The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-08-25
- 49,
Gurowskt ON Grant.

The late Count Gurowski was one of the
best judges and one OF the shrewdest observ-
ers Of men, and during the war was constant
~ at Washington, III the highest society, and
with every opportunity of learning the truth.
March Il. 1861, the following striking allu-
sion was made in his diary to the man who is
to-day The Republican candidate for Presi.
dent
Grant will not be intoxicated by aattery
as was Mcclellan. / never met man d. so
much simplicity, shyness and decision
April 8, 1864. occurs the following remarks
able passage in his diary
Grant has lost nothing Of his freshness of
mind and righteousness. He avoids Wash
ington and its vaTions corrnpting allurements;
nay, he runs away from them. And Grant
is right; his good genius inspires him. Grant
is essentially soldier for the camp and field.
All Grants predecessors in command of the
Army Of the Potomac-several commanders
fthe corps, divisions, brlgades and regi-
ments-in one word, many, many officers,
and even the rank and file, came to grief
and were ruined By Washington influences.
Even Mcclellan was ruined by his sojourn
ia Washington, provided there was anything
Whatever to be ruined in Mcclellan. When
with the army, the thought and mind Of
Grants predecessors were not in the camp,
but in Washington, in is varions attractions
and intrigues.
The commanders, Generals, etc, visited
and visit Washington when they can its va
rious attractions ruin them.
April g. 1864, Gurowski draws the follow
ing admirable pen-and-ink portrait Of Grant ::
How fond this giant is of violating the easy
military regulations There. Grant es.ab
tablishes his headquarters ten miles nearer
the army than Meade had his. Grant head
quarters are almost amid the soldiers. That
is a Western custom, and not q Potomac
army custom. Bad precedent, and certainly
an anti Mcclellan one. Then Grant travels
with the simplicity Of second lieutenant,
without fuss, and with small trunk, which
he torgets in his room, aud, to gain time,
goes off leaving mis- trunk behind. McCiel-
| Ian, although not Lieutenant General, had
splendid travelling eqnippage, carriages. etc,
all this Ter campaign OF one hundred and
twenty miles space, and in a country with
| railroads. That was communicable
1t Grant fails. then a curse is on this Po-
| tomac army. Grant is soldier to the core,
and genuine democratic tnot in the party
! sensel commander ola democratic army from
| democratic people. Further, Grant sends
| his wife off to the farm of her father, some.
| where III Missouri If all this, to be classic
al and hifalutln, is not Roman, Cincinnatus
| and matronlike, then am at loss for pro.
cedents and for historical Illustrations.
! I'rcoatra Mcclellan tried as much Al
he could to ape arissoera.ic Europe. Bril-
| liant receptions, representations, sersilits
surrounded him, and he thrived on them.
| The final question is: VIII Grant remair
diamond, resisting The dissoiving Washing
ton acids9
April II, 1861 Grant is again Graphical,
depicted
| From what can learn OF Grant, he is n,
more afraid to take the responsibility of I
million men than of single company. Thi
is a very praiseworthy feature in his charac
ter, and the more so, as i, il not generated
| by concet or indifference.