on the 8th of Feb- ruary, 1862. Grant had moved up to the rear of the fort ; while the fleet of gunboats, under the command of that brave, manly, Christian naval offi- cer, Eear- Admiral Foote, attacked the rebels from the river, in front. Finding their retreat cut off by Grant they hauled down the secession flag and sur- rendered the fort and garrison to our victorious arms. Now came the hour for courtesy to our foes ; and most freely did both Grant and Foote dispense it. In a communication to one of his subordinates made by the rebel general Tighlman dated at Fort Henry the day after the surrender, that officer says, — "Through the courtesy of Brig.-Gen. U. S. Grant, I am permitted to communicate with you in relation to the result of the action of yesterday. I take great pleasure in FORT DONELSON. Ill acknowledging the courtesies and consideration shown by Brig.-Gen. Grant and Com. Foote, and the officers under their command." This testimony to his magnanimity in the flush of victory, coming from an enemy who has just surren- dered, is of the highest value. It presents the true character of Grant to the world, and shows it to be well worthy of imitation by all classes, — especially by the young. ' But the reduction and occupation of Fort Henry, important as the object was, had formed only a part of the plan of Grant. Under the impulse of his energy and perseverance he was to push forward to other conquests. He began moving his forces imme- diately overland to attack Fort Donelson, — another rebel stronghold, on the river Cumberland. Intelli- gence had reached him that the naval vessels had been repulsed from the fort ; and he at once formed his plan to invest the enemy from the rear. Only six days after the fall of Fort Henry by rapid marches across the country carrying with him his necessary siege trains, he had organized his new expedition, and in one day reached Fort Donelson and proceeded to invest it. Tins work was more extensive than Fort Henry. It commanded a wider extent of country ; and its reduction was, therefore, an enterprise of more importance. Grant arrived just at the right moment. 112 THE TANNER-BOY. The battle of Fort Donelson commenced on the 13th of February, 1862 ; and continued without in- termission during the 14th and 15th, — three days and three nights of fighting. Early in the morning of Feb. 12th, the first division had left Fort Henry for Fort Donelson ; and so rapid was their march, that, by noon of the same day, they had reached the outposts and driven in the pickets of the enemy. The distance thus marched that day by this brave body of American troops was fifteen miles. From that hour the battle had gone on with great activi- ty. By his skill and persevering courage Gen. Grant had completely commanded all the prominent positions of the rebels, so that, on the night of the 15th, he was prepared to make a direct attack. The men were led by our hero in person. They had moved rapidly to all the high grounds around the fort, and held them firmly against all the attacks of the enemy. Their drill and discipline under their practised commander were shown in their dashing forward to these strong points, under fire, through every thing that could oppose them in the way of bushes, briers, stumps, fences and streams. The moment for the general attack had now ar- rived. The co-operation of the gunboats from the river being secured, Grant advanced gallantly to the front. The whole scene was now full of excitement. The Union troops, nearly all of them undisciplined men, had been exposed to the severest kind of hardships. "your order, general?" 113 The coldest and most trying weather known in the latitude of Tennessee had burst upon them, and they without shelter from the storms ; yet, when the dark and tempestuous 15th of February came, every man- was ready and eager to renew the assault on the^ works of the enemy. In several places along the whole line the rebels had made furious onslaughts ; but the foresight of Grant saw success in the future and his courage rose with the emergency of the hour. He was at his headquarters. The reports from the different officers on active duty came pouring in. His quick eye ran them all over in an instant. " May I ask if you have any immediate orders ? " inquired a waiting associate. "Adjutant," replied the general, "it is all right. Every inch of the rebel works is invested on this side !" " How about the river ? " " I cannot answer for the point in the rear close to the bank. The gunboats must look out for that. But as for our side of the hill — good ! we have the enemy here exactly where we want him ! " "Your order, then, general?" "Take this message to Gen. Smith, — to make a strong assault on the left of the enemy's line. He must carry that point, no matter what it costs ! The right is provided for. I will take care of the front ! " The emphasis of this last declaration was unusual ; but the tone of voice was low, and the manner cool and calm. 10 114 THE TANNEK-BOY. The ordered advance simultaneously followed. The main column of attack charged up to and over the enemy's works without firing a gun, carrying every thing before them with the fury of their assault. The ramparts were mounted with loud huzzas, and in a few moments they were honored with the national colors. Cheer after cheer of victory rang along the Union lines as height after height was thus carried by storm ; and the eventful day closed with the prospect of our soon entering and taking full pos- session of the whole fort. That night our brave soldiers slept on their arms in the captured ramparts. As the morning sun arose and threw its wintry rays over the scene a white, flag waved from the main position of the enemy's works. It was a flag of truce, — a token of capitulation. A letter was soon received at Grant's headquarters from the rebel general requesting an armistice, and proposing the appointment of commissioners for ne- gotiation. The reply of Gen. Grant to this singular offer was instantly made. It was written on the spot, in his tent, and returned at once by the rebel messenger. This brief reply is so exactly like the general that it is inserted here entire : — Headquarters, Army in the Field, Camp near Doxelson, Feb. 16, 1862. To Gen. S. B. Buckner, Confederate Army : — Yours of this date, proposing an armistice, and appoint- ment of commissioners to settle terms of capitulation, is "unconditional surrender!" 115 just received. No terms, other than an immediate and Unconditional Surrender, can be accepted. I propose to move immediately on your works. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. .Grant, Brigadier- General United- States Army Commanding. The rebel general, who had been known as " the aristocratic Buckner," was compelled to submit. His surrender was complete and unconditional. Grant and his army marched into the fort with drums beating and the Union colors flying ; while salvos of artillery from the fleet of the gallant Foote, in the river below, crowned the triumphs of the scene. By these great victories of Forts Henry and Don- elson the United States came into possession of all their contents, and obtained restored control of all the country between Columbus, Mississippi, and Bowl- ing Green, Ken., for a distance of a hundred and twenty miles. The rivers at these points were opened to navigation, the hearts of the loyal people were greatly strengthened, and the Union flag planted more firmly than ever in all Tennessee. The rank of Major-General of Volunteers was im- mediately conferred on Grant by act of Congress ; his commission dating from the day of the surrender of Fort DonelSon,— Feb. 16, 1862. CHAPTER XVI. HIS RAPID PROMOTION. THE promotion of Gen. Grant was the most rapid of any known in American military his- tory. This discernment of his rare merits by the people and their official indorsement by our national rulers are conclusive proofs that republics are not always ungrateful. He had done just what he promised to do, just what most needed to be done ; and the nation honored him for it. Two forts, com- manding a large district of country ; fifteen thousand prisoners, including a large number of prominent officers ; and a great amount of materiel of war, — were the trophies of his hard-won victories at Forts Henry and Donelson. The thunder of artillery saluted the national flag along the captured ramparts. It was echoed from the fleets that had so nobly shared in the battles, and re-echoed from the guns on the post at Cairo. But it was no moment of idle parade for Grant. The salutes to his valor had not died away ere he was again in motion for new fields of toil and conquest. His command was now extended, by general order from-President Lincoln as Commander- f 1161 PHILIP AND THE ARROW. 117 in-Chief, to include all the important" region known as the District of West Tennessee. Every moment of his time was busy forwarding his troops to selected points, preparatory to future engagements. Calm, collected, quiet, to all outward appearance not un- usually engaged, he lost not an instant, day or night, in the arduous work of perfecting his plans. It was at this eventful juncture that the conquered rebels began to originate, and their traitorous allies at the North to circulate, certain vile slanders against the general. Finding him invincible in the open field against their treasonable arms they sought to destroy confidence in him by means of secret lies. Hence it was covertly reported just as he was entering on his new and enlarged command, that he was in the habit of using ardent spirits to excess. Vile, in- famous slander ! It has not only fallen harmless at the feet of Gen. Grant, but it will assuredly return upon its wicked inventors and bitterly plague them. When Philip, the brave hero of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great, was attacking the city of Amphipolis, Aster, a dexterous archer, being slighted by Philip, aimed an arrow at him. The arrow, on which was written the message " Aimed at Philip's right eye," struck the eye and put it out. Philip, with his usual courage and endurance, immediately seized the same arrow, and writing on it the words "If Philip takes Amphipolis he will hang Aster," shot it over the walls into the city. He conquered 118 THE TANNER-BOY. Amphipolis, and kept his word with Aster. He hung him at the gate as a warning to others. So it will be with the infamous slanderers of Gen. Grant. The arrows they aim at him will all come back to them, and their punishment will be recorded in the indignant verdict of a free people. The creatures who would slander v such a man as Ulysses Grant are the lineal descendants of the wretches who were guilty of slandering George Washington. Grant is to-day, and has ever been, as spotless in his character as was the Father of our country. "Do you know what the personal habits of Gen. Grant really are?" we inquired of one who has served long and constantly with him. " I know," was the immediate reply, " that he is one pf the most moderate of men in his desires. His purity is equal to his courage. His personal char- acter, to my certain knowledge, is without a blot. He is tenderly devoted to his wife and family." This testimony comes from a source entirely re- liable, and is thus placed on record in these pages for the instruction of the young and the honor of our country. The ability of Grant to plan and his power to command ; his calmness in the midst of impend- ing danger ; his hopeful, undisturbed bearing in great emergencies ; his force of concentration when the moment for decisive action arrives ; his perfect self- command and unflinching bravery, — all go to show the man as he is, and why the quickly discerning MOVES ON CORINTH. 119 people of America place so much confidence in him. When his forces were sufficiently gathered and his plans properly matured at Fort Henry, Grant was ready for another onward movement. The new point of attack was Corinth, — an important junction of the railway from the North to New Orleans, and from the East to Memphis. The rebels immediately con- centrated their whole available force at this point. They determined to force Grant back, and recover all they had lost in Tennessee and Kentucky. Grant, now major-general in command, was at the head of his combined armies. By a masterly stroke of strategy he had taken the adjacent town of Clarks- ville and supplied his forces with rebel provisions for more than twenty days. He had boldly advanced into the territory of the enemy, — a stroke of policy they did not anticipate, and for which they were not prepared. Now came 1 the moment for his wonted caution. He immediately issued an order requir- ing that the most rigid discipline should be enforced among his troops with reference to the property of resident non-combatants. Martial law was declared over all West Tennessee and imposed impartially on all alike. " Let us show our fellow-citizens of these States," said the general, "that we come here to crush out this Rebel- lion, and to restore to them peace and the benefits of the Constitution and the Union, of which they have been de- 120 THE TANNEK-BOY. prived by selfish and unprincipled leaders. They have been told that we come to oppress and plunder. By our acts we will undeceive them. We will prove to them that we come to restore, not violate, the Constitution and the laws. In restoring to them the glorious flag of the Union we will assure them that they shall enjoy under its folds the same protection of life and property as in former days. " Soldiers ! let no excesses on your part tarnish the glory of our arms. All persons not in arms are to be regarded as non-combatants, and are not to be molested, either in their persons or property, except as they aid and assist the enemy ; when they will become belligerents, and will be treated as such. " These orders will be read at the head of every regi- ment." While busily engaged with preparations for his subsequent movements at Fort Henry, the regimen- tal commanding officers presented him with a sword. The weapon was plain and strong, as became his well- known character, — more for service than for show. On the 12th of March, 1862, he moved out a por- tion of his reconnoitering force. The works of the enemy were attacked at a point near the town of Paris, in Kentucky, and - they driven out. This event was soon followed by the organization of the department of the Mississippi, which included all the country west of a line drawn north and south through Knoxvillc, Tenn., as far as Kansas and the Indian Territory, and running north to the Great Lakes. Gen. Grant was placed at the head PITTSBURG LANDING. 121 of this large command. Opposed to him on the part of the rebels was a formidable force, well in- trenched at several points, and under the direction of some of their ablest generals. Corinth was their headquarters, and therefore was to be the point of attack. It was the intention of the enemy to hold the line of the railway from Memphis, Tenn., to Charleston, S.C., and thus not only to keep up their interior communications, but to prevent the advance of the Union troops below the line of the Tennessee. Grant now moved forward up the Mississippi, and encamped, with his principal force at a place called Pittsburg Landing. By a dexterous movement he then passed from another point, — Savannah, Tenn., — and struck the line of the Jackson and Corinth Kail way ; burning the bridges in his march, tearing up the track, and preventing the arrival of rebel re- enforcements at Corinth. On the 5th of April, 1862, the first skirmishing commenced. The battle soon began to rage with fury. The rebel force at that point was more numerous than ours; but, with Gen. Grant at their head, our troops performed prodigies of valor. In the midst of the desperate charge of the enemy who were emboldened by their superior numbers he rode along the lines during the entire day, waving his hat and 8 word at intervals, cheering on the men by his courageous bearing, and the cry : — 11 122 THE TANNER-BOY. " Stand, my men ! stand for your honor ! stand for your lives ! " - His officers and troops rallied around him with des- perate gallantry. The fight of the day over they all slept on the ground at night, through a heavy storm of rain. This well-planned resistance to the more numerous column of the enemy gave opportunity for the arri- val of re-enforcements. They were much needed ; for, on the morning of April 6, the heavy masses of the enemy swept over the field as if they would carry every thing before them. But Grant was all ready. The battle now raged on every side and the most desperate personal conflicts ensued. From near nine o'clock in the morning until the going-down of the sun it was a hand-to-hand fight. Grant was fight- ing a rebel force of over sixty thousand with less than forty thousand. Just before sunset the roar of artillery and the sharp rattle of musketry became ter- rific. He changed his position from time to time, but held his ground. It was the practical carrying- out of his studies as a cadet at West Point, — a vari- ation of tactics, but no surrender. Toward the close of the battle, on the second day, fresh troops having arrived, he rode to the extreme front of the left wing, in the face of the enemy. Here they discovered and fired upon him repeatedly ; but he passed unharmed through the storm of shot and shell, and charged across the field at the head HUMANITY TO THE FOE. 123 of his brave legions, sword in hand. It was the turning-point of the day. Cannon-balls and bullets fell like hail around him; but he dashed against the foe, his men following with loud shouts and huzzas, until the enemy fell back in disorder, and sought pro- tection within the intrenchments at Corinth. The transmission of the news of this victory by the telegraph poured a thrill of excitement through the country. At the moment of its reception at Wash- ington it was sent by the President to both Houses of Congress, where it was read to the assembled members by the presiding officers. Salutes of guns, each salvo numbering one hundred, were fired at the capital and different places irwthe nation. Grant was wounded in the heat of the action ; but he kept his saddle and issued his orders as usual in the field. His humanity toward his fallen enemy shone out on this occasion as it had so often done before. When the conflict was ended and calmness had set- tled down on the bloody field of strife, he did not forget the wounded and dying foe. All the dead of both parties were buried at once. He made heavy details for this purpose, and saw in person that the sad duty was faithfully performed in a manner be- coming the true American soldier. Some idea of the character of this duty may be formed from the fact that the rebels alone lost in killed four thousand men, among whom was one of their ablest generals. 124 THE TANNER-BOY. The siege of Corinth immediately followed. All these battles had but preceded this event but a few days. The bravery and endurance with which our troops had sustained the repeated assaults of the enemy won for them the highest praise. They con- tinued to advance with frequent skirmishes toward Corinth; and early in May, 1862, the place was invested. The command of Grant was still further enlarged, in conjunction with that of his associates, and his part properly assigned in the subsequent cap- ture of this stronghold. By a series of brilliant movements it was advanced upon and surrounded ; the adjacent points of defence, including the railway lines, were captured; a*id, on the 17th of May, the fifth division of Gen. Grant's army attacked and drove the rebels at Kussel's Court House, on the road to the city. On the 21st of May the second division, by a prompt and dexterous movement, brought the rebels out of one of the strongest of then intrench- ments to the open field, where they were completely routed. Both of these movements of the second and fifth divisions were under the direction of Gen. Grant, and produced a direct and powerful impression on the enemy. The Union troops soon possessed them- selves of a knowledge of all the strongholds of Corinth, and proceeded gradually with the investment. The rebels were surprised. Grant was present at every considerable movement, by his personal exam- ple taking part in the admirably executed plans of ATTACK ON CORINTH. 125 the day, and encouraging the officers and men to keep their places like good soldiers of the Republic. He was repeatedly within gun-shot of the rebel works. The whole front was covered by a cloud of skirmishers, who deployed to the right and left of the main line, as it steadily advanced. All is still as the grave. The line moves on. The skirmishers creep silently forward, bent low on the ground. Every eye is strained toward the ramparts in the front. Suddenly a single rifle rings in the woods ; another echoes it, then another, and the whole line is on fire. Now the reserves open then- volleys ; then the main force joins in with its tremendous blaze, and the rattling sound, like the rolling of thunders, passes along the entire front of the army. Grant is there in the thickest of the fight. A new order is issued. All is again silence. The dead, the dying, and the wounded are borne to the rear. Great volumes of smoke rise in revolving columns in the air, and, in places, hang like a pall over the field. Another order. The din of battle wakes again. Now huzzas mingle with the roar, and colors advance nearer to the point of attack. Silence again. A body of men, supplied with axes, spades, and picks, step quickly over the open space ; and, like a flash, the fences disappear on their shoulders, as they rush, under cover of our fire, toward the ramparts of the enemy. In an instant the line of rails stretches along the brow of the hill that has been taken possession 126 THE TANNER-BOY. of; masses of earth fly against the edges ; the bushes are borne away as by the sweep of scythes ; and the troops, with fixed bayonets and the cannon loaded and primed, are in more commanding positions nearer the works of the foe. All this seems but the deed of a moment ; but it has accomplished a great end, and has all passed under the cool and practised eye of Grant. The platforms for a combined attack soon follow; the muzzles of the mounted guns show their grim teeth to the traitors ; and the ban- ner of the nation, as it swings around from its lofty tree, throws its ample and glorious folds within a few feet of the treacherous men who had dared to at- tempt to trample it under their unhallowed feet. Grant, as usual, was busy in every pa,rt of the well-contested field. Early in the morning of the last day a series of rapid explosions startled our troops while yet formed in line of battle. It was the blowing-up of their magazines by the rebels, and the intimation of their retreat from Corinth. Huge volumes of smoke rose over the city, filling all the air for miles around. The army was instantly in motion. Shout after shout near the rebel lines pro- claimed the fact that we had reached the intrench- ments. As we pressed into Corinth the whole place was found to be deserted, and half of it on fire. Churches, public buildings, stores, dwellings, and other private property, had been laid waste by the torches of the traitors ; while half the wells of the CORINTH CAPTURED. 127 city had been purposely filled by the ruins, with a vandalism worthy of their cause and of their career in promoting it. Under cover of this dastardly act of destruction the vaunting foe had fled. The fifth division of the army, in the immediate command of Grant, was the first to enter and occupy Corinth. This division had been at the post of honor, the right wing of the advance, and moved in a manner exciting the highest admiration. The triumph of the Union was complete. The strong- hold of the rebels, over which they had boasted so loudly and so long, had fallen before the victorious arms they had affected to despise. The bragging cavaliers had meanly succumbed to the hardy pioneers of the West and their equally brave allies of the East. The display of the defenders of the Republic, as they marched into the deserted town and fortress, was splendid. The heights afforded a view of the country for many miles in extent, stretching away over mountain and river through the area of different States. Never did the brave old colors float over a grander scene. The troops marched in with bands playing, and their regimental flags, pierced and rent with shots and winds, flying in triumph above them. Bayonets and cannon glistened in the sunshine ; while over all, on the flag-staff in the centre, floated the Stars and Stripes. To the credit of Gen. Grant and his associates in command the most perfect order was maintained 128 THE TANNER-BOY. throughout the lines. The triumph was complete ; but there was no tumultuous exultation. We had captured a strong fortress, commanding several im- portant railroads contiguous to the great Father of Waters and opening to us all that part of the Mis- sissippi Valley. It was a place capable of making a defence equal to that made at Sebastopol ; yet it had been all surrendered before the masterly ap- proaches and vigorous assaults of the American generals, among whom stands conspicuous Gen. Grant. At his instance the most perfect protection was afforded to private persons and property ; so that our posssession of this powerful stronghold of the enemy was not followed by any acts of violence or marauding on our part on which we might be compelled to look back with regret. The requests of the civil authorities, under proper military regu- lations, were all granted ; pillage and plunder were prevented ; and the restoration of the rule of the United States was the establishment of morality, law, security and commerce. CHAPTER XVII. COMMAND AGAIN ENLARGED. THE capture of Corinth was followed by the enlargement of the command of Gen. Grant. The rebels were remaining in States adjacent to the town, and it was necessary to dislodge them. For this purpose Grant at once set on foot various active expeditions. He was therefore placed in charge of a new department, to be called the " Department of the Tennessee," including Cairo, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Northern Mississippi, Kentucky, and all Tennessee west of the Tennessee River. The troops were denominated the Thirteenth Army Corps of the United States. In the prosecution of his active plans, on June 20, 1862, he sent a part of his army, under com- mand of Gen. Sherman, into Mississippi. This di- vision penetrated, according to his directions, as far as Holly Springs, on the railway to Jackson, Tenn., and New Orleans, compelling the rebels to evacuate the place, and remove their machinery for the manu- facture and repairing of arms to Atlanta, in Georgia. Other expeditions, equally successful, were carried [129] 130 THE TA}s T NEE-BOY. out as he directed, so that not a moment was allowed to pass away unimproved. The rebels, in the mad- ness of desperation, attacked him at Corinth ; but they soon found, to their sorrow, that it was one thing to be inside the intrenchments, and quite another thing to be outside. As they could not defend the post when they were in, so they could not take it when they were out. Grant drove them off at every point, and the flag flies there yet. By a coincidence frequently remarkable in the career of great men the occasion of the valuable services of Grant at this crisis was the moment in which he was the most violently assailed. The more ardently he served his country, the more bitterly her enemies attacked him. He was not a politician. He had studiously avoided coming in contact with the partisan issues of the day. He was a patriot ; a man of the people ; a man born of them, and living among them ; a tanner in his boyhood ; a regular sol- dier in his manhood ; a volunteer in his middle life ; serving his native land, by field and flood, through heat and cold ; marching shoulder to shoulder with privation, and meeting death face to face. Should such a man be slandered, vilified, traduced ? Yet such was his fate, as it has been that of multitudes before him, and will be that of multitudes after him. He had been one of the chief instruments, in the hands of the Almighty, of winning some of the most signal victories ever won. He had aided in SECRET CABALS. 131 the capture of more than twenty thousand armed traitors, every one of whom was striking at the dear- est rights and liberties of the American nation. He had been a leading participant in the achievements that had stricken down some of the strongest forces of the rebels in the great South-west, preparing the way for the overthrow of the rebel tyranny in Mis- souri, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He had taken some of the first and most powerful steps then taken to open up to the banners and commerce of the Union the embargoed waters of the grand highway of the Mississippi. Yet, notwithstanding all this, there were men found mean and cowardly enough to attack him behind their privileged seats in legisla- tures, and in the secret cabals of anonymous corre- spondence. Instead of honoring him as he should have been honored, he was assailed. It could not be denied that he had done the work ; but, it was carpingly said, he should have done it differently. He had fought and conquered, these snarling critics were compelled to admit ; but, ah ! he had not done so in the right way ! He was not as polite nor as polished nor as genteel as he should be. He was only the son of a tanner, and had even been himself a tanner-boy ! What would the born generals and descended statesmen of Europe say, when such vic- tories were won by such a man as Grant? What would become of their divine right of kings to rule ? of their purchased preferments for noblemen to be 132 THE TANNER-BOY. conquerors ? How could the Old World admit that genuine heroes could be born and become immortal in the New ? How was it possible for a republic in these, or any other respects, to be equal to a mon- archy ? Brave, noble, magnanimous Grant ! How well has his conduct answered all these and kindred ques- tions ! Modest, cautious, prudent, temperate, pure ; a republican soldier ; a friend of the poor man ; a guardian of liberty ;- a defender of his country's rights, her honor, and her colors, — like Wash- ington, the man he aims to be like more than any other, he will come out unscathed from the fiery ordeal of his enemies, to be remembered and beloved by all who know his worth. Gen. Grant arrived on the battle-field of Pittsburg at eight o'clock of the morning on which that bloody battle was fought. He was in his saddle at the front, heading his own chosen troops, before nine. It was Ins business to be on the same side of the river on which the enemy was, because he could not have reached and driven him in any other way. He knew the re-enforcements were coming, and that he could hold the rebels in check, as he did, until the fresh troops should arrive. How much better for him to be already across the river, able to hold his position, than to be on the passage, with the enemy firing on his troops in the water ! He was master of the situ- ation ; and he knew he could hold it, as he did, until SUPPRESSES ILLICIT TRADE. 133 the increase of the Union forces should give us a complete victory. As long as history has a page, and a pen with which to make her records upon it, the name of Ulysses Grant will be remembered with honor in connection with the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, and Corinth. The evacuation of Corinth was soon followed by the surrender of Memphis, Tenn. This was an im- portant post. Gen. Grant resolved to hold it, in connection with his operations to redeem the whole of Northern Mississippi from the grasp of the Kebel- lion. It was here he received his ammunition and supplies for active campaigns in the" vicinity. His course, in restoring that city to the rule of law and order, demands, and will yet receive, the highest praise. The illicit trade carried on there, that had for a long time furnished aid and comfort to the rebels, was suppressed ; and yet it was done in such a way that the rights of all law-abiding citizens were not in the least infringed. His form of parole is a model one of the kind, and shows with what caution he proceeded among an uncertain population. Every man in Memphis receiving this document solemnly swore that, since the occupation of the city by the Union troops, he had not furnished any aid to the rebels by giving or sending any information of the strength, movements, or position of the Union army. He furthermore took an oath that he would 134 THE TANNER-BOY. never conspire against the civil or military authority of the United States, nor give aid or comfort to the rebels. This sagacious act placed all who came under it within the authority of the Government. A similar course was pursued toward all parties liable to be engaged in illicit trade. The baggage of all specu- lators was carefully examined. Every thing of a contraband nature was at once confiscated to the Government, and the parties bearing it speedily turned back. All unoccupied dwellings, manufac- tories, and stores in Memphis were officially taken possession, of, and, when suitable, leased out to com- petent parties for the benefit of the United States. By this act all property was protected alike, and made to pay its due share in support of the nation.. It was under the influence of these honorable mo- tives that Gen. Grant subsequently issued an order with regard to trade in which he declared that it would be regarded by him as an evidence of disloyalty for a person to go beyond the lines of his army to eno-ao-e in traffic ; that all contracts so made would be declared null and void; and that every person so offending should be expelled from his depart- ment. An individual engaged in making purchases called on him one day in his tent. "May I obtain permission to engage in trade below, general?" VETOING SPECULATION. 135 "Have you seen my orders on the subject, sir?" " Yes, general : I have read them carefully." "Do you think you understand them, sir? " " Yes, general." " You are? of course, a loyal man? " "I am, general." " Are you ready to take the oaths I require ? " " Yes, general ; perfectly ready." " What do you propose to do ? " "I propose, general, to have you give me authority to trade, with the privilege of naming your own com- petent, upright, Union men, through whose hands the transactions shall pass." " Pardon me, sir ; but I shall do nothing of the kind ! " " Why not, general ? " "Because, sir, if I were to give you such authori- ty, even if it were not abused, — as I know it would not be, from what I know of you, — it would be published immediately, far and wide, that I was a partner of all the speculators in the country ! " "But, general, I could disabuse the public mind in such cases." " Very true ; you might, sir, in every case where you are concerned. But my experience in West Tennessee has convinced me that any trade whatever with the rebellious States is a weakening to the Union army of at least thirty-three per cent. No matter, sir, what may be the restrictions thrown 136 THE TANNER-BOY. around trade ; if any whatever is allowed, it will be made the means of supplying the enemy what he wants. Restrictions, if lived up to, make trade un- profitable ; and hence none but dishonest men go into it." * w General, you are right. I submit to your deci- sion. It is better, I see, that matters of trade with the rebels should go no faster than the Union armies advance." It is a pleasure to the friends of Gen. Grant to know that these views, thus expressed in the neigh- borhoods of the rebel territory, and which evince his noble sense of honor and high personal integrity, are now being generally adopted by the country. All the "commercial travellers" to and from the tent of Gen. Grant were not always as reasonable and patriotic as this gentleman was. Some of them were very far from being so. One of this infamous class approached the general, not long after this interview. He was busy with his military plans in the inner part of his tent. His maps, rules and compasses -were all in use. His mind ranged over the vast extent of country under his control. Moun- tains were scaled, rivers forded, swamps bridged, deserts traversed-, forests threaded, storms and sun- shine were overcome, and he was master of the situ- ation. He was just laying out his plan of a projected battle, intensely occupied with the marshalling of Ins troops in their best positions for viotory, when his ear BOOT-TOEING A SCOUNDREL. 137 caught the inquiry, put to his orderly, in a strong foreign accent, — • v "Is de genera wl in?" Then came the reply, in a firm, decided tone, which Gen. Grant understood instantly. "Yes, sir; the commanding general is in : but he is very busy, sir." " Could I zee him a vew momenz ? " " He ordered me to say, sir, that he would be very much occupied for some time " — "On de advance, eh?" interrupted the intruder. " Den he is going down furder to de coddon regione ? " " I can't say where he is going, sir : I don't know. You must leave." Stranger becomes more excited, and his accent more peculiar. "Mine young vrend, I have one important propo- sals to make de generawl, — a proposals, mine young vrend " — " I can't hear your proposal. Step out, sir ! " " Sdop, mine young vrend, — sdop one letle mo- mend. You zay to de generawl dat I till make it one gran' objecs for 'im, — one rich speculadion ! You understan', eh?" The orderly was about to force the base interloper out, with an added word of military admonition, when Gen. Grant came quickly forward. He had heard the whole conversation, and comprehended the entire case in a moment. It was a covert assault on 12 138 THE TANNER-BOY. his nice sense of honor, and he was determined to punish it on the spot. Stepping to the open front of his tent, the general seized the rascally operator by the collar, and, lifting him several inches from the ground, applied the toe of his boot to him in such a manner that he was pitched out headlong, falling on the muddy ground at a distance of nearly ten feet. Before the orderly could recover from his surprise, the general had quietly retired to his inner apart- ment, and the next moment was as busily engaged with his maps, and plan of campaign, as if nothing had happened. Two staff-officers were approaching Gen. Grant's tent just at that instant. They saw the booted scoun- drel come tumbling out, his eyes distorted, his hat off, his hair streaming in the wind, his coat-tail flying behind him, and his hands sprawled forth, to break as much as possible the force of his sudden plunge. It was a fall in speculation they had never seen be- fore, and they roared out heartily ; for the visage of the wretch told plainly who and what he was. Far too many of the tribe had been far too often seen and loathed in camp before. They were, and still are, among the greatest nuisances and curses of the ser- vice ; a plague-spot, a leprosy, on every honorable calling connected with the advance of pur army. The summary manner in which this mustachioed and bedizened specimen of the race had been ejected by BOOT-TOEING A SCOUNDREL. 139 the commanding general was not only a warning to him and his class, but a precedent to them, as officers, by which they could profit in the future. " The peculating vijlain ! " said one of the officers to the other, "he has received his deserts. Now let the rest of the horde look out ! " " The general settled his account for him quick, didn't he ? " added the other officer. " But do you think he hurt him ? " " It strikes me the scamp's feelings were slightly wounded, by the way he limps ; and especially as the leather of the general's boot is of his own manu- facture ! " "Is that so?" " Certainly ; he gets all his own leather from the store of Grant and Son, in Galena." " Then he has carried on that business ? " "Yes, sir; Gen. Grant was once a tanner-boy. Let us now go into his tent, as Commander of the Department of West Tennessee." The two officers entered together, and were soon out of sight. The ejected pimp crawled off, and was seen no more. These prompt and manly stands of Gen. Grant against all approaches to entangling alliances show the lofty tone of his character. That his course waa appreciated by all honorable men, is proved by the proceedings of their public representatives toward him. Gen. Grant has never been assailed by any 140 THE TANXER-BOY. but traitors, cowards, tricky speculators, party poli- ticians, and their aiders and abettors. The Chamber of Commerce of the city of Mem- phis, during a brief official visit made by him to that post, availed themselves of the opportunity to testify their high sense of his distinguished courage, skill, and courtesy as an officer, and his exalted integrity as a man. That influential body of gentlemen in- vited him to the honor of a public dinner in that city on the last of August, 1863. This distinction was not tendered him merely because he was a military hero. It was because he had identified himself with the interests of the masses of the people ; because, in all his movements, civil as well as military, he had studied their welfare, and sought to promote their happiness. The people loved while they honored him; and, when we follow him in his noble and patriotic career among them, we do not wonder that they did. In his reply to this invitation the general uses the following modest and beautiful language : — Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 26, 1863. Gentlemen, — I have received a copy of resolutions passed by the " loyal citizens of Memphis, at a meeting held at the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, Aug. 25, 18G3," tendering me a public reception. In accepting this testimonial, which I do at a great sacri- fice of my personal feelings, I simply desire to pay a tribute to the first public exhibition in Memphis of loyalty to the RECEPTION AT MEMPHIS. 141 Government which I represent in the Department of the Tennessee. I should dislike to refuse, for consider- ations of personal convenience, to acknowledge anywhere, or in any form, the existence of sentiments which I have so long and so ardently desired to see manifested in this department. The stability of this Government and the Union of this nation depend solely on the cordial support and the earnest loyalty of the people. While, therefore, I thank you sincerely for the kind expressions you have employed toward myself, I am profoundly gratified at this public recognition, in the city of Memphis, of the power and authority of the Government of the United States. I thank you, too, in the name of the noble army which I have the honor to command. It is composed of men whose loyalty is proved by their deeds of heroism and their willing sacrifices of life and health. They will rejoice with me that the miserable adherents of the Rebellion, whom their bayonets have driven from this fair land, are being replaced by men ivho acknowledge human liberty as the only true foundation of human government. May your efforts to restore your city to the cause of the Union be as suc- cessful as have been theirs to reclaim it from the despotic rule of the leaders of the Rebellion ! I have the honor to be, gentlemen, Your very obedient servant, U. S. Grant, Major -General. These well-expressed sentiments show the man. They received their practical enforcement at the din- ner to which they refer. When that occasion took place and the toast was given, — 142 THE TANNER-BOY. "General Grant, the guest of Memphis," — it was expected that the prolonged and hearty ap- plause which followed would elicit from him a speech. The mayor and corporation of the city, the Adjutant- General of the United-States Army, and other public characters, were present at the table, all of whom joined in the call. But it was made and repeated in vain. Gen. Grant would not stir from his seat. Turning to his staff-surgeon, Major Hewit, who was near him, he said, — " Thank the company, major, for this kind recep- tion ; but tell them I cannot make a speech. Speech- making is not my business. Say to them, they will please excuse me on this occasion. . I am grateful for the numerous acts of kindness they have shown me. I have only done my duty, — nothing more." The handsome manner in which this brief statement was made by the surgeon awakened new applause. The course of Grant had deepened «the enthusiastic admiration which the people cherished for him in their hearts, and which no set speech of his or of any one could make deeper. All saw in the victori- ous general the modesty unassuming, patriotic Ameri- can citizen. *. CHAPTEK XVIII. ADVANCES INTO THE INTEKIOK. WE must now review our history, and take the reader back to the period of Grant's expedi- tions from and in the vicinity of Corinth, Miss. At the hour of four in the morning of the 17th of September, 1862, an advance was ordered by Gen. Grant from Corinth and Jacinto to the town of Iuka. At this central point one of the rebel gen- erals had concentrated a strong force. It was a dark and rainy morning. The roads were deep with mud ; the mountain-passes steep, and, in places, filled thick with enemies. But the Union army, given by Grant in charge of Gen. Rosecrans, advanced steadily. The rebels were encountered at Barnett's Corners, on the road to Iuka, and, after several sharp skirmishes, driven in six miles toward the town. At Iuka, the rebels, who were posted on a commanding ridge, opened their fire on our lines. The fight continued until dark of the 19th of September ; and so success- ful had been our attack, that, on the morning of the 20th, the enemy evacuated the place. Gen. Grant entered the intrenchments by the northern route ; [143] 144 THE TANNER-BOY. having, by his timely arrival with re-enforcements, hastened the evacuation. The rebels were taken completely by surprise. They supposed they had secure possession of Iuka, as a post of much interior importance ; when the sharp crack of the Union musketry, sent forward by Grant, awakened them from their early morning dreams. We had penetrated the town before the enemy was at all aware of our being in the vicinity. The adjacent woods were full of rebel cavalry ; the watch-fires of the sentries were burning in the fields ; yet, while the mass of the troops slept in fancied security, the Union men were upon them, and had planted a battery sufficiently near to enfilade the headquarters of the commanding general. They rose from their sleep as the Turks rose from their tents, to find the hosts of the Greek at their doors. For more than two hours the battle raged on both sides ; but the rebels were forced to give way before the impetuous valor of the troops of Grant. They left the town during the nisrht, with their dead unburied on the field. As they fled the rebels displayed the vandal character of their warfare in glaring colors. They robbed the plantations of their own people in their flight, plun- dering the potato-patches, barn-yards, and smoke- houses ; perpetrating their outrages in broad daylight, and in full view of their own commanders. Poor families, composed in several instances of helpless women and children, were pillaged of their all, and CAFTU11E OF IUKA. 145 left to suffer for the necessaries of life. Such is the spirit of reckless robbery that slavery always engen- ders. The enemy was pursued by our cavalry, who cap- tured many of them as prisoners, with a large quan- tity of tents and military stores. The victors received the warmest commendations from the commanding general for their energy, alacrity, and courage. The enemy was in a strong position ; his force was known to be large : but such was the confidence of the Union troops in their cause and their leader, that they rushed into the fight with a determination to conquer. In his address to the army, while Grant congratu- lates the noble living he laments the equally noble dead, and tenders his kind sympathies to the friends of all. "These heroic men," he says, "have freely offered their lives a sacrifice in the defence of consti- tutional liberty ; and, in their fall, they have rendered memorable the field of Iuka." Gen. Grant now removed his headquarters to Jackson, Tenn. This was a more central point, and gave him better command of his enlarged department. A combination of the rebel forces was made at Kip- ley, Miss., embracing all the available troops they could gather. It was this concentration of the trai- tors that led to a change in the plans of Grant, in the completion of which he strained every nerve, in order that lie might be in the right place at the right 13 146 THE TANNER-BOY. time. The enemy made his most violent attack on Corinth ; but the Union garrison defended it with so much courage, fighting from hand to hand in the streets, that the rebels were again forced out of the town, and driven in an ignominious flight into the forests. Nearly a thousand additional prisoners were left in our hands. The dispositions of Grant had completely outgen- eralled the enemy. The only retreat for the driven foe was in the swamps and jungles, among the preci- pices, ravines, and woods ; but, even in these fast- nesses, he was pursued by our brave boys, forced across the adjacent Hatchie River, and into the most distant heights. Not a moment was lost. Two bat- teries of artillery were captured from the flying host, about three hundred prisoners, and many small arms. It was a disastrous day for the Rebellion. The rebels had been met on their own chosen ground, in their strongest points of defence, and driven out with dis- grace and heavy loss. Three combined rebel forces had sought their own selected field, under the lead of three of their chosen generals ; yet Grant and his brave associates had so mastered the situation, that, when the hour of conflict came, *hey won a most sig- nal victory. The undaunted bravery of our officers and men bore down all before them, and added new lustre to the Union arms. Whilst one division of the army was resisting and repelling the furious on- slaught of the rebel hosts at Corinth, another was DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE. 147 attacking the enemy's rear, driving in their pickets and cavalry, and diverting from their own front a large force of infantry and artillery. The two forces then combined to advance, and with unsurpassed gal- lantry drove the enemy across the Hatchie, over ground where it is almost incredible that a superior force should be driven by an inferior, capturing can- non, small arms and prisoners. This union of the forces under Grant was the chief element of success ; such was the confidence in his courage and skill. Having been designated as the commander of the Department of the Tennessee, on the 16th of October, 1862, his authority was extended so as to include all the region of Mississippi down to the celebrated city of Vicksburg. This was the opening of a still grander combination, producing some of the greatest military results the world has ever known. Gen. Grant was justly regarded as the master-spirit of the hour. By his conquests in conjunction with his gal- lant allies he had opened the way for the develop- ment of a Union sentiment in different parts of the South-west. He was gradually preparing for the es- tablishment of the power of the United States in all that section, — especially in Tennessee, where it was hoped that members of Congress and the Legislature, State officers and a United-States senator, would be elected. The country thus placed under the military control 148 THE TANNER-BOY. of Grant was vast in extent, rich in resources and furnished some of the strongest elements that had thus far gone to sustain the Kebellion. Nashville, the capital of the State of Tennessee, was regarded as of the first importance by the rebels ; and it was re- solved and published to the world by them, that the navigation of the Mississippi and its tributary waters should and would be maintained. But in the midst of all his conquests, in connection with these great objects, the same modest, retiring, unassuming man- ner distinguished our general. There was nothing dictatorial or overbearing about him. He approached the people as one of their number. He made him- self acquainted with all their wants. He was gentle to then prejudices, forbearing to their passions, kind to their advances. All classes found in him a per- sonal protector and friend. He interfered with no individual rights of conscience or opinions. The utmost freedom of the elective franchise was main- tained, consonant with the requirements of the Constitution of the United States. His great aim was to procure the general expression of the real will of the people, and then to place it and them under the protection of constitutional law. The liberties of the people and the rights of the people were maintained alike ; for, as we have seen, he had been, from his youth up, a man of the people. The extension of his military authority in these directions of civil life in the AVest is one of the CIVIL-MILITARY POWER. 149 most remarkable elements of success in the character of Gen. Grant. Very few men know how to mingle judiciously the supreme military with the just civil power. The general who has never known defeat in his campaigns finds it difficult to submit to the re- quirements that are sometimes enforced by judicial authority. He has been accustomed always to com- mand, and always to be obeyed. It is not always easy for him to be commanded and to obey himself. This practical difficulty was enhanced by the pecu- liar condition of the country over which Gen. Grant was placed. The law was already there ; but it was the wrong law. The courts were there ; but they were the wrong courts. The civil officers were there ; but they were all, or nearly all, sworn by their solemn oaths to do all they could to destroy the Con- stitution and Government of the United States. How were these adverse powers to be propitiated? How were these discordant elements to be reconciled ? He was at the head of a conquering army in supreme possession of a conquered territory. How should he wisely blend military and civil law ? How should he maintain army discipline, and promote the avocations of society ? Other generals in other countries when entering and possessing them as conquerors, had been guided by the old military rule, that the spoils belong to the victors. His knowledge of history had taught him that Caesar and Hannibal, Alexander and Frederick, Napoleon and Wellington, had held it to be lawful to 150 THE TANNER-BOY. allow their victorious troops to ravage the countries they had conquered, at so much expense of blood and suffering, to repay themselves for their privations out of the property of the enemies who had dared and been subdued by them in fight. Here, then, in the Republic of the new world, under a general of and from the people, was to be shown how military law could be administered with and for the people. Grant was fully equal to the arduous task. His birth, educa- tion, manners and habits eminently fitted him to perform it, and to perform it well. He began at once by removing all the abuses with- in his reach in his own immediate command. The most strict military discipline was everywhere en- forced among his troops. He proved his ability to govern citizens well by governing soldiers well. Having driven out from his lines the lawless military foragers known as "guerillas," — a class of predatory bands who live by preying on all within their reach, both friends and foes, — he proceeded to show his army how the laws with regard to private property were to be enforced. Some of the planters in his department having complained — no doubt justly — that the rebel soldiers in passing through their coun- try had ruthlessly stripped them of every thing they could plunder and carry away, the general determined to probe the evil to the bottom, whenever it could be proved against the Union soldiers. He therefore issued an order in the field, dated at his headquarters, NO PLUNDERING. 151 Nov. 9, 1862, establishing the peremptory regulation that stoppage should be made on muster and pay- rolls against divisions for the full amount of depre- dations committed by any member or members of the division. This compelled the officers of each division of the army to be personally responsible, and to trace the depredations to their proper sources. It was declared in express terms that confiscation acts were never intended to be executed by soldiers. If they were it was shown them that the Government, who paid the soldiers, should reap the benefit, and not the soldiers themselves. All such depredators, therefore, were to have their pay stopped at once. Not only commissioned officers, but all good men in the ranks, were shown that the correction of this evil was in their own hands. Their patriotism, their self- respect, were appealed to, and a reward held out to all who would aid in detecting offenders. For every violation of the rule to respect private property, com- missioned officers were assessed in proportion to then pay ; and thus a proper example was set before the men. The result of this proceeding on the part of Gen. Grant was all he expected. It did not, it could not, thoroughly eradicate the evil ; but it ameliorated it to a great extent ; it promoted good discipline in the army, and gave a new and better tone to public sen- timent in the conquered country. Society felt the benefit of the regulations he had made, in all its 152 THE TANNER-BOY. parts. It was another indication of that clear judg- ment and strong common sense that distinguish him among men. The flocking-in of large numbers of self-emanci- pated blacks from different portions of his department required the exercise of much caution as to their dis- position. The general, therefore, placed them in a special camp, in charge of competent parties. Regu- lations were issued with reference to their location, provision, and employment. They were organized into companies, and set to work picking, ginning, and baling cotton, as it stood on the plantations. Com- manding officers were required to send all such persons at once to the quarters provided for them, with such teams, cooking-utensils, and otlier baggage, as they brought with them. A regiment of infantry was placed around them as a guard, suitable surgeons were put in charge of them, and such provision made as could be for their education and religious enjoy- ment. These concerted movements of Gen. Grant were among the first of the kind begun in the Army of the South-west for the protection and welfare of this class. Wherever his practical suggestions have been carried out faithfully, the best results have ensued. CHAPTER XIX. RECOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. THE complete possession of the navigation of the Mississippi River was a paramount object with Gen. Grant. In anticipation of his movements, the rebei authorities had sent new forces into the region near his department, in the hope of intercepting him in his plans. But he had laid them too deeply and had pursued them too cautiously, to be thus circum- vented by traitors. He perfectly understood all his own position, and could well apprehend what the operations of the enemy would undoubtedly be. Nothing was left to mere conjecture. Every point was securely guarded. His work was begun on a purpose long and carefully preconcerted. The importance of the Mississippi to the United States can never be too highly prized. Some of our younger readers would probably like to have the Major give them a description of this great stream of water, in the recovery of which, from the hands of the wicked leaders of the Slaveholders' Rebellion, Gen. Grant took so prominent and successful a part. The Mississippi is the largest river in North [153] 154 • THE TANNER-BOY. America. In its length of navigable tributaries^ and in extent of facilities afforded to travel and commerce, it is the greatest river in the world. Its first dis- covery by Europeans was made *by a Spanish sea captain, named Pinedo, in the year 1519. On entering its mouth from the Gulf of Mexico he called that part of its waters the Mar Pequena, or Little Sea. The mighty river he set down on his map of discovery as the Rio del Espiritu Santo, or the River of the Holy Ghost. In a chart made for the celebrated Charles the Fifth, Emperor of Spain, in 1529, it is placed with remarkable accuracy under the twenty- ninth degree of north latitude. The great bay. which these early navigators of our American coast called the " Little Sea " is the sheet of water included in the promontories formed by the northern gulf- shore and the passes of the Mississippi. They found these passes difficult of navigation in their day ; and, on all the capes by winch they sailed in safety, they put up the holy cross. Capt. Pinedo was followed, in the years 1532 and 1535, by Cambeca de Yaca, Navarez, and other enterprising seamen, who made several additional discoveries. They passed farther up the stream, and called it the Rio Grande, or Grand River. Fernando de Soto was the third discoverer and principal old Spanish explorer of the Mississippi. He arrived on its borders, in the neighborhood of the Chickasaw Bluffs, in the year 1542. After as- RECOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 155 cencling and descending the river, and making many important discoveries of its wonderful extent, he died on its solitary banks, and was buried in its silent waters at the dead hour of night, near the mouth of the Arkansas. In the following year, 1543, the suc- cessor of De Soto, Capt. Mososco, sailed down the entire length of the river to the sea. ' These navigators from old Spain were followed by others from different countries. In 1673 a French- man named Marquette, in 1682 another named La Salle, and in 1685 De Ponti, made still more minute discoveries. La Salle explored in boats all the passes at the mouth of the river, and erected a monu- ment at one of the dividing points, bearing the arms of France. The first designation of the river as the " Missis* sippi " was by Father Marquette in 1672. He, how- ever, added to the Indian name the title Riviere de Conception, — the Eiver of Conception. Subse- quently La Salle, having been sent out by Colbert, the French Minister of Marine, called it "Riviere de Colbert," — the River of de Colbert. On some old maps, long after this, the whole Upper Mississippi country was called La Colbertie, — Colbert's Land. The origin of the name n Mississippi " is traced to the Indian tribes on its banks. Several other at- tempts were made to change it, beside those already mentioned. Iberville, another traveller, in the year 1699, called it Malbouchia. In the year 1712, King 156 THE TANNER-BOY. Louis of France ordered, by letters-patent, that from that date the great river " heretofore called c Mis- sissippi ' should be called f Riviere Saint LouisS " But this new name, even under the authority of the illustrious French monarch of that age, shared the fate of its predecessors. It soon fell into disuse, while the ancient name was retained. In the year 1721, the historian Charlevoix, who travelled along the river, always calls it Micissipi ; and in his work, published in France in 1744, he sets it down authori- tatively as the Mississippi. This singular name is one originally used by the Ojibbeway Indians. The early Christian missionaries heard it for the first time among this tribe around Lake Superior. Its meaning is the "Father of Waters," or the " Great Water," or " Rivers from all Sides." The source of this remarkable stream has been traced to the beautiful Lake "Itasca," — located at a distance of three thousand one hundred and sixty miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and one thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. This lovely inland lake lies embowered in the hills of the North-west, shaded by the tall pine-forests, where from its silent fountains it gives life to the great Father of Waters. The river at its outlet is but twelve feet wide, and eighteen inches deep ! . From this point it flows northwardly and north-east wardly, passing through the smaller Lakes Irving and Trav- RECOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 157 ers ; then, turning eastwardly and south-eastwardly, it passes to Lake Cass, a sheet of water of considerable extent, thirteen hundred and thirty feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico. Journeying on through other minor lakes, and reaching as far on its northern course as the forty-eighth degree of north latitude, pursuing, for a time, a winding course eastwardly, it finally turns to the south, and keeps on its mighty march in that direction, until it launches out grandly into the Atlantic Ocean. The course of the Mississippi is pursued down a level of about five inches to every mile, and at the average rate of four miles an hour. The region it traverses from its source is an elevated table-land, abounding in small bodies of pure water, fed chiefly by mountain-springs. As its enters the lower coun- try the soil becomes more level, in some places rising abruptly to eminences ; and then, continuing to un- dulate, sinks to the swampy and sandy, until it reaches the Mexican Gulf. Some idea of the value of this stream as a means of water-communication may be formed from the fact that it furnishes navigation, through itself and its tributary rivers and bayous, for sixteen thousand six hundred and seventy-four miles. The number of streams that enter into it from its source to its mouth is seventy-eight ; and of these some are of the largest class of navigable waters — such as the Missouri, the Red River, the St. Peter's, the Ohio, 158 THE TANNER-BOY. the Arkansas, the Wabash, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee. The Missouri supplies navigation for eighteen hundred miles ; the Eed River, for fifteen hundred; the St. Peter's, for eleven hundred; the Ohio, for one thousand ; the Arkansas, for eight hun- dred ; the Tennessee, for seven hundred; and the Wabash and Cumberland, for four hundred each. Other tributaries average from five miles to three hundred. After it passes the mouth of the Missouri the usual width of the Mississippi is about one mile. The depth gradually increases as it marches on its splendid course ; until, from having been only thirteen inches deep at its outlet from the beautiful Lake Itasca, it reaches, at the leeves of the city of ~Ne\v Orleans, one hundred feet ! Sweeping on by this great south-western metropolis, in the form of a crescent current, leaving its wealth of treasures on its shores, it pours onward, in a winding course of one hundred and five miles, through a country only ninety miles directly distant from the Gulf of Mexico, as if it would linger as long as possible through its inland journey to fertilize and beautify and enrich the earth before it shall be lost in all its heights and depths, its might and strength, in the broader and deeper and stronger sea. The grand object for the possession of this wonder- ful river of rivers was not so much to follow it to its source, to float along its current, to admire its RECOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 159 scenery, to be astonished at its extent, as to be able to control its navigation. The Mississippi drains a country of over one million square miles. It is the vast watery outlet of the West for the productions of scores of millions of the people of America. God has decreed that it shall be free to all this people. As the chainless ocean, as the resistless tides that ebb and flow, as the uncurbed winds that wing their way through space, as the living currents that rise and fall in the human heart, so the great Father of Waters must be for ever free. The people at its source in Itasca cannot dam it up, and keep it there ; the people at the Balize cannot build a barrier that it will not overleap as it rolls onward into the ocean. Every attempt of the kind to control the naviga- tion of such free highways of commerce and travel has always signally failed, and must 'continue to fail for ever. The right of the inhabitants of the upper country of a navigable river to descend its course in freedom to its mouth has ever been maintained by a free people, and it ever will be. When, therefore, fiie occupants of the lower waters of the Mississippi River combined in an unholy alliance for the per- petuation of slavery, to prevent the occupants of its upper waters from enjoying its free navigation, they attempted more than men ever could or can accom- plish. Here was one of the great fundamental and fana- tical delusions of the slaveholders of America. As 160 THE TANKER-BOY. they thought, in their madness, that the people of Europe would succumb to their insolent demands for arbitrary sway to obtain their great Southern staple, — cotton, — so, with equal insanity, they thought if they could hold at their will the navigation of the Mississippi River, they should not only secure an easy transit for their own military, naval, and com- mercial supplies, but they would compel all the people of the vast North-west to succumb to their power for the sake of peace and their supposed interests. Visionary dreamers of latter-hour despotism ! They could no more accomplish their impious tyranny than the despotic Emperor Joseph the Second could control the navigation of the Scheldt from Antwerp to the ocean ; than the British ministry could collect a tax without their consent from the colonists of America ; or than the Treaty of Ghent could have ignored the claims of the United States with refer- ence to the acquisition of Louisiana and Florida, by which the right to navigate the Mississippi, from its source to the Gulf of Mexico, had been guaranteed down from the previous treaty of 1783. The right to that free navigation, exclusively vested by the most solemn treaties in the United States, could not be lawfully set aside by the municipal laws or sec- tional customs or local institutions of any one State, without the unanimous or two-thirds consent of all the rest. The American Union controls the Missis- sippi and the Union alone. RECOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 161 When, therefore, the slaveholders of the South and their allies had basely seceded from the United States because they could no longer control them, one of their first attempts was to secure and hold for their exclusive benefit the Mississippi River. They needed it for passing their troops and munitions of war from one part of the Rebellion to the other ; and they intended also to destroy, as far as possible, all intercourse on this great highway of the nation, that could be of benefit to the United States in the North, and the city of New Orleans and other ter- ritory already in our possession in the South. By this means they plotted to keep back all the rich agricultural products of the North-west, all the manufactures of the East going that way, and all the cotton and sugar of the contiguous South-west, from supplying the wants of the United States and encouraging friendly feelings for us abroad. In pursuance of their plots the rebels fortified, as fast and as strongly as possible, every available point they could command on the Mississippi. Dur- ing the fall and winter of the year 1861, they were engaged j n the work of erecting fortifications to blockade the river. The first of these was at Port Hudson ; but the principal one was at Vicksburg, — both directly on the banks. The former is located on the east bank of the river in Louisiana, near Baton Rouge ; and was not completed until Nov. 25, 1862, after the capture of New Orleans by the 14 1G2 THE TANNEK-BOY. United States. The object of its erection was to prevent the Union troops from ascending from that city up the river for the purpose of co-operating with those above. In January of the previous year, similar preparatory movements had been made by the rebels at Vicksburg. The governor of the State of Mississippi sent forward a park of artillery, and commenced the fortification of this stronghold. It was regarded by them — as it has since been proved to be — the Gibraltar of the Mississippi, — the Sebastopol of America. G CHAPTER XX. VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN. EN. GRANT was now entering on the great theatre of his Western campaign. The forti- fications of the rebels at various strong points, by means of which they hoped to render the blockade of the Mississippi perfect, had been captured or blown up. They therefore turned their attention to what they knew to be stronger posts of defence and assault, with a view to making them impregnable. Such was the natural position of Yicksburg, on one of the highest bluffs of the river, commanding per- fectly the whole surface of the broad waters for miles above and below, that it was determined to hold it at any expense and at every sacrifice. To secure its downfall, by means of which that of Port Hudson would follow, and the navigation of the river thus be rendered free once more, was now the con- stant study and aim of Grant. A Western man himself, born among some of the rills that fed its gigantic current, familiar as a business man with the avenues of commerce that pour down by its stream from the fertile prairies of the upper country to the [163] 164 THE TAXXER-BOY. lowlands of the delta of the Gulf of Mexico, know- ing by experience how the hardy settlers felt with regard to their inherent rights to the free navigation of this greatest navigable river of the world, he set himself deliberately, calmly, perse veringly, with all his wonted courage and tact, to the capture of Vicks- burg. It was the greatest work of the kind ever undertaken by man. The gates of Yicksburg, in blocking the Mississippi, were like the gates of Gaza in the way of Samson. But the strength of both these men was the delegated strength of the Almigh- ty, and they felt that they could not fail. The word " can't " was still not to be found in Grant's diction- ary. Every previous effort to reduce this stronghold of the Rebellion had failed. It was boldly proclaimed to the world by the rebels and their allies that it could not be taken. The fleet of United-States gun- boats, that, with admirable bravery and skill, had captured every other point, hung fire at Yicksburg. There was clearly no way of reducing it but by a combined attack from the navy in front and the army in the rear. In anticipation of such an assault the rebels had brought in their rescued guns from every available point ; and, under the control of their most able engineers and other officers, — men who had received their military educations and prefer- ments at the hands of the generous country they were now so basely betraying, — they worked hard, APPROACHES VICKSBURG. 165 day and night, until Vicksburg became a vast series of forts, enclosing each other in regular succession, holding the fortified city, as a citadel, in the centre. A large body of troops, and an abundant supply of ammunition and provisions, in command of the high- est officer, by title, in the rebel service, were sta- tioned at the post. The United States were defied with scorn, and boldly dared to come and take Vicks- burg if they could. Shells could not destroy it from the river ; troops could not invest it from the land. We shall see. On the 1st of June, 1862, the fleet of the naval hero, Commodore Farragut, which had so gloriously participated in the capture of New Orleans from the enemy, came up from the Lower Mississippi, and attacked a battery of rifled guns at Grand Gulf. The battery was silenced, and the gallant fleet passed toward Yicksburg. Memphis was reduced on the 6th of June; and, on the 7th, the fleet, having destroyed the effectiveness of the Grand-Gulf bat- tery, cast anchor at its selected point in the cam- paign. The rebels had now fairly taken the alarm. With hurried feet and hands, showing their loud boastings to be the merest bombast, they removed all the State papers from their capital, at Jackson, Mississippi, in hopes, if possible, of finding a place of greater safe- ty. The whole adjacent country was in motion ; and it soon became evident that the bold defiance of 166 THE TAjOEK-BOY. rebellion at Vicksburg was about to be put to the severest test. Grant was everywhere busy with his army movements ; and, by a preconcerted signal from him, on the 27th of June, 1862, Commodore Farra- gut began the bombardment of Vicksburg. Com- modore Porter's mortar fleet moved down from above, where it had been doing the most effective service, and joined in bombarding the town. This part of the attack continued, with occasional necessary inter- missions, until late in the ensuing July. Meanwhile, Grant was every moment engaged in the campaign. Every thing was being done in accordance with his directions and suggestions as commander of the department ; but the usual decrease of the water of the river in summer compelled the fleet to with- draw for a time to New Orleans, which it did early in August. The strength of the rebel river-batteries at Vicks- burg was materially increased by the addition of a heavily armed steamer. She was called " a ram," because of an iron projection attached to her bows, by means of which she could be driven against and into ordinary wooden vessels, battering holes in their sides, and sometimes sinking them on the* spot. One of this class of war-monsters had been built by the rebels at a temporary navy-yard in the Yazoo River, which has its entrance into the Mississippi only about twelve miles above Vicksburg. This vessel they called the "Arkansas," after the then rebel State TURNING THE RIVER. 167 of that name ; and forcing her down in the right, past Porter's fleet, succeeded in placing her alongside the docks, under the guns of the batteries on the bluffs. But this hurried triumph of the rebels was short. It was not long before two of the Union gunboats, the w Essex " and " Queen of the West," poured such hot shells upon and within her as she lay at the wharf, that she was disabled in her machinery, and rendered utterly useless to the enemy. A scientific plan was now formed, under the direc- tion of Gen. Williams, of Gen. Grant's Department, to isolate Vicksburg from the navigable waters of the river by means of a canal. It was proposed to dig this canal in such a way that it should divert the entire channel of the great Mississippi from its an- cient bed, so that vessels could pass up and down beyond the reach of the guns of Vicksburg, and leave that vaunting stronghold high and dry, to stand in deserted grandeur on its towering bluffs. The plan was one of the grandest ever conceived in military histoiy. The river, in consequence of its winding course, is well calculated, in certain places, for such purposes. There are points, where, by digging a comparatively short distance, the water can be forced from its old into a new channel; and when at a high stage, and the current is deep and strong, the rush of the river will cut its new passage through the opening, and soon render the channel deep enough for navigation. In consequence of unex- 168 THE TANNER-BOY. pected delays, however, in procuring the necessary amount of labor, by the time the initiatory opening had been dug the strength and depth of the current were not sufficient for the object desired. Had not Grant changed his plan, for good and sufficient reasons, in the prosecution of his immediate cam- paign, the succeeding rise of the river would have accomplished all he aimed at by the canal. It would have required only continued industry, patience, and perseverance, — the elements of character which we have repeatedly seen he possesses in a remarkable degree. Not a day or hour of that labor was lost ; for it has shown what military skill and strategy can do at the appointed time. Finding themselves thus approached from above and below by a commander who was unceasing in his plans and labors, the rebels were compelled to attempt the work of fortifying still more. They threw up new and strong redoubts on the hills around Vicksburg. They planted siege-guns on every side, so as to command every ravine, every gully, every eminence and approach to their city in the rear. What nature had made apparently impregnably strong, they made, if possible, still stronger. The residents of the town united with its armed defenders to render every house as literally a castle of defence, a tower of retreat, as could be done. The laborers were employed to dig and fit up for dwellings caves in the earth, which were occupied as habitations for CAVE HOUSES. 169 families. Some of these were constructed in the form of the letter T, with the entrance at the lower end ; the main room running along the centre mark, and the top forming two wings for side -rooms. These holes were sometimes made large enough to contain a man and woman, several children, a cow, a pig, poultry, and cooking utensils. The main room was frequently so low that the occupants could not stand upright ; so that they would retire into one of the wings, which had been dug a little deeper in the ground for the purpose. In these caves they were protected against the shells from the fleet. But justice requires us to state that there was no occasion for a single family remaining in Vicksburg, as the citizens had ample opportunities to retire from the place in safety at any moment. By the uniform courtesy of Grant they were held, as he always held non-combatants, entitled to kind treatment, even though in rebellion against a just and lawful govern- ment. But their course in choosing to remain under fire was their own. They were the victims of their own perverseness and folly. Such will be the im- partial record of history. The voice of humanity will testify that Ulysses Grant was not in any way responsible for the loss of the life of a single non- combatant at Vicksburg. The increase of his forces was now resolved upon by the Government of the United States. He was at once supplied with a body of fresh troops. They 15 170 . THE TANNER-BOY. were selected men, under the command of Gens. Hovey and Washburne ; and arrived at the close of November, 1862. The army of Gen. Grant was at that time being concentrated on the opposite shore of Arkansas. A new and practical movement was at hand. While the navy was shelling Vicksburg, Grant was not idle. He 'ordered the new cavalry, under Gen. Washburne, to attack a rebel camp at the mouth of the Cold- Water River, where he com- pletely routed the eneny, capturing horses, arms and equipments. The advance followed as far as Pres- ton, then to Garner's Station, where the railway bridge and track in possession of the rebels were thoroughly destroyed. This and other expeditions against the enemy, sent out by order of Grant, were wholly successful. The location and condition of the rebel forces were discovered, and arrangements ac- cordingly made to continue the advance under the most favorable circumstances. Grant, with the main body of the army, now moved steadily forward. On the 28th of November he was approaching Holly Springs, one of the most important towns in that part of Mississippi. All this while the secret rebels around him, co-operating with then allies at Memphis and other places, were covertly forwarding information of his progress to the enemy ; but his consummate shrewdness made him well aware of the fact of tliis treachery, and kept him constantly on his guard. In all his move- RASCALLY PEDDLERS. 171 ments he was never once deceived by false reports. What an evidence of his skill as a general ! What a caution to others in command ! On the morning of the 29th of November, 1862, he reached Holly Springs, passing directly through it; waiting not a moment for any exhibition of temporary triumph, but pressing on to the next point of importance. His arrival at the adjacent town of Waterford was so sudden to the rebels, who had foolishly imagined he would halt and refresh and exult, as some other generals have done in other places, when he reached Holly Springs, that they were all taken completely by surprise. It was here he discovered, before the traitors had time to re- move them, the proofs of the illicit traffic carried on between the town and some of the " speculators " of St. Louis, Mo., — a gang of that delectable clan of robbers who are always on the wait with their traps and poisons for " de advance of de armee." After the sample we have had of his summary ejection of one of these villanous hangers-on from his tent we need not stop to ask here what the general did with these Waterford scoundrels. We will give a brief con- versation on the subject between two soldiers : — First soldier. "I say, Frank, did you see what Gen. Grant done with them chaps he caught peddlin' their St. Tiouis plunder last night ? " Second soldier. "No, Sam : what was it?" First soldier. " Gaully fy ! old feller ! you ought 172 THE TANTSER-BOY. ter seen him. I was with Col. Lee's cavalry, and we'd pushed on far ahead. We kum down on the rebs, like hawks do on buzzards, before they knew we was a-coming ! Gorre ! didn't they scamper ? Better believe they did, though ! " Second soldier. "But where was Gen. Grant?" First soldier. " Oh ! he was close aboard the old rips, with their gew-gaws and gim-cracks ; and the way he scattered them ! my ! but it was a caution to Moses and Aaron and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the rest of the tribe ! " f Orderly ! ' says the general ; and you oughter seen him straighten himself up in his stirrups, on them are big cavalry boots o' his'n ! His foot kept a-twitchin ' up an' down, as tho' he wanted to git off orfully, and put the toe to 'em. ? Orderly ! ' says he, r what are these fellows doing here ? Bring a guard instantly, and march them to the guard -house ! Put them in close confinement, on bread and water, till further orders ! ' " Hi yah ! But you ought ter seen 'em drap their greasy bedtick packs, and try to run ! " r No, you don't!' says some of our boys, of Washburne's cavalry. ' Stop there, you thievm' rascals ! or we'll put a bullet through every one of yer dirty carcasses ! ' " Oh ! how they fell down on their marrA' bones ! — while Gen. Grant rid off with a cool smile on his face, as he left 'em in our hands. "sarved 'em eight!" 173 "And didn't we put them are villins through? I'll bet we did ! They went over that shell road two forty, and no mistake ! " Second soldier. " Sarved 'em right ! " First soldier. "Of course it did. Didn't do nothin' els. And we ain't been troubled with the varmin eny more ever sence ! " The two soldier-boys rode on together, with a joint hearty laugh. The peddling scamps and spies felt the full force of practical " confiscation " in this case, the act being carried out to the letter, "by authority " of the commanding general. CHAPTER XXI. HOLLY SPRINGS. ALL the movements made by Grant had direct reference to the ultimate capture of Vicksburg. However circuitous might be his routes or distant his attacks, they were all intended to culminate in the one great object of the re-opening of the Mississippi to free navigation. The movement on Holly Springs and vicinity was one of this character. His con- summate generalship was seen everywhere as he advanced. From Oxford to Water Valley, from CofFeville to Delta, from Corinth to the Yazoo, 'the entire line of operations was always under his imme- diate management. Every place he captured was always left so well guarded by him, that no advantage could be taken by the enemy of his subsequent ad- vances. Thus to guard well the rear, to leave no loophole by which the wily foe can enter, is one of the best proofs of good generalship that can be afforded. Such was ever the skill and strategy of General Grant. But he could not always rely on equal discernment and caution in all under his com- mand. Hence, when he had passed on with his vic- [174] GUARDING THE REAR. 175 torious wing of the army to Oxford, Mississippi, and made his headquarters there, he soon changed his base in consequence of the disobedience of his commands by a subordinate. Some delay and loss were caused at Holly Springs by neglecting to fortify the place. The sensitive nature of Grant was deeply pained and mortified by this neglect. He knew that the post could have been held, if only a few hours' labor had been devoted by the garrison to the erection of breastworks. To form these an abundance of baled cotton and other materials was at hand. Once prop- erly erected and guarded, they would have proved an ample defence against any force the enemy could at that time bring into the field. In connection with this affair at Holly Springs he established a rule with regard to paroles on the field. He showed the part of the army concerned that by refusing paroles, under such circumstances, the officers and men compel the enemy to take care of them as prisoners of war ; which would have forced the rebels, in this case, to have abandoned all aggres- sive operations, as it would have required all their effective troops to take care of their Union prisoners. In that case their ultimate discomfiture would have been almost certain. He immediately issued orders, therefore, to have all these field paroled men gathered in camp by themselves ; and directed commanders throughout the department to arrest and hold in * charge for 176 THE TANNER-BOY. this camp, all stragglers who accepted their paroles on these terms. By adopting this prompt course, by means of which all paroles obtained by neglect of duty were rendered worthless, Gen. Grant compelled all commands left in charge of captured posts to use the utmost vigi- lance and courage in their defence. When, there- fore, some of these posts were subsequently attacked by the enemy, they were defended by our men, not only as if they expected no paroles, but would re- ceive none. In every place along the line of Grant's march success followed the Union arms. The enemy was made to suffer a loss in killed and wounded greater than the entire garrisons of the places attacked. Whenever our troops made a stand, they conquered. At Holly Springs, if our garrison had not been left by its commander in ignorance of the approach of the enemy, and if he had taken the necessary precautions for defence, a like success would have ensued. Even here, the opportunity revealed the friendship that existed among portions of the people for the Union, and encouraged the daring advance of Grant. Ever watchful, ever vigilant, he was not only quick to appreciate these friendly approaches among the citi- zens, but equally quick to punish any act of cow- ardice, perfidy, or pillage, on the part of his own officers and men. The power of the general had no^been increased SEEING THE FIGHT. 177 to the command of four entire corps of the army and of the auxiliary naval force. In the movement of such large bodies of men up and down the vicinity of a blockaded river, across a very uneven country, inhabited by numerous secret and treacherous foes, the greatest vigilance and skill were indispensable to success. Orders were given, therefore, which brought the hangers-on of the army quickly to a realizing sense of their situations. It will be remembered by the readers of history that when Wellington was about leading his troops to the front to engage in the great battle of Wa- terloo, several prominent gentlemen of the vicinity came to him, and boldly asked his permission to wit- ness the fight. "Oh, yes, gentlemen, — certainly ! " said the Field Marshal, blandly. "By all means, gentlemen, you shall see the battle ! " So saying, he turned to one of his staff, and quietly added, "Adjutant ! show these gentlemen the muster-rolls of the Guards. Take a full descriptive list of each one of them ; give them all a loaded musket apiece, and march them to the front ! They want to see the fight, adjutant ; and they can see it there to the best advantage ! " It is needless to add that all further curiosity of the gentlemen on these terms was soon satisfied. They were glad to leave the field with their own arms, 178 THE TANNER-BOY. modestly and most respectfully, rather than to bear to the front those of their country. A similar treatment was always administered by Gen. Grant to those idle hangers-on of his army. At the proper time, just as a hazardous advance was to be made directly in the face of the enemy, he quietly ordered that any citizen accompanying the expedition, unless directly employed by the Government, should be liable to be conscripted into the service of the United States for the unexpired term of the com- mand. If he should show a refractory temper when placed in the ranks, and thereby prove himself unfit for the honorable position of a soldier of his country, the commanding officer present was authorized to turn him over to the captain of some boat-battery or transport, to be employed, if necessary, as a powder- monkey or a deck-hand, and compelled to work in that capacity the required time. Any person whatever, whether in the service of the United States or on board the transports in the river, who should be detected in making reports, even for publication at home, which might reach the enemy, and would in any way give them aid and comfort, was to be arrested and treated as a spy. These explicit orders, which clearly show the prac- tical working of the mind of Grant, were very wet blankets to the professedly glowing patriotism of cer- tain gentry, who had ardently desired, for special reasons, to keep near the person of the commanding VAGRANTS TO THE REAR. 179 general. When they found that to keep thus near him was to be a soldier in the field, a powder-monkey in a battery, or a deck-hand on a transport, they wisely concluded that "discretion" was, indeed, "the better part of valor ; " and so they quietly withdrew to the non-combative region of hospitals, commissary stores, cook-houses, smithies, and sutlers' rations for man and beast. In all times of active advance, there may they ever remain ! The rebels constantly retreated before the steadily advancing columns of Gen. Grant. Finding it to be impossible to resist him, at length, they destroyed all the public property that they saw must fall into his hands, and gradually and sullenly withdrew from the field, to join their forces to those within the intrench- ments of Yicksburg. But for the unnecessary sur- render of Holly Springs through the incompetence of the officer in charge, the whole of the country in the rear of Vicksburg would have been commanded, at the outset, and the rebels prevented from massing any considerable number of troops in that direction. As it was, the combinations of Grant with Sher- man, by means of which the latter obtained possession of Milliken's Bend, on the river, Delhi, Dallas, and other strong points, were entirely successful. The way was now prepared for the forces under Sherman to be moved from near the mouth of the Yazoo, with a view to attacking the Vicksburg batteries on the northern side. This attack was to be made by the 180 THE TANNER-BOY. right wing of the army of the Tennessee. It began on the morning of the 26th of December, 1862. The whole force was landed on that day, and line of battle formed on the ensuing morning. The battle raged until the 28th of December. But the force of Gen. Sherman was at that time too small to prose- cute the assault to advantage, and he desisted, until further orders. The works of the enemy had been greatly strengthened ; he had thrown the troops, driven by Grant from the interior, within the in- trenchments, which materially increased his power to resist. Our men fought with great bravery, and gained at every point where there was not an over- whelming disparity of numbers. Although Gen. Grant was not personally present at this first assault, yet it was made under his direc- tion ; and the influence of his valor on former occa- sions inspirited the command. Every officer and man, without exception, acquitted himself with honor to the country. The movement was part of a combined one, and, as far as it progressed, accom- plished all the commanding general had in view. Several important points of the rebels in the rear of the city were captured, their means of transportation largely destroyed, their much vaunted works boldly attacked and shown to be assailable ; and our troops retired to their assigned positions in good spirits. At the proper moment Gen. Grant came again ac- tively into the field. Two of the largest and most ef- COLORED TROOPS — THE PROCLAMATION. 181 fective army corps, the Thirteenth and Fifteenth, were ordered by President Lincoln to report directly to Grant. This materially increased his strength, and prepared him more effectively for direct and persist- ent operations. Several attacks followed on posts in the vicinity, by both the army and navy ; and the work of preparing for the grand future assault went steadily forward. The great combinations of the active and organizing mind of Grant pressed on to their consummation. By the month of January, 1863, the whole plan had been formed. Cavalry operations were now con- tinually going on , with success . The superior general- ship of Grant was manifest in every movement he made. The officers and soldiers everywhere felt and showed by their spirit and discipline that under such a leader they could not fail of a final victory. All classes united to do him honor. His course toward the colored troops was such that they were drawn to his standard readily ; and, when under it, they were made welcome, as Jackson had welcomed such men in the service of the country for the defence of New Orleans, in 1812. The victory at Arkansas Post had shown the utility of these troops, as a fi^htin^ element. In the course of the month of January, 1863, he issued a general order to sustain the emancipation proclamation of President Lincoln, and to promote the enlistment of colored- regiments. In his comprehensive order on this important 182 THE TANNER-BOY. national movement Grant directs corps, division and post commanders to afford all the facilities in their power for the organization of colored troops into regi- ments and brigades. Commissaries were promptly to issue the necessary supplies, in full, and quarter- masters to furnish stores, on the same requisitions and returns as were required from other troops. All com- manders were expected, especially, to exert them- selves in carrying out the policy of the Government, not only in organizing colored regiments, and render- ing them efficient, but, also, in removing all prejudices against them. There are the best of reasons for recording in these historical pages the fact that Gen. Grant has always been in favor of paying to colored soldiers the same wages that are paid to all other troops. There was a change made in his general base of operations, on the 29th of January, 1863. With his usual activity he accompanied his own immediate forces to the field. No matter how humble his head- quarters were, if he were but surrounded by his chosen troops, and constantly pushing on his brave columns. Located at Young's Point, Louisiana, he was in constant communication with the remaining fleet, and could command the entire field of opera- tions. Making himself more and more thoroughly master of the situation, he ascertained exactly the con- PREPARES FOR ASSAULT. 183 dition of the fortifications at Vicksburg. He was de- termined to flank the works on the south side. The principal obstacle was the transportation of his troops from one base to the other. Above and below the river was in a state of complete blockade. No advance could be made from New Orleans by reason of the works at Port Hudson, nor from above on account of those at Walnut Hills. If he could have opened the canal commenced by his direction, the work could have been done. But this, in consequence of the wintry rise of the river, fed by the heavy rains and melting snows of the north, was rendered impossible. Sufficiently large details of his men could not be spared from active duty for the purpose, and it was abandoned. The development of this work, however, shows the grasp of the fertile and practical genius of Grant; and that, under such circumstances as he might com- mand, success would be sure to follow. Early in February, 1863, he determined on com- mencing certain active operations. The utmost se- crecy was everywhere enjoined. All persons not actually employed by the Government were positive- ly excluded from his lines. No flag of truce was allowed to pass the outposts. All messages sent in under a flag were stopped at the lines, receipted for by an appropriate officer, and the flag-bearer ordered to return immediately. The answers to such messages were returned under our own flags of truce. In addition to this all non-commissioned officers and 184 THE TANNER-BOY. ' soldiers found one mile from camp, without written permission, were at once court martialed. Any officer or soldier found away from his quarters, with- out leave, any sentinel detected sleeping on his post, any officer or soldier quitting his guard, was to be promptly punished. This was the army discipline of Gen. Grant. He felt his responsibility in all its force, and determined that no one, no matter who, should trifle with it. He persevered with his rigid orders until all under him saw that he was deeply in earnest, and that some movement of unusual importance was in progress. The rebels sent out their guerilla bands ; they at- tempted to molest his boats and transports on the river ; but they could not^and did not change his pur- pose. The Mississippi was to be recovered to free navigation, — Vicksburg, its blockading battery, was to fall. By careful engineering, in the most secret manner, Grant became convinced that a water passage for troops, munitions of war and provisions, could be forced through some of the adjacent tributary waters, so as to admit vessels to enter the river. This was one of the boldest military conceptions of modern times. While the rebels sneered at his vigorous work on the Williams Canal, he bore their taunts in silence, and persevered. So as they received his pur- pose of steering through the wooded passes of the swamp country with shouts of contempt, he calmly MOVES ON THE WORKS. 185 set himself about the work, in his own time, and in his own way. The blockade difficulties under which he labored are" almost indescribable. We record them here, as we have recorded the preceding facts, with all the pre- cision of history, in order that we n$ay do justice to this extraordinary man. 16 CHAPTER XXII. NAVIGATING THE WOODS. " "VYTERE you with Grant, Major, in his wonder- t T ful navigation of the woods ? " we inquired of Major Penniman, as he had brought us thus far on our way in this history of our hero. "I was," courteously replied the Major, crossing his wooden leg over the other. Now the Major had lost this leg when he was a private, under young Lieutenant Grant, on the Rio Grande, in Texas. Whenever the name, of Grant was mentioned, in connection with any great or daring expedition, he always gave his artificial limb an extra flourish, and drew himself up to his highest altitude. " I was with Grant," continued the Major, " and I am proud of it. I was with him among the passes and bayous he encountered in the Mexican campaign, and had learned a great deal about the Upper as well as the Lower Mississippi. "'Major Penniman,' said the General to me one day, in the month of February, '63, *I want you to go with Colonel Pride and Captain Prime, two of my best engineers, through the waters of the woods [186] NAVIGATING THE WOODS. 187 that lead into the river. I am determined, Major/ added he, looking as firm as a rock, f to get my men and munitions just where I want them. You must go, Major. They can and shall be brought through.' " Of course I went ; for I saw he was as fixed as Gibraltar in his plan. There is no turning Grant when he gets set on any thing. So I promptly joined this secret expedition." K But, Major, what is a bayou ? " inquired one of our family, who happened, with others, to be present. "I have heard you speak of it several times, but I don't exactly understand it." This question was thus politely asked by a young brother Kobert, who had been following the Major very attentively, from day to day. "Yes, Major," chimed in Master Ned, whose great blue eyes were swimming with the interest he took in the matter. " Do tell us about the bayous in those dark woods, that the Union navy and army went so bravely through." "And the passes in the swamps, Major," added Tom, his dark eye sparkling as he spoke. "Tell us all about them, and how our brave boys got out of them." There is this difference, resumed the Major, when silence was restored, between a Pass and a Bayou. A pass is a current flowing in from a running stream through the adjacent country; and that after passing woods, and swamps, and meadow-lands, comes into 188 THE TANNER-BOY. the same river again, at some other point, lower down the main channel. A bayou is a sheet of water that flows out of a river, or lake, into a bend of the land, where it remains nearly stationary ; rising and falling as the tides rise and fall in the river, or being lower or higher, as the freshets are high or the river is low. There are many of these water passes and bayous connected with the great Mississippi river. The word bayou is pronounced by the French ? bioo,' and means a channel. Several of the bayous from Lake Pontchartrain, near New Orleans, and from the Gulf of Mexico, are very important channels to the interior country, and afford great facilities to commercial intercourse. It was determined by Gen. Grant that he would avail himself of these half-hidden and difficult means of navigation, in spite of the unnatural blockade of the Mississippi, at Vicksburg. His practical engi- neers had reported, in reply to his order for a recon- noissance, that the rjlan was feasible. With his usual promptness, therefore, he at once set about the work. The water parts of the adjacent woods were to be navigated, Vicksburg surrounded, and the en- slaved Mississippi set free. To divert the attention of the enemy from Iris real plans he set a body of his men at work on the canal between the river and Lake Providence, which was connected with the navigable waters of Bayous Baxter and Macon. At this point the river is higher than the lake. The water, there- NAVIGATING THE WOODS. 189 fore, flows steadily down, at its usual rate of about four miles an hour. The shape of the lake is that of a half-moon, the outer circle of which approaches near the river. Here it was proposed to cut the canal ; so that a highway could be made through the lake and bayous, from seventy five miles above Vicksburg into the rivers below, which empty them- selves into the Mississippi. By this water communi- cation, all out of the reach of the enemy's guns, a connection could be formed between Grant and Banks, the. last named General having at this time invested Port Hudson, and commenced active meas- ures for its capture. Grant moved down a portion of his forces, in alliance with this strategy of engi- neering, occupied the points he had already chosen, and passed several steamers and barges loaded with troops and provisions through the way of Lake Providence. The chief objects of the General in the prosecution of this movement were to occupy his troops and blind the enemy — both of which objects he accomplished effectively. But the grand interior expedition of all was the navigation by Union steamers of the Yazoo Pass. This was begun in the month of February, 1863. For a long series of years this Pass had been neg- lected, until it had become as wild and dreary, as desolate and forsaken, as the Lake of the Dismal Swamp. No boat had for a great while entered its dark and turgid waters. They were so thickly cov- 190 THE TANNER-BOY. ered with woods, where the rank mosses hung down in long and damp festoons of gloomy grandeur, that the sunlight of heaven but rarely visited their dismal shades. Through tins almost forgotten Pass it was pro- posed to send a body of troops in light draught steamers to the Yazoo river, where the enemy had located, in fancied security, several of their trans- ports. They had never imagined that the Union commander would attempt the navigation of such a forsaken water. But they had not calculated on the genius and energy of Grant. When, therefore, his engineers removed certain obstructions, in certain places, he found the navigation more free than was anticipated. On February 24th, 1863, the levee of the Missis- sippi that had closed up the entrance to the Yazoo Pass was torn away, and the vessels chosen for the difficult enterprise entered boldly in. It was the most extraordinary work of the kind ever performed. The distance of the Pass was a little over twenty miles ; and to travel this the expedition consumed nearly four days ! The profound silence of the deso- late spot was awful. It was like the jungles of India, filled with water. The sluggish stream wound its slow way along, like a wearied anaconda; now turning to the left, now to the right ; never having, in any one place, a uniform length of over one hun- dred feet. Vessels, within a few yards of each NAVIGATING THE WOODS. 191 other, would be going directly opposite courses, in the same stream, at the same moment of time, and all trying to get out ! Enormous trees lined the slimy morasses ; the gloomy cypress, for ever weep- ing ; the sycamore, green and slippery ; the gigantic cotton-wood, blossoming with hoary locks of decay, and stooping down with its accumulated burden of tangled vines and weeds ; while beneath the drip- ping arches the dark stream moved dreamily on, like a tired snake lazily moving its aged joints and yet pursuing its prey. Our brave boys passed steadily onward. Al- though the rebels had savagely prophesied the certain destruction of every vessel engaged in this hazardous enterprise they succeeded in getting through, where steamers and armed troops had never gone before. They reached a point near the Yazoo river, where they engaged a part of the enemy's forces, who had been sent from Vicksburg to attack them. The sur- prise of the rebels on meeting us there was very great. They could scarcely believe their own eyes — that we should have brought steamers and artillery through such a pass. The object of the expedition was all accomplished. It disconcerted the rebels. It convinced them that Grant would give them no rest until Vicksburg had fallen. Meanwhile, he went forward with his other plans. In March, 1863, he moved from Young's Point, on 192 THE TANNER-BOY. the Mississippi, to co-operate with Admiral Porter in advancing through Steele's Bayou. So much impeded was this water, like the Yazoo Pass, that the army- pioneers had to cut down large trees and overhanging branches to enable the navy vessels to proceed. The rebels were so confident this Bayou was inac- cessible to the Union forces that they had quietly remained on some of its inner banks, cultivating their fields and living at their ease on the fat of the land. They dreamed only of cotton crops, fruits and vegetables ; of patriarchal sway over negroes ; bar- baric chivalry and Southern independence. When, therefore, at the dead hour of the night, they were awakened by the plash of steamers, the low move- ment of machinery, the passage of transports, and saw by the lights on board that the Union fleet was indeed upon them, their sudden alarm can be better imagined than described. The infernal Yankee iron clads were in the enclosures of their oriental gardens ! The accursed f rams ' of the Union army were butting down their sacred dwellings ! By means of floating bridges the smaller bayous were crossed, the adjacent heights scaled, and the important fact established that the Yazoo river could be reached in that direction, and then the Missis- sippi. Gen. Grant received regular despatches of the progress of the expedition. Not a moment was lost. Sherman and Porter, with their wonted ac- tivity, pressed on, at every point. BAYOU FIGHTING. * 193 On the 21st of February we had passed well down to the expected spot, when the enemy, taken again by surprise, dashed in with a large force from the Yazoo river. The fleet was well-nigh surround- ed. At seven o'clock, on the morning of the 2 2d of .February, Gen. Sherman received a despatch from Admiral Porter — brought by the hands of a faith- ful man of color who had travelled all night to steal his way through the rebel lines — and immediately marched to the point of attack. The creek in which the fleet then was scarcely admitted the passage of a gunboat — and the rebels were close aboard them, with a picked force of five thousand men — infantry, cav- alry and artillery. Only one bow gun apiece could be used by the naval vessels. The rebels debouched through the woods, and rushed on to the attack as if sure of their prey. At that moment Grant's troops dashed in upon them from a neighboring height, taking them by surprise, and driving them off the ground. The expedition, as far as it went, was a success. The hidden storehouse of the enemy in that section was unlocked. Large supplies were obtained for our forces. Cotton, cotton gins, corn, cattle and machinery were captured, and rendered subservient to the good Union cause. " But, Major ! " said one of our boy-circle, inter- rupting the story for a moment, " I have heard you 17 194 THE TANNER-BOY. speak several times of the 'cotton gin.' What do you mean by it?" " Did you suppose I meant by f gin ' something to drink, my son ? " " Why, no sir ; not that, exactly ; because I knew that cotton is not an article to be drunk. I could not tell what you meant." "Well, my boy, a e cotton gin' means a cotton engine — a machine for cleaning cotton of its seeds, pieces of stalk, dirt, and other impurities. c Gin' is an abreviation of f engine.' This useful invention was first made by a native of the state of Connecti- cut, Mr. Eli Whitney, in the year 1793. But by the wickedness of the people who kept then fellow- beings in slavery at the South, and who are the sole cause of this barbarous rebellion, he was cheated out of nearly all the profits of his invention, after it had been the means of adding hundreds of millions of dollars to their wealth." " That ivas wicked, Major." " Yes ; but it is by no means the greatest wicked- ness this rebellion has done. It is wicked all over ; and we must put it down, my boy ! We must put it down for ever ! " cried the Major, as he brought the stump of the wooden leg with decision on the floor. We told the old patriot we thought so, too. "But," said he, calmly interposing, "we must let Gen. Grant attend to the rebels. He will take care CARES FOR THE SICK. 195 of them. Let us go on with our story of his life." The expedition returned in safety from Steele's Bayou, having secured all its expected results. The Commanding General had made several important discoveries, as he anticipated, and was, therefore, the better prepared for the prosecution of his future plans. The general was annoyed, as other commanding officers frequently are, with reports respecting the sanitary condition of the army. No surer method can be found to discourage enlistments at home or to demoralize men in the field, than to set afloat rumors that the health of the troops is neglected. Gen. Grant always felt the full force of this fact in mili- tary affairs ; and he was glad, therefore, to avail himself of the powerful aid of that most useful aux- iliary body — the United States Sanitary Commis- sion. His location near Vicksburg, and among the lowlands in that region, exposed him to many ma- larial diseases ; but his precautions were such that the condition of his troops when his careful regula- tions were followed was always satisfactory. A great deal was said by traitorous parties and their base allies to create unfavorable impressions with regard to the sanitary condition of his troops. He therefore took the earliest opportunity to show his care for them by bringing the Sanitary Commis- sion to his aid. His orders with reference to this 196 THE TANNER-BOY. subject are models of precision and humanity. He saw in person that the Purveyor's Department sup- plied abundantly every thing needed by the sick. In many instances the soldiers were much more care- fully furnished in this respect than they could have been at home. The rebels — humane friends as they were ! — had most earnestly hoped it would be otherwise with Grant and his army. The more of them could possibly die by disease and neglect the better they were pleased. " Shall I tell you that I'm all o'while a-praying for your folks, down to New Orleens?" coolly inquired a rebel woman of us, one clay. "Indeed, madam, I am glad to see you exhibit such a Christian spirit." " O ! yaas ! I'm a-praying the old ' Yaller Jack '. may catch 'em all ! " " That is — you are offering a prayer to God that your countrymen may all be destroyed at New Orleans with the yellow fever?" " Yaas ! " said she, as her mouth opened wide with a grin. Of which opportunity she availed herself to swab her gums with snuff. Gen. Grant was well aware of the existence of this spirit among our cruel enemies ; and he there- fore took every necessary precaution. When the Sanitary Commission boats arrived he at once bade them a hearty welcome, and placed them in charge grteepon's expedition. 197 of competent patties. No person was allowed to travel On them not immediately connected with their benevolent mission. All packages shipped on board were carefully inspected, by his direct orders, and placed in safe hands. Weekly statements of their conditions were required, and other ample provisions made for the physical and moral benefit of his men. He had been a soldier himself, in a sickly country, and he knew well how to feel for our suffering coun- trymen in arms. Thus prepared, at all points, Gen. Grant deter- mined to bring more transports, with troops and munitions, to his chosen points on the Mississippi. The appointed hour for the great assault drew nigh. On the 29th of March, 1863, he moved his forces down the Louisiana shore, so as to take Vicksburg in the rear. Tins had been his settled purpose from the first ; but he had veiled it so adroitly, he had moved in its prosecution with so much caution, that not only the enemy but his own immediate com- mand were unaware of his intention. The fleet was doing its part well, above and below the doomed city. Grant and his army were constantly on the move. An expedition was planned for purposes of discovery and forage under the lead of Col. Grier- son, which, for boldness of conception, secrecy, strategy and brilliancy of execution, has never been excelled by any military movement of the kind in the world. This remarkable rcconnoissance was wholly 198 THE TANNER-BOY. designed by Grant, for the purpose of ascertaining the numbers and positions of the enemy who might advance on his own rear when he should have in- vested Vicksburg. Grierson swept down through the region assigned him by Grant with the First Brigade of Cavalry, leaving La Grange, Tennessee, at two o'clock in the morning of the 17th of April, 1863. His marches were rapid through Mississippi, leading across rivers and morasses, driving the rebels before him, at every point, until, on the evening of the 19th he had reached Pontotoc. From that place he detached a part of his command back to La Grange, ordering his men to make as much noise as possible on their march — thus deceiving the rebels with the idea that the whole expedition was at an end. This stroke of strategy was completely suc- cessful. A portion of the main force proceeded the ensuing day to lay waste the communications of the enemy, by the way of the Mobile and Ohio Eailroad. This was effectually accomplished ; and by an attack of this body on Columbus the whole of the rest of the main line passed on its way, with a fresh start of three days. A bayou of the Dismal Swamp lying in that region was swam by a squadron of Grierson's horsemen, to a point where they reached and de- stroyed a large rebel tannery and stock of boots and shoes for the army. Deep rivers and blind marshes had to be crossed, without the aid of a friendly geierson's expedition. 199 guide. The whole country was in the hands of the enemy. The horses sank in the low morasses, and were left to perish by the way. Night and storm gathered around the daring band, with no friendly cottage to bid them welcome with light and shelter. They pressed onward. Respecting private property in all cases, as the gallant and chivalrous Grant had ordered, they reached the Southern Railroad, at De- catur, at daylight of the morning of the 24th of April, I860. At this point two whole trains of cars, thirty eight in number, containing quartermaster, commissary and ordnance stores for the rebel army, were captured and destroyed. Passing on, with even increased rapidity, he at- tacked the Hazlehurst station of the Jackson and New Orleans Railroad, destroying over forty cars, in which were loaded at the time an immense supply of rebel shell, ammunition and war rations. At Gallatin a thirty two pounder rifled gun which the rebels were hauling toward the fortifications at Vicks- burg was spiked and left all useless in the road. Rebel government property of all kinds was swept away before him. At Brookhaven, on the morning of April 28th, he captured a camp of instruction — in which about five hundred tents and a large supply of small arms were consumed. All the bridges he could reach and all the public property of the rebels were rendered useless as he marched on ; until, about noon of Friday, the first of May, the inhabit- 200 THE TANNER-BOY. ants of Baton Kouge, the capital of Louisiana, were startled with the new's that a brigade of cavalry, from the victorious army of Gen. Grant, was just upon them ! While the astounding intelligence was being spread from mouth to mouth Grierson and his heroic band entered the city, amid the shouts of assembled thousands. CHAPTEE XXni. CAPTURE OF VICKSBURG. GEANT had now obtained all the information he could expect with regard to the interior posi- tion of the enemy. The demonstrations by the fleet on the river were successful at all points. In one of these engagements the general was present in per- son on board a gunboat in the middle of the stream, ready at a moment's warning to move his forces in the appointed direction. Grant's orders were that there should not be a delay of an hour. Up to this time his point of at- tack was a profound secret. To the immediate sur- prise of the enemy, and to the ultimate surprise of the whole country, from President Lincoln down, it proved to be a little place on the Mississippi, called « Bruinsburg.' It was on the Vicksburg side of the river. Three days' rations were distributed to the troops, with the accompanying order from Gen. Grant: "The Bluffs must be taken before sun- down." Every thing in the command was in the lightest possible marching order. The general set the ex- [201] 202 THE TANNER-BOY. ample by taking with him nothing in the shape of baggage but a brier-wood field glass and a tooth brush. The reason for his carrying this last named article is reported by Major Penniman to be that he intended to show his teeth to the enemy. However this may be, it is certain he took no other articles of baggage — neither horse, nor servant, nor blanket, nor camp chest, nor tent. He shared all their hard- ships with his gallant soldiers. Their rations were the same as his ; and where they slept on the ground he slept beside them. With courage, and knowl- edge, and sufficient troops and arms to back him, is it any wonder such a man conquers ? The march on Bruinsburg was commenced at day- light, of the first of May, 1863. As the rays of the sun came glistening along the waters of the Missis- sippi the whole column was in motion. From Bruinsburg the route lay to the hills that extend from Grand Gulf to Vicksburg — terminating in that range of cliffs and gullies, which, for difficulty of access, for roughness of surface, for impregnability from assault, cast the hills around Sebastopol far into the shade. At the distance of six miles from the river, as the troops of Grant wound along their devious path among the abrupt declivities and vine-covered jungles, where the wild magnolia blossomed in the morning light and poured its fragrance on the air, the boom of cannon might be heard in the distance. It was the beginning of the fight. The attack was BRUINSBURG. 203 first made on Grand Gulf, which was carried by our boys with a shout, at the point of the bayonet. Port Gibson, the next post, was soon reached and cap- tured. On the morning of May 2d, just as the day broke, the enemy fled in disgrace. We entered Port Gibson with flying colors, and pushed on at once to the banks of the Big Black River. Grant's movements were so rapid that before the enemy could concen- trate he was within eighteen miles of the rear of the great stronghold. Without stopping a moment, as some inferior men would have done for such an escort as they might vainly suppose due their rank, Grant dashed on instantly with a little band of fifteen men to Grand Gulf. From this point he telegraphed the government in his usual modest manner that he had landed at Bruinsburg according to his plans ; pos- sessed Port Gibson and Grand Gulf, — the enemy re- tiring at all points ; and was now, " very respectfully," on a short journey to Yicksburg. The picked army of the rebels in that region was considered by them to be invincible. But at the approach of Grant it scattered in all directions through the adjacent woods, leaving cannon, muskets, pro- visions and clothing in their hasty retreat. The victory over them was complete, and one of the most important in its results then won at the West. A far greater victory was just at hand. Vicksburg was to be ours. 204 THE TANNER-BOY. The remarkable strategy of Grant continued to show itself in all directions. At Chattanooga and Richmond, as well as at Vicksburg, the enemy was deceived. He struck at the very time and at the very place where they did not expect him. Even the President of the United States, the Commander-in- Chief of the Army and Navy, was so much in the dark as to these shrewd plans of Grant, that, when they were consummated, he addressed the general a letter on the subject, expressing his surprise at the sudden movement and tendering his gratitude and admiration at the result. Feint succeeded feint. The rebels were utterly lost in bewilderment as to what Grant's plans really were. The documents that fell into their hands only tended to lead them more and more astray. The movements between the Commanding General on the land and the Admiral in the river were all mutually well understood. They worked in harmony together, as all real heroes and truly great men always will, each anxious, above all things else, for the welfare and glory of their country. Thus matters stood at the time of the landing at Bruinsburg. Grant was present on all occasions of importance, superintending every movement in per- son, and caring for the wants of every soldier. It is not surprising, when we see such constant care for the shelter, comfort and honor of liis men, that they love him as they do. FIRST MOVEMENT ON . VICKSBURG. 205 On the 7th of May, 1863, the great advance was ordered. The General availed himself of the occasion to address his troops.- His language, as usual with him, was plain, direct, and full of feeling. He re- minded them of the triumphs they had already won. They had passed through them in the midst of storms, with incessant labors and severe privations. Not a murmur of complaint had escaped them. More difficulties and new perils were before them ; other battles were to be fought — other victories won ; and he concluded by calling on them to remember that a grateful country would rejoice at their success, and history record it with immortal honor. Pushing on toward the rear of Vicksburg, by the shortest route, he tersely telegraphs to the War Department at Washington : "In the Field, 11th of May, 1863. " I shall communicate with Grand Gulf no more. You may not hear from me again for several days." How much of true chivalry, of heroic adventure, of courageous endurance, is garnered up in these few words ! He was bound for Vicksburg, and should not stop short of it. The first response to this brief announcement was the capture of the important post of Jackson, Mis- sissippi — the capital of that rebel State — near the former home of the arch-traitor of all — Jefferson Davis. The announcement of this auspicious event, 206 THE TANNER-BOY. which took place in four days after the time he had said he might not soon be heard from, was made in a despatch of four lines. On entering the town a conqueror the same high- minded course he had ever pursued with regard to private property was strictly adhered to. Every thing belonging to the enemy of ^ public nature was destroyed, but the personal rights of citizens were rigidly protected. His possession of the capital was complete, and afforded him much valuable informa- tion. He was always in the vicinity of his troops, directing every movement in person. All the suc- cessful measures were in strict accordance with his plans, based on information which no one but him- self had possessed. But his associates* received their full share of credit. The next march was from Jackson to Bolton. At every point his skill provided for every emergency. Bridges, pontoon trains, supplies of all kinds, were gathered under his immediate direction ; so that when his generals arrived at each designated spot each one found every thing Grant had promised in readiness. A strong position of the enemy at Big Black River Bridge was soon carried, and the victorious column moved on. When the morning of the 19tb of May broke over the hills and streamed along the waters of the Mississippi, Gen. Grant, with all his united force, was within striking distance of Vicks- burg and the city invested. Thus silently and quickly INVESTMENT OF VICKSBURG. 207 * had been achieved one of the most masterly strokes of strategy in modern times. The rebels fell back within their works as our army advanced. Passing through deep ravines, over thick masses of felled timber, in face of the enemy's fire, the Thirteenth United-States Infantry planted the colors on the exterior trenches of the enemy. The whole area of the rebel works now came into view. They consisted of a series of redoubts, ar- ranged with great skill, extending all the way around the rear of the city, for a distance of ten miles. Every redoubt was so posted as to sweep the crest of every hill, and enfilade every valley. There was not a loophole of entrance the whole vast semicircle around. Grant had now reached his desired point. He immediately opened communication with the fleet below, and his base of supplies above. Every move- ment of the ships was made at the suggestion of the General. . The firing in the rear of the city informed Admiral Porter, on board his flag-ship, that Grant was approaching Vicksburg. At the same moment he discovered that the strategy of Grant, in detailing Sherman to certain posts of the enemy, had prevent- ed the rebels from sending in any more re-enforce- ments. The unexpected arrival of Grant was the signal for the desertion by the enemy of all their adjacent strongholds. A net work of defences at Haines Bluff covering an area of a mile and a quar- 208 THE TANNER-BOY. ter, and containing fourteen of the heaviest kinds of eioht and ten inch and seven and a half inch rifled guns, with ammunition enough to stand a long siege, fell into our hands. The best commanding points of investment were occupied, and the rebels beaten at all points, by these rapid, patient, persevering move- ments of Grant. On the 24st of May, 1863, another movement followed. In order to test the condition of the fortress, and to save the necessity of large re-enforce- ments for the prosecution of a long siege, Gen. Grant determined on an immediate assault. It was therefore made on the following morning, by the entire force of his army. Promptly at the hour designated by him every man sprang to his post, at quick time, with bayonet fixed, and marched imme- diately on the enemy's works. It was a terrific, assault. The soldiers rushed forward with dauntless valor, while the fleet kept up a continual bombard- ment from the river. From every hill top our cannon belched their thunder, and the intervening valleys bristled with fixed bayonets. The base of the ramparts was reached, and the flag of the nation planted in the face of the rebel fort. Breaches were made in some of the outer embankments, and our brave boys marched boldly in. Gen. Grant rode over all the ground, inspecting every point, and issuing his orders with all the calmness and precision peculiar to his character. FIRST VICKSBURG ASSAULT. 209 The assault was a success. It advanced our troops to the exact point of the enemy's works that Grant intended to reach. There he held them. He had come to the spot for the proposed siege of Vicks- burg, and he was now ready to begin it. He had come to take the city, and take it he would. The confidence reposed in him by his gallant army was implicit, and their enthusiasm in his service un- bounded. With the utmost alacrity and energy they devoted their entire strength to the siege. By means of intercepted communications it was ascer- tained that the enemy had fifteen thousand men in Vicksburg, and rations for thirty days — one meal a day — and that his only hope of deliverance from his stronghold was in the attack on Grant by a strong rebel force in his rear. Having made this and other important discoveries the General set his sappers and miners at work, for the purpose of digging under the outer embankments of the fort and obtaining an entrance by an explo- sion. Meanwhile, to prevent any successful attack from the rear, Grant increased his siege forces by nearly twenty thousand fresh troops. "The mining pressed steadily on. By the middle of June the work so far advanced that the mines were dug in several places, and protected by large guns against all in- terference from the enemy. Not the remotest sus- picion existed in the city as to the extent of our mining under its forts. The parapet of the rebels 18 210 THE TANNER-BOY. was distant only about twenty feet from the mouth of our mine. ■ Yet this mouth was so hidden and guarded that the enemy had no idea of what was going on just before him. From the opening of the mine to where the main gallery branched off under ground the distance was thirty-five feet. Here three other galleries were formed, one ten and two eight feet deep, in which the powder for explosion was placed at the bottom of the shaft. The whole quantity used was twenty-two hundred pounds. A fuze was then run out to the mouth of the shaft, and, at the appointed signal, the match was to be applied. The explosion was fixed for the 25th of June, 1863. The troops were all withdrawn from the outer works. One brigade was ordered under arms, and marched as near the front as safety would permit. The signal came ! A cold chill ran, like a shudder, along the living line of men. The bayonets of thousands of muskets glistened in the western sun. Not a word was spoken. A little puff of white smoke ! Another. Five minutes — they seemed almost an age — rolled away. The smoke increases. A flash of fire — and the explosion ! The air is filled with the hurtled fragments of earth, timber and dust, rising and sweeping like a black cloud through the air, at a height of eighty feet. In a moment more the whole mass falls crushing to the earth with a shock like thunder ; and, as the smoke clears away, the chasm in the fort is revealed. Now is the moment for the EXPLODING A MINE. 211 charge. With a shout, almost as loud as the explo- sion, the troops rush into the yawning jaws of the shattered parapet, springing up the jagged cliffs and firing as they go. Volley after volley leaps up from the new-made gulf below ; volley after volley dives down from the new-made capes above. A portion of our impetuous troops had forced their way in through the passage, and, as the signal came, the artillery opened along the entire line. The deep baying of the dogs of war was like the thunder muttering in the dis- tance. The bursting of shells, the rattling of mus- ketry, the shriek of Minnie balls, the whir of solid shot, mingled with the deep roar of the great cannon and mortars of the fleet, gave the scene an aspect of awful grandeur. The explosion had thrown out the earth in such a way that it formed a space for the protection and play of artillery. Gen. Grant was present all the time issuing his orders. By his command a division of troops was kept under arms all night, ready for any emergency. He enjoined the utmost vigilance along the whole line. It was now the 28th of June, and our troops had advanced thirteen hundred yards nearer the enemy's breastwork than they were when they commenced the siege. Grant was perfectly confident of success. It was a specimen of tanner-boy energy on a large scale — and again, as so often before, the word "can't" was not in his dictionary. Vicksburg was to fall. 212 THE TANKER-BOY. How glorious to have it fall on the then ensuing Fourth of July ! Let us wait and see. On the evening of the 3d of July, 1863, there were unmistakable indications that the rebels were about to yield. Gen. Grant received these indica- tions with great pleasure. From the moment of his forming the settled and determined purpose to cap- ture Vicksburg he desired to do the work, great as it was, at as little sacrifice as possible of human life. He was in no way responsible for the retention by the rebel general of the women and children in the city. He had acted throughout the entire siege on the highest considerations of duty and humanity. At the same time he gave it to be distinctly under- stood that if the rebel works were not soon surren- dered they would be captured by assault. On the morning of the 3d of July a flag of truce reached the headquarters of Gen. Grant with a pro- posal for the appointment of commissioners of treaty from the rebel commander. The reply of the General demanded, in his accustomed frank and firm manner, the Unconditional Surrender of the Garrison and City of Vicksburg ; decidedly adding that he had no other terms than these. The deed was done. Vicksburg was captured. The Mississippi was free. As the day advanced an interview was held, just outside the rebel works and beyond the Union lines, between Gen. Grant and Gen. Pemberton, com- ■■ ■ ■ INTERVIEW WITH PEMBERTON. GRANT AND PEMBEPwTON. 213 mander at Vicksburg. The scene as it occurred is depicted in the accompanying engraving. The two generals met under the branches of a large oak tree. With a noble sense of delicacy which does him great honor, Gen. Grant withdrew from his attendant generals, in order that his interview with the rebel chief might not subject him to unnecessary scrutiny and humiliation. What a scene for the evening before the memorable 4th of July ! Both these men had been born in free States, joining each other — Grant in Ohio, Pemberton in Pennsylvania. Both had been admitted as cadets into the same mili- tary academy of the United States, at West Point. Both had served together in the same conquering Union army in the fields of Texas and Mexico. Both had returned to the same native country to enjoy her prosperity and happiness. But here the scene had changed. At this point they parted. Grant had maintained his integrity to his country, her govern- ment and her flag. Pemberton had become a traitor to them all ! One was now being exalted to the pinnacle of fame by his patriotism, on this natal day of his country's independence. The other was hum- bled in the dust by the overthrow of his treason, by disaster to his traitorous arms, and the unconditional surrender of his long-boasted stronghold of the Re- bellion. Few such scenes as these have ever occurred in history. The ground where the two generals stood 214 THE TANNEE-BOY. was covered with beautiful summer verdure. The broad realm first trodden by the navigators of Europe centuries before, washed by the waves of the great Father of Waters, was now opened to the rich bless- in srs of freedom. The marks of the recent battles were still around them. But the flag of victory was also there ; for from the outer ramparts beyond, over the troops in the fields and the ships in the Mis- sissippi, floated the glorious stars and stripes — now, indeed, the emblem of Liberty, Union, and Indepen- dence. A short pause between the two generals : "I meet you, Gen. Grant," said Gen. Pemberton, w to negotiate terms in relation to my post. What do you demand, sir ? " " Unconditional surrender ! " " Unconditional, sir ? " "Yes, General; unconditional surrender. Noth- ing less." " Never ! sir. I will continue the fight ! " w Then, General, you can do so. I am well pre- pared to go on. Since the siege first began my army was never in better condition." Silence again. Gen. Grant is, as usual, cool, calm, collected. Gen. Pemberton, as may be supposed, is deeply agitated — betraying his emotions by hurrying to and fro, snatching at the bushes with quivering fingers, and betraying by liis pale and agitated coun- VALUE OF THE CAPTURE. 215 tenance the harrowing anguish of his soul. But his delay was in vain. The unconditional surrender demanded by Grant was granted by the conquered rebel, and he withdrew in silence and in shame to perfect the deed. The next day witnessed its complete consumma- tion on these terms : The unconditional surrender from the Eebellion to the United States of thirty-four thousand six hundred and twenty rebel officers and soldiers. Three hundred and one pieces of artillery. Forty-five thousand small arms. The free navigation of the Mississippi Eiver, from its source to the Gulf of Mexico. A good day's work for the tanner-boy ! On the morning of the fourth of July, 1863, the victorious Grant, amid the thunder of cannon, the waving of our national colors, and the patriotic strains of our national airs, was ushered within the walls of Vicksburg. The whole of the rebel line of works was surmounted with white flags. In the centre of the garrison the enemy stacked his arms. Courteously, generously, our troops marched in ; and in the name of the United States of America took possession of the vaunted heights where our flag now proudly floats, and where we hope it may float for ever. CHAPTER XXIV. RENEWED ACTIVITY. THE conquest of Vicksburg by Grant was not fol- lowed by a moment of inactivity. He at once proceeded in the preparation of new campaigns. The navigation of the great thoroughfare of waters was immediately resumed by the people, and the adjacent country began to feel the beneficial result. As far as the eye could see along the river the levees were lined with steamers in less than four hours after the capitulation of the city. Hundreds arrived, from above as well as from below, before half the day had passed. It was not alone the surrender of nineteen rebel Major and Brigadier Generals, over four thou- sand field, line and staff officers, thirty thousand sol- diers, and all the material force and provisions of the garrison and city, that had made the victory of Grant so glorious. It was the consequent impulse given to the patriotism of the United States, the facilities afforded to lawful commerce, and the opportunities presented for new and, if possible, still more enlarr3d military conquests that cheered the heart and enlisted again the active energies of our hero. He had done [216] N*EW CONQUESTS. 217 his duty to his country, and done it well. It was a good job. The leather was well tanned. Now came the moment for new measures. Port Hudson had surrendered with the downfall of Vicks- burg. The interior was now to be possessed, and the°enemy thereby prevented from harassing the Union garrison and commerce of the city. On the 6th of July the forces of Grant, under Sherman, returned to Jackson, which had been evacuated by us, and where the rebel general Johnston had made a stand. The town was repossessed, the enemy being driven out by the valor of our troops. Although the rebels had worked hard for nearly two months to fortify Jackson, yet they failed in defending it, and fled before our victorious army. Grant had thus fought seven hotly contested bat- tles, from the first of May to the tenth of July ; in every case winning signal victories. On the four- teenth of July he sent an expedition, in conjunction with Admiral Porter, up the Yazoo and Red Rivers, which resulted in obtaining large supplies of provis- ions from "the enemy. But the consequences of all these conquests were secured by the continued vigi- lance of the General. He was not idle a single moment. The country united to thank him. The President forwarded him testimonials of his distin- guished consideration. Still, from the commencement of the war he had not asked a furlough for a day. Ever at" his post, ever vigilant, he pursued his patri- 19 218 THE TANNEE-BOY. otic and arduous labors to secure yet greater successes to the Union armies. When his brave soldiers, who had been with him in so many hard-fought fields, desired to be furloughed, he readily granted their requests to the utmost of his power. In every instance, like a true hero, he watched over their interests as they left for their homes. "Are you the Captain of this steamer?" asked the General, on one of these occasions, as he addressed a, person standing on a wheel house at the Vicksburg levee. "I am, General." "Are you about going off?" "Yes, sir." "How many officers and soldiers have you on board?" ?r About twelve hundred and fifty, sir." "What is the average price you charge them, from Vicksburg to Cairo, Captain ? " "From ten to twenty-five dollars each, General !" "Is that all? Very moderate ! — Very moderate, Indeed ! From ten to twenty-five dollars each, for United States officers and soldiers from Vicksburg to Cairo ! " See here, Captain ! You may tie up your steam- er ^a little while. It seems a great pity you should have to transport the boys at such extravagantly low prices. You may stop a short time, Captain ! " PROTECTS HIS TROOPS. 219 • The steam began to whistle, and the officers and men to wonder what it all meant. Meanwhile Gen- eral Grant walked quietly to his head quarters, and there issued an order for the obliging captain of the steamer to pay back all he had received over seven dollars each from the officers, and five dollars from the men, on pain of having his boat and cargo confis- cated to the government. No sooner had the order come to the vessel than it was obeyed. Their ex- torted money was restored to them ; and with " three cheers for Grant ! * the heroes of Vicksburg went on their way to visit their friends. "A pretty piece of business this, as it stands ! " exclaimed the General to one of his staff. "I will teach a lesson to these steam pirates, — plundering the men who have opened the river for them of their hard-earned wages ! The old Mississippi is all free to honorable navigation, but not to imposition. No, sir, not to imposition, sir, while I am in command of Vicksburg ! " How exactly was all this honorable proceeding like Ulysses Grant ! In the prosecution of his duties Gen. Grant made a visit to Port Hudson, and other points on the Mis- sissippi, down to New Orleans. His object was to ascertain the condition of affairs by personal inspec- tion, and to prepare the way for those great campaigns of the South-west that have been subsequently de- veloped through the war. He arrived in the Cres- 220 THE TANNER-BOY. cent City on the 2d of September, 1863, and was received, of course, with distinguished honors. It was intended by the government that he should take command of the united armies of the Ohio, Cumber- land and Tennessee, so that they might be massed under one commander, and operate in the same field. But in consequence of his meeting with an accident at New Orleans, by which his health was for a time much enfeebled, Grant was compelled for a time to decline the honor of this command. After suffering much from illness for some weeks, the mo- ment he was ready to move he entered again on his active duties, and hastened up the Mississippi. His energy at this time of physical prostration was won- derful. When most other men would have given up and laid by, he pressed on in the arduous path of duty. Turning gladly from the pomp and pageantry of New Orleans, he resumed his work in the Department of the Tennessee. It became his province to regulate the entire civic military jurisdiction of all the region secured to the United States by the conquest of Vicks- burg. His first great aim was to keep alive the spirit of patriotic ardor in the army. With this view he had medals furnished them, inscribed with the names of the battle-fields that distinguished their valor. Every thing that could inspire the loftiest devotion to country was made available, until to be a victorious soldier under Grant was esteemed one of the highest of military honors. MOVES ON CHATTANOOGA. 221 Early in October, 1863, the troops were put in motion. Gen. Grant was now on the move for the capture of another stronghold of the enemy, Chatta- nooga. This now celebrated place is situated in a bend of the Tennessee river, in one of the most mountain- ous regions of our country. It may well be called the Switzerland of America. As a post among pre- cipitous ridges of hills, it is capable of being made nearly impregnable. The rebels held it as one of their strongest bases of operations, and a depot for supplies of the greatest importance to their armies through all that section. The military division here placed in command of Grant embraced an area of many thousand square miles. The North Chicamauga Kiver flows into the Tennessee, near Chattanooga, a few miles above the mouth of the South Chicamauga. These and all the adjacent streams were in the possession of the enemy. His intrenchments were on the lofty heights of Lookout Mountain, on the ranges of Missionary Kidge, and through all the intervening points that could possibly be occupied by his armed men. His rifle pits cropped out from every available spot — commanding in all directions every approach by land and water. Chattanooga was thus the rocky moun- tain key to. a large part of the richest, most fruitful and most powerful regions of the Rebellion. The hour for attacking this mountain fortress had 222 TIIE TANNER-BOY. arrived. The flanks of our army were resting on the Tennessee, near the mouths of the Chattanooga and Citico. The rebels were strongly intrenched on the Missionary Ridge and stretched across the valley of the Chattanooga, and around the slopes and sum- mits of old Lookout. Our supplies had to be brought over precipitous roads, at that season ren- dered well-nigh impassable by heavy rains . The Cum- berland army had been nearly reduced to the alter- native of starvation or retreat ; while the enemy was strong in position, provisions and munitions of war. At this critical moment Gen. Grant arrives on the field. His command now includes the Departments of the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee, and the armies of Sherman, Thomas and Burnside. Gen. Hooker with a part of the Army of the East had previously arrived, and been placed in his designated post. The first great movement was now at hand. The most noticeable feature in connection with its commencement and prosecution is the perfect union of effort that existed among the different com- manders. There were no jealousies, no rivalries, no contentions. Their councils of war were harmonious : their movements combined. Hence their final victory. After a personal inspection of the spot by Grant a lodgement was effected on the left bank of the Tennessee, three miles below the base of Lookout Mountain. By this strategy a better union of our forces was effected at a "point of great importance. MOVES ON CHATTANOOGA. 223 On the night of the 26th of October twelve hundred and fifty picked men passed down through the dark- ness in boats. Floating in silence arround Moccasin Point they landed at Brown's Ferry, only six miles from Chattanooga, and directly in front of the rebel pickets. The enemy was taken by surprise. Re-en- forcements were immediately sent over, and a strong position taken. The rebels retreated with cavalry, infantry and artillery. By noon of that day a bridge of boats, nine hundred feet in length, was thrown across the river, and the opposite shores connected. With all the Laste possible the rebels retreated to their comrades on the western slope of the mountain . The plan of attack against them was now combined by Grant. The rebel right wing rested on Mission- ary Ridge, near the Tunnel on the mountain side. At the mouth of the South Chicamauga, on the ridge, was an assailable point ; and this Grant de- termined to possess. It was a summit of strategy. Adopting his policy of landing at Bruinsburg to capture Vicksburg, he resolved to throw a bridge across the South Chicamauga and post his artillery on the adjacent heights. It* was a bold move ; but exactly Grant-like. By the use of a concealed road leading to Chat- tanooga he brought to the banks of the North Chicamauga a miniature fleet of one hundred and sixteen pontoon-boats, in which three thousand of his picked men, under Sherman, were embarked. 224 THE TAKN T ER-BOY. On Monday, November 23, 1863, a general re- connoissance disclosed the condition of the line of the enemy. A small eminence known as Indian Hill, commanding a view of some parts of the field, was taken possession of and held. Soon after midnight the daring Union troops embarked in their boats, and, with noiseless march through the dark Chica- mauga, passed into the Tennessee, keeping close to the right bank of the latter river, and floating silently along within a few rods of the rebel pickets. It was the romance of strategy. The sky was veiled with the rifts of November clouds, and the shadows of the high hills fell thick and deep- all over the waveless waters. The current bore the troops along. Not the dash of an oar or the ripple of a keel was heard. Not a word was spoken by a single man. As the morning broke over the lofty heights, the entire command had reached the designated spot where their comrades were waiting to be ferried over. In a few hours two divisions with artillery were across. By noon a pontoon bridge fourteen hun- dred feet long spanned the Tennessee, and another of two hundred the South Chicamauga. It seemed like the work of enchantment. At the going-down of the sun the entire command was across, a large part of it occupying the slopes of Missionary Ridge, and a detachment on its way toward the adjacent railway station at Cleveland. By the middle of the next day. the cavalry had reached the spot, and de- CAPTURES CHATTANOOGA. 225 stroyed the railway, a factory for' the manufacture of gun caps, and other valuable rebel property. Gen. Hooker had now assaulted the fortified hold of the rebels on Lookout Mountain, carrying before nightfall the principal projecting redoubt, securing a number of prisoners, and halted, prepared to scale the highest peak. Thomas, Hooker, and Sherman, still acting in concert, kept the rebels constantly occupied in their fronts. At tins moment the signal of six guns came booming from the head-quarters of Gen. Grant. The evening was at hand. The grand assault was ordered by the master-spirit of the scene. The whole force engaged sprang impetuously forward, carrying the rebel rifle pits before them and scatter- ing the foe on every hand. A part of the troops of Hooker, with cheer upon cheer, dashed up the steeps of Lookout, until they reached the spot where the clouds of heaven mingled with the smoke of battle at their feet. They literally fought for liberty above the clouds. The victory was won. More than seven thousand prisoners of war, nearly fifty pieces of artillery, and a large supply of munitions rewarded the valor of our troops and the strategy of Grant. Vicksburg was renewed on a smaller scale, but the conquest was equally glorious. The effect of this defeat on the rebels was ap- palling. They had felt that they could not and 226 THE TANNER-BOY. would not give up Chattanooga. It was their best door of entrance to the supplies they so much needed in Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. Some of the master-spirits of the Rebellion had published to the world that it were better to give up the entire Atlan- tic sea-board, the whole South-west, even Richmond itself, than to lose Chattanooga. With the loss of that post would be lost the golden granaries of grain, and the soft fleeces of wool that had been so long indispensable to their increasing wants. The valley of the Lookout was the only lookout of hope on the dreary future of their treason. The appearance of Gen. Grant at Chattanooga had infused new spirit into all the Union forces in that vicinity. His constant activity was a living stimulus to all hearts. It was his succeeding consummate generalship that carried the day. The rebels were completely dispirited. They looked forward after their defeat with the most gloomy forebodings to the spring of 1864. The rebel President had visited this chosen spot of supposed impregnability. Standing on the breezy top of Lookout Mountain, early in the fall of '63, as the Union hosts were gathering around its base, he said with a sneer to his fellow-rebel, Bragg : " All right ! We have the Federals now ! This is the spot of all others where we should wish them to be. Now let them come on ! " Lieutenant-general Pemberton, who had been com- DAVIS FOILED. 227 pelled to surrender to Grant at Vicksburg, was near by at the moment. With a look that betokened his strong remembrance of a certain interview under a certain oak, he said : w Mr. President, excuse me ! I have been blamed for not ordering an attack on Grant from our works at Vicksburg. But allow me to say, sir, that if you order an attack on him here in Chattanooga, the result will be that he will soon stand where we are standing now ! " Davis was silent ; and the party moodily withdrew from the summit of the mountain. The prediction of Pemberton was fulfilled. It was not many days ere the victorious Grant, with his patriot generals around him, stood on that same spot. The trap which the arch traitor set for his loyal countrymen had sprung upon himself. His prey had escaped him, and he was caught. The national colors, so long and so wickedly defied by traitor bands, now waved in triumph from the heights of Lookout and the ramparts of Chattanooga. . CHAPTER XXV. HIS PART IN VICTORY. IT is one of the most remarkable traits of the character of Grant that the more he becomes distinguished the more conspicuous appears his modesty. A stranger reading his despatches of the capture of Chattanooga would hardly think that the whole great victory had been won under his immediate direction. Yet such is fact. Such will be the record of history. The battles of Chattanooga had been fought nearly four days. Grant participated in them all. He had been planning for them for months in advance. Not- withstanding the impaired state of his health he was in every part of the difficult post. His command was the most important ever conferred on any general in the field in any country. The galaxy of marshals under Frederick and Napoleon and Wellington did not excel that under Grant. His whole fighting material was among the very best the world ever saw. Ten great and powerful States were included in the range of his department, involving the control of the destinies of millions of people. [228] RESULTS OF CHATTANOOGA. 229 The grand result of the battle of Chattanooga, therefore, was of the highest value to the struggling Republic. It struck a staggering blow at the great Rebellion. It went far to free Kentucky and Ten- nessee* from the despotic tyranny of rebel rule, and opened a door of hope for the panting Union spirit of Northern Alabama and Northern Georgia. It secured what remained to be possessed of the Valley of the Mississippi, and guarded securely the now wide- open and already thronged gateway of the mighty West. If the victory of Chattanooga had not been won as it was by Grant, it would have been impossible to have subsisted any longer our armies in that re- gion. We should have been compelled to have sur- rendered Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn., two of the most important posts in all that quarter of the West, and given an onward impetus to the Rebellion in the spring of 1864 it would have been well-nigh impossible to have resisted. At the time of the arrival of Grant at Chattanooga our armies had been greatly depleted in numbers and impaired by deficiency of provisions. Rank after rank had fallen away ; train after train of sup- plies had failed ; men, horses and mules staggered in weakness along the beleaguered thoroughfares to suffer and to die. But in the midst of all this black- ness of darkness the mind of Grant was illumined with light. He saw toil, privation, battle and death 230 THE TANNER-BOY. in the distance ; but he also saw victory. It was this that nerved and cheered him on. His personal attention was directed to every thing. The minutest object of importance did not escape his searching eye. He at once proceeded to organize the victory of Chattanooga. It was all his — from the begin- ning to the ending. Walking through the post of Chattanooga, entirely alone, with no mark or badge of distinction about him, although little observed by others he was con- stantly observing them all. His quarters were of the most unpretending character. His orders were strict, stern and direct. When he took private pro- perty for government purposes it was assessed at a fair valuation and its ultimate payment guaranteed. Rich rebels were made to disgorge their ill-gotten gains to aid in putting down the wicked Rebellion they had helped originate. The returning spirit of loyalty was welcomed with open arms. Many attempts had been made by the principal rebel generals of the West to flank the Union posi- tion several miles to the eastward of Chattanooga, for the purpose of marching into Tennessee and cap- turing Knoxville. But Grant foiled the enemy in these plots at every point. He was duly apprised of the position of affairs, and made all his movements accordingly, developing his remarkable strategy in a manner never to be forgotten. By attacking the thin line of the enemy on the flank, taking his inner VICTOKIOUS COMBINATIONS. 231 line of rifle pits and other defences running along the valley, capturing Missionary Kidge and Lookout Mountain, he plucked the key of the whole position from the hand of the Eebellion. This was the work before Grant, and history has shown how nobly he did it. From the moment of launching the first re- connoitring boat and the firing of the first warning gun, Grant was the personal director of the fight. From the ramparts of Fort Wood he watched the whole scene of conflict, and issued his orders with all the coolness of a man conscious of a just cause and well assured of final victory. The location of corps and commanders was all his own. Stationed himself within reach of the enemy, his directions were applicable at every point. The ascent of the steeps of Missionary Eidge, the storming of the heights of Lookout Mountain, were movements controlled by him, through his united and gallant associates. What seemed like madness to other men was sane and sure to Grant. Who but he would have dared that intervening valloy between him and the enemy, where bullets rained down in fiery showers ? Who but he would have swept up that hill-side, lined with rifle pits to its summit ? Who but he would have mounted the heights where the parks of artillery were blazing with death? A hundred thousand people were engaged in the scene. The voice of Grant, low, subdued, calm, could be occasionally heard issuing an order, and 232 THE TANNEK-BOY. the panorama of battle changed and passed to and fro as if touched by magic. One, two, three, four, five, six, at intervals of two seconds, the signal guns of Grant sounded the advance. The troops of the hero passed to the field with the precision of a review. Every man was in his place; every foot kept time ; every bayonet was erect ; every banner full high unfurled. Now the fight begins. The cannon are roaring through the hills at the rate of sixty a minute, while the rattle of the musketry of tens of thousands of men is like the long roll of drums. Streams of fire blaze out from the rifled cliffs as from uncapped volcanoes. The valley fills with smoke as if it had suddenly become a lake. The tide of deadly strife surges on, hour after hour, and the hard-fought victory is won. The boasting rebels were scattered before as on every side. Their army stores for miles in extent were committed to the flames. The triumph was complete. The modest Grant announced this great result in a four-line despatch, dated at Chattanooga, Nov. 25, 1863, in which he says : " I believe I am not premature in announcing a complete victory." So quietly had the General conducted his prepara- tory movements that when he began his first attack, the rebels from their lofty parapets thought he was engaging in a review. They were taken by surprise in the open daylight. Grant at once moved out in AT CHATTANOOGA. 2B3 person, riding along the entire advanced line, and reviewing the position from each headquarters of the whole army. His own headquarters were constantly under fire during the closing hours of the battle, and until the glorious victory was secure. Such was Grant at Chattanooga. 20 CHAPTER XXVL ■*■ PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY. THERE was much land yet to be possessed. The pursuit of the retreating rebels was immedi- ately ordered by Grant. The whole region of the Chicamauga was infested with them. As our victo- rious troops passed on they soon overtook the foe, capturing many prisoners and large quantities of army-supplies. This course has invariably been pursued by Gen. Grant in all his victories. He has never allowed any military advantages to escape him by reason of unnecessary delay. He never halts except to refresh, and in order that he may pursue the foe all the more rapidly and successfully. The wisdom of this course has been apparent in his career, as it was in the present instance. As his army advanced the retreat of the rebels became all the more disorderly and disastrous. Arms, wagons, rations, railways, de- pots, stacks of corn, piles and boxes of bacon, were swept before us into the waters and the flames. The deserted breastworks and redoubts were entered, and, when judged advisable, retained on the march. [234] LETTER FROM PRESIDENT LINCOLN. 235 The rebels were driven at all points, and forced to take refuge in Dalton, Geo. Their rout was complete. Gen. Grant continued to follow them by taking possession of all the adjacent country com- manded by Chattanooga. The relief of Knoxville was at once secured. The vaunted hold of the rebels on Tennessee was broken. Their retreat from this section thus secured by the conquests of Grant was deemed of such national importance, that President Lincoln issued a proclamation with refer- ence to it, dated at the executive mansion, Washing- ton, December 7th, 1863, in which he recommended all loyal people, on the receipt of the information, to assemble at their places of worship and render spe- cial homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the national cause. On the ensuing day the President forwarded to Gen. Grant the following despatch : — Washington, Dec. 8, 1863. Major - General Grant : Understanding that your lodgement at Chattanooga and Nashville is now secure, I wish to tender you and all under your command my more than thanks — my profoundest gratitude for the skill, courage and perseverance with which you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you all ! A. Lincoln. The admirable dispositions of Grant for dislodging the enemy from positions seemingly impregnable, his 236 THE TANNER-BOY. coolness and determination in storming the towering heights, must ever render the battle of Chattanooga, with its subsequent results, one of the most extraor- dinary events in history. All readers of the history of the great Rebellion of the slaveholders will readily remember with what confidence it was predicted that Vicksburg could never be taken by Grant. He entered on that stupendous work with the sneers of all the rebels in America and of all their sympathizers in Europe against him. Every delay was the theme of their merriment. Every repulse redoubled their jeers. But at the very moment they were thus exulting and prophesying he was moving calmly on, conscious of the justice of his great cause and confident in the measures he had taken to secure its final triumph. So had it been of Chattanooga. So was it with him immediately after that victory. He proceeded at once to follow it up. He did not fold his victorious arms and ignobly repose on his glorious laurels. The Rebellion was still in progress. It survived defeat only to grow more desperate. Like the struggles of the wounded gladiator, it increased in violence as it decreased in strength. In spite of all obstacles, therefore, it was to be put down. Great rivers, wide territories, fatal diseases, long lines of defences, masses of armed traitors sworn to defend their treason to the last, still environed it on every side. Yet the indomitable spirit of Grant still stirred NEW CONQUESTS. 237 within Mm for its overthrow. His was the same heroic valor that had dared the whole body of cadets at West Point, when he won the title of " Company Grant." Having recovered from the ene- mies of our country the control of the Mississippi, from Itasca to the Balize, of the Tennessee from Bridgeport to Knoxville — dislodged them from their strongholds at Vicksburg, Port Hudson, and Lookout Mountain — driven them from their deep fastness in the Chattanooga Valley — wrested from their deter- mined clutches the lofty slopes of Missionary Ridge — delivered Knoxville from their barbarous siege, and forced them to withdraw, broken and dispirited, from beyond the limits of the territory they had outraged — the course of Grant was still onward. With a faith in God and the valor of his troops that no power on earth could shake, with a bravery no human force could daunt, with an enthusiasm for universal human liberty that was invincible and irrepressible, he stood erect in his native greatness, fully equal to the vast emergencies in which Heaven had placed him. He was at this moment the captor of ninety thou- sand prisoners of war, nearly five hundred pieces of cannon, and hundreds of thousands of lesser arms. In accomplishing these grand results for our country he had endured almost incessant privations. Repeat- edly exposed to the most deadly fire of the enemy, wounded on several occasions, oppressed with the care of combined forces never intrusted before to a 238 THE TANNER-BOY. single mind, he yet bore himself with his accustomed reticence and modesty, regardless alike of his own suffering and danger until Ins work was done. The spring of the year 1864 was ribw advancing, and the preparations of the general for activity in new and wider fields were constantly in progress. Meanwhile the country, as if with a spontaneous voice, called him to be the recipient of the highest military honors in the power of the United States Government to confer upon him. A motion was introduced into Congress, at the session of 1863-4, by which the united thanks of both houses as the collected and authorized representatives of all the people, should be voted and put on public record in the archives of the nation. A gold medal was struck in pursuance of this vote, expressive of the gratitude felt by the American Kepublic for his distinguished services. The design of this medal is peculiarly appropriate. It represents on one side a profile likeness of Gen. Grant, surrounded by a laurel wreath ; his name and the dates of the years of his victories are inscribed beneath, and the whole encircled with a galaxy of stars. On the opposite side is the figure of Fame reclining on the American eagle, which appears ready for another flight. In her right hand she holds the symbolical trumpet, and in her left a scroll with the names of Vicksburg, Corinth, Mississippi Eiver, Chattanooga. On her head is a helmet, ornamented REWARDS OF MERIT. 239 with radiating Indian plumes. In front of the eagle, its breast reclining upon it, is the American shield. Beneath, sprigs of pine and palm, indicative of the union of the North and the South, are twined together. Over all in a curved line are the words ; "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land." What a golden badge of merit for the Tanner- Boy ! This national testimonial was rapidly followed by others equally expressive of high popular estimation from different parts of the United States. The Legislatures of Ohio and New York presented him with resolutions of thanks, and caused them to be engrossed in their official records ; whije presents and proofs of gratitude from the hearts of the people poured in upon him. Such is the just reward of virtue, courage and perseverance ! CHAPTER XXVH. MADE LIEUTENANT-GENEKAL. BUT the most significant act of respect associated with the name of Ulysses Grant is that which made him Lieutenant-General of the Army of the Unit- ted States. This act was passed by the united vote of Congress on the first of March, 1864. President Lincoln immediately approved it. On the second of March it went into effect, by the confirmation of Gen. Grant by the Senate as the ranking officer of the United States army. The rank of lieutenant-general is one of extraor- dinary powers. It was conferred as a compliment on Gen. Scott ; but, in consequence of the great age and enfeebled condition of the health of that distinguished commander, he has for some time declined to fill the position by active service. Gen. Grant, therefore, is solely empowered by direct authority of the Presi- dent to exercise exclusive active command of all the United States armies. The honor is equivalent to that of Field-Marshal. It places its occupant in sole control of the military movements of over one million armed men in the field of battle. What a post to [240] POWER AND DUTY. 241 be reached by the Tanner-Boy of America ! Com- ing up from humble private life, with no authority of birth, or wealth, or family connection to promote him, by the blessing of Heaven on the sheer force of his innate energy, directed aright by parental coun- sels, we behold him where he is. There is no brighter record, thus far, on the pages of all history. This nation is more indebted to him for its military suc- cesses than to any other living man. It is a remarkable fact that this high eminence has been reached without any previous intimation on the part of others. On a recent occasion when Gen. Scott was freely conversing with a friend respecting Gen. Grant he expressed the opinion that he had exhibited more skill than any general officer of our times ; and added that he was the more surprised at it because his only slight recollection of Grant was as a young lieutenant in the Mexican war of not more than ordinary promise. When his name was first brought before Congress in connection with this post he wrote a member of the House that he had already been highly honored by the Government, and did not deserve anything more in the way of promotion. A single-minded patriot he desired only to command men for his coun- try's sake , not his own. Duty ! — duty ! — this was his highest aim. Calumny, detraction had been heaped upon him, and he had asked absolutely nothing from his country but to be kept in the battle-field. During 21 242 THE TANNER-BOY. all his service, from the time he volunteered as a sol- dier to the hour of his highest promotion, he had never sought or asked a furlough of a single day. Quick to decide, prompt to execute, persevering to accomplish, he had encountered every danger, braved every hardship, borne every reproach for his country, his race and his God. Some said that when this great distinction was conferred Grant would retire from his usual active duties in the field, and assume the reins at a distance. How little they knew of the man ! He took the post of lieutenant-general not to be at greater ease, but that he might toil so much the more for his country. The honor was conferred upon him while he was in the field. He is yet in the field while these pages of his life are being written. The intelligence of his appointment came to him at the West, busied at the very moment with new and larger campaigns. During the preceding months of December, 1863, and January, 1864, he had personally inspected every portion of his active department. The most minute examinations were made in detail into every element of his army. On the 7th of January, 1864, measures were in train to authorize the President to issue a call for a million more volunteers. The country was fully awake to the crisis, and resolved that no effort should be spared to overthrow the Rebellion. All eyes were beginning to turn to Grant. Many of the rebel sol- VISITS ST. LOUIS. 243 diers, convinced that under such a leader the Union forces must ultimately triumph, came to his standard. He at once prepared the form of a solemn oath by winch, if they adhered to it honorably, they would be rendered of service to the United States. Specu- lators and camp-followers were still kept at bay. The property of loyal citizens in conquered rebel ter- ritory was still protected, while that of rebels in arms was lawfully seized and confiscated to the patriotic work of saving the country. The comfort of the sol- diers, whom he ever continued to call his "boys," was still the constant object of his care. All these arduous and patriotic labors were pre- monitory of his entering on his wider sphere of public duty. In the course of the month of January he visited the posts at Knoxville and Nashville, passing on to St. Louis and Louisville. At St. Louis he met his family, from which he had been so long absent, to act the part of a good father in caring -for a sick child. He had made this tour of duty at this most inclement season of the year, carefully attend- ing everywhere to the great interests of the Re- public. He arrived in St. Louis on the 26th of January, 1864. The first intimation of his being in the city was his record of his name on the books of his hotel, "U. S. Grant, Chattanooga." He had just come up from the latter place, like any other traveller. His object was to pay a parental visit to his ill boy, 244 THE TANNER-BOY. and pass on his tour of inspection through his department. Quietly he came — quietly he was going. But the conductors of that mighty power of the world, the public press, had willed it to be otherwise. The great Western hero was not to slip through the great Western city in so unobserved a manner. The announcement of his name in the morning papers brought a cloud of visitors around him. A public reception was immediately set on foot. The feeling of gratitude toward him for the vast and permanent benefits he had conferred on St. Louis and all its adjacent tributaries of prosperity, soon found expression along the streets. The civil au- thorities immediately acted on the suggestion of prominent citizens, and the names of the people demanded that the man of the people should accept from them a public dinner. His child having passed the crisis of his disease and being pronounced out of danger by his physi- cians, the general returned an affirmative answer to this invitation. But, with his characteristic prompt- ness to duty, in a note dated at St. Louis, Jan. 27, he adds — " My stay in this city will be short : proba- bly not beyond the first proximo. On to-morrow I shall be engaged inspecting the national works. Any other day of my stay here and at any place selected by the citizens of St. Louis I shall be happy to meet them." POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS. 245 A portion of this day was appropriately devoted by the general to a tour through the St. Louis University, where he spent some time examining the establishment and hearing the recitations of the students. In the evening he visited by special invitation, with his family, a place of public amusement, where the people received him with loud and long-continued cheers. The band saluted him with the national airs "Hail Columbia" and "Yankee Doodle," while at intervals the masses present called on him for a speech. But as usual he respectfully declined. His speeches were made in the battle-fields of the Republic, by the mouths of republican cannon thun- dering anathemas at the foes of liberty, or defending the national honor. On the ensuing Friday evening he joined his fellow- citizens at their elegant public repast. The modest tanner-boy of Ohio, the quiet young cadet of West Point, the unknown lieutenant of Texas and Mexico, the retired captain of Oregon, the humble farmer of Missouri, the unassuming leather-merchant of Illi- nois, was now the great conquering general of the West, the recover er to free navigation of the Father of Waters, the hero of Vicksburg, Shiloh and Chat- tanooga. It was an hour of triumph to its re- cipient. But it did not charm or elate him. He recognized in it nothing more than a proof of the loyal devotion to their country of the true patriots 246 THE TANNER-BOY. of St. Louis, and their kind acknowledgment of the part he had been called by the Almighty to take in the work of delivering the land from the blighting twin-curses of treason and slavery. The occasion was worthy of the events and man of the day. Distinguished military and civil gen- tlemen thronged around him. His father-in-law, F. Dent, Esq. was at his side ; and the family con- versation between the two, in a low and familiar tone, was of more interest to Gen. Grant than all the pomp and parade of the evening. The white hairs of this genial old gentleman kept the remem- brance of the dear ones at home in the mind of the hero, and inspired continually those patriotic senti- ments of devotion to native land, to kindred, to the hearthstone and the altar, which no public ceremony however splendid can of itself awaken. The tables were crowded with company, all eager to catch a glance of their honored guest. The hall was decorated in a becoming manner, and the strains of martial music added their powerful zest to the scene. When the hour arrived for the toast — " Major- General Grant, our Distinguished Guest ," the band struck up " Hail to the Chief," and played it with fine effect. Now rose the loud call for a speech. But no speech came. The general modestly rose by the side of his father-in-law, and said : " Gentlemen : I am indebted to you for your SYMPATHY FOR THE PEOPLE. 247 kindness on this occasion, and most sincerely thank you." This brief characteristic announcement was re- ceived with loud cheers, in the midst of which the general resumed his seat and his quiet conversations. It was eminently Grant-like ; suitable, appropriate and well received by all. Not that he was indiffer- ent to the good opinions of his fellow-citizens. Not that he had any mean idea of the benefits the valor of his sword had won for his country. Not that he was cynical, churlish, and disposed to frown on cheerful enthusiasm. Nothing of the kind. But he was a man of deeds — not words. He had a just conception of the cause of the people, and had proved it on many a hard-fought battle-field by peril- ling his life in its behoof. But it was and is his purpose to show his convictions of duty to his coun- try and mankind in his own way, and time, and place. He served the people faithfully ; and when they honored him for the service he thanked them gratefully. What could he, or any man, do or say more ? An occasion of another kind occurred while the general was on this tour of duty. The Western Sanitary Commission having request- ed him through a committee of public-spirited gentle- men to attend a general meeting of the citizens, in which preparations were to be made for the " Missis- sippi Valley Fair " in aid of the sick and wounded 248 THE TANNER-BOY. soldiers of the Republic, he at once wrote a letter on the subject, elated at St. Louis the 31st of January, 1864, in which he expresses his regret that his already protracted stay in the city would prevent any longer delay from his more public duties. " The gratuitous offerings of our loyal citizens at home," he adds, "through the agency of Sanitary Commissions, to our brave soldiers in the field have been to them the most encouraging and gratify- ing evidence that whilst they are risking life and health for the suppression of this most wicked Rebellion, their friends, who cannot assist them with musket and sword, are with them in sympathy and heart. The Western Sanitary Commission have issued many tons of stores to the army under my command. " These voluntary offerings of this and other kin- dred associations have made glad the hearts of many thousands of wounded and sick soldiers, who other- wise would have been subjected to severe privations. I hope for you a full and enthusiastic meeting and a fair to follow which will bring together many old friends, who have been kept apart for the last three years, and unite them all again in one common cause — that of our country and of peace." These noble and philanthropic sentiments, so well expressed, are in perfect keeping with the whole career of Grant. He has never sacrificed the dictates of humanity to the summons of glory. While Valor THE IRISH VOLUNTEER. 249 fights with him on one side, Mercy binds up wounds on the other. "O'Meara is dead, then?" said the general, at Chattanooga. "Yes, sir," replied the officer of the day to whom the inquiry was addressed. " His body is about be- ing sent forward." " Gallant O'Meara ! " continued Grant, as if com- muning with his own spirit, and the spirits of the brave around him. " Gone ! A braver man never filled a saddle ! " " He is at the landing now, waiting to be put on the boat." "I knew him well," the general spoke on, as if he heeded not what was said by his companion — " He was with us in the Army of the Tennessee. I shall never forget his noble defence of the trestle-work at Holly Springs. He saved us all from starvation. Noble O'Meara! Brave Irish Legion!" "Would you like to see him, general?" " I should. Let us go." The two officers passed together to the little steamer by the levee of the river. It was a touching sight. A group of officers and men had gathered on the deck and levee, while others stood looking on along the adjacent heights. The coffin, covered with the American flag, lay on the 250 THE TANNER-BOY. • army bier. The procession had halted, and the boat was about to start. " Stop the steamer a moment," said the general solemnly ; " I want to see him." An orderly removed the colors and the coffin-lid. The hero bent over his departed comrade, and dropped a silent tear on the cold face. His lip quiv- ered, as it always does when he is experiencing deep emotion. He clasped his hands over the breast of the young Irish* volunteer who had come so willingly with him from the same State, who had stood so gal- lantly by his side in the deadly hurtlings of battle, who had fought so bravely to save his whole army from death by starvation, and who had now offered up a youthful life as a sweet, rich sacrifice on the altar of his country. An exile and a pilgrim from his own native land, he had come to America to die for the flag that is the emblem of liberty through- out the world. Sad, yet glorious scene ! It was like the frame- work of a tender, silent, historic picture to infold and preserve the lineaments of Ulysses Grant — the man who inspired the gallant living by honoring the gallant dead. CHAPTER XXVIII. CALLED TO WASHINGTON. ON the evening of Tuesday, March 8th, 1864, a stranger was seen walking quietly into the din- ing-room of Willard's Hotel, at the capital of the nation. A bright boy clasped his hand, and sat by his side at the public table. The two seats were taken among the unnoticed and unknown. The same stranger had written on the register of the hotel the unassuming record : "U. S. Grant and son, Nashville, Tennessee." It was the last stopping-place of father and child. As they took their seats for the usual repast provided for guests a gentleman from New Orleans recognized them. In an instant the news spread through the establishment. The boarders present, of whom there were hundreds at the time, rose to their feet by a simultaneous impulse, and in another instant cheer upon cheer rang through the room. All who could reach his seat rushed forward to greet him, while he, confused and blushing, received their applause with a modest bow. As he left the tea-room other admir- [251] 252 THE TANNER-BOY. ing crowds flocked around his path so thickly that it was with difficulty he could obtain an entrance to his private apartment. The man who had not shrunk from the batteries of the enemy was now prone to retire from this artillery of the gratitude and friend- ship of his countrymen. He was completely over- powered and fairly driven from the field. In the evening he attended the customary levee of President Lincoln at the Executive Mansion. The enthusiasm at his presence was unbounded and un- controllable. The people literally lifted him from his feet, drove him by sheer force of popular pressure to an adjacent sofa, and obliged him to mount the ram- parts of their will, conquered, at last. It was the most thrilling scene of the kind that ever occurred at the White House. On one side stood Grant, a few inches above the masses around him. On the other stood President Lincoln, almost as high from the floor, cheering heartily with all the rest of his fellow- citizens. The tribute was spontaneous, cordial, patriotic ; every way worthy of the man, of the place and the country. But Grant had come to Washington by direct order of the Commander-in-Chief on special business of importance — not for personal recreation or public parade. He was by no means insensible to these grateful manifestations of confidence and good-will from his fellow-countrymen. They were not, how- ever, in his line. COMMISSION BESTOWED. 253 On retiring from this levee he said quietly to a friend : " I hope to get away from Washington as soon as possible, for I am tired of f the show business ' al- ready/' The ensuing day, March the 9th, 1864, was the time fixed by President Lincoln for presenting him his commission as Lieutenant-General. The ceremony took place in the Executive Chamber, in front of the Presidential Chair, in presence of all the Cabinet, Major-General Halleck, Hon. Owen Lovejoy, then representative in Congress from the State of Illinois, and other invited guests. The scene was as republican as it was impressive. Gen. Grant having entered the chamber President Lincoln rose from his chair and addressed him thus : " Gen. Grant, — The nation's approbation of what you have already done, and its reliance on you for what re- mains to do in the existing great struggle, is now presented with, this commission, constituting you Lieutenant -General of the Army of the United States. " With this high honor devolves on you a corresponding responsibility. As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you. " I scarcely need add that with what I here speak for the nation goes my own hearty personal concurrence." Gen. Grant accepted the commission, and, holding it in his hand, briefly replied : 254 THE TANNER-BOY. " Mr. President, — I accept this commission with gratitude for the high honor conferred. With the aid of the noble armies who have fought on so many fields for our common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to dis- appoint your expectations. I feel the full weight of the responsibility now devolving on me. I know that if it is properly met it will be due to these armies ; and, above all, to the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men." Thus began and closed this remarkable scene. Every feature of it was a living embodiment of the genius of the Republic. The most extraordinary military commander of modern times, the man who has done more in the field for our country than any other since the days of Washington, was thus quietly endowed with the supreme active command of all the army forces of a nation of thirty-four millions. There was nothing in the scene itself. There was and is nothing in the rank, separate from the man. Other men have been and are lieutenant-generals S3 who have accomplished but little for the world or themselves. But for Ulysses the Tanner-Boy to fill such a distinguished post is the tribute of history to study, industry and perseverance, to true goodness and greatness, which an admiring world must ever approve. Youth of America ! see to it that this instructive lesson is not lost upon you. CHAPTER XXIX. NO REVELRY IN BATTLE TIME. STILL greater achievements than any he had yet won were now before Lieutenant-General Grant. Declining, with respectful consideration, the public civilities tendered him on every hand, he addressed himself at once to the vast work he ever kept in view. Crowds of rich men and fair women sought his audience. Popular assemblies courted his pres- ence. But he met them all only to repeat .his assur- ances of duty to his country. He recognized the confidence and applause of the people only that he might serve them the better in his high calling. He felt that he was raised up of Heaven to aid in putting down the wicked Rebellion against liberty and constitutional government; and every energy, therefore, was bent to the right discharge of the solemn responsibilities that had been placed upon him. " O ! Gen. Grant ! " said a bevy of fair ladies who clustered around him at Washington, " we hear there is going to be a ball, in connection with the grand review of the Army of the Potomac ! " [255] 256 THE TANNER-BOY. w Indeed ? " he quietly replied ; " I had not heard of it." " Well, it is all fixed, General. We ladies always have the management of these things after reviews ! " "Is it possible?" " You don't know, General, what a delightful time we had at the last ball in the army." "No, indeed I don't," added he, with a grim smile. " Oh ! such beautiful officers ! — and such glorious dancing ! and such delicious music ! and such a luxurious supper ! Do, General, let us have another ball, wonH you?" " Ladies ! " said the General, pausing in his hur- ried walk, and looking at them with a grave and fixed attention. " This thing must be stopped. I am not a cynic, and enjoy rational pleasures as well as any one else. But I would ask you, in all candor and gentleness, if this is a time for music, and dan- cing, and feasting among officers in the army ? Is our country in a condition to call for such things, at present? Do army balls inspire our troops with courage in the field ? Do they soothe our sick and wounded in the hospitals ? " If another such ball is attempted in the Army of the Potomac, at such a time as this, I shall stop it by a special order ! " To the credit of these ladies it shall be recorded here that they instantly saw the propriety of the COUNCIL OF WAR. 257 course of the General, and pressed such applications no more. He immediately proceeded to hold a council of war at the headquarters of the Government. The records of the proceedings of that council are official- ly sealed ; but enough is known of them to warrant the assurance that the position taken by Grant was one of instant activity. He had now more power to put forth for his country than he ever had, and he was determined to exercise it all without the delay of a moment. All the military talent the Government could command was drawn together on this occasion. On the 22d of February, 1863, the President had issued an order calling for the immediate advance of all the combined forces of the country. But to all human appearances the hour had, not then come. The call struck the ear of the nation like a trumpet- note, and clearly proved that the Chief Magistrate of the people was fully prepared for the great emer- gency. The. people, however, were not generally awake. It remained now for Gen. Grant to waken them. In the grand council of war to which reference has been made he was the first to make the bold an- nouncement that Richmond, the nominal capital of the Rebellion, must and should be taken. It was his first step in his great spring campaign as Lieutenant- General. The announcement took the nation by surprise. But they who knew Grant perfectly well 22 258 THE TANNER-BOY. understood that it was a measure, however startling and stupendous, that he had meditated long and closely ; and for the prompt, earnest, persevering accomplishment of which he was calmly prepared with his labors and his life. The council over, his purpose stated, his plans matured, on the 10th of March, 1864, he issued his orders to bring forward at once the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps from Chattanooga, and the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps from the Mississippi River, to Virginia. His own headquarters were immedi- ately established in the field. Working in perfect harmony with all the powerful influences he was now able to bring around him, inspiring all within his sphere with at least a measure of that confidence which rested on the firm foundations of duty in his own mind, having no jealousies, no discords, no rival- ries, having never had a court martial in his command nor a deserter to shoot, his consolidation of force was like the origin and march of the Father of Waters. Winding it might be ; now in one direction, now in another ; now hidden by night, now in the mists of day ; but onward, onward, onward ever ! His presence with the Army of the Potomac, be- tween Washington and Eichmond, furnished no crite- rion of his future plans. From his humble headquar- ters at Culpepper Court House in the Old Dominion he issued his orders with promptness and efficiency to every part of his wide field. His mind was at New IN THE FIELD. 259 Orleans, Chattanooga, Vicksburg, Knoxville, Nash- ville, Mobile, Savannah and Charleston, as active as it was in his immediate command. By means of the telegraph he could communicate rapidly and con- stantly with all quarters of the different campaigns, at once, and conduct them together with the most perfect regularity. He had as much command in Mississippi and Tennessee, in Louisiana, Texas and Georgia, in South and North Carolina, as he had in Virginia. His movements were made, therefore, with all the precision of a chess-board, and with far more certainty of ultimate success. The word "can't" was still not to be found in his dictionary. He had been furnished .with several new editions, greatly enlarged and improved. But the lexicography was the same in them all. "Can't" was not there. The first great evidence of the presence of Grant in the Army of the Potomac was the increase of discipline. No sooner had he arrived in the field of active operations than orders were issued prohibiting officers of all grades from using Government wagons or horses for their own personal accommodation. These orders were executed with rigid severity. Every animal and vehicle suspected of being used in this surreptitious and dishonorable manner was in- stantly seized and restored to its legitimate uses. Sutlers and their hangers-on were banished from within the lines in the most summary manner. So extensive had this sutlery abuse become that three 2 GO THE TANNER-BOY. thousand persons of that class were packed off to the rear by a single order from the vigilant Grant. While riding to the front, preparing for speedy battle, the General met one day an officer who had been his fellow-cadet at West Point. Grant was on horseback, unattended except by his faithful orderly, patiently pursuing his careful inspections of his posi- tion through a heavy storm of rain. The officer was riding in a handsome four-wheeled covered carriage, on easy elliptic springs and softly cushioned seats, with an elegant stud of horses and a guard of out- riders. The meeting under such circumstances was a mutual surprise. The recognitions and salutes passed, the Lieuten- ant-General with that quiet humor which at times crops out in his character, politely asked : " May I have the pleasure of your company, sir ? " Now the officer was clad in his best on this occa- sion. His uniform was a pink of perfection in its fit. His straps were of the broadest and most elegant pattern. His plumes were of the largest and glossi- est. His gloves were as clean as yellow buckskin can possibly be. His patent-leather army boots were unsoiled by a single drop of rain or flake of mud. " Certainly, General ! " he replied, with great blandness and cordiality, "I will turn about and drive along with you. Or, will you not get in with me, General?" NO FIELD CARRIAGES. 261 n No, I'm obliged to you," replied Grant, " I am in great haste to get to the front, and have not a moment to lose. Beside, I wish to speak with you in private. Do me the favor to walk along this way." The officer left his comfortable seat, plunged out in the mud and rain, and trudged on by the side of the General, he all the while asking him important questions respecting his department until he was wet to the skin. As he turned to go back to his carriage the General quietly reminded him of the influence of his example on the troops, and politely intimated that there would be no more field-carriages supplied to officers from that day. It was the turning-over of a new leaf of discipline in the Army of the Potomac. As the news of it reached the ears of the brave boys in the ranks they cheered it lustily, while no officer worthy of the name could consistently complain. The General was but doing with others what he did with himself. The men saw he was one of them — that their privations were his — and they not only loved him all the more tenderly, but resolved in their hearts to fight under him all the more bravely. CHAPTER XXX. CONDITION OF THE REPUBLIC. THE condition of the American Republic at the time of the opening of this chapter was of most critical interest. The great Slaveholders' Rebellion — the most gi- gantic and most wicked, the most causeless and most barbarous the world has ever seen — had now been in active continuance for more than three consecu- tive years. On the part of the traitors, from the commencement of hostilities at the cowardly bom- bardment of Fort Sumter, the war had been one for the divine and political right of man to hold property in his fellow-man ; to raise, and buy and sell men and women and children as articles of merchandise ; to erect, maintain and perpetuate a government of slave- holders, based on slavery, in which its adopted and sworn Constitution expressly declares its object in these words : " No Law impairing or denying the Right of Property in Negro Slaves shall be passed." " In all Territories the Institution of Negro Slave- ry, as it now exists in the Confederate States, shall [202] SLAVERY CAUSED THE WAR. 2G3 be recognized and protected by Congress, and by the Territorial Governments ; and the inhabitants of the several Confederate States and Territories shall have the Eight to take to such Territory any Slaves law- fully held by them in any of the States or Territories of the Confederate States." "No Slave or other Person held to service or labor in any State or Territory of the Confederate State^ under the Laws thereof, escaping or lawfully carried into another, shall, in consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor; but shall be delivered up on the claim of the Party to whom such Slave belongs, or to whom such service or labor may be due." — \_See Constitution of the so-called Confederate States of America, adopted unanimously March 11, 1861.] These atrocious constitutional enactments were unblushingly indorsed by the adherents of the Re- bellion in all their primary assemblies, their public speeches, their pulpits, their presses, and the obliga- tions of society. This single, paramount object of the traitors was still pursued by them with a tenacity, zeal, courage and sacrifice, worthy of the best of causes. For this they had plunged themselves and all they could control into the unutterable horrors of a fratricidal war. For this barbaric, inhuman, unchristian object they had gathered together the garnered strength of years, and their unhallowed swords leaped from their 264 THE TANNER-BOY. scabbards. Appealing in the preamble of their Con- stitution, with a blasphemy that knows no parallel, " to the favor and guidance of Almighty God," they rushed into the unholy strife. Laying the bloody foundations of their government in the despotic and guilty assumptions of slavery, they established their own selfish purposes with reference to Legislative ^ower and arbitrary Personal Rights ; the appoint- ment of a President and Vice-President ; the Judi- ciary ; the validity of Public Acts and Records ; exclusive Slaveholding Citizenship ; the admission of New States on an invariable Slaveholding Basis ; and the Ratification and Amendment of their Con- stitution. Prosecuting this outrage on humanity in detail, they proposed to levy and collect taxes, bor- row money, regulate commerce with foreign nations and with the Indian tribes in their borders, to prose- cute interval improvements, establish uniform laws of naturalization, coin money and regulate the value thereof, establish a postal system, promote science, constitute courts, punish crimes, declare war, raise armies and a navy, call forth the militia, .secure the exclusive jurisdiction of a national capital, and make all other necessary laws and regulations for the upbuilding to all ages of a nation of slaveholding despots, whose corner-stone was to be laid in the perpetuity of human bondage. So stands the record of the so-called Confederate States, fairly judged by the constitution and public DIVISION AT Tim NOBTH. 2G5 acts of their own Government. On this basis, and on this alone, the armed rebels of America seceded in 1861, from the American Union. Such, at last,' will be the impartial verdict of mankind. The United States, however, were not at first equally one in the object they had in view. They were not as entirely one in favor of human liberty as the seceded States were in favor of human slavery It was necessary, therefore, that disaster should follow disaster, outrage be added to outrage on the part of this combined, greatest slave power of the world, .before the sincere friends of the American Union could be brought clearly to see that the real foe to its continued existence and prosperity was' American slavery; and that, therefore, one or the other must perish. As the war progressed it was at length seen that the jealousy of foreign governments was superadded to the attacks of the slave power from without and of its allies within. Our commerce was assailed on the ocean ; our finances were tampered with ; the prices of the necessaries of life inflated by unprin- cipled speculators ; secret organizations were formed moneys raised by them and expended in the support of disloyal publications; men in public stations, especially in Congress, bitterly attacked every measure of the National Government, without exception, there- by giving aid and comfort to enemies abroad and traitors at home. 23 266 THE TANNER-BOY. It was precisely tr a same with the Republic at this crisis as it was with the Colonies in the war of the Revolution, and with the patriots of 1812. The artificial prices of gold, silver, breadstuff's, fuel, clothing und other indispensables of society were the same then that they were at the opening of the year 1864. Notwithstanding all that had been done by the patriots of our day, in spite of their vast sacrifices of blood and treasure, the military and naval move- ments of the hour began in the midst of a chill in the hearts and a lack of general confidence in the minds of the people. As in the days of Washington, how- ever, there were those engaged in active duties for the nation who felt that not only the hour for renewed exertion but that of ultimate triumph was at hand. The proclamations of the President, the concurrent acts of Congress and of the State Legislatures, the popular suffrages of the citizens at their elections, the subscriptions of the capitalists and others to the public stocks, the vast increase of warlike material and the gathering of the largest volunteer army ever marshalled on earth, the prospect that the final crisis was nigh at hand, all conspired to render the aspect of our national affairs one of momentous and thrill- ing import. It was at this solemn and eventful crisis that Lieut. - Gen. Grant was called to take the field. What a responsibility for any man at such an hour ! Not only the destiny of this great Republic but the hopes SECOND SAVIOR OF HIS COUNTRY. 267 of constitutional liberty throughout the world hun^ trembling in the scale. If he was doomed to failure, fearful disasters must%follow that no tongue or pen could portray. If he were granted success by benig- nant Heaven the blessings of untold millions would fall on his head, and he would be hailed by the side of Washington as the second savior of his country. It was in such times and under such responsibilities as these that he moved forward to the front. His master-mind grasped the whole issue at a glance. He was placed in such command that he became the Field-Marshal of the Eepublic. There was no limit to his power except his obligation to report to the delegated authority of the Government, and, through that, to the people. Now let us read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the carriage of this man. He was well aware that on the last anniversary of the birthday of Washington, President Lincoln had issued an order, as Commander-in-Chief of the national forces, for a general and simultaneous move- ment on the entire line of the Rebellion. But to him, as well as to others, the time was not propitious. Our councils were too divided. Our separate com- mands were too far apart. The master military spirit was wanting. As the spring campaign of 1864 opened on the country and the world it seemed as if the Almighty had given us that spirit in Ulysses Grant. Let us follow his record and see. CHAPTER XXXI. ON TO RICHMOND. IMMEDIATELY after his modest reception of his distinguished title of Lieutenant -General Grant established his headquarters at Culpepper Court House, Virginia. This was in the immediate centre of his theatre of active operations. His gigantic plans were now gradually developed. The presence of the master-spirit was soon felt. General Meade, at the head of the Army of the Potomac, was ordered to move on the enemy at Richmond, by crossing the Rubicon at the Rapidan River. General Butler re- ceived his orders to march up the Virginia peninsula, also toward the rebel capital. General Sherman was to push down from the heights of old Chattanooga to the rebel posts in Georgia. General Sigel, with a large reserve, was to occupy the Valley of the She- nandoah. The hour and the man had come. The whole central force of the Republic was in motion. It was all guided, for the first time, by a single hand. L T nity of purpose and action, like the full-orbed sun bursting from behind a cloud, lit up the scene and fixed the eyes of the nation on a single point. The [268] THE REBEL CAPITAL. 269 entire resources at the command of the Government for the great occasion were placed at the feet of Grant. His will in battle was now the military hope of the land. As he proceeded steadily and cautiously to the execution of his noble and patriotic plans, General Grant addressed a confidential letter to the President of the United States. In that letter he assumed the entire responsibility of the campaign. The President had m no way advised, counselled or commanded it. The people were to be assured, so far as the President might feel it to be his duty to communicate to them through the press the contents of this frank and un- reserved epistle, that no interference or dictation of any kind had. occurred with reference to the plans of Grant in any quarter. Here let this record stand. Richmond, as is well known, was the central point of attack on our part and of defence on the part of the rebels. Its capture was regarded by Grant as of the first importance. The city is the nominal capital of the Rebellion, and the real one of the State of Virginia. It is located on the James River, at a distance of one hundred and seventeen miles south-west of Washington. At the breaking-out of the Rebellion, in 1861, it had a population of sixty thousand — of whom about ten thousand were per- sons of color, and of these eight thousand were slaves. Its situation is beautiful and commanding, 270 THE TANNER-BOY. on the west bank of the James, a little over fifty miles from City Point, and one hundred and fifty miles above the mouth of the river. Four lines of railway here connect — the Eich- mond and Petersburg; the Eichmond, Fredericks- burg and Potomac ; the Central Eailway of Virginia ; and the Eichmond and Danville. The James-Eiver Canal terminates at Eichmond. Vessels drawing ten feet of water come as near the city as a place called Eockets — about a mile from the centre. Those drawing fifteen feet can reach Warwick, three miles below. The falls in the James at Eichmond are obviated by a canal, so that above them the river is navigable for small craft a distance of two hundred and twenty miles. Before the Eebellion began its destructive work with its commerce the city had several lines of steamers, propellers and packets, connecting with New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk and other large towns. Its principal exportations have been wheat, flour and tobacco. The value of these has amounted annually to over five millions of dol- lars. The tonnage has been twenty thousand tons. It has had extensive manufactories ; and had it re- mained loyal to the Government of the United States, which has done so much for the best interests of the city, it might have flourished to this day. But the great Slaveholders' Eebellion, while it has vastly increased the floating population of Eichmond, THE REBEL CAPITAL. 271 and enlarged its warlike manufactures, has destroyed its commerce utterly, sadly impaired its morals, im- peded its education, and rendered it, as the prison- house of Union soldiers and the hospital for sick and wounded rebels, a modern Aceldama — a city of blood. Vice has run riot through its avenues ; gambling, drunkenness, debauchery, peculation and fraud have joined their slimy hands with the red clutch of slaveholding barbarism, and covered the town with a pall of guilt and darkness and shame. At the time the Rebel Government located its archives at Richmond, gave the traitor President the semblance of a White House for an executive mansion, and commenced the sessions of its traitor- ous Congress in the Old Dominion State House, the necessity of fortifying the place was soon made apparent. Breastworks were thrown up in different directions, and such guns as had been plundered from the Navy Yard at Norfolk, or cast in the Tredegar Iron Works, were placed in the intrenchments. Be- hind these, crowded into narrow and dirty squares and streets, the rebel troops have been gathered, and the flag of treason has flaunted its sign of bar- barous oppression over the ramparts for nearly three dark and bloody years. Other fortifications had been erected below Rich- mond, on the James River, and at different points covering the water-approaches to the city. Of these 272 THE TANNER-BOY. the principal were on Drury's Bluff, at Fort Darling. Iron-clad and other armed vessels were placed at intervals in the river, and the channel was as much impeded as possible with torpedoes and sunken ob- structions. Petersburg and other commanding points in that direction were fortified, and supplied with' troops and other means of defence. In the direction of Washington, covering that side of the rebel capital, and designed to be the strongest bulwark of the Rebellion, was the great army of Gen. Lee. The position of Lee was in every respect formidable. He had with him a force supposed to number over one hundred thousand men. Of these a large proportion were veterans, who had served with him in all his campaigns. He was regarded, when in the United-States Army, as a superior officer. Increased experience and repeated successes had given him a high name as a soldier, while all his men were seemingly actuated by a determined purpose to fight bravely to the last. His defences were stretched along a line from Fredericksburg Heights to Chancel- lorsville, from Gordonsville to the Po and North and South Anna Eivers, and continued, at intervals, to the gates of Richmond. Re-enforcements were com- ing in from the West, and from Gen. Beauregard, who had left the defence of Charleston, S.C., to other hands, that he might join his forces to those of the most distinguished of the rebel chieftains in the coming mighty struggle. forward march! 273 Thus lay the two opposite fields of battle, at mid- night of the memorable third of May, 1864. " Forward march ! " came the calm order from Grant. The drums beat "To arms !" The trumpets clangored " Form ! " The great hosts sprang to their feet as by the touch of a talisman. By daylight of the fourth the whole grand army was in motion to meet the foe. It was the most impressive scene of the kind in the war. The known presence of the Lieutenant-General inspired all hearts. The troops pressed rapidly forward. By two o'clock of the afternoon they were across the separating river, and had reached the bloody field of Chancellorsville, facing the enemy, where skirmishing immediately began. The moment for action was at hand. The Tanner- Boy was all ready ! CHAPTER XXXH. FIRST RICHMOND BATTLE. AT eleven o'clock on the morning of Thursday, the 5th of May, 1864, commenced the first great battle of Grant's Richmond campaign. He faced his line to the south-west, his right resting on the Rapidan. The conflict began at once with spirit on both sides, and continued until four in the after- noon. The whole force of Lee was discovered to be in front of our army. Grant immediately determined on a general engagement. On every side the rebels crowded to the field. They had massed in column, and were evidently bent on their usual tactics of a concentrated dash. The adjacent woods were so thick that artillery could not be used to advantage. Mounted officers were compelled to leave their horses and engage in the fight on foot. The infantiy ad- vanced to close range, and fought with musketry until near dark. Only here and there was a bayonet charge. At sunset musketry firing was resumed, still at short range. Cartridges were sent into the woods on the hospital stretchers that brought out the [274] FIRST RICHMOND BATTLE. 275 wounded. The battle was fought on a line six miles long. This position was occupied by an army of two hundred thousand men . Enthusiasm , confidence , promptness marked the troops on every hand. At ten at night the battle-field was still. The reports were everywhere favorable, and confirmed our having sustained the shock of batle all along the line and taken several hundred prisoners during the day. The morning of Friday, May 6th, found Grant prepared for another onset. His tactics had already surprised the enemy. They imagined he would go into the fight with detached ranks, assailing them with a portion of his troops at a given time, and then retire and wait. Instead of this they found him hurling the entire force of his solid columns upon them, giving them no opportunity to pursue their old strategy of massing in the rear and bearing down our thinner lines with impetuous charges and de- moniac yells. Prisoners and deserters from the rebel ranks freely acknowledged that Lee was disappointed at Grant's strategy, and, in a measure, disconcerted in his plans. Gen. Sheridan, the new commander of the Union cavalry, had passed rapidly down beyond the old Chancellorsville battle-ground, and encountered the rebel Gen. Stuart, with a strong body of horse. Lee at once perceived that it was now Grant's intention to get between him and Richmond at this point. He had therefore made a rapid change of base, through 276 THE TANNER-BOY. the day and night preceding, bringing himself to Grant's front with a concentrated force near Wilder- ness Church and Tavern. The ground was highly advantageous for Lee, and he at once began to press in our pickets. The course of Grant was adopted instantly. He moved rapidly from Germania Ford, and established his field headquarters at the Wilder- ness. Lee was thus met on his own ground. The reserve forces of Gen. Burnside had been brought down in the night and massed in front, at a point where the rebels least expected to find them. The great rebel chieftain was thus foiled at the onset, and compelled to a fair stand-up fight, where his cunning manoeuvres would avail him but little. At last he had found his match. Grant was there ! The attempt of Lee to break our centre had proved utterly futile. At two o'clock of the afternoon of Thursday he had thrown a .large force against the wings commanded by Warren and Hancock, only to find himself driven back by the raking fire of the brave men who so worthily wear those distinguished Revolutionary names. He was repulsed at all points. Grant was master of the field. While the first battle of Grant was in progress in the Wilderness, Gen. Butler had been proceeding with his command toward Kichmond, by the way of James River. He landed on Thursday, May 5th, at Wilson's Wharf, Fort Powhattan and Bermuda, one hundred miles above Appomattox River. The ac- SECOND EICHMOND BATTLE. 277 companying monitors and gunboats were at that time all over the Bar at Harrison's Landing, and above City Point — about fifty miles below the rebel capi- tal. The movement had been conducted with great secrecy and speed, reflecting much credit on the abilities of Butler. It was a part of the strategic plan of Grant, and a complete surprise to the rebels. As the news of these combined events spread abroad it startled the public mind. Eepeated pre- vious disappointments in military combinations, how- ever, had rendered the great body of 4he people cautious. They received the tidings with care and in comparative quietness. By Saturday noon the intelligence had reached the country, and the excite- ment gradually began to increase. The principal cities of the Union became the theatres of popular enthusiasm, and the price of gold fell. On Friday, May 6th, the second battle opened. The condition of the Union army was all its distin- guished leader desired. The troops were abundantly supplied with every thing they needed by the Gov- ernment. They entered on the great fight with a patriotic ardor worthy of the noble cause at stake. The fighting on both sides was among the most desperate known in modern times. The cool, deter- mined courage of the army of Grant proved too much in every instance for the desperate fury of the rebels. They were driven at all points. Grant held 278 THE TANNER-BOY. his large force, as usual, well in hand. There was no straggling. The gallant Hancock pushed forward rapidly to Spottsylvania Court House, and many prisoners were captured. Lee was forced back several miles, leav- ing his dead and wounded in our hands. The town and celebrated fortifications of Fredericksburg, among the strongest and most advantageously posted of any in the country, were captured and held. This was a gain of great importance, as it furnished us a good base of operations for the reception of supplies and our wounded. Heavy siege guns were immediately carried forward from this stronghold, to force Lee from his future intrenchments. Our field was now full of rebel prisoners. The discipline of both Grant's and Lee's armies was now so tried that while the one steadily ad- vanced the other retreated in comparatively good order. This fact is a credit to the rebels. It clearly shows what any foreign foe may expect in this country. The defeat of Grant in the field to which the boasting foe looked forward so confidently was found impossible. Lee was continually compelled to fall back, whether to the intrenchments of Richmond or to the great line of defence between Chattanooga and Mobile was yet to be determined. On the part of Grant there was not a moment's delay in pursuit. His pontoon trains were taken up CHANGE OF POSITION. 279 from the rivers as he advanced, that he might be ready to cross every stream in his way. Every inch he gained was firmly held. Lee, with all his generalship, in his own chosen positions and possessing a perfect knowledge of the country to which Grant was a stranger, was forced to retreat at every point. The battle had begun at five o'clock on the morn- ing of Friday. Grant soon perceived, with his practised eye, that Lee was re-enforcing Longstreet, in order to make an overwhelming assault on his left. The Lieutenant-General was instantly pre- pared for him. By a masterly change of position, as unexpected to our own generals as it was to Lee, he threw his columns forward and held the foe at bay. It was a complete surprise to Lee. The ground was fought over again and again, the ene- my at last retreating, leaving us masters of the field. In an intercepted despatch from Lee it was dis- covered that he announced to the rebel authorities at Richmond that he had been severely attacked by Grant and his forces thrown into some confusion ; that Gen. Longstreet, one of his most efficient com- manders, was dangerously wounded ; Gen. Jenkins, of South Carolina, killed; and Gen. Pegram dis- abled. This official report of the rebel chief was a forced admission that we had won a signal victory. 280 THE TANNER-BOY. Gen. Grant was constantly in the field and under fire. His headquarters were frequently shelled by the enemy. But he was familiar with it, and pre- served, at all times, his immobility, coolness, calm- ness and decision. With unshaken confidence in the continued protection of an Almighty arm, and a full consciousness of the justice of his cause and the valor of his officers and men, he moved steadily forward on the works of the enemy. CHAPTER XXXIII. CONTINUED BATTLES. THE fight was resumed on the ensuing Saturday. Intelligence, meanwhile, had been received of the continued advance of Butler up the James River and through the adjacent country of the rebels toward Petersburg. The monitor fleet was removing ob- structions from the main channel, and the land-forces were busy destroying the railway communications of the vicinity. Sherman was reported to be advancing further into Georgia, driving the foe before him. The rebel Gen. Johnson, with a strong force, had been flanked by a gallant body of Grant's former veteran troops, who were already beginning to hear, by telegraph, of the successes of their victorious chief in Virginia. By two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, May 8th, our troops had advanced under Grant to the new front of Lee. It was soon discovered by the skir- mishers that he had again withdrawn. Our cavalry were still pressing forward. Late in the afternoon the rebels repeated their attempts to flank our right, and get between us and 24 [281] 282 THE TANNER-BOY. the Rapidan. But they were all foiled. At one period of these attempts it looked as if Grant was desirous that the enemy should be drawn into this position, for strategic purposes. It was thought best, however, to repulse him, and it was gallantly done. By nine o'clock at night it was discovered that Lee had fallen back toward Spottsylvania Court House. His line had grown perceptibly weaker, and our horse galloped rapidly forward, capturing a number of prisoners. It was clearly not the purpose of either general to bring on a simultaneous engagement. Both the leading spirits were evidently bent on strategy. Lee appeared to be aiming to cut off our communication in the rear by way of Germania Ford ; while Grant, as if utterly indifferent to this seeming purpose of the enemy, acted as if he courted it. He knew his position and his men. Lee was to have the choice of being cut off from his capital, or of taking up the gauge of battle thrown down to him in the field. Brief and characteristic despatches now began to be received from Grant. It will be remembered with what reticence he had pursued his approaches to the rear of Vicksburg. His message to the War Department when he left Grand Gulf to plunge into the f Wilderness ' of Mississippi will never be for- gotten : " You may not hear from me for several days" DESPATCHES. 283 So now in his great Virginia campaign in the Old- Dominion c Wilderness ' he tersely says to the Secre- tary of War : " I am on to Richmond. All goes well." To this expressive message President Lincoln added another : " Gen. Grant has gone ahead, and drawn his ladder after him." There was little or no fighting on the following day. The Union army was occupied in recuperating, and preparing for another advance. Our progress, thus far, had been a continued triumph, purchased at the costly sacrifice of many patriot lives — a sacrifice richly prized by a ransomed and grateful country. We had gained at every point, and already held in our hands more than two thousand rebel prisoners, while the enemy had taken but comparatively few from us. The reception of the news by the people now became impressive. It was foreseen by all who understood and appreciated the situation that there must of necessity be much more hard fighting before this rebellious monster of barbarism and outrage could be put to the death it deserved. Hence the popular enthusiasm was restrained and considerate. The war was felt to be one of principle on the part of the United States, a war bravely fought for the tri- 284 THE TANNER-BOY. umph of free government throughout the world. But there were no unseemly exultations, no malicious rejoicings over the falling foe. On the evening of Monday, May 9th, a body of the people gathered spontaneously before the Execu- tive Mansion at Washington. The band of the Twenty-seventh Regiment of Ohio, Grant's native State, which was then on its way to the field, paused at the grounds and performed the national airs. President Lincoln was called out on the balcony of the White House for a speech. He responded to the call by appearing before the assembled thousands, and proposing to join them in hearty cheers for Lieutenant - General Grant and the brave armies under his command. The cheers were heartily given, and the grateful multitude quietly retired to their homes. In both Houses of Congress, then in session, the brief official despatches were read to the members and people present, and received with thankful dem- onstrations. The field of battle that day witnessed a continu- ance of the great struggle. The enemy made a determined stand near Spottsylvania Court House, and our forces gallantly attacked. At this point the army and the country were called to mourn the loss of Major-General Sedgwick, of Connecticut, who fell in the ramparts that had just been captured. Gen. Wadsworth, of New York, a citizen of dis- LEE SHORT OF SUPPLIES. 285 tinction who was among the first to volunteer for the Union, had just previously fallen, with Gen. Ste- venson, of Massachusetts, and other brave men. As the day advanced Grant still moved forward. Burnside had inflicted a serious blow on Longstreet, and all our troops were eager to avenge the deaths of their commanders and comrades. They were sanguine of success, and it was admitted by all had never fought so well before. An evidence of the inherent weakness of some of the arrangements of Lee was discovered in an inter- cepted order in relation to supplies. He admitted that his communications with Riohmond were being cut off, and that it was impossible to furnish his men with provisions. Our own troops, on the contrary, were not only flushed with victory but well supplied at all points. The resistance they met but inspired their courage and impelled them to still greater deeds of valor. Up to this time our artillery had not been brought into full play. The fights were mostly those of the infantry and cavalry. A body of horse under Gen. Torbett drove the rebels rapidly from beyond Spott- sylvania, and being joined by the Fourth Division of Maryland, the conflict became very severe, termi- nating favorably to the Union arms. Intelligence was now received from Gen. Butler that he held the portions of the Richmond and Petersburg Railway he had captured, and that his 286 THE TANNER-BOY. troops were still advancing up the Peninsula toward Richmond. The colored regiments had deployed toward the Cliickahominy River, and fought well. A rebel fort was taken on the Appomattox. The fleet was active on the James River. The rebel Gen. Beauregard was reported to be hemmed in at Petersburg. A report came from the James-River Department that Lee was wounded, and in Rich- mond. This, however, was soon contradicted. The grand result, thus far, had been eminently favorable. Grant had boldly challenged the whole strength of the Rebel Confederacy, and firmly and calmly resolved to test with it the combined power of the United States to maintain their inde- pendence, on the crimson fields of Virginia. Per- fectly self-possessed, he had deliberately drawn the whole force of the rebels on his serried columns, confident that, with the blessing of Heaven, they would withstand the shock of battle and press on to final victory. Recaptured prisoners who had been far to the front of the enemy gave information that the rebel authorities were busily engaged in the removal of their most valuable property and papers from Rich- mond. Lee had already given repeated proofs that he was discomfited by the unlooked-for strategy of Grant and the stubborn valor of the Union troops. It had been ascertained, on good authority, that the Bebels had already lost thirty thousand men in THE " STONEAVALL " BRIGADE. 287 battle, while their means of re-enforcing were grow- ing less and less with each succeeding day. On our side the losses, although large, had been less in pro- portion, while our re-enforcements were abundant and came steadily forward. Gen. Butler was now pressing Fort Darling, and Gen. Kautz, under his command, was operating with a large cavalry force against the Danville and Rich- mond Railway. Other Richmond railways were seri- ously damaged by Gen. Sheridan. The number of rebel prisoners in our hands swelled to more than nine thousand, including several generals and other officers high in command. Over thirty guns had been captured and were safely within our lines. Among the rebels taken was the remainder of the division once commanded by the celebrated " Stone- wall Jackson." This body of men was believed to be utterly invincible by the rebels, and its capture was one of the heaviest blows they had been called to meet. The colored troops in the Army of the Potomac, like their brothers in the Army of the Peninsula, fought all the time with intrepid valor. By their steadiness, coolness and courage under fire they clearly disproved, sword and bayonet in hand for our country, the infamous falsehoods of their enemies. No better soldiers, in proportion to their times of service and opportunities, were found on the most hard-fought fields. In the midst of privations, in 288 THE TANNER-BOY. tbe face of death, they established for ever to the world their equality as soldiers with the rest of mankind. The despatches of Grant came forward, at proper intervals, with all his appropriate brevity and force. In a telegram to the Secretary of War, dated "In the Field, May 11th, '64," he says : " We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fight- ing. The result to this time is much in our favor. " Our losses have been heavy, as well as those of the enemy. I think the loss of the enemy must be greater. " TVe have taken over five thousand prisoners in battle, while he has taken from us but few, except stragglers. "I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." The modest manner in which his glorious victories were at first announced was only equalled by the cool self-possession with which he stated his purpose in the last .line. Was ever strength of character better condensed in a few plain words ? The closing statement had done more to assure the country than almost any thing that had ever been uttered during the war. It showed the people, at a glance, the true character of the struggle, and as- sured them that if he was so patient in the field, surrounded thickly with privations and dangers, what ought they to be, safe in their homes? CHAPTER XXXIV. MANNERS AND HABITS. " 1VT0W, Major ! " said one of our Tanner-Boy -Ll circle, "you have been giving us a great many facts and details about Gen. Grant, as he ap- pears in the war." "Yes," replied the Major, his countenance lighting up with patriotic pride as he spoke, " I have felt it to be my duty to lay before my young countrymen every thing in the life of the great commander just as it is." "This is the way I like to learn history," added the eldest of our group. "I shall always try to re- member what we have heard about his youth, about West Point, Texas, Mexico, the wicked Rebellion in our country, and how well he has fought for us all." " And I sha^l not soon forget about that wonderful Mississippi River," chimed in Ned, " nor the persever- ance of Gen. Grant to open it to free trade." "Nor I," said Tom, "about that voyage through those wild passes in the woods." "Would you like to hear how Gen. Grant looks and acts among his friends ? " inquired the Major, as he glanced at his young circle. # 25 [2&V] 290 THE TANNER-BOY. " Oh ! yes, dear Major ! indeed we should ! " was the response of all. "Well, then," he concluded, "I will tell you." Gen. Grant is about the medium height. His countenance is open and keenly expressive of a man of deep thought. He has auburn hair, and wears a beard and mustache, both trimmed close. His eyes are a grayish blue, and indicative of quickness and dis- tance of perception. The mouth and chin are pecu- liarly significant of his character — will and firmness. When excited, especially in action, the eye becomes fixed in a remarkable manner, and the lips and chin assume a tightness and rigidity that strike the be- holder at once. The lips contract and the chin works as the mind progresses with its plans, until the whole man is roused, and he seems ready to bear down all opposition before him. " We have heard much, Major," casually observed one present, " of the indifference of the General to dress. Are we to understand that he carries this to extremes?" " By no means ! " quickly responded the Major, his dignity now fairly roused. " I wish it to be distinctly understood that Gen. Grant is not in any sense a sloven. Gen. Grant, remember, is a gentleman." " Oh ! I am sure I should have thought so by what you have told us. No one but a real American gentleman could or would have done the noble things recorded of Gen. Grant." MANNERS AND Hab its . ' x have been with him » +1. nr . Perfect!, vveH what his per J^ ; -dl W ^please tell us, Wt you >» are " a^ ft^irc it r sw ° r *"* * made with reference to ~ arra ngements are in the public s™ He T^ ° f ^ "* S P ace —I and th " a ; J2™ JU8t the fe -st table We kind. The L71 7 ^ and most con- of Wf apparel 1 rdU ° US duti6S t,lat ** aspect U ° an ° COl W his mind to but 1 Lie 292 THE TANNER-BOY. extent; yet there is that about his motions, even in his outward indifference to show, which marks his superiority. Like Garibaldi, Grant would look a man of mark in a red flannel shirt. So deeply, earnestly, sincerely intent is this distinguished soldier on the- salvation of his country that the fripperies of fashion and adorn- ments of dress sink beneath contempt in his eyes. Talk to him of carriages, and he thinks of those that carry the guns of the Union against the Rebel- lion. Speak of horses, and he is reminded of the brave squadrons he would set in the field for liberty. Mention tempting viands, rich dinners and splendid suppers, and his mind recurs to the rations of his noble troops in line of battle. Name the fashion of dress, and he sees before him the stalwart forms of brave men wrapped in army-cloaks, musket or sword in hand, all eager to strike for the right. No man of all the hundreds of thousands he has commanded ever heard Gen. Grant use profane lan- guage. His manners are grave ; evidently like those he saw at home in his youth. He has humor ; but it is of that quiet sort which never indulges in boisterous laughter. Always hopeful, always disposed to speak well of every one, always devoted to the constitutional Gov-' eminent he has sworn to defend, never complaining, never jealous, self-reliant, persevering, modest, hon- est, brave. MANNERS AND HABITS. 293 No conception of him could be more mistaken than to suppose Gen. Grant to be a jovial, swaggering, sporting man ; dressing like a laborer, studying to be careless ; fond of jokes and drinking. He is no- thing of the kind. From his youth he has abhorred personal disputes. He never uses or tolerates improper language. He is cordial, cheerful, yet reserved. His sincerity is transparent, and his reticence extraordinary. No one living can ascertain his plans if he chooses to retain them. In his opinions he is always tolerant yet always earnest. He has no ostentation ; no desire to make a show of himself or his deeds ; no taste for gratifying idle curiosity. One striking feature in his intellectual character is his ability to ascertain and decide on the relative merits of different men and things at one and the same time. In this respect he has the rare faculty of selecting the right man for the right place. One of his highest meeds of praise consists in the fact that through all his commands to his present elevated post he has had no jealousies, bickerings or quarrels among his officers. He has had no court- martials. Not a* man of his immediate command was ever shot for desertion. The opinion entertained of Grant by Garibaldi was recently elicited at an interview between the brave Italian and the American consul, in London. " I admire your General Grant," said Garibaldi on 294 THE TANNER-BOY. that occasion. " He is a brave and efficient officer. His Western campaign is one of the most masterly military feats on record. He is 'the right man in the right place ' and above all others fitted to com- mand the American armies." Such was Ulysses Grant on the day of his being made Lieutenant-General of the Army of the United States. Such is he at this hour, leading on the em- battled hosts of the Union for the overthrow of the Rebellion. May God preserve him ! CHAPTER XXXV. MORE NEWS FROM THE FRONT. " XT THAT is the last news from the front, Ma- H jor?" eagerly inquired Robert, the elder, as he entered the room, earlier than usual in the morning. "Have you heard?" " I hear frequently," replied the Major, " and from parties who can be relied upon. But hereafter in our history I shall not go so much into particulars as I have done in most cases. It will be impossible for me or. any one to mention here all the days and places and names of the great fight of the General to capture Richmond. We must wait for the official reports. And, besides, I mean, one of these days, to give you a special history about the capture of Richmond." " Oh ! that will be just the thing !" said both Ned and Tom, at the same moment. "Just what we should like." " You shall have it," said the Major. Now let us go on with the Union men to the front. By the twelfth of May, 1864, the left wing of the Rebel Army had been seriously disabled and ten thou- [295] 296 THE TANNER-BOY. sand prisoners taken from the enemy. But the resistance of the traitors was of such a nature as to convince every careful observer that the struggle was to be one of endurance as well as valor. The ques- tion did not seem to be — Which army can fight the bravest ? but — Which army can endure the longest ? The problem of equality of bravery had been settled early in the war. It was Greek meeting Greek — American meeting American. The fiery contest must be fought out. One thing had become certain — the Union would never sur- render. A multitude of touching proofs of patriotism oc- curred that will be for ever embalmed in history. Time and space would fail us to record even a tithe of them in these pages. Brig. -Gen. Rice was mortally wounded while lead- ing on his men, colors in hand. Being carried in a hospital-ambulance from the field in company with one of his staff to a place of quiet, he soon expired. Just before dying he sent this telegram to his wife : "I have been true to my country." In a few mo- ments the patriot-hero was no more. A report from Gen. Sheridan, in command of Grant's cavalry, dated at headquarters, May 10th, stated that he had then* turned the enemy's right, pushed to the rear and destroyed nearly ten miles of railway, two locomotives, three trains of cars and a very large quantity of rebel supplies. There was NEWS FKOM THE FRONT. 297 much excitement among the inhabitants and army in rebellion. All attempts of the enemy to annoy him had failed. He had recaptured five hundred of our men, two of them colonels of regiments. Gen. Grant reported on the 12th of May to the Secretary of War that up to that hour every thing was going on well. We had lost no organization in the battle — not even a company ; while we had de- stroyed and captured one division, one brigade and one regiment. The capture of this division, em- bracing four thousand men, was exclusive of Lee's killed and wounded left on the field. All the prisoners taken from the enemy continued to admit that Lee was astonished at the tactics of Grant. The rebel chief had evidently lost spirit if he was still stubborn in fight. His men gave unmis- takable signs of being less elated though yet sullen. They did not give their savage yells, as had been their wont, but charged or fought or retreated in dogged silence. When Lee received orders in the field from the rebel President to fall back for the defence of the imperilled capital of the Rebellion, he coolly de- spatched a brigade across the Rapidan, and deliber- ately planted a park of artillery so as to command Germania Ford; as if he supposed, of course, that Grant would pursue the old tactics of firing and fall- ing back. Instead of this he found Grant holding every inch of ground he gained ; and ready every 298 THE TANNER-BOY. moment in line of battle to contend for more. It bewildered Lee. Such conduct on the part of a Union commander was not in his programme. It was decidedly inconvenient to all his plans. The style of fighting adopted by Grant gave the highest satisfaction to his citizen-troops. They could understand it. They saw the point at once. Weary and depleted as they were with long marching and hard fighting they cheered the hero as he passed and obeyed every order with alacrity and enthusiasm. They had never seen it on this wise before. They felt that at last they had the Rebellion in their hands. A strong position had been gained by our troops. The importance of holding it was apparent to the general in command ; but he wished for special in- structions. Galloping with all speed to headquarters he asked : "What shall be done with it, Lieutenant-General?" "Pile in the men ! — hold it at all hazards !" came the prompt reply of Grant. It was done. This was the man. It was West Point over again. "What he gained he held. Up to noon of the 12th of May there was occasional skirmishing. Our men continued full of enthusiasm. A wounded Union officer lay panting on the bloody grass. Gen. Grant passing by stopped and bent tenderly over him. He knew the Lieutenant-General, and with his last struggles gave the official signal. DYING HEROES. 299 An army chaplain held his arms around the gallant hero. "Turn me over," gasped he, as Gen. Grant lingered near his fallen comrade. "Which way?" inquired the chaplain, his eyes swimming with tears, and his v^ice trembling as he spoke. " Turn my face toward the enemy, and let me die ! " whispered he. The chaplain turned him gently; and as he lay there, with his glazing eyes strained over the gory battle-field in the direction of. the enemy, his spirit passed into the presence of God. He was dead. A citizen-soldier entered one of the field-hospitals, his arm torn from his shoulder by a rebel shell. For- getting his agony he cried : " I have lost my arm ; but heal the wound quick, for I want to be in the fight again ! " Immediately he commenced singing : " The Union for ever ! Hurrah boys ! Hurrah ! Down with the Traitor 1 Up with the Star ! We'll rally round the Flag, boys — rally once again! Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom ! Rally round the Flag, boys ! Rally once again ! Rally from the hillside ! Rally from the plain ! Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom ! " More than a score of brave fellows, as they lay wounded around, joined in the chorus : w We'll rally round the Flag, boys ! Rally once again ! Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom ! " 300 THE TANNER-BOY. It was a sublime scene, gloriously illustrating the motto of the dying Warren on the crest of Bunker Hill: "Dulce, ! dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori ! " "It is sweet, oh! it is sweet and decorous for our country to diel" # CHAPTER XXXVI. "come in, soldier." ff T\ID y° u near what the General said to a soldier JL/ in the cars, on his way to the camp ? " inquired the Major the other day. "No, sir ; " cried a prompt voice, on the right side of the wooden leg, "Won't you please tell us, Major?" The General had entered the train for one of his posts of duty, and quietly taken a seat with his staff, all bound to the place nearest the field. A sen- try had been stationed at the door near where the General sat, for the purpose of preserving him from interruptions. A soldier of the line, not knowing that he was inside, stepping quickly forward on the platform had half opened the door of the car and was about entering. As he stood there, the knob of the door in his hand, the quick word and musket of the sentinel interposed : " Halt ! you can't go in there ! " "Why not?" asked he, respectfully. "Gen. Grant is inside." 1301] 302 THE TANNER-BOY. The soldier paused and was about retiring, when a quick voice from within said : " Come in, soldier ! Gen. Grant only occupies one seat." The soldier looked a moment in surprise at the speaker, when, being re-assured by the glance that answered his, he politely entered and took the proffered seat by the side of the Lieutenant-Gene- ral. It was in this spirit this great commander went forward to the front. Is it surprising that such a man should win the love and confidence of all around him? In the course of the early part of the Richmond campaign a report came to the General that the enemy had broken our lines, and was driving all before him. He was at the moment surrounded by several of his principal generals and staff-officers. The air was full of thick smoke, so that the field could be but imperfectly discerned. The roar of cannon, the crashing of shells, the rattle of musketry, the confusion of a portion of the troops incident to such a report, occasioned looks of anxiety among nearly every' one of the officers. They glanced at each other in silence. "Is that so?" "Can it be?" ^ "What is to be done?" These inquiries passed in rapid tones from mouth don't believe it ! " 303 to mouth. Grant was silent and unmoved as a solid rock in the midst of dashing waves. Looking calmly at his principal general he coolly said : "Don't believe it!" In the twinkling of an eye every one was re- assured. His quick prescience had filled them all. Neither, then, did they believe it. The report was false. And so it proved to be. " Fight on ! » continued Grant. " Throw forward the columns ! We are all right ! " This incident, added the Major, reminds me of what occurred with us in one of Grant's hardest battles at the West. The General's staff-surgeon, Major Hewitt, being much among the killed and wounded, and seeing the great superiority of the enemy in numbers and & posi- tion, was secretly inclined to think we must with- draw. He cautiously expressed his opinion to the General, and in a low tone asked f What do you intend to do General, if he beats you?' ^ f I don't mean he shall beat me ! ' replied he, with his usual equanimity. f I know you don't, General, of course. But sup- pose he does — what then ? ' c It is not a supposable case, sir ! ' quickly added the General, with an increased firmness of voice and manner. 304 THE TANNER-BOY. * The transports at the river,' interposed one of the generals, 'will not carry over one-tenth part of our force, in face of the fire of the enemy.' 'They will carry all there are of us, before we leave this battle unfought ! ' calmly added the hero. This reply settled the question. We fought on and conquered. Just as we were leaving the field the General in his quiet, dry way remarked that the staff-surgeon had told him he thought the enemy would drive us — playfully closing : ' Major Hewitt Says they can do it : General Grant Says they can't ! ' There was a pleasant smile at the expense of the Major, and we passed into our tents. This invulnerability of purpose, this unshaken self-reliance, this immobility in danger and intrepidity of assault mark out Grant as the man of the horn-. Obstructions in his path only serve to develop his power. He always carries with him a reserve force in his own breast. Other men, of course, have equal capacity, equal scientific skill, equal courage. But few men have equal rapidity of thought, invention and execution ; very few men have equal vigor, per- sistency and determined perseverance. Never im- patient, never delaying, never discouraged, he presses steadily on. When the blessing of Heaven goes THE POCKET COMrASS. 305 with him, in a good cause, he cannot, will not and does not fail. " I was present at a graphic scene," earnestly re- sumed the Major, who had just limped up from the front with a squad of wounded braves in Ins kind care. "What was it Major?" asked Ned, who was al- ways ready to hear, his eyes brightening up for more news. We were standing around a tree in the field near Spottsylvania. Although it was early Sunday morn- ing, the enemy was already at work attacking us. The shells were flying thick through the air, and some of them fell close by the quarters of Gen. Grant. One struck suddenly within a few feet of where he was standing and buried itself deep in the soft earth, without exploding. The General stepped quickly forward to where the warm steam yet rose from the heated soil, and calmly* surveyed the spot. "Bring me a pocket-compass," said he, turning to an orderly. It was brought instantly. Stooping down on one knee he fixed the compass before him, and, as if he were surveying a lot of land, looked out in the direction from which the deadly missile had come. "Due south-west," he quietly observed. "Tell the gunners to aim in that direction." 26 306 THE TANNER-BOY. It was quickly done ; and in a moment more the Union shot and shell were raining so thickly on the rebel battery that it was driven at once from its po- sition. Such is the courage of that noble heart — such the skill of that practised eye. The respect for strict army discipline which Gen. Grant enjoins on others he is careful to observe him- self. Approaching the tent of one of his generals in the field for private consultation, he was about enter- ing with his lighted cigar in his mouth. The sentinel, to whom he was then a stranger, on presenting arms politely said : " The General does not allow any one to go in his tent smoking." " Oh ! very well ! " said Grant. " That is right. The order of the General shall be obeyed ! " Im- mediately he threw away his cigar, and, returning the soldier's salute, passed in. Small things sometimes reveal the true greatness of men better than large ones. CHAPTER XXXVII. THE FIGHT CONTINUES. SKIRMISHING had constantly occurred along both the lines of battle. Grant had expected stubborn resistance on the part of the enemy and was fully prepared for it. His progress was to be slow but sure. Re-enforcements continued to be thrown forward to both armies. The spot to which Grant had now driven Lee was beyond the " Wilderness." It was in the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court House, about fifty miles from Richmond. Lee had evidently calculated on beating Grant at this point, and driving him back on Wash- ington. But, with all his calculations, the wily foe had not calculated on the splendid strategy and stub- born will and dauntless courage of Grant. M The use of strategy," said our hero to one of his staff, " is to get at the enemy. What I want to know is where to find him and how to get at h^p. When I know and can do that, if I have sufficient force tlie rest is all right." [307] 308 THE TANNER-BOY. Lee had never met with such an antagonist before. In every onset the Union hosts behaved with splen- did valor. Intercepted despatches of the enemy ad- mitted that their courage and nerve were unexpected by the vaunting foe. On several occasions the troops of South Carolina and Massachusetts met face to face in deadly conflict ; and in every instance the long- boasted superiority of the Southron was boldly hurled headlong on the trembling ground and nobly tram- pled in the gory dust. He was bitterly compelled at last to admit at the mouth of the cannon and the musket, the point of the bayonet and the edge of the sabre, that the hitherto despised Yankee was his equal on the field of battle. History has already attested him to be at least his equal in every other place. In spite of all his boasting despatches to the rebel cabal at Eichmond, Lee could no longer conceal the fact that he was compelled constantly to. change posi- tion and as constantly to retreat. By the evening of Monday, May 16th, we had again increased our cap- ture of his guns, and the number of prisoners taken from him in fair fight swelled to thirteen thousand. He took from us but few prisoners except stragglers, only three or four guns, and utterly failed to reach the much-coveted and greatly-needed object of his fighting — our well-filled army train. His proportion of losses in killed and severely wounded far exceeded ours. ADDRESS TO THE TROOPS. 309 Every desperate movement made by the traitors to regain their lost positions signally failed. Grant was master of the field, and with all their savage strategy and barbarous cunning they could not take it from him. By direction of the Lieutenant- General an address was issued to the troops. It was dated "Head- quarters in the Field," May 13th, 1864. In a few well-chosen words they were reminded that for eight days and nights, almost without intermis- sion, in sunshine and in rain, they had gallantly fought a desperate foe in positions naturally strong, and rendered doubly so by intrenchments. They had compelled him to retire, step by step, before their onward progress. They were assured that their heroic deeds, their noble endurance of privation and fatigue would be ever memorable. Called upon to reader thanks to the God of battles for the mercies already shown, they were earnestly enjoined to ask for their continuance. A great work was still before them. The enemy was again to be pursued, met and conquered. Re- enforcements were at hand. By the continued blessing of Heaven their great object must finally be achieved. The effect of this patriotic appeal was everywhere encouraging. The men felt renewed confidence in their great captain and themselves, and pressed forward with renewed vigor. 310 THE TANNER-BOY. The intelligence of repeated successes under Sheri- dan, near Richmond, of Butler at Petersburg and on the James River, and of Sherman, in Georgia, came cheeringly to hand. Although it was apparent from all advices that the rebels were fighting in their bad cause with a determined bravery and persistence worthy of a good one, still evidences were multiply- ing that their supplies were being cut off, and that the spirits of the rebellious inhabitants near the battle- fields were gradually becoming less exultant. Some of the most wealthy planters withdrew within the intrenchments at Richmond, carrying what supplies they could with them, and employing their negroes in the unwilling and unpaid work of aiding to fortify the city. At midnight of the 13th of May the main body of the rebel army were reported to be retreating on Gordonsville, a strongly intrenched post of the ene- my on the Virginia Central Railway, about forty-five miles direct from Richmond. Much reliance had been placed by Lee on the strength of this post. The country leading to and from it was more open than that of the Wilderness, but the roads at that time were in an almost impassable condition for troops, artillery and munitions. But Grant pressed steadily on. He politely declined to be the purveyor for the army of Gen. Lee, decidedly preferring to take care of his own. Hence the rebel chieftain could no longer depend as he had so often done FLAG OF TRUCE. 311 before on the loyal and hard-working people of the United States furnishing him with supplies, while he should be at his bloody work of destroying their gallant sons in his cruel and wicked and barbarous war for the perpetuity of human bondage. Unfor- tunately for him Grant had to be consulted on the important subject of supplies. He sent forward his empty wagons, by scores, in the fond hope of filling them from the despised Yankee commissaries ; but alas ! for the vanity and instability of human hopes ! The wilful and stubborn Grant was so disobliging as to capture them on their way, and retain them in his own possession for the use of the sick and wounded soldiers ! It was a terrible cut on chivalry ; but terrible as it was it had to be endured. A flag of truce came within our lines. Now Grant had been favored with an extensive practical experience with regard to the secret operation of rebel flags of truce. He understood them perfectly. He was therefore all prepared for this one, even though it came from the great strategist of all — the traitor Lee. The cunning request accompanying the flag was that a cessation of hostilities should take place, in order to allow the rebels time to bury their dead left behind in our hands. " Give my compliments to Gen. Lee," said Grant in his reply to the flag, " and be so kind as to inform him that I have men enough with me to Jbury all the 312 THE TANNER-BOY. dead — his own as well as mine. And please say to him," concluded the Lieutenant-General, with the calm reserve peculiar to him, " that I beg he will not give himself any trouble, nor in any way change his plan of operations, on that account." The messenger returned and the victorous Grant moved on. He was perversely bent on completing his original programme — to fight it out on this line if it required all the summer. These combined powerful and successful move- ments of Grant had a twofold effect. They encour- aged the Union and discouraged the Rebellion. Public confidence was strengthened, — public stocks advanced in the United States. Among the rebels the Richmond papers began to intimate that the Southern masses were making up their minds that the war would terminate this year, one way or the other. "If Lee should fail," said one editor, "and his army be unsuccessful, we greatly fear that the majority of the people will begin to look the other ivay." The r other way ' here alluded to was construed to mean a returning glance toward the United States. It was shrewdly supposed that the advancing columns of the conquering Grant had a forcible tendency to strengthen the rebel eyesight in that. direction. Notwithstanding all its losses by the casualties of this great struggle the Army of the Potomac was declared to be relatively stronger on the 14th of May THE NEWS AT WASHINGTON. 313 than it was when it crossed the Rapidan. At that time the only railway by which the retreating rebel army could readily receive supplies was that leading from Richmond to Danville. Every other -line had been more or less seriously damaged in their rear. With no- supplies to be obtained from the close-fisted Grant, not even -a biscuit of hard-tack or a junk of beef or pork, what was the flower of the chivalry to do? At Washington the public business was suspended in Congress. The senators and representatives left their seats to watch at the bedsides of our wounded heroes. The ladies of the capital, with the wife of President Lincoln at their head, flocked around the sufferers with the tenderness and gentleness of their sex, supplying all their wants from abundant stores. One donation of a million of dollars came pouring in from New York to that noble auxiliary, the United- States Sanitary Commission, the proceeds of a fair held for the purpose in that city. Other equally patriotic towns and neighborhoods sent forward their offerings, with equal generosity and abundance in pro- portion to their means. From the extremes of the East, the North and the West, from the emancipated people of Louisiana, South and North Carolina, the freewill tributes 6f patriotic gratitude and love flowed in upon the bleeding martyrs to American Liberty, in a manner thaf must for ever shed a halo of glory around the American name. 27 314 THE TAXXER-BOY. In the heat of battles on the field, during the thickest of the deadly fights, numerous instances of touching devotion to our country continued to occur. "What are you doing there my lad?" asked a gentleman of a wounded Union boy, who was found on one of the roads where the conflict had raged most fiercely. "Picking flowers, sir," he modestly replied. "Flowers? What are you gathering them for here?" " To make a bunch, sir. See here, sir ; haven't I made a pretty one?" " But, my boy, you are wounded ! " "Yes, sir, I am ; but I was out of the way here. Nobody saw me, or came to me ; and so I have been crawling round to pick flowers ! " "You are a brave boy ! " said the gentleman, lift- ing him tenderly up in his arms ; " and I will take care of you." So saying he bore the foung hero away to a pi a re of comfort and rest, where his wounds were speedily soothed and every want supplied. Noble young American patriot ! There he had lain fri the Wilderness, while the roar of battle was going on around him, unseen by any eye save the all-seeing eye of God. Faint with loss of blood shed in his country's cause, unable to stand on the sacred soil he was bleeding to redeem to his native land and liberty, expecting to meet death there, all BATTLE FLOWERS. 315 .alone, he had crept silently around among the wild flowers of battle to gather a sweet bouquet of peace. Perhaps he thought to keep them for his mother at home. Perhaps they might be laid on his humble grave. . As the kind stranger bore him gently away to the hospital he looked up to him with a brave, sweet, loving smile, never to be forgotten by him who saw it. Flowers plucked by a patriot soldier-boy from Freedom's battle-field ! Flowers enriched with the warm blood of a young American hero ! May they blossom and bloom for ever around the brow of The Tanner-Boy! Here, for the present, we leave him. At the moment of our closing these pages he is in the centre of the most eventful field of battle ever fought. What may be the particulars of its final result is known only to that all-wise and ever-gracious Provi- dence that for ever controls the destinies of nations and of men. Of one thing we are certain : the part taken by Ulysses Grant in this great transition struggle of the American Republic will be patriotic, honorable, magnanimous, brave. When the hour of consum- 31 fi THE TANNER-BOY. mation comes the pen of history will record all his noble deeds. Let reader and author unite at parting in the sincere prayer of every patriot heart — God save the Lieutenant-General ! St. reotj ped and Printed by John Wilson & Son, Boston. *y>