Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-07-09
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Grant In Mtstory AhreeWy Wrtttens
During the war to crush the slavehol-
ders' rebellion many distinguished civil
ians and military men from the old
world visited the United States te behold
and study our legislative, executive, and
military machinery, that they might
make comparisons Between the intellect
and practical ability Of Europe and the
United States. Among those who thus
visited the country and passed the time
In the camps of the Union armies, and
mingled with the statesmen in authority
Mt Washington, was Adam Gurowski.-
From the day he arrived in our midst
Gurowski was admitted to the very best
military and civic circles, and while thus
associated kept diary, from which We
now propose to make extracts. ..
March "a, 1se4, the following striking
allusion was made to the man who Is to-
day the Republican candidate for Presi-
dent:
"Grant will not be Intoxicated with
flattery as was Mcclellan. i never met
with man of SO much, simplicity, shy
ness, and decision"
April 5, 1854, occurs the following re-
markable passage in his diary:
"Grant has lost nothing Of his fresh
ness of mind and ingenuousness. He
avoids Washington and its various COR
rupting allurements, nay, he runs away
from them. And Grant is right; his
good gerius inspires him. Grant is es-
sentially soldier for the camp and
mand of the army of the Potomac-sev-
eral commanders of corps, divisions,
brigades, and regiments--in one word,
many, many officers, and even the rank
and file, came to grief and were ruined
by Washington influence. Even Nc
Clellan was ruined by his sojourn in
Washington, provided that there was
anything whvtever to be ruined in Nc
Clellan. When with the army, the
thought and mind of Grants predeces-
sors were not in the camp, but in WASH
ington, in its various attractions and in
trigues. The commanders and general,
&C., visited and visit Washington when
they can; its various attractions ruin
them.p
April 8, 1854, Gurowski draws the fol-
lowing admirable pen and. ink portrait
of Grant:
"How fond this giant Is of violating
those easy military regulationsl There!
| Grant establishes his headquarters ten
miles nearer the army than Meade had
| his. Grants headquarters are almost
amidst the soldiers. That Is Western,
and not Potomac army custom. Bad
precedent, and certainly an anti McClel-
Ian one.- Then Grant travels with the
simplicity of second lieutenant, with,
out fuss, with small trunk, which he
| forgets in his room, aud to save time
goes off leaving his trunk behind. Nc.
Clellan, although not lieutenant gen.
eral, had splendid travelling equipages,
carriages, &c., all this for a campaign ol
| one hundred and twenty miles space
and in country with railroads. THAI
Was commander like!
"If Grant fails, then q curse is on this
Potomac army. Grant Is O soldier to the
core, and genuine democratic (not In
the party sense) commander of a demo
cratic army from democratic people,
Further: Grant sends Off his wife to the
farm of her father somewhere in Nilsson
ri. If all this-to be classical and hifa
luting-is not Roman Cincinnatus ant
matron-like, then am at q loss for pre-
cedents and for historical illustrations.
"Per contra:" Mcclellan tried as much
rs he could to ape aristocratic Europe
Brilliant receptions, representations ser
Witty surrounded him, and he thrivet
on them.
"The final question is: Will Gran
remain diamond, resisting the dissolv
ing Washington acids?"
April IL, 1854. Grant Is again graph
ically depleted:
"From what learn of Grant he is M
more afraid to take the responsibility O.
a million men than of a single company
This is very praiswOrthy feature In hi
character, and the more SO as IL Is no
generated by c0nceit or indifference.