Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-08-18
The Middle Military Division.
Gen. Grant in The Fih{-A Tisn 10 Gen.
Hunter Sheridan in Command.
| Correspondents Of the Phladelplia Inanrer

Tor the presumption 10 that all The daily pa
/ pers are laid on the tables Of the rebel Gen.
erals within an hour or two after their issue,
and that thus what might be interesting
matter TO the loyal public, becomes more
valuable than reconnaissance in force to
our enemy. Being unwilling to aid and
comfort Early in this style, if there has
been any marching or countermarching OF
our forces | remain silent concerning it.
One subject, however, is public theme
by this time. Thoussads are aware of it in
all parts, Of the loyal country. Early un-
doubtedly knew it by noon to-day. and if he
had telegraph communication with Rich.
mond Jeff. Davis was fully informed of il
before suudown to-day. Therefore, / haz-
ard telling the enemy nothing when / say
that Lieut. Gen. Grant has been with us for
twelve hours of the last twenty. four Friday
afternoon, at a little before 5 O'Clock, the
louugcrs at the Relay House were somewhat
astonished to see small man, wearing three
stars and smoking cigar, descend from a
car OF the Washington p. NJ train. Ia.
king a chair on the railroad platform, he
smoked and talked with the four staff Off
GERS who accompanied him for an hour or
more, when special train from Baltimore
hauled up at the Relay House, and in mo-
ment after the Leutenant-G General was on
his way to hold conference with Gen. Hun
ter, whose headquarters then were at Thomas
House. about mile and half South Of the
railroad at Monocacy Junction.
The train arrived at the Junction at about
7 O'Clock, and a conveyance being in wait
ing, Gen. Grant was Immediately conveyed
to Hunters headquarters, where be remain
ed during the night. Of what transpired
there nothing ~ known, and we can only
/ at cIn 4, tb
selves in the future. On Saturday morning,
at about o'clock, Gems. Grant and Hun
ter, with the staff officers of the former, ap-
peared at Gen. Tyler's headquarters, which
are established Immediately on the railroad,
at Monocacy Bridge. During two hours or
more the Generals sat under the trees in
front of the house engaged in nothing more
important than desultory conversation, most
ly on Indifferent subjects Gen. Tyler did
the honors of host to the extent of his con-
veniences.
Grants appearance is decidedly better
than it has been for year past His nous
tache, which was by no means becoming,
has disappeared, and his wbiskers are again
closely trimmed. His eye is cear-his gen.
eral air and manner that of a man who sees
a prosperous end to all his undertakings.
All this is in striking contrast to disappear
ance during many days Of his great Virginia
campaign, especially from the time of the
battle OF the Wilderness to the crossing of
the Pamunky. During those days there was
an air of weariness, increasing daily, that
was painful to behold, and made the lover
of his country fear that even his wonderful
physical and intellectual strength was break
ing down under the fearful RESPONSIBILITIES
of his position. | can give no better augury
: for the bcttered condition of our military
: affairs than to say that all that has now dis,
appeared from Grants personal appearance,
and he looks again as he did during the last
days before Vicksburg, when he could see
a certainly prosperous end to the matter in
hand. ...,
In the course of conversation this morn
ing, Grant said of the late repufse at Peters
burg, that there was no earthly reason why
II should not have been an entire success if
his orders had been observed The spring
inc OF the mine, he said, was complete
surprise to the rebels, and it only needed
obedience to his orders to have routed the
entire rebel army. Eur her than this Grant
did not say, but thanks to him, a Court of
: Inquiry is ordered, through whom the coun-
try will soon learn on whose head to visit
the vengeance for those five thousand soldiers
OF the Union slain and MANNED in vain. and
tor that opportunity lost, which may be
weeks and months in coming again. While
still waiting for something or somebody, |
saw how Gen. Grant cuts red tape, which
requires word of explanation. Some
months ago, the Ninetieth New York, then
in distant field of operations, re-enlisted
as veteran recruits, but were not able then
to take their fourlough, on account of press
OF business. Yesterday the regi aent de.
parted for home on furlough. But twenty
two OF the men, for some trivial offense,
were, as a punishment, not allowed to 60,
and were put into other regiments to serve
until their regiment returned, and were still
held as veteran recruits These twenty-five
men, being at Monocacy, one of them waited
on General Grant.
private soldier, grim and travel stained,
bearing in his every feature q. trace of long
and hard service in the field, the Lieutenant
General listened attentively while he told
his tale and plead for himself and his com
panlons. A few questions put and answer
ed, and Grant was satisfied that injustice
had been done them, and on the spot he
wrote q telegram to the proper officer, then
at Harper's Ferry, directing him to furlough
the men Immediately, and the consequence
is they leave for home tonight, with con-
.sclOusness that the Commander-in. Chief of
our armies metes out equal and exact justice
to all.
AT nearly II o'clock the train arrived
from Baltimore, and Gen. Phil Sheridan
stepping off, it became apparent that for
him had Grant and Hunter been waiting.
Grant took Sheridan aside few steps, and
for a few moments the two were engaged in
earnest conversation. Gen. Sheridan, world
famous now as a cavalry commander, looks
none the worse for the many long marches
and hard fights he had been through this
Summer. While Grant and Sheridan we're
consulting, Gen. Hunter was sitting by Mrs
Gen. Ricketts,, but had not said a word to
her, in view of which the Lieutenant Gen
eral perpetrated j,ke, when he turned to
Hunter aud said, he was sorry to interrupt
him, but the train was now ready to start
Acting on the hint, Sheriden and Hunter
stepped on board, and moment after were
on their way to Harper's Ferry, where they
arrived at O'Clock p. NJ, and immediately
proceeded to the front. ..s
Concerning the position to be occupied
by Gen. Sheridan, am informed that the
Department of West Virginia (Hunter's)
and Susquehanna (Couch's) have been con.
S0lIdated undar him and Tint he will faka