Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-14

the sea after he knew that Grant could send no
forces to meet him. he destroyed his commu-
ncations for loo miles to the rear and he had
none for 800 miles In front, and this distance he
be should md friend or foe. All this was Ser
mans own suggestion. There can De no depre-
eating ;asn the daring or the originality OF the
HEADQUARTERS LIFE AT CITY POINT
We have picture Of Grants headquarters OF
City Point which Is graphic and picturesque.
bluff overlooking the junction of the Appomat-
tox and the James. Here telegraph wires
brought him In communication with Meade,
Stanton, HalIeck and the PRESIDENT Here
President Lincoln scent several weeks, mostly
In the Adjutant Generals Office, reading dis
as II he hardly knew what to do with them
Lincoln leaned his chair backward and
talked apparently with the greatest free
tellectual canber OF the man was most
apparent and most imposing" Grant with his
personal staff always messed together, "a rude
long deal table received the fare never gar
nished with wine or spirits of any kind; coffee
and tea at breakfast and supper, with water
offered at these simple soldiers meals" The
evening was generally spent around the great
campfire. where Gen. Grant would join the
tics at home were often discussed and, unless
strangers or foreigners were present Witt grea
had known came In, and tales of West Point
life were common. But, though familiar, the
talk was by no means vulgar; no coarse Ian
General.in-c Chief the most modest man In con-
versation In the army. profane word never
passed his Ups. ana II by some rare chance
blushed like a. girl. Yet he was entirely free
from cant. and never reouked In others th
faults which he himself scrupulously avoided
WAR PORTRAIT OF GRANT.
"Grant," says Badeau, Indeed rarely.
showed vexat1on at occurrences, great or
small, which must have tried him hard. Some
set and his mouth rigid, his expression stern;
but even then his eye rarely flashed; and his
voice betrayed no emotion. His tones grew
calmer and more distinct; bis mind seemed TO
| kindle, his Intellectual vision quickened; the
windows OF his soul were opened. and he looked
out, through and beyond whatever was Oh.
long and Intimately and watched MIN closely
could discern. To others he was as tnpassive
as ever. remember only twice during the
war TO have seen in him what might be called
shadow Of eXcitement-Onco, when he was
Indignant at great wrong put upon friend,
and once, in the field when we passed q team
ster who was lllusing horse, he shook his
cIinched hand at the man and Threatened him
with arrest for cruelty.
MIDNIGHT vIGILS AT HEADQUARTE
"As the night woe On one and another of
.
| and by midnight the circle YVES winnowed TO
| three or four, OF whom Grant was always one.
The only symptom OF anxiety he displayed
| under the tremendous cares imposed upon him
| was wakefulness. lie never wanted to go to
| his camp bed. His immediate aides de-camp
| discovered this, and as he was willing TO Sit
! under the cold, clear sky and stars until or
| O'Clock, wearing them all out, they at last
| agreed among themselves TO wait up with him
! in turn. He never knew OF this, butwe often
| bargatned with each other for an hour or two
| of rest. Many OF these nights can remember
! during that long winter at City Point, when
| every one was asleep but the commander Of
| the armies and his single officer. II the wealth
| er was Indictment we bore 1t as long as We could
outside, and then we sought shelter In his
! cabin How confidential and Intimate MS con-
versation could at such times become only
those thrown closely with him knew. His
recollections OF the past, the stories OF bis
great battles and campaigns the personal IN
tanooga. and Shiloh; the details OF his
earlier career; his belief in the ultimate sue
| cess OF our cause; his prediction OF events
all were clearly told In terse and often elegant
language with every now and then pregnant
| utteraHce that showed his appreciation OF In.
| dividual character or close sympathy with
! men in masses, the native strength OF his in
tellect or the keen penetration OF his judg-
| ment-"
THE CAMPAIGN OF THOMAS AGAINST HOOD.
| The campaign OF Thomas against Hood is
detailed at great length. Gen. Badeau prints
| pressing orders from Gen. Grant, urging
Thomas again and again to attack Hood. FL
|
mand was Issued. "A5 length Gen Grant
started from his headquarters. intending to
| go to Tennessee and take command Of Thomas
own army. On reaching Washington ne re-
ceived a dispatch announcing the success of
| the attack on Hood. an attack which deyel-
| oped into one OF the greatest victories OF the
| war. 81 was just on my way to Nashville
he teegraphed Thomas. ''Dut receiving DIS
| patcn from Van DuZer detailing your splendid
success OF to-day. shall go no further. Push
the enemy now, and give Gtm no rest till he Is
|
! against Richmond have fired 200 guns In honor
OF your great victory" ON the 23i Grant tele-
| graphed to the War department.: Il think 1t
would be appropriate now to bestow on Gen.
| Thomas the vacant major generalShip in the
| regular army; he seems to be pushing ahead
with energy, and he no doubt will completely
when the war was over,'' says Badeau. land
| the General n-chief made his formal report of
an elaborate criticism Of Thomas course; but
| afJerWard determined to refrain from even the
| appearance of censure OF one who had done so
we'll for his country, and instead of dispralse
he declared in so many words that though his
own opinions were unchanged, Thomas final
defeat Of Hood was so complete that 1t would
be accepted as ylndieation Of that dlstin.
criticism is spent, the fact remains that Thomas
at Nashville did as much to end tina rebellion
as any one General In any one battle OF the
War. And In military matters nothing which
Is successful 1s wrong"
FIVE FORKS AND WARREN.
| vi Guc oISI VI MdTcu the DdUJle OF tlVe FORKS
was fought, which ended In the dScomfi turs
OF Lees army. It was during the progress OF
this battle that Gen. Warren was relieved from
the command OF the Fifth corps Gen. Badeau
enters into this question at length, to SHOW that
the degradation of Warren from his high rank
on the field OF battle was Justified by his un
fortunate temperament. The tnterminable
delays OF Warren On the 2lst OF March so an.
Doyed Grant that Gen. Badeau says: more
than once in that long night Grant thought OF
relieving him from command. Every plan was
confused, every maneuver complicated, every
object endangered, by his failure to move. The
situation which Sheridan described at am
did not exist, solely because Warren had not
obeyed his orders; there would be opportunity
for the rebels TO escape, or there might be dan.
ger OF the destruction OF the cavalry, solely be-
cause Warren was not at the appointed place
| at the appointed time.
| ION TO RICHMOND.
While the battle of Fave Forks was fought
Grant sat in his distant headquarters, outside
OF bis tent, wrapped in the blue overcoat OF q
private soldier, which he wore in this cam
paign. 1.-TWO or three staff officers were With
him, says Badeau. 'hovering around the camp
fire In the wet and gloomy woods Two had
remained all day with Sheridan to bring the
earliest reports. Suddenly the cheers OF the
troops were heard In the distance as they
gathered from an OFFICER, while he rode along,
| the character OF his news Every 0na ar