Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-10
Letter from Washington.
IrRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

IFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. 8, 1871.
FLANKING THE ENEMY.
The president, like other men, does not easily
forget old tricks. A soldier, fOrsooth, must
often fight his battles over, in his own mind at
least. If general, he doubtless often debates
the strategy with which he met and outwitted
his enemy Grant seems to have such moods,
and Judging by the precautions he has taken of
late, he holds to the fanking process as prime
quality of generalship. His present enemy
must be the office seekers, and other bores, that
are doubtless allowed to live in order to prove
how uneasy lies the head that wears-if not a
crown the hat of a republican executive.
The president came here yesterday morning
he leaves tonight for his home by the sea. In
this space he "came, saw and conquered "a
quarry like Pleasonton. But am ahead of my
story, which designs TO tell the precautions
taken to come unknown. No one knew, until
late in the day-nor even the ubiquitous inter
viewer of Mr.. Summers trunks-that the presi.
dent was in the city. Admiral Alden
(redoubtable slayer OF Porter, his i'm
mediate chief in the presidential favor) re-
ceived telegram asking him to have a close
carriage at the depot. Admirals, like every
one else, obey these mandates. A man was
sent TO the depot. Instead of close carriage
he obtained an open barouche. When General
Porter angrily asked why he had not done as
ordered, he excused himself by saying "none
were to be obtained, as they were all gone to
funerals" The fellow must have been some
thing of a wag, as he told with a chuckle of
this answer. For some reason the president
was driven to friends house and could not be
found by the most vgilaut of correspondents.
Somebody's funeral was on hand and, as it
proved, Pleasonton was the victim.
HOW THE PRESIDENT WAS oUTFLANKED.
When last here Gen. Grant gave orders, both
at the Arlington, where he stopped, and at the
White house, where he did business that no
cards were to be sent into him. am not aware
whether Dent mourned this decision or not, but
| presume that he was pleased rather than
otherwise. One persistent person, man who
has vowed to obtain a certain favor, seemed by
instinct to comprehend that the president had
arrived. He went TO the Arlington; thence to
the White house. The usher took his card, but
| ii never went to the president Micawber wait
| ed, bat after some hours found that his card
was not trump, nor belonged to a court suit.
| Finding that the president had gone to the Ar
lington, Micawber fastened there. Approach
ing the stately clerk at that hostelry, he asked
in dulcet tones if the president was in. The re-
ply was an affirmative, with the information that
no cards were to be sent to his rooms. eyes;
know" was the unblushing response; "but this
is a personal matter, and the president will see
me- Pve just left the White house, and General
| Grant told me to come over here" The clerk
was caught, and Micawber, instead of his card,
was shown up. He got in, stayed at least thirty
minutes, bored the president, but came away as
he went in. Yesterday the president took bet
| ter precautions.
HOW THE PRESIDENT LOOKS.
To-day he received a number of persons,
among them the writer, and a gentleman, who
having just returned from three months tour
| throughout the south, had gained clear con-
| ception of the general as well as the political
situation there. He was DESTROYS of telling the
| president some opinions he had formed and
some information he had obtained. went to
| introduce him to Gems. Babcock and Porter, so
as TO facilitate his desire. Arriving there we
were shown into the presidents ofice-a very
simply and plainly furnished room, looking
over the noble Potomac, where but short dis
lance southwark it runs beneath the blazing sun
light. The heat filed the atmosphere with haze,
| and inside and out, everything seemed to shrivel
in its furnace-like ardor.
The president received us cordially, greeting
my friend more tremendously than myself, as
my name at least was more familiar. Gen
Grant looked very well. His face is Drowned,
almost tanned, and appeared as if its owner
enjoyed excellent health. There was in the
manner of the president none of that cold
stolid reserve with which it is commonly said
Grant receives callers. On the contrary, the
expression was one of active, keen and close
attention. Indeed, no subtler hattery could
have been offered, if il had been assumed, than
the air Of concentrated interest which marked
his features Occasionally he made an inquiry
of my FRIEND and two or three times entered
into brief conversation, showing by both in
quiry and interlOcutory talk, that he thoroughly
understood the southern situation. Parentheti-
cally the political possibilities there were alud-
ed to, and the president intimated, readily and
without reserve, what states he supposed could
now be carried by the republicans. AS the
substance of our talk was of a semi-con6dential
nature, shall not publish what he said only
saying that it showed the close shrewdness with
which he watches affairs, and proved that he
was not as hopeful as is your correspondent.
In taking leave, some reference was made to
Gen. Pleasonton, when the president remarked
that he had suspended him from his functions.
placing Mr.. Douglass in his stead In answer to
remark of my companion, who said his our
nal had supported the late commissioner, the
president remarked that however much he
might regret the necessity, he could NOT do
otherwise There was. no questions in such a
matter who must be sustained. If a bureau
officer was insubordinate, there was nothing else
to be done but to remove him. Again, in reply
TO question, the president said his per-
| sonal feelings towards Pleasonton were
| iothe kindest nature. They were almost life
| long friends, Pleasonton having entered West
| Point one year after himself, and they had been
| thrown together great deal since.
In speaking thus of the discarded commission
er, could not but notice the presidents face
soften, from what seems its now habitual EXPIRES
sion of set and self-controlled gravity and re-
serve, into pleasant and hearty expression of
kindlness Icould wellbeleve that it cost the pres
| ident struggle to do what he did to-day, and |
could also freely believe in the tenacty and
warmth of his personal friendship, be they few
| or many. OBSERVER
| A Mississippi correspondent writing about
| Mr. Jefferson Davis's old plantation in that
| sfata and nf ifs enrpspnf bv
latter: Mr.. Montgomery, the present proprie-
! tor by contract of between five and six thou
sand acres of land has one of the most in
teresting families | have seen in the south. They
are building up future, which, if exceptional