Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-11
GeneraI Grant In Camp--L Sketch oil
HIS Personal Hablts--Ineidents In
the Field.

lcoTespends0eo Of the \. = YoIk Evening Posi ]
WASHINGTON, April 30 e
A military friend who has just pass
I'd some days at the headquarters In
Culpepper has given me an account of
bis visit, and Of the habits Of the len-
teuant-general, that am glad 10 trans
cribe. General Grant messes with bis
staff in house in the village; and At
his table sits familiarly with every mem.
Der of bis military family The expeu.
ses of the mess are divided among the
ten, not in equal proportions exactly, but
in q manner that is satisfactory 10 all
There is not the slightest attempt ut
show or parade in the equippage; every
thing is for use and economy of trouble
and space The crockery Is scanty and
Of the plainest, and the fare, though suf-
6eient in quantity, is juss as homely as
that Of any thrifty and careful mechanic
in your city. A chop with cup Of eof
lee for breakfast bit Of roast beef
with potatoes and hard tack" confront
ing dish of pork and greens" served
for the o'clock dinner, which was con
eluded without pastery or dessert A
cup of tea and bit OF bread and but
ter at 81 o'clock finished up the day
The beds are simply camp cots, some
with and others without mattresses; aud
oil the toilet apparatuses anywhere visi-
BILE were few tin wash-basins mod
crate supply Of towels, bit OF looking
glass, and horn comb. At the table
neither distilled liquor nor wine is per
.1tttad TIE xanaea1 ussIf ,.t 49,. a..k
er about him, tor his own or others use
The inventory Of the generals bag
gage when he made his brilliant cam
paign in the rear Of Vicksbnrg is, take
il, well remembered-a briar-wood tele-
scope and a toothbrush. In what re-
lates to personal adornment and, out
side of the necessity OF eating, personal
comfort, he has not greatly enlarged bis
possessions His three stars indicate his
exalted rank, but 20 say nothing of the
charm which, in soldiers eyes, these
| glitteriag marks Of rank possess, doubt
If there is commissariat officer in his
army who is as plainly clad as he His
clothes are worn threadbare, and despite
/ the steady brushing Of his servant, they
will have an untidy look, due no doubt,
to the generals habit Of going every
/ where and seeing everything for himself
The General understands the relation
between cleanliness aud godiness, but
in his opinion, practically evinced, there
is as much Of either in flannel shirt as
in one Of linen, of drawing room immac-
ulatenesss
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 gsrb of agentleman
and that of sloven The facts are point
ed out only as proof that this mans
mind is so intent upon the great prob
lem before him, that be has neither the
time nor the inclination to consider mis-
erable frivolities. He holds great ma
tons fate in the palm Of his hands; and
il is an encouragement to know tia
every faculty of his mind is calmly bu
profoundly exercised for the nations
welfare. All his thought Of carriages
centers in the carriages which carry hi
field pieces; his discussion Of the ques
ton of eating extends no further thar
to the rations of his men; and he wouls
| hate himself if he could spend minut,
over the fit CT fashion of his cost
General Grant never swears. No maj
in his camp has ever heard him give U,
! terance to profanity, in any of its man,
forms He rarely laughs either; but h
has sort Of grim humor which is no
without its effect 1t is related as par
of the gossip of ''the front" that sn of
Ger attached TO the Qusrtermsster' de
partment of his aruly wanted, Que We
day, to consult with the Generalin-chiet
he ia believer in the old regime, an
praeticed what, under Mcclellan, he Wa
. taught He had half dozen miles
go, more or less, so he ordered ont hl
close carriage, and as it was likely ths
night would come before he could re
turn, the lamps were trimmed and hun
out on each side of the drivers sea
Then, with an escort of twelve dragoonl