On the Trail of Grant and LeeDuring the early years of the Civil War someone tauntingly asked Mr. Charles Francis Adams, the United States Minister to England, what he thought of the brilliant victories which the confederate armies were then gaining in the field. "I think they have been won by my fellow countrymen," was the quiet answer. Almost half a century has passed since that reproof was uttered, but its full force is only just beginning to be understood. For nearly fifty years the story of the Civil War has been twisted to suit local pride or prejudice in various parts of the Union, with the result that much which passes for American history is not history at all, and whatever else it may be, it is certainly not American. Assuredly, the day has now arrived when such historical "make-believes" should be discountenanced, both in the North and in the South. Americans of the present and the coming generations are entitled to take a common pride in whatever lent nobility to the fraternal strife of the sixties, and to gather equal inspiration from every achievement that reflected credit on American manhood during those years when the existence of the Union was at stake. Until this is rendered possible by the elimination of error and falsehood, the sacrifices of the Civil War will, to a large extent, have been endured in vain. |
Contents
Foreward | 11 |
Three Civil Wars | 15 |
Washington and Lee | 18 |
Lee at West Point | 21 |
The Boyhood of Grant | 25 |
Grant at West Point | 31 |
Lieutenant Grant Under Fire | 36 |
Captain Lee at the Front | 42 |
Colonel Lee After the Mexican War | 47 |
Captain Grant in a Hard Fight | 52 |
Grants Difficulties in Securing a Command | 58 |
Lee at the Parting of the Ways | 64 |
Opening Moves | 69 |
Grants First Success | 76 |
The Battle of Shiloh | 84 |
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accordingly advance adversary assault astonishment attack attempt battle battle of Chancellorsville battle of Gettysburg began Burnside campaign capture cavalry Chancellorsville Chapter charge chief close Colonel completely Confederacy Confederate commander confidence dashed defeat defense desperate dispatch Donelson duty enemy entrusted escape face fact father field fighting Fort Donelson forward fought Fredericksburg front Galena Gettysburg guns Halleck hands honor Hooker horse hurled immediately infantry instantly intrenchments J. E. B. Stuart Jackson Johnston Joseph Johnston knew Lee's Lieutenant Lincoln lines Little Round Top McClellan Meade Meanwhile Mexican military Missionary Ridge Mississippi move never North numbers officers opponents ordered perilous Pope position Potomac President ranks reached realized reënforcements regiment retreat Richmond river Shenandoah Valley Sheridan Sherman soldiers soon South struggle superior surrender thought U. S. Grant Ulysses Union army Union commander Union forces Union troops Vicksburg victory Virginia Washington West Point whole wrote