Litchfield enquirer., 1868-05-07
THE GENESIS OF A RUMoR.

Mr. H. IiaW @lmsIeQ MIAsSs " .ao 1s ~~..YY's' the f0llowins cnlious story, showing how 2 false repor is raised against "a mans repu- % 70 Ne Ednoy gspss Nation:-1 z ssY.sa
 One day. in thespring of 1863. MT. Fred erick Knapp and myself were guests of Gen. eral Grant, at his headquarters on steam boat lying at Milliken's Bend, a few miles above Vicksburg. A curtain had been hung in such way as to give an air of seclusion the after-p part of the main cabin, and when we rose from dinner we were asked to sit with the General behind the screen, where there was wfiting- table with pitch CTS and glasses. The General then told us that he had few hours before received un- favorable intelligence from General Sher- mans expedition up the Sunfower. Invi- ting our inquiries and replying to, all we thought proper to make, with an urexpect- ed generous freedom and pains taking thor oughness of explanation, he was gradually led into a comprehensive review of the ex- isting conditions of his campaign, which t was easy to see were of the gravest charac- ter. We were impressed as much by the remarkably methoaical clearness of the narration, as by the simple candor and in genlousness with which it was given to us who, the day before, had been strangers to
 
 suggestions, and analysed them in such a way as to make prominent the uncertain ties and uncomfortable clements which were involved in them. and could not but think, so musing and quietly rehectlng was his manner, and yet so exact and we'll ar- ranged his expressions, that he was simply repeating process of C thinking it out, '' in order to assure himself that he fully comprehended and gave just weight to, all the important elements of sonle grand mil itary problem, the solution of which he was about to undertake ''' .'.' 7. t
 CThe last attempt to attack Vicksburg on the north, ended that day, and a, few hours after our interview, the first step was taken looking toward the approach from tho south ; but of this no hint was given us, and we on- ly heard of it the next morning.
 All at once he stopped short and, with an expression of surprise, if not of dis tress, put his cigar away, rose and moved his chair aside A moment. before, we could not have imagined that there was a woman within many miles of us;. but turn ing my eyes, l saw one who had just part ed the screen, comedy, we'll dressed and with the air and manner of a gentlewoman. She had just arrived by, steamboat from Memphis, and came to present. Gene eral Grant with memorial or petition. laIn a few words she made known her purpose. and offered to give in detail certain facts. of which she stated she was cognizant. bearing upon her object. The General stood listening to her in an attitude of the most deferential attention, his hand still upon his chair, which was half in front of him as he had turned to face her, and slight ly holding his head as an expression of as- sent at almost every, sentence she uttered. When she had completed her statement. he said,' speaking very low, and with an ap- pearauce of reluctance, t'I shall be com pelled to consult my medical director, and to obtain report from him before I can meet your wishes, If agreeable to you, I Will ask hIm to call upon you tomorrow; shall say at l l o'clock?" The lady bowed and withdrew; the General took a long breath, resumed his segar and his seat. said that he was inclined to think her pro,,osi- tion Q reasonable and humane one. and then went on with the interrupted review.
 A week or two after this, having gone up the river, MT. Knapp met this lady at a hotel, when, 1n- tthe course of a conversa- tion, she referred with much F sadnessi to the deplorable ihabits of General Grant. and the hopelessness of success while o,ir army was commanded by an army So unfit to be charged with any grave responsibili. ity. MT. Knapp replied that he had the best reason for stating that the reports to which she referred were without founda. tion, and proceeueu 10 give her certain ex act information of which he happened to be possessed, which, as far as possible, re- futed, them. .'s' Unfortunately said the lady, "I I have certain knowledge that they are but too true. "i She then described her recent interv1ew with General Grant and it appeared that, from her point of view, the General was engaged in carouse with one or two boon companions, when sl.e came unexpectedly upon him; that he rose to his feet with difficulty, could not stand without staggering, and was obliged to support himself with 9 chair; that he was evidently conscious that he was in an unfit condition to attend to business, and want ed to put her off till the next day; that his voice was thick, that he spoke incoherent- ly, and she was so much shocked that she was obliged to withdraw almost immedi- ately. The next day, being ashamed to see her himself, he sent his doctor to find out what she wanted. a.,a. .....
 "Mr. Knapp then told her that. having been one of the boon companions whom she had observed with the General on that occasion, and that having dined with him and been face to face with him for fully three hours, ne not only knew that he was under the influence of no drink stronger than the unqualified mud of the Mississip-. pi, but he could assure her that he had never seen man more thoroughly sober and clear-headed than General Grant at the moment of her entrance.
 Notwithstanding his assurances, the lady repeated that she could not doubt the evidence of her own senses, land suppose that to this day, Mr. Knapp and myse,t rank, equally with General Grant, in her mind, as confirmed drunkards. ~.
 "This experience is by no means an unique one, and the zealous devotion with which l have often heard both men and women undermining the character of oth- CTS for temperance on equally slight grounds, has often led me to question if there are not vices in our society more de- structive to sound judgment and honest courses than that of habitual over-drink- ing. -5.. ..'. ..-....tf ..,,eef
 "Yours, respectfully.
 ,sl:.e FRED. LAW OLMsrsp
 The New York Eueninq Post tells an. other story of the same kind:-" While General Grant lay before vicksbure. a let. ter came to this office from a respectable