Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-05-08
Gen. Grant on a spree.

The following letter from Fred. Law
Olms,cad appears in the last number of th
New York Nation and affords timely il
lustration of the facility with which il
Experienced persons sometimes decclv,
themselves and become the unconsciCu
instruments If the wilful slaDderers b,
whom they have been prcjudiced:
One day i the spring of 1863. Mr. Fred
cric! Knapp and myself were guests o
General Grant. at his headquarters, on q
steamboat lying at MiIlikcn's Bend, few
miles above Vicksburg. A curtain had
hecn hung in such n way as to give Ger
tain degree of seclusion to the after part
of the main cabin. and when we ros. from
dinner we were asked to sit with the gen
eral behind the screen. where there was a
writing table with pitcher and glasses
The general then told us that he had few
hours before received unfavorable intel
igence from General Shprman's exuedi
ton up the Sunaower. Inviting our in
quirics. and replying to all We thought
proper to make, with an exceedingly gen.
erous freedom aud painstaking thorough.
ness OF explanation, he was gradually led
into comprehensive review Of the exist
ing condition of his campaign. which it was
easy to see was of the very grayest Of
character. We were impressed as much
by the remarkably methOdical clearness of
the narration as by the simple candor and
ingenousness with which it was given tu
US who the day before had been strangers
to him. He tooi up several hypothcses
aud suggestions, and analyzed them in
such way as to make prominent uncer-
fni iuta onI nIol,l ola -
which were involved in them, and
could not but think, so musing, quietly re
Elective was his manner. and yet so cxac
and well arranged his expressions that ht
was simplyrepeating process of think
ing it out in order to assure himself thai
he fully cOmprehended and gavejust weight
to all the important elements of some CRANE
military problem, the solution of which he
was about to undertake.
tThe last attempt to attack Vlcksburg on
the north, ended that day and "a few hours
after our interview the first step was taken
looking toward tho approach from the
south: but of this no hint was given us. ant
we only beard of it the next morning
All at once he stopped short. and. with
an expression of surprise il not of distress
put his segar away. rose, and moved hi,
chair aside. A moment before We could
not have imagined that there was woman
within twenty miles of us but, turning my
eyes, saw one who had Just parted the
screen, cOmely, well-drcsscd. aud with the
air and manner Of a gcntlewOman. She had
just arrived by a steamboat from Memphis,
and came to present General Grant with a
memorial or petition. LII few words she
made known her purpose, and offered to
give in detail certain facts Of which she
stated that she was cognizant. bearing up
on her object. The General stood listen
ing to her in an attitude of the most defer.
ential attention. his hand still upon his
chair which was half to front of him as he
turned to face her, aud slightly nodding his
head as ali expression of assent at almost
every sentence she uttered. When she
iad completed her statement. he said.
speaking very low, and with an appearance
of reluctance:
i shall be compelled to consult my med
ical director. and to obtain report from
him before eau meet your wishes. II
agreeable to you. will ask him to call up
on You tO-mOrrow shall say at eleven
O'Clock ? The lady bowed and withdrew;
the General took long breath. resumed
his cigar and his seat said that he WAS in,
clined to think her proposition q reasonable
and humane one. and then went on with
the interrupted review.
A week after this, having gone up the
river. Mr.. Knapp met this lady at hotel,
when, in the course Of conversation. she
referred with much sadness to the deplar
able habits of General Grant, and the
Of success while our army was
by man SO unfit to be charg.
ed with any grave responsibility.
Mr.. Knapp replied that he had the best
reason for stating that the reports to which