Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-10-31

From the Life Of Ulysses s. Grant, by Charles A.
Dana and T. II. Wilson, Brevet Major General,
T. $. A.
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
Grant is somewhat under the medium
size, though his body is closely and
powerfully built. His feet and hands
are small and neatly shaped his dress
is plain and exceedingly unostenta-
tious: his eyes are large, deep. leonlne
and very strong, equally capable of
blazing with resolution that nothing
can withstand, and of shining with the
steady light of beneeolence and anna
biIity. His fibre is like that of steel
wire, elastic, close. grained, and endnr-
ing his temperament is admirably
compounded Of the sanguine, nervous,
aud Emphatic, but the last Is IN such
proportion as to tone down and hold
in equilibrium the other two, perfectlng
both his mental and physical organlza-
ton. HIS capacity for labor surpasses
comprehension neither mental nor
physical cxertion seems TO produce the
least wear and tear i'll his case. he
rides at dashlng speed hour after
hour and day after day with the same
ease with which he plans battle or
issues the Instructions for campaign.
HIS MANNERS.
There is no noise or clash or clangor
in the man; his voice is as quiet and
orderly as a womans, and his language
iudiciously and stefully chosen. He
was never heard to give utterance to
rude word or a vulgar Jest; no oath or
fierce, fiery imprecation has ever es-
capped his lils. No laundering order,
no unfeeling or undignihed speech, and
no thoughtless or ill-natured criticism
ever fell from him. When angry,
which is rarely the case, or ut least he
rarely shows his anger, he speaks with
well ordered but subdued vehemence,
displaying his passion by compressed
lips and an earnest flash o. the eye.
But it must be said of HIM, that of all
men he is the slowest to anger.
MENTAL ENDowMENrs.
| He has been represented as one of
! the rlost taciturn of men. and in one
respect Ia is such. He never d;vulges
his thoughts till they are matured, and
never aspires to speech-rlaking: and
even III private conversation he falls
into silence if he suspects that he is
| likely to be reported. He is the most
modest of men, and nothing annoys
him more than loud parade of per.
sonal opinion, or personal vanity; but
with his intimate friends, either at
home or around the campfire, he
talks upon all 'bjccts, not only
Huently and copiously, but in the most
charming and good natured manner.
He has retentive memory, and is
| deeply interested in all matters which
concern the interests of humanity, and
particularly his own country. Upon
all such subjects, in fact, upon all the
vital questions OF the day, he thinks
carefully and profoundly, and expresses
himself with great ease and good sense.
HIS understanding is of that incisive
character that soon probes a question
to the bottom, no matter how much
the politicians ornewspapers may Labor
to confuse 1T while his Judgment is SO
deliberate, honest and truthful IL It's
operations, that it may be implicitly
relied upon to arrive ut fair and I'M
biased conclusion. His memory is
stored with personal incidents illus
trative of men and manners in all parts
of the country, showing that he has
eyiG entity been profound student of
human nature throughout life; his APP
probation of men and character has
never been surpassed. This was well
shown iii the reorganization of the army
after he became Lieutenant General. 1t
is we'll known that he did not tail in Il
single instance where change was
made III putting the right man in the
right place, This was due neither to
chance nor snap Judgment, but to his
habit of careful observation. He
warns toward a bold, outspoken, and
loyal nature; full of ardor and zeal
himself, he naturally admires these
qualities in others. He has no patience
with weak, complaining and selfish
disposition, and cannot endure double
dealing or indirectness of any sort.
Straightforward and frank in all things
himself, he respects these qualities
wherever they are found. Indeed, the
most striking peculiarly of his nature,
both ms a man and General, is pro-
found and undertaking truthfulness in
all things.
His consideration for those about
him is admirably shown by the follow
ing incident On the night after the
battle of Mission Ridge, while return
ing from the front to his headquarters
at Chattanooga, he desired to know
what had become of Sheridan's divis-
ion, winch had been reported at noon
rs engaged in building bridge across
the Chikamauga at Mission Mills. and
although 1t was then after midnight,
he requested one of ms staff 10 obtain
the desired information. The officer,
after long and tiresome ride, reported