Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-08-26
A. H. stephens ON Grant.so

Mr.. Stephens Constitutional View
[from a Secession standpoint Of the
War between the States" Vol. II.
(the last) has just been issued. 1t is
marked by all the distinguished authors
acuteness. vigor, and Inconsistency. We
extract from it his impressions of Gen.
Grant, founded upon two days intimacy
preceding his famous conference with
Lincoln and Seward in Hampton Roads,
February, 1865. Mr.. Stephens says:
] was never SO much disappointed
in my life, in my previously formed opin-
ions, of either the personal appearance
or bearing Of any one, about whom l
had read and heard SO much. The dis
appointment, moreover, was in every re-
spect favorable and agreeable. 1 was
instantly struck with the great simplici-
ty and perfect naturalness of his man
ners, and the entire absence of everything
like affectation, show, or even the usual
military air or mien Of men in his posi-
ton. He was plainly attired, sitting in
a log cabin busily writing on small ta-
BILE, 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 nor aids about him. Up
on Col. Babcock's rapping at his door,
the response. Come in, was given by
himself, in tone of voice, and with a
cadence which l can never forget.
His conversation was easy and fluent
without the least effort of restraint. In
this, nothing was so closely noticed by
me as the point and terseness with which
he expressed whatever he said. He did
! not seem either to court or avoid conver-
:, sation, but whenever he did speak, what
he said was directly to the point, and
covered the whole matter in few words
. l saw before being with him long, thai
he was exceedingly quick in perception
:, and direct in purpose, with vast dea
d more of brains than tongue, as ready a
: that was at his command.
eve were here with Gen. Grant tw,
days, as the correspondence referred +
:, shows. He furnished us with comforta
: BILE quarters on board of one of his dis
patch boats. The more l became az
quainted with him, the more l .becam
:. thoroughly impressed with the very e,
), traordinary combination of rare elemen
!. of character which he exhibited. Dl
:: ring the time he met us frequently, an
:. conversed freely upon various subject
!. not much upon our mission. Isaw hoy
:. ever, very clearly, that he was very an
i, ious for the proposed Conference to tai
] place, and from all that was said !
= ferred-whether correctly or not, I
- not know-that be was fully apprised
- its proposed object. He was, witho
4 doubt, exceedingly anxious for tern
nation of our war, and the return
peace and harmony throughout t
~. country. 1t was through his instrumt
- tality mainly, that Mr.. Lincoln fna
consented to meet us at Fortress Nom
:, "a as the correspondence referred
q, shows.
" But in further response to your
r. quiry, l will add that upon the VIII
the result of this first acquaintance W
m Gen. Grant, beginning with our
r. ing to, and ending with our return fr'
Hampton Roads, was, conviction on
= mind, that, taken all in all, he was
~ e of the most remarkable men | had e
~ met with, AID that his career in life
80 :. his days should be prolonged, was hi
- entered upon that his character
! !, not yet fully developed that he him
was not aware of his own power,
that if he lived, he would in the fut
lille exert a controlling influence in ST
Lord ing the destinies Of this country, Ell
llege for good or for evil. Which it would
!, the time and circumstance alone could
mile close. That was the opinion OF him
ired, formed, and it is the same which has
the uniformly expressed by me ever sine