Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-04-07
A Clergyman's Interview with
GEN. Grant.


To the Christian Advocate Of last week,
Is letter from the Rev. iDr. Thompson 1.-THE
editNr) and which details an interview he
had with Gen. Grant In railroad car in
Pennsylvapia, few days ago. He says:
At Altoona, Blair county, Pa..as we went
to the cars, we found crowd on the plat.
form, and as we took our seats we learned
the reason Of it, rs some one cried out,
three cheers for Gen. Grant" summons
that was obeyed with zest We we're intro
duced TO him and hsd a very plesant con-
yersstion with him. He is man Of medium
bight and unassuming manners. His dress
was plain aud in no respect indicative of
rank. The stranger is struck with his youth
ful appearance. He seems to be not over
thirty.fve years sf age; yet We need not
be surprised that he has accomplished 80
much, for few men become great who do
not achieve th6ir greatness in early life.
Gen Grant is a Democrat in the true sense
of the word. He is for the people, all the
people. He has none of the airs, or tho
spirit, or the philosohy of an aristocrat.
Without freedom or the want Of dignity,
he is at home at once and everywhere. He
is very modest, seeking to hide from the
public gaze. Though called for by the crowd
at every station, it was with difficulty ne
could be persuaded to step forward and raise
his hat; he madc no speeches, but retired in
silence; modesty is mark OF merit. We
never meet with master mind without it.
In speaking of Gen. Mcclellan he exhib-
tied both good sense and generosity, while
at the same time he indicated an intention
to avoid his errsrs. He attributed General
McClellan's failure to no want OF ability or
education, but to the fact that he rose too
rapidly, was intoxicated by his elevation, and
afraid to make bold step lest it should be
false one Moreover, he unfortunately
/ allowed himself to be manipulated by
/ politicians, aud bewildered by the false
| lights which they held out before him. If
such be the visw which the Lieutenant-Gen-
ersl takes, and We have no doubt OF its
correctness, there is ground to hope that be
wrewoi kers, but will steadily employ his
powers in the right direction and for the
right motive, namely, to save the country.
| If so, his contenp poraries will homer and
reward him, and posterity will award him
renown when the political schemes OF the time
shall all have been doomed to merited
oblivion.
General Grant is hopeful and while he
makes no such extravagant utterances as
! General Scott and General Mcclellan did,
| he yet leads US to understand that events are
in train for decisive Spring campaign.
/ lie speaks in the highest terms Of General
/ Sherman, who succeeds him in the Western
/ Department, who, he says, has no superior
iii the service.
OfGen. Mcpherson. on whom much will
! devolvc, as well as of Gen. Gilmore, who
| /, yet to play an important part; each OF the
two latter graduated at the head of his class.
Gen. Sherman would have done likewise
but tor some demerit marks. That" said
the General, was my case, that is, to have
denert mark only lfthey had been Cancelled
might not have reached the head Of my
class"
On our expressing fear that his elevation
would take him from the field, he gave US to
un lcrstunl, that although he would have an
Office in Washington, he did not intend 70
/ do much office work, but wonld take the field
wherever and whenever he deemed his pres.
ence would be most useful. We could but
compliment him upon the brillian CAP, paign
which brought him successfully to Vicks-
burg. lie replied that it was hazardous, 6ul
had to be done.
The Generals face is not unprepossessing
his spirit IL genial, and instrumentation is 10
vigorous, but calm mind. Having heard thai
he.was intemperate,w we were little surprised
and not little gratiied. to see no marks
whatever of dssolute habits upon him. We
have, however, pretty good evidence that he
has been foolish enough at times to indulge
in sprees, and that he is easily overcome on
such occasioas-a good evidence that he is
not an habitual drinker. and good warning,
which We trust will save him in future from
such indiscretions. Now that grateful
country crowns him with her highest honors,
and nlrusts him with her greatest COM
mauds, he will surely commit no act unwor-
thy OF the observation Of the world or
importing his success. He has been well
educated rcligiously, and has, we doubt not,
just views of the fundamental principles of
the gospel, and profound respect for religious
institutions. His language, so far as we could
hear, was circumspcct and becoming.
Turning to one OF tho papers he said. II
observe here statement that the President
sent for me to attend the theater, but have
not been there at ALL" ....r-,
-
r., L.. II