CHAPTER XII.

GRANT'S MILITARY CAREER.

(CONTINUED.)

Created Lieutenant General-Goes to Washington to Receive his Commission-Two Memorable Speeches-Grant Takes Command-With the Army of the Potomac-In the Wilderness-How he Kept Flanking Lee— An Alert Enemy-The Assault Upon Petersburg-A Failure-The Winter, and How it Was Passed-The End Near-Grant Discovers his Antagonist's Purpose, and Thwarts Him-Sheridan Pushes Things"-Lee Surrounded-He Surrenders-Collapse of the Confederacy.

CREATED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL.

Such had been the signal abilities displayed by General Grant. The success which had uniformly attended his campaigns, and the confidence and enthusiasm which his name everywhere evoked, that it was deemed best for the public service to place him in the general command of all our armies. Accordingly the committee on Military Affairs of the House of Representatives reported a bill to revive the rank of Lieutenant General.

The fact that during our whole previous history only two soldiers had been thus honored, will give some idea of the confidence which this new rank implied. Washington and Scott were his glorious predecessors, and Gen. Grant was fully entitled to wear the honors a grateful country had tendered her greatest captains.

The bill establishing the new rank was as follows:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the grade of lieutenantgeneral be, and the same is hereby, revived in the Army of the United States of America; and the President is hereby authorized, whenever he shall deem it expedient, to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a commander of the army, to be selected during war, from among those officers in the military service of the United States, not below the grade of major-general, most distinguished for courage, skill, and ability; and who, being commissioned as lieutenant-general, shall be authorized, under the direction of the President, to command the armies of the United States.

While the bill was under discussion, Mr. Ross offered an amendment recommending General Grant for the new rank. The amendment was adopted by a large majority, and on the 2d of March, 1864, General Grant was confirmed by the Senate as Lieutenant-General, giving him rank over all our other generals.

GENERAL GRANT GOES TO WASHINGTON.

He was immediately notified, and late in the afternoon of Tuesday, March 8th, he arrived in Washington, for the purpose of receiving his commission and instructions. His arrival was unheralded, and he took his seat at the dinner-table of Willard's Hotel unnoticed.

Though four years in the service, and the most successful and popular of all our generals, he had been so little in Washington that he was known to but few. It happened, however, that there was seated near him at the table a gentleman who had made his acquaintance at New Orleans. He soon spread the information, and in a few minutes the

dining-room was ringing with cheers for the hero of Vicksburg. General Grant modestly acknowledged the honor, and soon withdrew.

RECEIVES HIS COMMISSION.

The next day he was received by President Lincoln in the cabinet chamber and presented with his commission. In doing this, President Lincoln said:

"General Grant-The Nation's appreciation of what you have done, and its reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the existing great struggle, are now presented with this commission, constituting you Lieutenant-General in the army of the United States. With this high honor devolves upon you also a corresponding responsibility. As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you. I scarcely need to add, that, with what I here speak for the nation, goes my own hearty personal concurrence."

To this, General Grant responded as follows:

Mr. President-I accept the commission, with gratitude for the high honor conferred. With the aid of the noble armies that have fought on so many fields for our common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations. I feel the full weight of the responsibilities now devolving on me; and I know that if they are met, it will be due to those armies, and, above all, to the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men."