The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-13

Vicksburg. A cur ain had been hung
IN such way as 10 give a certain de-
gree of seclusion 70 the after part Of
the main cabin, and when we rose
from dinner we we're asked to sit with
the General behind thc screen, where
there was a writing table with
pitcher add glasses. The General
then told Us that he had a few hours
before received unfavorable inLelli-
gence from General Shermsn's eXpe-
dition up the Sunhower.
Inviting our inquiries, and replying
to all we thought II proper to make
with an UNEXPECTED generous freedom
and painstaking thoroughness- Of ex-
PLANTATION, he was gradually led into
Comprehensive review Of the existing
conditions of his campaign, which II
was easy to see were of the very
gravest character. We were impress
ed as much By the remarkable me-
thodical clearness Of the narration, as
by the simple candor and Ingenious
ness with which II was given to Us,
who, the day before, had been
strangers to him. He took up several
alyZed them In such a way as to make
prominent the uncertainties and IN
comfortable elements which were IN
volved In them, and | could not but
think, so musingly and quietly re-
fecting was his manner, and yet so
exact and we'll arranged his express
sions, that he was simply repeating
a process of thinking 1t out, IN
order to 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.
(The last attempt to attack Vicks
burg on the north ended that day, and
a few hours after our interview the
first step was taken looking toward
the approach from the south; but of
this no hint was given US, and we only
heard Of 1t the next mOrnlng.)
All at once he stopped short, an d,
with an expression Of surprise, if q OF
Of distress, put his cigar away, rose, /
and moved his chair aside. A mo-
ment before we could not have imag-
ined that there was a woman within
many miles of Us; but, turning my
eyes, saw one who had just parted /
the screen, comely, we'll dressed, and /
with the air and manner of a gentle I.
woman. She had just arrived by a /
steamboat from Memphis and came
TO present General Grant with a
memorial or petition. In q few words +
she made known her purpose, and Of T
lered to give in detail certain facts, of .
which she stated that she was cogni- /
Zant, bearing upon her object. The .
General stood listening to her In an .
attitude Of the most deferential atten- /
ton, his hand still upon his chair,
which was half in front of him. as he /
had turned to face her, and slightly I
nOdding his head. as an expression of +
assent, at almost every sentence she +
uttered. When she had completed /
her statement, he said speaking very
low, and with an appearance Of reluc-
lance, l shall be compelled TO con-
suit my medical director, and to OBJ
tain a report from him before | can
meet your wishes. If agreeable to
you, will ask him to call upon you
tomorrow; shall l say IL o'clOck2"
The lady bowed and withdrew; the
General took a long breath. resumed
his cigar and his seat, and said that
he was inclined to think her PROPOSE
ton a reasonable and humane one,
and then went on with the inter
rupted review.
A week or two after this, having
gone up the river, Mr.. Knapp met
this LADY at a hotel. when, in the
course Of a conversation, she referred
with much sadness to the deplOrable
ha bits of General Grant, and the hope
lessness of success while our arey
was commanded by mau so unfit to
be charged with any grave response
bIlity. Mr.. Knapp replied that he
had the best reason for stating that
the reports to which she referred were
without foundation, and proceeded to
give her certain exact information of
which he happened to be possessed,
which, as far as possible, refuted them.
8 Unfortunately" said the lady, I
have certain knowledge that they are
but too true. She then described
her recent interview with General
Grant, and it appeared that, from her
point of view, the General was engag-
ed in a carouse with one or two boon
when she came unexpect-
edly upon him; that he rose to his
feet with difficulty, could not stand
without staggering, and was Obliged
to support himself with a chair; that
he was evidently conscious that ne
was in an unfit con dition to attend to
business, and wanted to put her off
till the next day; that his voice was
thick, he spoke incoherently, and she
was so much shocked that she was
Obliged to withdraw almost immedi-
ately. The next day, being ashamed
to see her himself, he sent his doctor
to find out what she wanted.
Mr.. Knapp then told her that, hav-