CHAPTER II. ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT. A General Wanted-A Short War Expected-The Young Napoleon-God's Revenge Against Slavery-The Silent Man in Galena-"Tanning Leather" -Gen. Grant's Puritan Descent-How he Loaded the Logs-His West Point Career-Service in Mexico-Marries and Leaves the Army-Wood-Cutting, Dunning and Leather-Selling-Enlists against the Rebellion-Missouri Campaign-Paducah Campaign-Fort Donelson Campaign-Battle of ShilohHow Grant Lost his Temper-Vicksburg Campaign-Lincoln on Grant's "Drinking" -Chattanooga-Grant's Method of Making a Speech-Ap pointed Lieutenant-General-The Richmond Campaign-" Mr. Grant is a Very Obstinate Man"-Grant's Qualifications as a Ruler-Honesty-Generosity to Subordinates-Sound Judgment of Men-Power of Holding his Tongue-Grant's Sidewalk Platform-Talks Horse to Senator Wade-"Wants Nothing Said"-The Best Man for Next President. WHEN the perception of our late great military crisis first came upon us, and we found ourselves engaged in an actual and real war, our first inquiry was for our General. For years and years there had been only peace talk and peace valuations in our market. There had, to be sure, been some frontier skirmishing-a campaign. in Mexico, which drew off our more restless adventurers, and gave our politicians a little of a smart, martial air, in rounding their periods, and pointing their allusions. We had played war in Mexico as we read romances, and the principal interest of it was, after all, confined to our very small regular army of some twenty-five thousand men, where some got promotions in consequence of the vacancies made in this or that battle. A GENERAL WANTED. 113 Slowly, surely, it began to appear through many a defeat, many a disaster; through days and nights when men's hearts failed them for fear, and for looking for the things that were coming on the earth; through all such signs and wonders as usher in great convulsions of society-it began to be manifested that this nation was in a contest for which there were no precedents, which was to be as wide as from ocean to ocean, which was to number its forces by millions, and for which all former rules and ordinances of war, all records of campaigns and battles, were as mere obsolete ballads and old songs. The inquiry began to grow more urgent: Who is to be our General? General Scott professed that the work was too great for him, but he called to his right hand and presented to the nation one whom he delighted to honor, and who was announced with songs and cheerings as the young Napoleon of America. The nation received him with acclamation. They wanted a young Napoleon. A young Napoleon was just what they needed, and a young Napoleon therefore they were determined to believe that they had; and for a while nothing was heard but his praises. Every loyal paper was on its knees in humble expectancy, to admire and to defend, but not to criticise. Mothers were ready to send their sons to his banner; millionaires offered the keys of their treasure chests for his commissariat; the administration bowed to his lightest suggestion, gave him all he asked, hung on his lightest word. Everywhere he moved amid victorious plaudits, the palms and honors of victory |