The Portland daily press., 1868-04-27

ing at M:lliken's Bend, few miles above
Vicksburg. A curtain had been hung in such
a way as to give a certain degree of seclusion
to the after 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 writing table with pitcher and glasses.
The General then told Us that he had few
hours before received unfavorable intelligence
from General Sherman's expedition up the
Sunfiower. Inviting our inquiries, and reply
ing to all we thought proper to make, with an
Unexpectedly generous freedom and PAINS
taking thoroughness of explanation, he was
gradually led into comprehensive review of
the existing conditions Of his campaign. which
it was easy to see were of the very grayest
character. We We're impressed as much by
the remarkably methodical clearness of the
narration as by the simple candor and ingen
uousness with which it was given to us who
the day before had been strangers to him. He
took up. several hypothesis and suggestions,
and analysed them in such a way as to make
prominent the uncertainties and uncontrolla-
bic elements which were involved in them,
and / could not but thiuk so musing and
quietly reflective was his manner, and yet so
exact and well arranged his expressions, that
he was simply repeating a process of think
ing it out, in order to assure himself that he
fully comprehended and gave Just weight to
all the important elements OF some grand
military problem, the solution of which he
was about to undertake.
(The last attempt to attack Vicksburg on
the north ended that day, and few hours
after our interview the first step was taken
looking toward the approach from the south;
but of this no hint was gwen us, and we only
heard of it the next morning)
All at once he stopped short, and, with an
expression OF surprise if not of distress, put
his cigar away, rose, and moved his chair
aside. A mUmeHt before we could not have
imagined that there was a woman within
twenty miles of us; but, turning my eyes, L
saw one who had just parted the screen, comedy,
well-dressed, and with the air and manner of
a gent'ewOman. She had just arrived by a
steamboat iTom Memphis, and came to present
General Grant with memorial or petition.
In a few words she made known her purpose,
and offered to give III detail certain facts OF
which she stated that she was cognizaut, bear
ing upon her object. The General stood list
enlng TO her in an attitude OF the most def
erent al attention, his hard still upon his chair
which was half in front OF him as nc turned
TO face her, and slightly nodding his head as
an expression of assent at almost every sem
tence she uttered. When she had completed
her statement, he said, speaking very low,
and with an appearance of reluctance:
Il shall be compelled to consult my medical
director, and TO obtain a report from him be-
lore l can meet your wishes. IL agreeable to
you. Will ask him 10 cal upon you TO NOR
row shall say at eleven oclUck?" The lady
bowed and Withdrew; the General took LONE
breath, resumed his cigar and his seat, said
chat he was inclined to think her proposition
a reasonable and humane one, and then went
on with the interrupted review.
A week or two after this, having gone up the
river, Mr.. Knapp met this lady at a hotel,
when, in the course of q conversation, she re-
ierred with much sadness TO the deplorable
habits OF General Grant, and the hopelessness
OF success while our army was commanded by
a man unfit to be charged with any grave
responsibility.
Mr.. Knapp replied that he had the best reason
for stating that the reports to which she refer
red were without foundation, and proceeded
to give her certain exact information of which
he happened to be possessed, which, as far as
possible, refuted them. " Unfortunately" said
the lady, Il have certain knowledge that they
are but too true" She then described her re-
cent interview with General Grant, and it APP
peared that, from her point of view, the Cen
eral was engaged in carouse with one OF
Two boon companions when she came unex-
pecledly upon hiln; that he rose to his feet
with difficulty, could not stand with
out staggering, and was obliged to sup
port himself with chair; that he
was evidently conscious that he was in
an unfit condition TO attend to business, and
wanted to put her off till the next day; that
his voice was thick, he spoke incoherently, and
she was so much shocked that she was obliged
to withdraw almost Immediately. The next
| day, being ashamed to see her himself, he sent
| his doctor to find out what she wanted.
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 Tor fully three hours, he not
| only knew that he was under the influence Of
no drink It onger than the unqualified mud
| Of the Mississippi, but he could assure her
| that he had never seen a man who appeared
to him more thoroughly sober and clear-head-
| ed than Gen. Grant at the moment of her en-
| trance.
Notwithstanding his assurances, the lady
repeated that she could not doubt the evidence
| of her own Senses and suppose that to this
day Mr. Knapp and myself rank, equally will
| General Grant, in her mind as confirmed
| drunkards.
This experience is by no means unique
one, and the jealous devotion with which
| have often heard both men and women under
| mining the character of others for temper
ance on equally slight grounds, has often lei
| me to question if there are not vices in oul
| society more destructive to sound jndgmen
and honest courses than that OF habitual over
| drinking