Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-08
The Stories ;bOut General
Grants OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tive Illustrations Of the Or
igin OF Scandals.

uranus DfunheuUeSs7En
tive Illustrations Of the Or
igin OF Scandals.
Nh. FREDzRTCK LAW OLMsTEp writes
The Nation tie following instructive &C
count Of how at least one fiction relating
to General Grants habits came into cir
euiatiOn
One day in the spring of 1868, Mr..
frederick Knapp and myself were guests
of Gen. Grant, at his headquarters, on a
steamboat lying at Milken's Bend. few
miles above Vicksburg. A curtain had
been hung in such way as to give a
certain d gree of seclus;on to the after
part o. the main cabin, and when we
rose from dinner we were asked to sit
with the General behind the screen,
where there was wiling table with q
pitcher and glasses. The General then
told US that he had few hours before
received unfayorable intelligence from
GoneraI Sherman's expedition up the
Suniiower. Inviting our inquiries, and
replying to all we thought it proper to
make, with an unexpectedly generous
freedom and painstaking thoroughness
of explanation, be was gradually led into
a comprehensive review Of the existing
conditions of his campaign, which was
easy to sec were of the very gravest
character. We were impressed as much
ly the remarkably methodical clearness
eli the narration by the simple candor
and righteousness with which it was
given TO us who, the day before, had
been strangers to him. lie took up sew
eral hypothesis and suggestions, and
analysed them in such way rs to make
prominent the uncertainties and uncon-
trollaLle elements which we've involved
in them, and | could not but think, so
musing and quietly reflective with his
manner, and yet so exact and well ar
ranged his expressions, that he was sim
ply repeating a process of 7" thinking it
out" IN order 20 assure himself that he
fully comprehended and gave Just weight
to all the important elements of some
grand military problem, the solution Of
which he was about to undertake.
Al at once he stopped short, and,
with an expression Of surprise, if not
distress, put his cigar away, rose and
moved his chair aside. A morBont be.
fore we could not have imagined that
there was woman within many miles
of us; but, turning my eyes, saw one
WHO had just parted the screen, namely,
well-dressed, and with the air and man
ner Of genil3woman. She had Just ar
rived by steamboat from Memphis, and
came to present Gen. Grant with a me-
mcriaI OF petition. In few words she
made known her purpose, and offered to
give IN detail certain facts, of which she
stated that she was cognizant, bearing
upon her object. The General stood
listening to her in an attitude of the
most doferential attention, his hand still
upon his chair, which was half in front
OF him as he turned to face her, and
slightly nodded his head as an expression
of assent Mt almost every sentence she ut
tered. When she had completed her
statement he said, speaking very low and
with an appearance of reluctance: 81
shall be compelled to consult my med
ical director, and to obtain a report
from him before l can meet your wishes.
Ii agreeable to you, l will ask him to
call upon you to morrow; shall l say at
IL o'elOck?" The lady bowed and with
drew; the General took long breath,
resumed his cigar and his scat, said that
lIe was Inclined to think her proposition
a reasonable and humane one, and then
went on with the interrupted interview
A week or two after this, having gone
up the river. Mr.. Knapp met his lady at
q hotel, when, in the course of CONVEX
satiou, she referred, with much sadness,
to the deplorable habits of General Grant,
and the hopelessness of success while our
army was commanded by a man so unfit
to be charged with any grave respousi.
billity. Mr. Knapp replied that be had
the best reason for stating that the re-
ports to which she referred were without
foundation, and proceeded to give her
certain exact foundation Of which he hap
pcned to be possessed, which, as far as
possible, refuted them. unfortunately, ;"
said the laly, Il have certain knowledge
that they are Tut too true" She then
described her recent interview with Gen
eral Grant, and aud it appeared, from
her point OF view, the General was en-
gagged with orc or two boon companions
when she came unexpectedly npon him:
then he rose to his feet with difficulty,
AMI could not stand without staggering,
and was obliged to support himself with
a chair; that he was evidently conscious
that he was in an unfit condition to at
tend to business, and wanted to put her
off till the next day; that his voice was
thick, he spoke incoherently, aud she
was so shocked that she was obliged to
withdraw almost Immediately. The next
day, being ashamed to see her himself he
sent his doctor to find out what she wan
ted.
Dir. Knapp then toll her that, having
been one of the boon companions whom
she bad observed with the General on
that occasion, and that having dined with
him, and been face to face TO him for
fully three hours, he not only knew
that he was not under the influence of
any drink stronger than the unqualified
mud of the Mississippi, but he could as