The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-07-13
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Recollection bf Grant.
MANNERS AND HABITS.

d Recollection bf Grant.
MANNERS AND HABITS.
: In his manners, dress, and style of Ii,
ing, Grant displays more republican sim
/ plicity than any other general officer {
a the army. In manner he is very unassu
;. ming and approachable, and his CONVEX
, sation is noticeable from its unpretendin
plain, and straightforward style Their
{ is nothing didactic nor pedantic in hi
tone or language. His rhetoric is NOR
, remarkable for the compact structur
than the elegance and finish of his sen
tences. He talks practically, and write
as he talks; and his language, writer
and oral, is distinguished by strong com
mon sense. He seldom INDUCES in fgu
rative language but when he does, his
comparisons betray his habits of close OBJ
servation. He dresses in careless but
by no means slovenly manner. Though
his uniform conforms to army regulations
in cut and trimmings, it is often, like that
of Sherman, worn threadbare. He never
wears any article which attracts attention
by its oddity, except, indeed, the three
stars which indicate his rank. His ward
robe, when campaigning, is generally ve-
~ scant, while his headquarters train is
often the smallest in the army. For sew
eral months past he has been living in a
log hut of unpretending dimensions on
the James River, sleeping on "a common
camp cot, and eating at table common
to all his staff, plainly furnished with
good roast beef, pork and beans, "hard-
tack" and coffee. 1t is related of the
General that when the march to the rear
of Vicksburg began, he announced to his
army the necessity of moving light" i. e.
without extra baggage. Heset an exam
pie by sending to the rear all his baggage
except green brier.root pipe, tooth
brush, and horn pocket comb.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE
Grant is not so tall as Sherman nor so
heavy as Thomas. His short statue would
have made it difficult for him to enlist iu
the British army. He is but an inch a.
bove the minimum standard of officers of
our army, but being straight and some
what spare, he has the appearance of be-
ing above medium height Sheridan
and Logan are the only Maori Generals
in our army who are shorter in figure
than Grant. His forhead is high and
square. His hair was originally dark
brown, but at forty three, his present age,
it is fast becoming sprinkled with iron
gray. His eyes are sharp and expressive,
though small, peering out from under bis
overarching brow with great brilliancy.
His nose is acquiline. His mouth is
small, and he has habit of closely COM
pressing his lips. His chin and cheeks
are covered with heavy beard, which
he never shaves but keeps closely cropp-
ed or trimmed
AT THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.
The following story of Grant may be
apocryphal. If true, however, it is fine
commentary on his character. If not
true, it shows that the trait of frmness is
such prominent one that anecdotes have
been originated to illustrate it. The sto-
ry runs that Immediately after the battle
of Shiloh, Gen. Buell. beg gan criticising,
in friendly way, what he termed the
bad policy displayed by Grant in fighting
with the Tennessee River in his rear.
"Where, if beaten, could you have re-
treated, General 2" asked Buell.
II didn't mean to be beaten" was
Grants reply.
"But suppose you had been beaten? ?"
"Well, there were all tbs transports to
cross the river"
"But, General" urged Buell., "your
whole number of transports could not con-
tain over ten thousand men, and you
have fifty thousand engaged.
"Well," said Grant "ten thousand men
is as many as there would have been left
to Cross"
AT FORT DoNELSON.
A fine illustration of his practical turn
of mind is found in story related of
him when operating before Fort Donel-
son. On the night before the surrender,
the preparations of portion of the reb-
els to evacuate the Fort led Gen. McCler-
nard to believe they were meditating an
attack, and he communicated his suspi-
cions to orGrant, at the same time sending
him prisoner who had been captured
short time before. On reading McCler-
nard's dispatch, Grant ordered the pris-
oner's haversack to be searched. 1t was
found that it was filled with rations-
eff the rebels intended to hold the fort
they would not cucumber their men with
rations. They are preparing to leave"
was the very sage and practical reasoning
of the General and he Immediately or
dere McCIernard to assume the offensive.
The result was that a commanding ridge,
near Dover, south of the fort was carried
and only portion Of the garrison escaped;
the remainder capitulated.
HIS OPINION or THE ARMY OF THE Po-
| TOMAC.
A short time after he assumed personal
supervision of Meade's army, General O.
| glesby asked him what he thought of its