Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 28, Number 34, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 19 February 1898 — Page 6

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MEMORIAL TO GRANT $r

REVIVAL OF THE POTOMAC BRIDGE PROJECT.

WASHINGTON,

RIVER

Thirty-sixth Anniversary of General Grant's First Great Victory—When and Where "Unconditional Surrender** Was First

Enunciated—An Old Staffer's Story [Special Correspondence.]

Feb. 14.—The recent

revival of that long buried project for a Grant memorial in tbe shape of an ornamental bridge across the Potomac has directed public attention to the fact that there is now no adequate monument to tbe great general in this city. The preliminary survey for tbe bridge has just been oompleted. $10,000 for the purpose having been authorized at the last cession of congress. But it may be a long time yet before the Potomac shall be spanned by a bridge calling for an expenditure of $1,500,000, though the need of either bridge of some sort between Washington and the Virginia •bore is manifest to even the casual observer.

Tbe proposition to make this structure strictly memorial and to have a "Grant tower" at one end and a "Lincoln tower" at tbe other recalls the fact that, even as this bridge shall span the former line of demarcation between north and south, so it was one of Grant's victories that served to make possible this projected union of the sections once at strife and enmity. I was sitting in the rotunda of the capitol one afternoon a few days since when I was approachod by a member of tbe house who has been honored with frequent reelections and who has been a desultory resident of this city since the beginning of the "Grant regime." Pointing to the piotureof tbe "Surrender of Burgoyne" above my head, he said, "Do you think that portrait of General Gage looks like General Grant?"

I answered that I did not see any resemblance. "Well," he rejoined, "when Li Hung Chang was here, and being escorted through the capitol by Mr. Foster, be stopped opposite this picture and asked blandly, 'Is that General Grant?' Foster explained that it was not. Li Hung shook his head doubtfully, but said no more and shuffled on, keeping his own opinion to himself. "And that reminds me," continued tbe congressman, "that Grant's first great victpry, for which we rewarded him with the major generalship, was won 30 years ago this month. On the

CENTRAL TOWEH8 OF PROPOSED GRANT MEMORIAL BRIDGE.

16th of February, 18G2, he achieved tho reduction of the important stronghold of Fort Donolson. As I myself was here wbeu tho nows reached Washington, porhaps you may like to hear the story from tho lips of one who, while not exactly there, was 'tharabouts'—as tho colored preacher said of Moses at tho tinio of the deluge."

I said that I 6liould, and my friend proceeded: "Well, you e, from the very first Grant had shown an appreciation of tho situation and an energy in meeting its exigoncios that had stamped him as the man best fitted to command at such a strategical center as Cairo, wlioro his headquarters were situated. His first fight was at Belmont, where he displayed those qualities of reticence and that Bturdy obstinacy which only those who had known him in Mexico were aware ho possessed. One of his staff galloped up to him and excitedly announced: 'General, we are cut off and surrounded 1 What shall we do?' 'Do?' placidly remarked the young commander, biting off the end of a cigar. 'Why, wo must out our way out as wo cut our way in!' He had had a horse shot under him, but he at once plunged into the thick of the fight and rallied his men with, 'We have whipped them once, and we can do it again,' and proceeded to do it. "He lost no time, and time was everything at that critical period of our nation's history. It was late in January that ho telegraphed to Halleck, then commander of tho department, 'If permitted, I could take and hold Fort Henry on tho Tennessee.' Halleck had already snubbed him and ridiculed his plans, but this time be was seconded by Flog Officer Foote with bis gunboats, and the general commanding gave, tbe required permission. Three days after, on the 2d of February, Grant left Cairo with 17,000 men on transports, headed up tbe Tennessee. A portion of his command was landed on the 5th, on the morning of the 6th the gunboats came into action and that afternoon the fort capitulated. "Only 11 miles distant on the Cam berland, which here runs a course nearly parallel to the Tennessee, was the Ktrong fortification of Don el son, covering 100 acres and built on precipitous heights, flanked by deep ravines. The greater part of Henry's garrison had fled to Donelson, with Grant's cavalry in swift pursuit. It was a maxim of Grant's (at least at that time) that you should keep »n enemy on the jump when onoe you have got him going. He then had him moving and lost no lime tin going after him. "He telegraphed to Halleck: 'Fort Henry is ours. The gunboats silenced tbe batteries before the investment was

"i

completed.1 The day following he telegraphed, 'I shall take and destroy Fort Donelson on the 8th.' This confident announcement was a little premature, as, owing to heavy rains and tbe almost impassable condition of the roads, it was not until tbe 12th that he completed his line of investment Donelson mounted 15 heavy guns and along the river front was protected by elaborate water batteries. Within tbe works were four Confederate generals—Floyd, Forrest, Pillow and Buckner—with about 21,000 men and 65 fieldpieces. It was not long before several of the,gunboats were disabled by the plunging fire from the fort, and by sunset of the 14th the whole fleet was practically out of tbe fight. Some of the boats were literally knocked to pieces, and fctie gunboat Foote was on was struck more than 60 times. One shot entered tbe pilothouse, killing the pilot and wounding Commodore Foote, while the wheel was car' ried away and the vessel drifted helplessly down stream. "But notwithstanding the successful beating off of the fleet, the inmates of the fort were considerably demoralized. On bis return from a conference with Foote Grant found his right line of investment in confusion. The besieged had made a sortie, and by concentrating their forces against the right had broken tbe line and caused the Union soldiers to retreat. These latter bad emptied their cartridge boxes, and, though there were tons of ammuntion in their rear, no one seemed to have thought to get at it and supply the helpless soldiers. Grant's appearance on the

Bcene

was almost as op­

portune as was Sheridan's at a famous and critical juncture later in the war. He hastened across the intervening distance, gave orders for the immediate serving out of ammunition, and when he reached the demoralized right he, checked the retreat.

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"He was at first puzzled to account for this sudden sortie of the enemy, but, acting on the intuition of tbe trained soldier, he gave orders to search the haversacks of the prisoners. Finding them filled with three days' rations each, he shouted: 'That is it! Men, they are fighting to escape! They have no intention to stay here and fight us. The one who attacks first now will be victorious, and tbe enemy will have to hurry if he gets ahead of me. Fill your cartridge boxes, boys, and get into line!' A charge was ordered, the outer line of rifle pits was carried, the enemy driven back behind the fortifications, and that night's bivouac was within the Confederate line. "A oouncil of war was held by the officers of the beleaguered garrison and it was resolved to surrender. During the night Generals Floyd, Pillow, Forrest and some 4,000 men escaped, and upon General Buckner devolved the real command, who, when he opened negotia tions for surrender, had about 15,000 men remaining. White flags were displayed, and Buckner demanded terms. It was then that for tbe first time General Grant enunciated those immortal words, in themselves a declaration of principles, 'Ho other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender will be accepted!' This was his ultimatum, and, though pronounoed by Buck:. to be both 'ungenerous and unchivalrous,' when aocepted waB found to be neither, for the conqueror was generous to the extreme of chivalric courtesy. "Grant invested Donelson with but 16,000 men, which number he knew to be less tban tbe force within the lines, but by tbe day of surrender it was increased to 27,000 and further strengthened by the arrival of several gunboats. The investing force suffered severely at first, mainly through a futile charge not ordered by the commanding general, the total loss being little more than 2,000. Quite as many of the opposing force were killed and the spoils of war amounted to 65 pieces of artillery, 17,600 stand of small arms and a large quantity of ammunition. "A charaoteristio incident occurred at the meeting of the two commanders, who had been three years at West Point together and had also served in Mexico and were well acquainted. 'Grant,' said Buckner, 'if I had been in command yesterday, you wouldn't have reached Donelson so easily as you did.' "'That is true,' replied Grant, 'but if you had been in command, I should not have tried in the way I did!' Floyd, he said, was weak, and Pillow was vain, and he had laid his plans accordingly. This incident is illustrative of General Grant's trait of adapting his movements to the exigencies of the occasion and adopting a line of strategy that was simple, yet adequate to tbe emergency. His rule was not only to hold on and hit hard, but to get hold at the right spot and deliver his blows when and where they would tell. "Mexico, as he confesses in his memoirs, had been of inestimable advantage to him, as he there served with and knew intimately nearly all the officers who afterward opposed him. 'The acquaintance thus formed,' he says, 'was of immense service to me—I mean what I learned of the characters of those to whom I was afterward opposed "Those of us who, like myself, can remember tbe leading events of the late war can recall how the country was electrified by the news of Don el son's fall, how it was encouraged, how, like a row of cards, fell the forts and cities of Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, through and consequent upon this single great achievement. "Then immediately followed the lending of Grant's name to the senate to be confirmed as major general, and I well remember the enthusiasm of his un inimous confirmation. Even grim and jealous old Halleck, wboee feelings toward his victorious general were not at all favorable, could not refrain from b(K stowing an involuntary tribute." \T

F. A. Owl

Nell—What was tbe matter with Miss Singsong's solo at tbe muaioale? Belle—Aftar the second verse die game to the word "refrain" printed on tbe music sheet so she did it—Philadelphia Record.

TRAVEL IN ALASKA.

BETTER TIMES AT HAND FOR THE MERRY MINER.

Provisions For New Railways and Aerial Tramways—The Snow and Ice Locomotive and Other Devices—The Reindeer and the Dos* [Special Correspondence.]

CHICAGO,

Feb. 15.—There are likely

to be plenty of means of transportation in Alaska before the end of this year besides those of tbe steamboat and catamaran, the slow going dog and the swift footed reindeer, the n&tive carrier and the overburdened gold seeker or the horse and the ox. We have bad news of projects for railroad lines, for aerial tramways, for tbe electrical sleigh, for the motor to be used in snow transit, for a lighter which can be propelled over both ice and water, and for various other devioes that may be serv iceable in the northernmost part of our widespread country.

It would be bard to name any country in tbe world which has as large a variety of appliances for the transporta tion of passengers and goods as Alaska is soon to have if all projects are successful and all promises are kept.

When the favorable season for navigation begins this year, there will be all the steamers that are likely to be required, not only on the Yukon river, but also on the Stickeen and other Alaskan rivers that are navigable. News has been received here from various points on the Pacific coast that steamboats numbering in all between 40 and 50 are ready for service, and that nearly as many more are in course of construction. It is to be supposed that the price of tickets for travelers will be regulated by competition.

For travel toward tbe interior by land a number of practicable railroad routes have been surveyed since last summer, some of them over American territory and others over Canadian. One of the important lines ib that of the Cbilkoot Railroad company, an organization formed last year at Tacoma. Another is the all Canadian route of the Maokenzie syndicate, which is to run from a point on tbe Pacific ooast to Dawson City, on the Yukon. The former line will be in part a surface railroad and in part an aerial tramway, and advices have recently been received from Tacoma that the aerial section over the Chilkoot pass is already under way. As for the Canadian line, the building of it is to be preceded by the construction of a sleigh road 270 miles in length from tbe mouth of the Stickeen river to tbe head of river navigation on Lake Teslin. and it is provided ic the contract between the Dominion government and the syndicate that this sleigh road shall be completed in the first week of the month of Maroh, so that travelers will then find a clear route for horse transportation from the coast to the lake. At least six other railroad routes to the mining regions of Alaska have been surveyed, and companies, both American and Canadian, have been organized for the building of the projected lines.

It has been made manifest that capitalists believe in the greatness of the mining resources of Alaska, as abundant means have been offered for the construction there of such railroads as promise to be advantageous. p|i

The building of aerial tramways in a land of snow and ice like Alaska fras a happy thought. In by far the greater part of the country the laying of surface rails is impracticable, while at the same time it is feasible to erect "stilts" for the support of the rails over which the trains are to pass. Tbe remark contained in a dispatch from Tacoma that tbe opening of tbe aerial tramway over Chilkoot pass "will mark anew era in Alaskan transportation" was correct. The sufferings that travelers endured last year at that pass are not to be borne by them this year.

Not much has yet been heard of the "snow and ice locomotives" that are soon to be brought into service, but it is known that a Chicago company recently made a contract for the building of six of them at Portland, Or., and it is believed that in a few weeks from this time tbey will be used for transporting tbe relief supplies from Skagguay across Alaska to Dawson. It is said tbat very powerful maohinery will be employed in the propelling and very strong vehicles with electrical motors, and there is no reason for doubting that they will get over the ground.

With plenty of steamboats on tbe principal rivers, with such bits of railroad as may be got ready, with sundry short cuts of aerial tramway, with at least one long road for horse sleighs, it is safe to say that the miner or other person who may go to the Alaska gold mines when things are ready for him this year will travel with less trouble than that which beset his predecessor.

There .has been a good deal of disappointment in Alaska because of the delay in the use of the reindeer. More tban a half year ago there was talk of employing in the transportation service some members of the reindeer herds that belong to the United States government and tbat have been nursed for seven or eight years at Port Clarence, on the seacoast of Alaska. Some of them have been harnessed to sleighs and driven for short distances at tbe place where tbey are herded, but their keepers have until now regarded it as undesirable to send them out through tbe country, where beaten tracks do not exist and where reindeer food is not always plentiful The government has this winter obtained new supplies of them from Norway and there is good reason to believe that within a brief period of time tbe lightly harnessed quadruped will be seen bounding over tbe vast ranges of Alaska.'

Meanwhile even yet, as of old, tbe dog is exceedingly useful as a draft animal in Alaska, and tbe new dog express is regarded by tbe natives as one at tbe wonders of tbis progressive age.

JOHX

IX., FJSBKUAK»' 19, 1898.

A Precious Bit of Shamrock.

H. Phelps Whitmareh writes in The Century of "The Steerage of Today," bis article being illustrated by Andre Gastaigne. Mr. Whitmarsh draws this picture of one of his companions in the voyage that he made:

Kneeling in an upper bunk near me, a middle aged Irishman was hanging a pot containing a shamrock plant. I entered into conversation with him and learned that ht was going to join his son in California, to whom he was taking tbe shamrock as a present. "I hope it will live," he said, looking wistfully at the pot as it swung from the beam. "'Twas the wan thing the bboy wanted. 'L'ave iv'ryt'ing,' says he in his letther, 'an come over, have enough for the both of us now,' says he, 'an I can make you comfortable for the rest av your days. But,' says be, 'fetch me a livin root av shamrock if you can.'

All Sunday we were in smooth water, running under the lee of the Irish coast The day being fine and warm, the steerage swarmed on deck in full force, Men, women and children all crowded about the afterhatoh, some playing cards, some danoing and some already making love, but for the most part they lay about the deck, sleeping and basking in the sun. In the afternoon my friend the Irishman appeared with his shamrock. He wanted to give it a "taste of fresh air, he said. At sight of it many of the Irish girls shed tears then, seating themselves about the old man, they sang plaintive Irish melodies until the sun went down. The sad faces of the homesick girls and the old father sitting among them, holding in his lap the pre cious little bit of green, presented a Bight not easily to be forgotten.

The Artist and His Work.

The life of a painter, above all of a portrait painter, is one long succession of such problems, varying with the nature of the subject in kind and degree of difficulty. It follows naturally that his processes must vary, too, requiring a longer or shorter time in the working out, for which no infallible rule will serve him. In mechanical labor the rate of the machine's pulse may be gauged with oertainty, tBe moment of completion accurately fixed beforehand. But it is not so in art. There all depends upon conditions that seem to be hourly changing. The mood of the artist, his distrust of the scheme attempted or his entire confidence in it the state of his nerves, of his general health, nay, even the state of thg weather, all affect his work. One day it advances well, but on the next self critioism steps in to impede him, and he gains nothing. The scoffing Philistine ascribes these halts and retrogressions to the weakness of the artistic temperament. Yet they are due to the work rather than to the workman to the fact that he follows an art and not a trade. No artist can be entirely exempt from tbis oppressive influence, which arises afresh at each new effort with as many heads as Hydra. There are those, indeed, who estimate the value of their product by the depth and number of tbe despairs it has engendered.—T. JR. Sullivan in Scribner's.

Irreverent Jokes. @*j

We have observed with regret that newspaper witticisms containing irreverent expressions have greatly multiplied of late and tbat some so called highly respectable publications aid in their circulation. It is not probable that any barm is intended to be done by those who coin or those who publish these objectionable effusions. In many cases at least tbey are doubtless the result of an exuberant humor that has not beeu sufficiently chastened by culture and which is consequently allowed to throw off the check of reason. An aged olergyman, who long conducted a reli gious journal, adopted a rule in regard to tbis matter which, we think, is a good one. Ee said, "Whenever a joke reflects at all upon religion or is calcu lated to raise merriment at the expense of things usually held sacred 1 will not publish it, but if it is innocent of these objections or turns tbe laugh upon tho devil 1 cheerfully give it a place. New York Ledger. W5

Mrs. Oliphant, whose pen has been one of the most prolific in our own day and who must have known what she was writing about, adds: "Three articles in a weekl has many hardworking servants with whose habits tbe present writer has some acquaintance, but upon tbis record we look with awe,"—Exchange.

Ho Rides Free.

An English paper says that Bishop Ellioots of Gloucester enjoys the privilege of being allowed to travel on any railway in England free of charge. Tbis unusual favor was conferred upon him by the various officials in recognition of bis heroic exertions in administering spiritual consolation to the dying victims in a railway accident near Tottenham, notwithstanding his own very serious injuries. This was while the faUboo wag still a young man.

In Bad Condition.

"My blood was in a terrible condition and I had boils and pimples on my face. I was run down so tbat I weighed only 110 pounds. After taking a few bottles of Hood's Sarsaparilla I was relieved of tbe boils and pimples and had gained in flesh and strength."

CHESTER

HOOD'S

Swnmw,

H.

Murray, Indiana.

A'V** "T

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two years. painful in or the pills 1

less for two had been the use of the pills the pain ceased and now I am as limber and as active as when a boy. "I was also troubled a great deal with my kidneys, but the ailment nas entirely disappeared. I have been a subject for the doctors for along time. Two reputable physicians had treated me for months, and I nad spent a large amount of money for patent medicines, but to no avail. As I said, I finally

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Allison, the historian, in 1830 writes to tbe editor of Blackwood: "I have settled to send you for your next number in August: "First.—An article on reform*, "Second.—A review of Salvandy's 'History of Poland.' "Third.—A review of Dr. Christison's work (on poisuns). "I will send you the Salvandy on Tuesday moru^pg, July 12 tbe article on reform on Friday evening, July 15 Dr. Christison's review on Monday or Tuesday, the 18th or 19th."

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From the CWZ, Lufayette, Ind. *4" took Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale Peapie and here I am well. I believe that is the most wonderful remedy ever made. Is need not extol this remedy for all my neighbore know what my condition was and what cured me. They will all tell you that it was Dr. Williams' Pink Pills.

A

My mother, who is seventy years old, was also troubled with rheumatism and could scarcely move. She was very wakeful at night and had no appetite. She took five boxes of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills and now she is in perfect health, and does all her own work on a farm. (Signed) J.W.

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f!LATE

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Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day August, 1896.

GOODWINE,

B. G. HUDNUT. President. WILLARI) KIDDER. Vice-President. G. A. CONZMAN, Cashier.

Vigo County National

Capital $150,000. Surplus $30,000.

FOEEIQU BXCH AWQB.

Notary Public.

Dr. Williams' Pink Pills are not looked^ upon as a patent medicine, but rather as a prescription. An analysis of their properties shows that they contain, in a condensed form.: all the elements necessary to give new life ana richness to the blood and restore shattered nerves. They are an unfailing specific for'

such diseases as locomotor ataxia, partial paralysis, St. Vitus' dance, sciatica, neuralgia, rheumatism,nervous headache, the after efiects of la grippe, palpitation of the heart pale and sallow complexions, and the tired feeling resulting from nervous prostration, all diseases resulting from vitiated humors in the blood, such as scrofiila, chronic erysipelas, etc. They are also a specific for troubles peculiar to females, such as suppressions, irregularities and all forms of weakness. They build up the' blood, and restore the glow of health to pale and sallow cheeks. They are for sale by all druggists, or may be had by mail from Dr. Williams' Medicine Company, Schenectady, N. Y., for 60c. per box, or six boxes for $2.50,

TERRE HAUTE, IND.

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DKUGGISTS