Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-06-14
Stephens View of the War-His Opin-
ions Of Grant.

The second volume of ga Consti-
tutlonal View of the Late War
between the States" by Alexander
ID. Stephens, is just being issued for
circulation. The work is an elabor-
ate defense Of the rebellion from an
extreme Southern standpoint, but it
is hardly probable that it will effect
any considerable revolution in North
ern opinion as to the causes and
conduct of the war. Many parts
of the work, however, will be read
with interest, and among these
is tho authors opinion of Gen. Grant
whom he met near the close of the
war, which is copied below:
"Iwas never so much disappointed
in my life, in my previously-formed
opinions, of either the personal APP
pearance or bearings of any one,
about whom i had read and heard so
much. The disappointment, more
over, was in every respect favorable
and agreeable. / was instantly
struck with the great simplicity and
perfect naturalness Of his manners,
and the entire absence Of everything
like atfectation, show, or even the
usual military air or mien Of men in
his position. He was plainly attired,
sitting in log cabin, busily writing
on small table, by kerosene lamp.
1t was night when we arrived
There was nothing in his appearance
or surroundings which indicated his
official rank. There were neither
guards no aids about him. Upon
Col. Babcock's rapping at his door,
the response, Come ill., was given
by himself, in tone of voice, and
with cadence, which | can never
forget. His conversation was easy
and fluent, without the least effort or
restraint. In this, nothing was so
closely noticed by me as the point
and terseness with which he express
ed whatever he said. He did not
seem to court or avoid conversation,
but whenever he did speak, what he
said was directly to the point, and
covered the whole matter in q few
words. / saw before being with him
long, that he was exceedingly quick
at perception, and direct in purpose
with vast deal more brains than
tongue, as ready as that was at his
| command.
The more | became acquainted
with him, the more | became thor
oughly impressed with the very ex-
traordinary combination Of rare
elements of character which he ex-
hibited. During the time he met us
frequently and conversed freely upon
various subjects, not much upon our
mission. | saw, however, very
clearly that he was very anxious for
the proposed conference to take
place, and from all that was said,
Observation-Disclosures correctly or not,
| do not know-that he was fully
appraised of its proposed object. He
was, without doubt exceedingly anx-
ious for for termination of our
war, and the return of peace and har-
mony throughout the country. 1t
was through his instrumentality,
mainly, that Mr.. Lincoln finally con-
sented to meet US at Fortress Mon
roe, as the correspondence referred
to, shows.
But, / will add: that upon the
whole the result of this first acquaint-
ance with General Grant, beginning
with our going to, and ending with
our return from Hampton Roads, was
the conviction on my mind that,
taken all and al, he was one of the
most remarkable men | had ever
met with, and that his career in life,
if his days should be prolonged, was
hardly entered upon; that his char
acter was not yet fully developed
that he himself was not aware of his
own power, and that if he lived he
would, in the future, exert a con-
trolling influence in shaping the des-
tiny of this country, either for good
or for evil. Which it would be, time
and circumstances alone could dis
close. That was the opinion of him
then formed, and it is the same which
has been uniformly expressed by me
ever since"