The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-10
A REMINISOENOE.
General Gran, M : Ra,,ro.a Ca.

CTo'n me Roroury Mass) Journal, March g.
soon after General Grant was assigned to the
oonnsno OF the armies OF the United States
SUI fortunately assigned himself 10 the Army OF
the Potomac, / had occasion TO visit Washing-
ION on some regmental business. NV errand
naVlng Deeu accomplished, l has ened to the
place.depot 1t was not-for which the train
snarteo Tl ior our camps, near the Rappahauuock.
Ihere was great crowd of soldiers there, and
sNery car, with one exception, was not only
iull, but overlooking.
among the surging mass still outside, and
sS.IuPgiing to get IN. noticed a 7arthy and
dlsaRreeable looking Virginia lady, giving un-
mistskaOle evidence of her purpose to 20 home
on mat traiD. She tried to get on to one plat.
ioTm, and then another, in vain. Indeed, her
look, manner, and dress were not such as to
win consideration for her in any ordinary
The train was to start in less than a minute,
and the pr 'spect that she, myself and a iew
otners were TO be lett behind was becomi lg
painfully brilliant. just then a staff officer
came out OF the sedate-looking aud unassailed
car, and, standing on the platform, said to the
woman ana about twenty anxious oflicers:-
This is special car for General Grant, bat
you are invited to come in and be seated.n [
stepped upon the platform, quickly followed by
the woman. Grant was inside, smoking, as
was bis wont. AS we entered he turned
towards US, and, as 1t seemed to me-
showed a little surprise, If not annoy.
apce, at the female appartion. In truth, il
was rather novel sight to see a woman
on any OF those military trains running from
Washington in the direction of Richmond.
Wi bOut a moments delay, owever Grant
turned to the window at his right, raised it,
flung out and thus sacrificed two. thirds OF his
Designio on the altar of pollteness! Remember
that this was his special car. that smoking was
allowed on tbat and every o,her military road
that Grant was then practically monarch of ali
he surveyed" aud bad right royal liking for a
good cigar, yet in this little incident the gentle.
man spontaneously breaks out in the conQueror.
There may be men with more measured step
and studied manner and superficial i'm mpressive-
ness, but none was ever born with soul more
nicely attuned to the delicaces of social life
than that OF General Grant.
Our friend as | may now call her, took her
seat near the front or southerly door, and the
General was seated in about the middle of the
car, both laced to the rear" The way stations
were exceedingly numerous, and as the train
hauled up ut each, the General was noticed
swngine himself around firmly but cautiously
in his seat, to see If the woman had gone out.
But no; there she was every time. II was hard
on the General and hard on us. Our pockets
were as full of cigars as his: and where is the
smoker who does not appreciate Spanish blast
OF cons olation amid the jars and dangers OF
trip by rail?
The Generals politeness was inexorable; ours
was forced by his example. At last the agony
came to an end. The fifth station was reached
and, as Grant turned again, the woman went
out. He bad match in one hand and fresh
cigar in the other. The slam of the door and
the crackle of his lucifer were simultaneous
one the complement of the other, and both an
invitation to JOIN him in whitfing-our own
cigars.