The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-04-08

Grants Drunkenness. adh
~ - = r, CHIcAoo, ILL.,, March n
10 The Eaitr g'tas fines: - -
4 "Grant for Presidentp Could the ne.
gro-worshipping fanatics, who clamor so
loudly for the Observation-Disclosures
4 jupiter who commands Gour armies ID be
chosen chief magistrate Of the nation, have
as clear and positive knowledge Of the
habits character, and ability of the man as
has the writer hereof it is doubtful if many
would be so loud in their laudations Of his
supposed virtues, his exaggerated bravery.
his questionable wisdom, or his overloaded
hercism. 1t has been my privilege to know
Gen. Grantintimately since he first assum-
ed command Of the forces in the Missis-
sippi valley, when he made his headquar-
tiers in Cairo; and what am about to
state Of him, his habits, character and con
duct, shall substantiate by the statements
of gentlemen we'll known in this. city, and
whose word viii not be disputed, If they
may bepsked, whether my statements may
be true or false. Not ohly will all ! write
be corroborated by the persons I'shalf
name, Radicals though they may be, but
scoreslof the most respectable citizens of
Cairo will respond most funequivocally to
the accuracy of my allegations. or y,
| That sobriety was the exception and not
the rule OF Gen. Grants conduct while To-
Gated at Cairo, is fact too we'll known to
need confirmation but individual instan-
ces Of beastly drunkenness are not of rare
occurrence, q will mention two or three
which fell under my own personal knowli
edge, and which / am ready to verify on
call. r,,.e ~; ...s.lt,ao,t, f,,a 5Iox
steamer Alec Scott started from Cairo on
trip to Columbus, KY, carrying flag OF
truce, aud Gen. Grant, his staff, and few
other army officers, the newspaper cores
pop9euts, and some invited guests. When
the boat reached her Destination, o. beyy Of
rebel officers CAME Oh board, among whom
were Gen. Cheatham, Gem Pillow, Col:
Rusk, and general from Arkansas, whose
name l do not remember, when sgeneral
drunk commented, which was keptap un-
til late in the night, after the flag Of truce
officers had separated aud the Scott, had.
returned to Cairo. When the boat reach
ed the wharf at Cairo, Gen. Grant was in
such beastly state Of intoxication that it
was deemed imprndent TO take him to his
headquarters, over the City Bank, where
bis wife was awaiting him, and he was es-
corted and assisted to the St. Charles Ho-
tel, where he remained during the night.
When he arrived at the hotel it was found
that he was so drunk that considerable as
sistance was needed to enable him to reach
room on the second floor, and Capt. r.
B. Hatch, post quartermaster, and Robert
Forsyth, general freight agent of the 1lli-
nois Central Railroad upon, either
side, and each with shoulder under the
Generals arm.pit--hoisted him up the
stairs to Capt. Hatch's- A hundred
persons witnessed this scene, and loud and
many were the expressions uttered Of cen
sureRnd ofdisgust at the spectacle. About
IL O'Clock that night Grant got musical,
and an orderly was dispatched for the
brigade band to come and serenade him.
The band soon put in an appearance, and
were about to- commence playing, when Mr..
| Bedard and Mr.. Lansden, the proprietors
Of the hotel, attempted to stop them but,
on word being taken TO Gen. Grant OF the
obstruction to the music, he, with drunken
and profane inlecency, declared that he
would have the bank play when and, where
he desired. So the band proceeded to the
hall, outside the room where the general
vas rollicking in his drunkenness, and for
a half hour played to drown the uproar OF
the he'll within.
"A month later to q day, the same steam
er, was the scene of another gorgeous
drunk, upon another occasion, Of d = flag OF
truce " visit to Columbus. when Grant be-
came so wretchedy drunk that his friends
put him to bed, and kept the boat in the
river until he became sober enough to be
taken home. Hs,y IN .l..aas.
But Of hs,most disastrous SPREE that at
Fort Donelson--If, shall not speak until
another time, II possible to induce the
Chicago Tribune to tell the truth,I would
be glad to have Gov. Bross relate what he
saw and what he said Of the scene when
Gen. Grant landed from his aag:oftsuce Wis
it to, Columbus, after the battle oiBelmont,
when be (Grant) was SO drunk that he fell
ia half dozen times in going up the -leyee
from the wbarfboat , and the united Efforts
Of Captains Hillyer and Lagow were iusuf:
fcient to keep him on his pins. I would
also be- pleased to read what the fat writer
lofthe same paper witnessed upon the ,oc.
casion Of Gov. Yates visit to Grant, when
The (Yatesy was accompanied BY Mrs. Maj
Reynolds, who, report said, was sometimes
on the Governors Staff:
/ EYEWITNESS.
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