ing all it sought. We had the record of Vienna with its masked batteries, Big Bethel and Bull Run. General McClellan had proven himself an admirable organizer of a great army, and secured a remarkable popularity with rank and file, but he adopted a "Fabian policy," and waited. The troops of the West were also held chafing; the nation waited for the "short, sharp, decisive" operations which were to end its costly struggle-waited and received-Ball's Bluff! The rebel army held Manassas until ready to leave it. Then came the many campaigns of the Peninsula. The nation shouted over Yorktown, and considered Richmond as already won. Pope was tried, failed—failed sadly. McClellan returned, in part retrieved his waning reputation at Antietam, and passed from sight. Swinton in his Campaigns of the Potomac, thus sums up the character of General McClellan:

"Of him it may be said, that if he does not belong to that foremost category of commanders made up those who have always been successful, and including but a few illustrious names, neither does he rank with that numerous class who have ruined their armies without fighting. He ranges with that middle category of meritorious commanders, who, like Sertorious, Wallenstein, and William of Orange, generally unfortunate in war, yet were, in the words of Marmont, never destroyed nor discouraged, but were always able to oppose a menacing front, and make the enemy pay dear for what he gained.""

If the country is content to receive this verdict we are not careful to disturb it.

General Burnside came next. A brave and honest man, surrounded by difficulties which he could not master, he led the army against the defences of Fredericksburg, and the nation was again disappointed.

Hooker succeeded him. A splendid soldier, and one whose fame will endure. He was beaten at Chancellorsville, and the command of the army was thrown upon Meade barely in time for him to fight and win the battle of Gettysburg. The army of Lee escaped across the Potomac.

The day of isolated and conflicting movements was to pass. The hero of Vicksburg and Mission Ridge was promoted to the grade of Lieutenant-General to command the armies of the United

States. A plan contemplating the movements of Sherman and Canby in the West, Meade, Butler, Gillmore and Terry in the East, was perfected. Leaving Sherman, to execute it in the West, the Lieutenant-General made his head-quarters with the Army of the Potomac, and laid his plans for defeating Lee.

The theory of the Lieutenant-General was, that, first of all, the prestige of Lee's army must be broken. Our army must prove that it can go into Lee's defences, meet his entrenched army, fight day after day, sustain repulse, disaster and frightful loss, and yet not lose heart, but still advance, and ultimately grind the rebel army to powder.

His army was found on May 5, 1864, on the south side of the Rapidan, marching through the Wilderness, meaning to sever Lee's communications with Richmond. Lee assumed the offensive, and attacked our army in the tangled mazes of the forest, and fearful slaughter was upon both sides, decisive victory upon neither. Grant moved by the left upon Spottsylvania Court House, but Lee was there in advance, and choosing his position, a series of desperate engagements followed. The army was marched through the fertile region lying between Spottsylvania and the North Anna. On the south side of this stream Lee secured a position, where he was strongly entrenched, his line resting on the river in the center, and receding on the flanks. Grant's army attacking, must be divided by this formation, and after crossing the river, it so discovered, and found that this was by far the strongest position Lee had taken, and withdrew to the north bank, and marched for the Chickahominy. Lee moved by a shorter line, and was at Cold Harbor behind strong entrenchments in advance of our army. The desperate assaults of the 1st and 3d of June, were made upon this position, without carrying it, but causing heavy loss.

By a flank movement, the army was thrown across the James, the outer works of Petersburg were carried by assault, and had the Lieutenant-General's orders been carried out, Petersburg would have been taken at that time. As it was, the army sat down before it, awaiting the results of other movements, and the coming of the hour when the defences might be rendered useless, and Lee driven out to sure capture.

The results we have told elsewhere. It is now easy to sit down and show how if something else had been done at Spottsylvania, on the south bank of the North Anna, or at Cold Harbor, it had been better. But it had been seen that the army of Lee was not able to prevent the advance of Grant. Its prestige was broken. Its former fame was made of none effect, and for weary months it was compelled to guard its prison-walls, while Sherman, Thomas, Canby, Schofield and Terry were destroying army after army, and capturing the military centers of the Southwest and Atlantic, and Sheridan rode at will through the hitherto chained Valley of the Shenandoah. With the final blows of the sturdy fist of "the Colonel of the 21st Illinois Infantry," the rebellion tottered from its base and lay in ruins.

The answer of the people to military critics who demonstrated to their own satisfaction that Grant had failed here and there, was the single word "victory." He had broken the power of the rebellion-the great campaigns, bewildering in the distances to be traversed and numbers employed, were successful, and their lines converged, with shouts of victory to the grand review in Washington.

GRANT, next to ABRAHAM LINCOLN, was in the heart of the American people. They believed him to be a true man, no braggart, no dreamer, no visionary, a thoughtful, strong-willed MAN. They found him generous to subordinates, giving unstinted praise to his brave co-workers.

While the nation was ringing with his praise, Illinois was especially anxious to welcome him again. The first opportunity was dur ing the great Sanitary Fair.

He reached Chicago on the 10th of May, 1865, and preparations were accordingly made for a reception befitting the man and the occasion. Committees were appointed from the executive committees of the Fair, and by the Board of Trade, to receive him on his arrival, and' escort him through the streets of the city. The Common Council met in special session, and, after passing appropriate resolutions, decided to join in a body in doing honor to the General. These committees assembled at the Tremont House at half-past eleven o'clock on Saturday morning, and formed in procession on

Lake street.

The crowd was quite large, extending on all the streets near the hotel. On the steps were a goodly number of Generals, other army officers, and distinguished citizens, conspicuous among whom were Generals Sherman, Hooker, Hazen, Augur and Sweet, and ex-Governor, now United States Senator, Yates.

About noon, preceded by the band of the 8th Veteran Reserve Corps, the procession moved forward, two abreast, toward the station. All along the line of march there was a good deal of enthusiasm manifested by the citizens; but this was nothing compared with that which made the streets ring on its return. Long before the arrival either of the train or the procession, the station was besieged with people, on foot, in carriages and on horseback, whilst a long line of omnibuses barricaded one side of the depot. By halfpast twelve the workmen availed themselves of the dinner hour to swell the number of the spectators, and it was with great difficulty that even a foot passenger could make his way through the crowd. At the depot a line was formed from the platform to the street, for the General and the committee to pass through, and all waited in deep anxiety for the important arrival.

Committees of the most eminent gentlemen representing the Fair, the Board of Trade, and the city, were in waiting.

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The 24th Ohio battery, from Camp Douglas, was sent out at an early hour, and was now drawn up for the purpose of firing a salute in honor of the distinguished arrival. A little after half-past twelve o'clock the booming of the first gun was heard, announcing the appearance of the train. This was followed by fifteen other discharges, in slow succession, and then a tremendous shout both inside and outside the building, proclaimed that General Grant had arrived in Chicago.

The arrangements were soon completed for the march, and when the General appeared, the enthusiasm was unbounded. There was no sham in this wild display of feeling. It was dictated by patriotism, and a strong personal affection-and literally "smote the air." The police, under the command of Captain Nelson, did efficient service on the occasion, and created order out of the mighty disorder which at first prevailed.

The General was escorted to the north end of the depot, and im