Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-05-06
Gen. Grant.


campaigns. publishers and authors hoping
to take advantage of the popular demand
to get off large editions at profitable prices
Some of these biographies will be good, some
Indifferent, and some bad enough. but they
will all sell Among those which. as far as
we can judge from our knowledge of the
author who has the matter in hand. are
likely to he good. is the volume being pre-
/ pared by Hon. Henry c. Demlng, recently
member of Congress from Connecticut, and
which is to be published by 5. S. Scran
ton Il Co, of Hartford Before engaging in
the work, Mr.. Deming wrote to Hon. f. b.
I Washburne, (Gcn. Grants intimate friend J
that he would undertake it, provided it
would be acceptable to Gen Grant himself
Mr.. Washburne replied - have seen Gen
Grant, and he informs me that there is no
man in the country whom he would prefer
TO have write his Life before yourself Go
on with it, and l will render you all the
assistance in my power
Mr.. Deming enjoyed the reputation of
being one of the most brilliant and eloquent
speakers in the 39th Congress, and he is
forcble and graceful writer. We copy be-
low an interesting extract from the advance
sheets of this volume, treating of Gen.
Grants Reticence
Grants hurried and rugged road from his
youth up had prevented him from turning
aside into the pleasant gardens and by-paths
of life from cultivating the arts de societe,
or ,aingling much in social enjoyments.
The balls and parties of Detroit in the win
ter of 1889 delightfully."- relieved the dull
routine of quartermaster duty. The
new tie which he had recently formed in
| addition to rendering his own quarters
pleasant and inviting, drew him out of him
self, from the mess room and his cigar to
the pleasant and agreeable circles in the city.
Mrs Grant was herself fond of social
pleasures and amusements and they soon
became far from insupportable to her hus-
band. 1t is not true, as is generally supposed.
that in private life he wraps himself up in
reticence and reserve. 1t is only when
pressed to divulge prospective military
designs, pumped by adroit politicians to in
dorsc party platforms, pestered by those who
worship - CAB " to play the role of stump
orator on every appropriate and inappropri-
ate occasion, that it becomes as inconyenient
and impossible for him to speak as it was for
Sir Mungo Malagrowther to hear when his
withers wrung by some disagreeable
innuendo. In the society of friends, and
even strangers worth of his civility, you
viii find him abundantly posted upon the
current themes of conversation, and sui-
ciently communicative upon events in his
own history which proper subjects of
narrative. He Is more voluble than either
of his neighbors who preside respectively
over the naval and war departments. He is
both fluent in manner and agreeable in the
matter in which he consents TO speak and
his vocabulary Is copiOus and even rich He
never hesitates for word, but talks with the
ease and duency of one, who, charged with
ideas, is borne on by the sincerity and earn
+ cstncss of his convictions. He speaks upon
all subjects with which he ought to be
familiar, as from full mind and impresses
YOU with the conviction that he is in the
habit Of arranging his ideas, and Of reflect
inc upon affairs under his official direction
You never rise from a conversation with him
without being convinced that he is fertile in
resources, and possesses ready and retentlve
memory. / nave never met with a bureau
officer in Washington more afahle upon
businessman brought under his official
notice than Gen. Grant. ! assert this OF
Grant from my own knowledge of the man,
ard as the result | have reached after fire.
quent interviews with him, during which |
have heard him describe the whole course of
! his most important campaigns, his most
memorable achievements. and paint in graph
4 ic outline such scenes the capitulation Of
Nicksburg and the surrender OF Lee. | was
a member of the Committee on Military
Affairs during the Thirty-ninth Congress,
and to me was referred as subcommittee the
bill creating the grade of General. and it
was made part OF my deputed duty to con-
suit him upon some parts of his military
operations which were severely criticised by
some of nv associates, | was honored by
him with frequent and prolonged audiences
at his own headquarters. | have been fre-
duenty authorized by the same committee TO
consult him upon other questions which we
had in charge, and respecting which it was
proper that we should be advised by the gen
eral in command of the army. His views.
clear and precise were always expressed
forthwith without previous premeditation.
| once chQper0ned into his presence party
Of my constituents who had come to Wash
ington with the impression that Gen Grant
never used his tongue except TO give pass
word or countersign. After the solemn
ceremony of introduction, the visitors grave
lv seated themselves as if before the marble
image of the commander-in-chief; and
drew the general out upon some subject for
the purpose of astounding them: and he
gave IA shock TO their precoDcoivod ideas
from which they have not yet recovered. |
am pleased to find that this opinion, which
have formed from personal observation, is
confirmed by personal friend of Gen. Grant,
whose acquaintance with him was of longer
duration and more intimate than any OF
which | can presume to boast. Gen. Nc
Pi,erson was a citizen of the same state
F was a distinguished division-commander
under him in the Vicksburg Campaign
and was struck down in battle near Atlanta
Ga, lamented by every loyal countryman.
While living disabled from his fatal wound
he said to friend standing by his bedside
:. To know and appreciate Gen. Grant fully,
ono ought to be member of his military
family Though possessing a remarkable
, reticence as far as military operations are
, oncernei. he is frank and affable, converses
we'll, and has a peculiarly retentive memory.
position he is very fond of talking, and tell
, ing anecdotes - Let it not, therefore, be
, supposed that he appeared in the fashionable
circles of Detroit dumb, vacant, unap-
proachable guest distrait. He is master Of
, the situation everywhere. He finds none
but peers at any mans table, and has nc
, occasion to shrink the ordeal of any society
, He is one of those rapid, sensible, and en-
ioyable takers whom you would never neg
lect if you were giving one of those dignifeG
conrersasiones of the olden time where sense
was the rule, and frivolity the exception
when, in the parlors of Washington and ir
the library at Monticello, conversation wa,
the 20 recreation of the judgment, the iubi
, lee of the reason 1t is not my intention tt
} indicate that Grant aspires to any brilliancy
of talk, or attempts to indulge in flights o
, pleasantly or '' corruscations Of wit and pur
3 and pit No: his conversation is unpre
tending, s.raightforward, grave, earnest, anC
5 oI To the poipt Nor do mao 10 ooxva1