The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-10


Gen. Grant In Camp.
Co7espoaden c Of the New York Evening Post.
WAsmScTox, April 3O.-A military
friend vino has just passed some days
at the headquarters in Culpepper has
given me an account Of his visit and of
the habits of the acknowledgement,
that | am glad to transcribe. Gen.
Grant messes with his staff in a house
in the village; and at his table sits IA
miliarly with every member of his
military family. The expenses of the
mess are divided among the ten, not in
equal proportions exactly, but in man.
ner that is satisfactory to all There is
not the slightest attempt at show or
parade in the furniture and equipage
everything is for use and economy of
trouble and space The crockery is
scanty and OF the plainest, and the
fare, though sufficient in quantity, is
just as homely as that ofany thrifty and
careful mechanic in your city. A chop
with a cup Of coffee for breakfast as
a bit Of roast beet, with potatoes and
"hard tack, confronting a dish of pork
and green's serve for o'clock dinner,
which was concluded without pastry or
dessert. A cup of tea and a bit of
bread and butter at 81 o'clock finished
up the day. The beds are simply camp
co.'s, some with and others without
mattresses; and all the toilet apparatuses
anywhere vis.kle were few tin wash
basins, moderate supply Of towels, =
/ il of looking glass and q horn CONT
A. the table neither distilled LIQUOR nor
wine is permitted. The general win
not have either about him, for his o, a
or others use.
Then inventory Of the Generals bag
gage when he made his brilliant cam
palgn IN the rear OF Nicksburg, is, ]
take it, well remembered-a briar-wood
telescope and a tooth brush. In what
relates to personal adornment and out
side Of the necessity of eating and
drinking, personal comfort, he has not
greatly enlarged his possessions. HE
three stars indicate his exalted rank,
but to say nothing Of the charm which,
IN soldiers eyes, taese glittering marks
OF rank possess, 1 doubt # there is a
commissariat officer IN his army who is
rs plainly clad IS he. His clothes are
worn threadbare, and despite the steady
brushing OF his servant, they will have
q / untidy look, due, no doubt, to the
Generals habit OF going everywhere
and seeing everything Tor himself
Tue General understands the relation
between cleanliness and goodness; but
IN his opinion, practically evinced, there
Is as much Of either in flannel shirts as
in one OF linen of drawingroom i'm
maculateness,
Your readers are not to suppose that
am describing a careless or indolent
man, or one who does not know the diff
ference between the garb of q gentle
man and that of sloven. The facts
are pointed out only as proof that this
man 5 mind is 50 intent upon the great
problem before him, that he has neither
the time nor the inclination 70 consid, r
miser4ble trivOutIes. lie holds great
nations fate in the palm Of his hands;
aud II IS an encouragement 20 know
that every faculty OF his mind is calmly
but profoundly exercised for the nation
al welfare. All has thought OF CARR
ages centers in the carriages which bear
has field pieces his. discussion Of the
quesuon-of eating extends 20 further
than to the rations OF his men; and he
would hate himself it be could spend a
Minute over the ft or fashion of his
coat
General Grant never swears. No man
in has camp mas ever heard him give ut |
terance TO profanity in any OF its many |
forms. He rarely laughs, either but he |
has a sort OF grim humor which is not |
without its effect 1t Is related as a |
part of the gossip of the 'front.' that an |
officer attached TO the Quartermaster |
department of his army, wanted one
wet day 10 consult with the General-in- |
Chief he Is a believer in the old re |
giDle and practiced what under McClel- |
Ian he was taught lie had half dozen
miles 10 go, more or less, so he ordered |
out his close carriage, and as il was like |
~ that night would come before he /
could return, the lamps were trimmed |
and hung out on each side of the dri- /
vers seat Then, with an escort Of |
twelve dragons, he started, happy, no
doubt, in the belief that he was proof /
against the descending rain.
Approaching Cuipepper, he met an /
Ordinary looking man on horseback ST
tended oa'y by an orderly As he pass
ed he recognized the Lieutenant-Gene- |
raj, who, in So te OF the rain, was max
Ing his usual round in his usual modest |
Way. To descend from his carriage and |
salute his chief was but the work OF a |
moment bat Giant, irritated by the /
style and preUensi Jns OF his officer, was |
in 10 hurry 70 see him gain the shelter |
of his carrIsge-roof again. walk along |
with ne little,' SAID the General, Il |
want to talk with you With polished |
boots and unexceptionable kids, Mr
Quartermaster did as he was hidden;
aud with touch Of that grimness 70
which have referred, the General led /
him through the mudCisst parts OF the
road and did not release him until be
was wet 10 the skin-as the General /
himself He was then dismissed with
an admonition that viii be remembered,
though II was interlarded with no oaths