Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-09
7IYTERYIEW Win GRYERIL GRANT.
Visit 10 the Army Of the PotOmae-Af-
flaiE. l,sfDre Iseier.IHrs. = -

Visit 10 the Army OF the PotOmae-Af-
fairs before IsetersbHrs.
4 gentleman OF this city returned home
this morning from City Point, Vac having
visited the Army of the Potomac to dis
tribute supplies for the soldiers, which had
been contributed by the congregation un-
der his charge in Thirtyseventh street
After performing this duty, heimnde tour
of the camps, and paid his respects 10 Cen
eTai Grant. OF this interview he gives the
following int resting account:
II learned that the headquar' ers Of the
General were about quarter Of a mile
from my own stopping place, and immedi-
ately repaired thither. To tie person
whom | met at the entrance l told my
business, stating that l was member Of
the committee appointed at the Grant
mseting Held in New York in June.
L thinE the General will be glad to see
you, said he; he is disengaged, goto him
there under the fly
Il went at once and introduced myself
to him HIS address Is remarkable he
has the faculty Of putting everybody in his
company Immediately at ease, and at the
same time never lowers himself. There
not trace Of the atiectltion that charac.
terizes 1nan who has stepped into rank
which he feels to have added to his import
anee; and he is utterly destitute of vulgar
familiarity of manner, He is good rep
| resentatiVe Of republican life in this coun-
try, where man may take the place which
his TALENT taste, and ability indicate, and
yet be c man for a thSte b.
'As soon as sahHtations had been ex-
changed l opened my business, referring to
the great meeting held in Union Square in
June where had the honor of speaking,
rs well1as of signing the address which
had been prepared and transmitted to him
BY the National Committee ueItIi
".Che sentiment of that meeting Gen
eral,' ErenaTked, was toupheld the Union
! cause and General aIrAnt az=Az ai->S--7- -
that same day had heard of repulse.'
"'There is no danger of permanentre-
pulse, he answered. Though seemingly
We are taking a great deal of time, vet We
are using up the rebel army faster than ii
can be replenished. It will take more
time, but am fully confident Of the re.
suit
l"'General,i remarked, the people OF
New York now feel that there IS one at
the head of our armies in whom they can
repose the fullest confidence
"'Yes, he interrupted, there is a man in
the West in whom they can repuse the
utmost confidence, General Shetman. lie
is an able, upright, honorable, unambitious
man. We lost another one of like char
acter few days ago, General Mcpherson.
Changing the subject he asked me to
make his apologies to the National Com
nittee for negleeting to acknowledge their
resolutions. Il am glad of an Opportunity
of explaining why have not returned a
reply said he; 4 sent the resol lutions im-
mediately to Mrs. Grant, and they have
not been returned i'-
"The position of our army before Peters
burg Is one which gives them the advan-
tage. Heretofore the enemy have had
she inside, and been enabled to manage
troops so Us TO secure all the facilities
which that position affords. General
Grant has now got that interior line, and
can throw troops from one point to an
other, mass them, and employ them 10
the greatest advantage; and the rebel
general cannot prevent him. General Lee
has found his master.
The attack on Petersburg last week,
though filling to secure d triumph was
by no means a serious disaster. The plans
of the General commanding were such as
to avert the possibility of any eniilading
ire; but some of the subordinate generals
failed to carry out their parts of the pro
gramme But for this omission on their
parts Petersburg tits safe to declare, would
have been ours. 1t will be yet; but at
sacrifice Of more time. -s-8
"The conduct of the wounded colored
soldiers exemplifies most admirably their
fortitude and generosity. Men with Sc
we're wounds in the hips, thighs and legs,
made their way into camp, While every
white man with serious wound rode in
an ambulance, On the day of the engage
ment before Petersburg I went upon the
field with punch to refresh the men. l
offered cup to a wounded man. He de-
clined it with thanks, saying Give it to
those men there '"ho are crying for water.
They need it more than I do .....
1.-THE colored men have won respect in
the camp. l saw the evidences on every
side. One day observed an Irish soldier
sitting on the stump of a tree teaching a
colored man how to read. Another time
saw an Irishman riding in great haste
with naked black boy of sixteen at his
saddle bow 'What are you doing thereP
he was asked ft'-
Faith said he, Il found him drowned
in theriver, and it is getting him out
have been after, and getting tile water out
of him and the life into him; and now
am hurrying to the surgeon to get him re-
st,s oil the darlinrr. sura
Only one man in my hearing spoke
or unkindly of eolored men,
and he was an hundred-day man. The
soldiers believed in them, and they have
good reason for their faith.
''There is every reason for confidence in
the operations of our army in Virginia.
They arc exhausting the enemy, maintain
ing their own ground, and encroaehing on
their adversaries Their commander, too,
IS an earnest man, and believes in the work
at which he is engaged."-N T. Erening
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