The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-08-16
Interview with Gen. Grant.

| lmtCAvACW WIN VCms WAOuSs
A gentleman of New York city w h
lately took supplies to the Potomac Ar
my publishes in the N. Y. Post a yer,
interesting and cheerful account of al
interview he had with Gen. Grant, W.
quote from the narrative:
81 went at once and introduced my
self to him. His address is remarka'
BILE. He has the faculty Of putting
everybody in his company Immediately
at ease, and at the same time neve
lowers himself. There is not trac,
of the affectation that characterizes /;
man who has stepped into rank which
he feels to have added to his impor
tance; and he is utterly destitute of vul
gar familiarity of manner. He is {
good representative of republican life
in this country, where man may take
the place which his talent, taste and
ability indicate, and yet be q man fol
a. that
GAS soon rs salutations had been ex,
changed / opened my business, refer
ring to the great meeting held in Un-
ion Square in June, where I had the
honor of speaking, as weA as well as of
signing the address which had been
prepared aud transmitted to him by the
National Committee.
"'The sentiment of that meeting
General ] remarked was to uphold
the Union cause and Gen. Grant, even
though we that same day had heard Of
repulse.'
"'There is no danger of a perma-
nent repulse' he answered Though
seemingly we are taking a great deal
of time, yet we are using up the rebel
army faster than it can be replepished
1t will take more time but / am fully
confident of the result pl
General remarked, the people
of New York now feel that there is one
at the head ofour armiesin whom they
can repose the fullest confidence
Yes he interrupted, there is q
man in the West in whom they can re.
pose the utmost confidence, Gen. Sher.
man. He is an able, upright, honora-
BILE, unambitious man. We lost one of
like character n few days ago, Gen.
Mcpherson.
"Changing the subject, he asked me
to make his apologies to the National
Committee for neglecting to acknowl
edge thier resolutions. Il am glad OF
an opportunity of explaining why ]
have not returned a reply said he; 4
sent the resolutions Immediately to Mrs.
Grant, and they have not been return
ed
"The position of our army before
Petersburg is one which gives us the
advantage. Heretofore the enmey have
had the inside, and been enabled to
manage troops SO as to secure all the
facilities which that position affords
Gen. Grant has now got that interior
line, and can throw troops from one
point to another, mass them and en-
ploy them to the greatest advantage;
and the rebel General cannot prevent
him. Gen. Lee has found his master.
'"The attack on Petersburg last week
though falling to ensure triumph, was
by no means a serious disaster. The
plans of the General commanding were
such rs to avert the possibility of any
enfilading fire; but some of the subordi-
nate generals failed to carry out their
part of the programme, but for this
omission on their part, Petersburg, it
is safe to declare, would have been
ours. 1t will be yet; but ut a sacrifice
of more time.
'sThe conduct of the wounded oolored
soldiers exemplifies most wonderfully
their fortitude and generosity: Men
with severe wounds in the hips, thighs,
and legs made thier way into camp,
while every white man with serious
wound rode in an ambulance, On the
day of the engagement before Peters :
burg went upon the field with punch
to refresh the men. / offered n cup to
a wounded man. He declined it with
thanks, saying: Give it to those men
there who are crying for water. They
need it more than / do
"The colored race have won the re-
spect of those in the camp. l saw the
evidences on every side. One day l
observed an Irish soldier sitting on the
stump of tree teaching a colored man
to read. Another time saw an Irish
man riding in great haste, with a naked
black boy of sixteen at his saddle bow,
What are you doing there?' he was
asked. H.g
"'Faith said he, Il found him drown
ed in the river, and it is getting him
out i have been after, and getting the
water out ofhan and the life into him;
and now ! am hurrying to the surgeon
to get him resucitated, the darling,
sure
"Only one man in my hearing spoke
disrespectfully or unkindly of color
ed men, and he was hundred day
man. The soldiers believe in them,
and they have good reason for their
faith.
"There is every reason for confidence
in the operations of our army in Vir-
ginia. They are exhausting the ene-
my, maintaining their own ground,
and encroach'ng on their adversaries.
Their commander, too, is an earnest
man, and believes in the work atwhich
he is engaged"