New-York tribune., 1868-04-24
THE GENESIS or A KUMOR.
To q, Editor Of The Nation.

To tht Editor Of The NatoA
One day in the Spring of 1868, Mr. Frederick
Knapp and myself Tie euests of Cen Grant, ~ hls
headquarters on Steamboat lying at Mnlilon's Ben3
few miles above vcksburg. curtain had been hung In
sferpari Of the main cabin sud when we rosc from dn-
ner we asked TO sit with the General bcind the
glasses. The General then tod us that he ind a Few
hours before received uufayorabe intelligence from Cen
Sherman's expedition M the SGgGCwCr. Inviting our In
Guries aud replying 10 al thou sht proper make,
with an xpcCtedy freedom aud painstakng
tbOrOughness Of explanation, no was gradually
led iniO comprehensive review OF the existing
conditions OF hrs campaign, which u WIS easy
We were impressed much by the remarkably
methodcal cearness Of the narration ns by tho simple
candOr and DgenuOueuess with which II WIS given 70 us
who the day before, had been strangers TO i He took
up several hypOtheses and suggestions, and snalyzed
them In such way TO make prominent the uncertain.
ties and uncontrOlable elements which were Involved
in them and could not but think so nung and quietly
reflective ms manner ard yet SO exact and well ar
ranged his expressions, that he was simply repeating
process of thinking IT ont" IN order TO assure himself
that he fully cOnprehended and gave just weight 20 all
the important elements of some grand military problem,
the solution Of which he was about TO undertake.
(The last attempt to attack Nicksburg on tho north
ended that day. aud few hours after Our interview the
Il g. step was taken looking toward the approach from
the South but OF this no hunt was gwen US, ana We Only
All ar once he stopped short and with an expression
surprise IL not OF distress put bs cigar away rose,
and moved his chair aside morntnt before, Ho could
miles Of us but turning my eyes, faw one who bad
Just parted the screen, coney, wcdresscd ond with
the air and manner OF a gentlewOman She had Just
arrived by steamboat from Memphis, and cane 10 pre-
sent GEN Grant with memorial or petition. In few
words she made known her purpose and offered 10 give
n detail certain facts Of which stated she cog
INFANT bearing upon her object TIE General stood eh-
ing her in attitude OF the most defcIentia aten.
ton his hand s upon his chair, which half IN front
OF him he turned 30 face her, and slightly nOddng his
head expression OF assent TO almost every sentence
she uttered When she had completed her statement he
sad speaking very low and with an appearance Of renet
ance :"I shall bo compelled to consult my medical
director and 10 obtain report from him, before can
meet your wishes IL agreeable to yOu Will ask him to
lad Withdrew:
breath resumed his cigar and his seat said that be was
inclined TO think her proposition reasonable aud hu-
inane one and went with tho interrupted review.
week CTtwO after this, having gone up tle fVrr, MI
Kuapp met this lady Il; hOie wen IN the course Of
cOnversatIo she referred with much sadness to the de-
plorabc habits OF Gen Grant, ana the hOpflessness OF
eeucceSs while our army was commanded by man 70
unfit 70 be charged with any grave responsibility Mr.
Knapp replied that he had the best reason Tor stating
that The reports 10 whlsh sno reerIeu were wtpue M
formation of which he happened 10 be p0ssesst which,
as far as possible rstSeG 'Re tS t cre I'M
too true" She then descibed her recent interview WIN
h o epu as ~ IN cafonSo win one or two
boon companions wIcu she came unexpectedly upon
brn TINT he rose 10 his feet with dlcuty could not
stand without staggering, and obliged to support
ht he ,as i'm an nnft condition 10 attend 10 business
and wanted TO put her of Till the next day; that his
voice thick he spoke ncOhcrently, ana she was so
much shocked that she was Obliged 20 withdraw almost
Immediately The next day, being asniod TO see her
himself ho sent his doct9r 10 fnd ont what sic wanted
Mr. Knapp then told her that, having been OF tho
boon compauous whom she had observed with the Cen
ef on that OCCASION and that having dined with him
and bee face 10 face with him for fully three hours, he
NOT oly knew that ne under the influence OF no drink
stronger than the unqualified mud Of tie Mississippi but
lie could assure her that he had never seen man who
appeared 20 him thoroughly sober ana codI-headod
Than Gen Grant at the moment Of her ehtrance
Notwtstandng hs assurances, the lacy repeated That
she could not doubt evidence Of her oWn senses, and
suppose thaG TO This day SIR Knapp and myecif rank
equally With Gen. Grant, in her mind as confirmed
drunRarCs
This experience is by no means unique one and the
jealous devotion with which have often heard both
and women undermining the character OF others for
temperance equally slight grounds, has Olten lea lne
10 question II there not vices Ia our soceIy more de
structve 10 sound Judgment aud honest COURSES than
that Of habitua oyerdrEikiBg You're reslncuu.y,
IlI rIuIH.1 - FRED. LAW OLMsTED.
The Ere,nng Post, after quoting this letter, adds
We can tell another story OF the same kind, While
Grant lay before Vlcksburg letter came 70 ths ohce
from respectable aud generally Trustworthy person. IN
Western city an ardent UniOIist, and man of lniiu
ence, In which were told, positively and uHdtiaby
true that certain occasion Grant and his rlan Went
froI Springfield Cairo In the ~ tho President Of
the railroad that the way the whole party with
two exceptions, got uproari0usly drunk, and tlit
Grant tile worst OF the company This tho winter
said he knew 60 be true and tis and other evdrce
be desired The Ereg Post 10 demand the removal Of
Grant, 'Ia' N f''H
Iy singular coincidence, Mr. Osborne, then President
OF the Illinois Central Railroad happened TO come