The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-03-28
GEMS. GRANT AND SHERMAN
HIGHLY INTERESTING REMI-
NISCENCE CES-A LETTER FROM
PROFESSOR MAHAN.


To Editors ~. Y. Ecening Post:
As Professor Coppee, in his life OF
Lieutenant-General Grant, has given
some of his "reminiscences of the cadet
life of the General when they were both
pupils in the military academy togeth-
er, | have thought that it might while
away an idle moment at the freside of
some of your evening readers to learn
in what point of view this celebrated
person, and his equally celebrated friend
Gen. Sherman, were regarded by one of
their old professors at this school.
Larochefoucauld, or Voltaire, both
p-ofaana .dges ef French na.ure, has
said that ano man is hero to his yalet
de chambre," and suppose it is no easy
matter for an old teacher to look up to,
as great man, a person whose every
mental weakness he had probed as a
boy. Most of your readers may recall
the anecdote of the famous old English
pedagogue, who, upon one of bis pupils
being named before him as having
achieved a great name, chuckled with
satisfaction over the recollection that he
had been under his ferule literally; so
/ suppose there is something of this
spirit in pedagogues generally.
Now I can truly say that, not having
met Gen. Grant from the time he grad
uated. in ls43, until he visited the Acad-
emy. in June, 1865, and Gen. Sherman
only twice, at long intervals, from his
graduation, in 1910, until the same
time. | felt when l saw them in this last
visit that was in the presence OF two
remarkable men. The feeling was not
simply that which DR.. johnson some
where describes as what every person
7 instinctively feels who enters the pres
ence of an admiral or general who has
encountered the perils of battle, nor
that which causes me instinctively to
uncover when approach either Of those
octogenarian Nestors OF our old army,
Lieut.. Gen. Scott, or General Thayer.
Alas how few are left,
Rari nantes in gurgite vasto,
but what all must feel who see for the
frst time men who have done deeds
that have called forth the plaudits OF
nations. and have won for themselves
the respect and gratitude of their coun-
Of the student-life of each of these
non during their last year at the acad-
INV 7 have a distinct recollection
Rrought under my supervision very fre-
auentlv in daily recitations, and for
q1hout three months, three hours daily
1n"rtiuo under my eye, my opportuni-
t;es for gaining an insight into their
'r.iic,I,ractefistk:s ricI were passably good
Professor Coppee describes Grant as
q am;ddle man. phrase new to me-
He was what we termed first section
',sr 80 in his scientific studies; that is,
nna ~ who accomplishes the full course
He He always showed himself clear
thinker and steady worker. He be-
,onaed to the class Of compactly strong
n l,on who went at their work at once,
and kept at it until finished, never be-
;ng no seen. like the slack-twisted class,
aSwnino. nS lolling on their elbows over
!sho;r work and looking as if just ready
80 sink down from mental inanlty..
sherman was the reverse OF this In
aanner Eager, impetuous, restless, ne
niwavs worked with will. Beng one
Of Of those of whom Byron says,
aouiet to quick souls is hell"
1e 10 wasn't at work he was in for mis-
Il rbief: eff If while explaining something \ a
~ his class at the blackboard, l hearo
~ slioht disturbance, denooung some
G I was seldom wrong, in turning
Jun, ian,nd and holding up my finger 70 Mr.
r1un f,lar,nan But one was more than re-
p paid for any slight annoyance ,at',nn o. nnls
lind by his irrepressl6le gooa ,.s.,, ma.uIe, hs
and by the clear thought and energy ne
w That he should accomplish something
great was prepared to learn. Due no'