Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-08-13
Is Hiram u. Grant
Drunkard?
GRANTS HABITS.
CHICAGO, Ill, May Z, 1868.

4
To the Editor oftte Chicago Times
1t has been my privilege to
know Gen. Grant intimately since
he first assumed command of the
forces in the Mississippi Valley,
when he made his headquarters
in Cairo, and what | am about to
state of him, his habits, character,
and conduct, | shall substantiate
by the statements Of gentlemen
well known in this city, and
whose word will not be disputed,
if they may be asked whether my
statements may be true or false.
Not only will all I write be cor
roborated by the persons I shall
name-Radicals though they may
be-but scores of the most re-
spectacle citizens of Cairo will
respond most unequivocally to
the accuracy of my allegations.
That sobriety aoas the exception
and not the rule of General
Grants conduct while located at
Cairo is a fact too well known to
need confirmation, but individual
instances of beastly drunkenness are
not Of rare occurrence. Twill men,
ton two or three which fell un-
der my own personal knowledge,
and which | am ready to verify
on call. On the Sth day Of No
vember, 1861, the steamer Alec.
Scott started from Cairo on a trip
to Columbus, KY, carrying a flag
of truce, and General Grant, his
staff, and few other army officers,
the newspaper correspondents,
and some invited guests. When
the boat reached her destination,
a bevy of rebel officers came on
board among whom were General
Cheatham, General Pillow, Colonel
Rusk, and a General from Arkan-
sas whose name | do not remem.
ber-when q general drunk COM
mienced, which was kept up until
late in the night, after the fag-of-
truce officers had separated and
the Scott had returned to Cairo.
When the boat reached the wharf
at Cairo, General Grant scos an
such a beastly state Of intonication
that 1t aoas deemed inaprude1at to
taze him to his headquarters, over
the City Bank, where his wife
was awaiting him, and LIE was es-
corted and assisted to the ST..
Charles Hotel, where be remained
during the night. When he arrived
at the hotel 1t was found that heI
acas go drunk that considerable as
8istance aoas needed to enable him to
reach a room on the second floor,
and CA ain R. B. Hatch, Post
Qurtermaster, and Robert Forsyth,
general freight agent of the Hi
nois Central Railroad-one upon
either side, and each with shoulder
under the Generals armpit-hoist-
ed him up the steirs, to Captain
Hatch's room. A hundred per-
sons witnessed this scene, and loud
and many were the expressions
uttered of censure and of disgust
at the spectacle. About 12o'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..
Bearden and Mr.. Lansden, the
proprietors of the hotel, attempted
to stop them; but, on word being
taken to General Grant of the OBJ
struction to the music, he, soith
drunken and protane indecency,
declared that he was commander
of the post, and he would have
the band play when he desired
So the band proceeded to the hall,
outside the room, where the Gen
eral was rollickang IN has d,atnhen-
ness, and for a half-hour played.to1
drown the uproarof the hell within.
A month later to a day the same
steamer was the scene Of another
gorgeous drunk, upon another oc-
casion of "fag-of-truce' visit to
Columbus, when Grant became SO
wretchedly drunk that his friends
put him to bed, and kept the boat
in the river until he became So
Der enough to be taken home