The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-23
Lieutsuant General Grans In New
York.


The recent visit of Lieutenant General Grant
to this metropolis was very characteristic of
the man. He arrived on Saturday and left on
Monday. He came unattended, and went away
without any fuss or parade. While he WAS
here he transacted his business or his pleasure,
whichever Il may have been, and when he was
through with it he rejoiued his army. Few
people knew Of his arrival. and tewer still Of
his departure He issued no general orders
and reviewed no troops. He did not assume
command of the department nor was ne Toasted
at club houses and exhibited at receptions.
tie made no speeches, and when it was neces-
sary for him to say something at Governor
Fenton's serenade he requested Sickles 10 do
the oratory. Massa Greeley bad no chance to
display his new dress suit Tor the second time
in his kfe Parson Beecher had no opportu-
nifty to get Oft political sermon and nominate
Grant for the next Presidency Always quiet,
unostentatious aud unassuming. the Lieutenant
General did not change these pecu!iarities
during his visit here.
Like all great generals Caesar, Alex
ander, Cromwell, Napoleon. Washington
Grant is personally modest man. His chief
characteristic, however, is common sense. He
makes war upon common sense principles. He
says that be does not understand strategy, but ne
takes common sense views Of the situation and
acts accordingly. This characteristic was evil
dent, as we have said, in the lack OF fuss and
Juror which attended his visit, and it was quite
as evident in all the details Of his sojourn
among u.s. He showed himself at Fenton's
serenade because the veterans cIamored for
him and refused to 60 away without seeing
him. He requested the reporters not to men.
ton his arrival in the newspapers, aud the
editors acquesced. On Sunday be called to
see personal friend just as any other gentle
man would do. When he started to make this
call he neither ordered a carriage nor an es-
cort OF cavalry. On the contrary, he took his
seat in a Fourth avenue car aud paid his six
cents fare. with mental protest against the
additional nickel. He called upon General
Scott. which was graceful thing to do. and
when the old General presented him with \
copy of scott's autobiography with From the
Oldest to the ablest general ia the world" on
the dy leaf, he pocketed the book aud the com
pliment without any nonsense. The next
morning he Insisted upon walking down Broad
way. instead Of riding, and was not recognized
by any of the passers BY On Monday evening
he was en- route for the front.
We take the pains to go over this record. not
because it is strange that General Grant
should act like other mortas, but because
other mortals 10 Grants uniform do not
act in this way. A second lieutenant OF
q regiment not yet ordered to the field makes
more sensation in the city with his new uni
form. gilt buttons and loud swsgger than did
this greatest general in the world, with bis sim
pie dress and unpretentious manners As Aris-
tophanes remarked in his classic Greek whcn
speaking Of the soldiers Of hs day. We have
plenty Of blatherslite generals and skedaddlius
heroes, but very few OF the right sort Let
third rate military officer come TO New York
on business, and he must have special train or
a special car while Grant is content with sin
gle seat. which s rs many as he can use at time.
When this third rate parsonage arrives he holds
. levee, while Grant shrinks from observation
Then some loyal shoddy club gives our third
rate officer public dinner. while Grant takes
his meals at his hotel. Then ON third rate
officer makes speeches, while Grant says
nothing. Then the Chamber OF Commerce.
and the Board of Brokers and Lord knows
what other body Of men have to be visited BY
our third rate officer, while Grant visits his
personal friends. Then our third rate officer
must be serenaded. while Grant prefers TO
sleep. We are lucky If we get of without
some sort OF parade In honor of our third
rate officer, while Grant is satisfied with seeing
soldiers at the front. Reporters accompany
our third rate officer every where. by his per-
mission and request, and everything he says or
does is soon in the papers. while Grant avoids
publicity and desires the gentlemen of the
press to let him alone severely Now which
is the better way Which il the more scnsi-
BILE . Which is characteristic Of the greater
mind Which is the more indicative Of the true
soldier and the great general Nobody will
disagree with in our preference for Grants
way. In the cIassically elegant language OF
Terence, the great Roman poet, and Abe Lin
coin, the great American President General
Grants visit was = big thing" and we advise
all officers to initiate his example in the city
and in the fe Id.
from the speech made by Lord Palmersion at the
Lord Mayors dinner in London that the affair Of
the Florida is not going to alter in auy way orr