the great services, which, with him, they had performed for the country. He issued the following farewell

address:

"SOLDIERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, By your patriotic devotion to your country in the hour of danger and aların, your magnificent fighting, bravery, and endurance, you have maintained the supremacy of the Union and the Constitution, overthrown all armed opposition to the enforcement of the laws and the proclamations forever abolishing slavery, — the cause and pretext of the Rebellion, and opened the way to the rightful authorities to restore order, and inaugurate peace on a permanent and enduring basis on every foot of American soil. Your marches, sieges, and battles, in distance, duration, resolution, and brilliancy of results, dim the lustre of the world's past military achievements, and will be the patriot's precedent in defence of liberty and right in all time to come. In obedience to your Country's call, you left your homes and families, and volunteered in her defence. Victory has crowned your valor, and secured the purpose of your patriotic hearts; and with the gratitude of your countrymen, and the highest honors a great and free nation can accord, you will soon be permitted to return to your homes and families, conscious of having discharged the highest duty of American citizens. To achieve these glorious triumphs, and secure to yourselves, fellow-countrymen, and posterity, the blessings of free institutions, tens of thousands of your gallant comrades have fallen, and sealed the priceless legacy with their blood. The graves of these a grateful nation bedews with tears, honors their memories, and will ever cherish and support their stricken families."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE

GEN. GRANT SINCE THE WAR.

HE following figures, taken from various public documents, will probably give a better idea of the gigantic nature of the war, and the costly sacrifices demanded by slavery, than any description in words. The simple facts are a tribute to the patriotism, the courage, the enduring faith, of the nation, more eloquent than any language of eulogium.

The war had closed, and Gen. Grant now addressed himself with great energy to the works of peace.

By the 22d of August, he had succeeded in mustering out of the army 719,338; by Sept. 14, 741,107; and by Nov. 15, 1865, there had been returned to their homes 800,963 men. The work was rapidly followed every month, until, Nov. 1, 1,023,021 had been discharged, and the army reduced to 11,000 men. Horses and mules had been sold to the value of $15,269,000; barracks and hospitals sold to the amount of $447,873. The sale of damaged clothing yielded $902,770. The military railroads, covering 2,630 miles, with 6,605 cars and 433 locomotives, were relinquished, and transferred to proper authorities. Railroad equipments were sold, amounting to $10,910,812. The military telegraph, which extended 15,389 miles, at a cost of

$3,219,400, was discontinued, the materials sold, and its employés discharged.

The whole number of men enlisted at different times during the war was 2,688,522. Of these, 56,000 were killed in battle; 219,000 died of wounds and disease in the military hospitals; and 80,000 died after discharge, from disease contracted during service: making a total loss of about 300,000 men. About 200,000 were crippled or permanently disabled. Of colored troops, 180,000 enlisted, and 30,000 died. More than $300,000,000 was paid in bounties, and by states, towns, and cities for the support of the families of soldiers. The Sanitary Commission disbursed, in money and supplies, $14,000,000. The Christian Commission disbursed $4,500,000.

During the summer of 1865, Gen. Grant accepted invitations from various cities to visit New England. He returned through the Canadas; and subsequently went to Illinois, visiting the tomb of Lincoln and hist old home at Galena. Wherever he went, the people showed him every demonstration of respect and affection.

In December, he made a rapid tour of inspection through several of the Southern States. He passed one day each in Raleigh, Savannah, and Augusta, and two days in Charleston.

On his return, President Johnson requested Gen. Grant to report the result of his observations during this flying political reconnoissance. In the course of his report, Gen. Grant says,

"I did not meet any one, either those holding places under the government, or citizens of the Southern States, who thinks it prac

ticable to withdraw the military from the South at present. The white and the black mutually require the protection of the General Government.

"It is to be regretted that there cannot be a greater commingling at this time between the citizens of the two sections, and particularly of those intrusted with the law-making power."

Congress passed a bill to revive the grade of "General of the Army of the United States;" and Gen. Grant was appointed to the position. The bill was passed in the House of Representatives with only eleven dissenting votes. It was advocated by leading Democrats, among whom was Hon. Mr. Rogers of New Jersey. He said,

"I believe that the mantle of the illustrious Washington may well fall upon the shoulders of Gen. Grant. I believe that he has walked in the footsteps of the Father of his Country."

Hon. Mr. Fink of Ohio, also a prominent Democrat, said,

"I honor him, sir, not only for his brilliant services in the field, but because of his magnanimity in the hour of triumph, and his genuine modesty. He has conducted himself throughout this war independent of party considerations or party intrigues, devoting himself to the vindication of the true honor of the country in maintaining the Constitution and preserving the Union."

The South was undergoing the convulsions incident to the close of a great civil war, an entire re-organization of society, and a change in the relations of master and slave. The disbanded officers and soldiers of the rebel armies had returned to the South, and sought to resume their former influence on political questions.

Gen. Sheridan reported the condition of affairs in

Texas to be "anomalous, singular, and unsatisfactory." He added,

"My own opinion is, that the trial of a white man for the murder of a freedman, in Texas, would be a farce; and, in making this statement, I make it because truth compels me, and for no other reason."

Gen. Grant made the following indorsement on this communication:

Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of War.

Attention is invited to that portion of the within communication which refers to the condition of the Union men and freedmen in Texas, and to the powerlessness of the military, in the present state of affairs, to afford them protection. Even the moral effect of the presence of troops is passing away; and, a few days ago, a squad of soldiers on duty was fired on by citizens of Brownsville. In my opinion, the great number of murders of Union men and freedmen in Texas, which not only as a rule are unpunished, but uninvestigated, constitute practically a state of insurrection; and believing it to be the province and duty of every good government to afford protection to the lives, liberty, and property of its citizens, I would recommend the declaration of martial law in Texas to secure these. The necessity for governing any portion of our territory by martial law is to be deplored. If resorted to, it should be limited in its authority, and should leave all local authorities and civil tribunals free and unobstructed until they prove their inefficiency or unwillingness to perform their duties. Martial law would give security, or comparatively so, to all classes of citizens, without regard to race, color, or political opinions; and could be continued until society was capable of protecting itself, or until the State is returned to its full relation with the Union. The application of martial law to one of these States would be a warning to all, and, if necessary, can be extended to others. “U. S. GRANT, General."

Gen. Grant, it is to be remembered, is not a politician. When the war broke out, he had never acted with the