Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-05-22
A MODEST nero.

81 shall never forget my first inter
view with General Grant," said Aiexan-
der IL. Stevens AS he wheeled his invalid
chair up to where some gentlemen were
discussing the qualities of the General.
1t was when came up i'll 1861 with the
Peace Commission from Richmond. l
had been reading great deal about
Grant IN all our papers during the war.
| had read of him is Butcher Grant
so long that inyoluntarily that idea be-
came pretty firmly established in my
mind. i could not get out of my head
a picture of a course. boorish, brutal
man. We had with us leading officer
of Lees staff. He was in full uniform
and gotten up for visit of extreme GER
emony. When we reached Grant head
quarters it was nearly night. We had
passed by the sentinels with great deal
of ceremony. We thought, when we
reached Grants headquarters, to lind a
great military scene. Iexpected to find
Grant, the then commander of an army
of a million Of men, in a splendid POI
sition, surrounded by all the display
that great military power makes pos
sible.
But what was my surprise. when
reached the headquarters, 10 find only
a log house, with not even a sentry in
front of it. / doubted If this could be
Grants headquarters. Ii was now nearly
night. l advanced with my party and
knocked. There was no servant, even,
in attendance to announce callers. The
door Was opened BY plain, medium
sized man in civilian clothes. He held
q lighted lamp in his hands. / said:
Il wish to see General Grant
az am General Grant," he said, in the
simplest possible way. Will you not
walk in, gentlemen"
Wewalked in and were seated by him.
He was alone in the room. From the
first he evinced the greatest possible in
terest in the success of our mission. l
observed him closely dnring the hour We
were with him. Grants simplicity and
found admiration. noticed also, when
orderlies came in to receive orders, that
these were given in an ordinary voice.
There was nothing of the commander
in his directions. He usually concluded
an order with the words "go quickly,
in conversational tone.
When our first consultation ended,
Grant insisted upon our sleeping upon
his headquarters boat. When asked
where the boat was, instead of sum
monipg an orderly or sergeant, Grant
said:
Il will 60 with you myself"
The night had now become very dark.
We came out Of the log ho1se and went
stumbling along after Grant, who skip
ped along with the liehtness and agility
Of q boy. Every now and then we would
meet q sentinel. To his call Of . Who
goes thereY" Grant replied, The Gen
eral OF the army He conducted as
personally TO the boat, and then assigned
rs TO rooms.
I think one Of the best traits of bis
character was the great anxiety shown
by him ON this occasion TO further the
interests of peare. Instead of finding
him hard and uncompsomising, be wa:
ready to make every concession in 70
| gard 10 those interests
The next morning, whom awoke and
had dressed, went out upon the decs
| Of the vessel. and there | saw Grant
running along ON the bank, jumping liks
a boy, as he waved dispatch IN hi!
hand. soon found ont that this WIS I
dispatch from Lincoln agreeing to 70
| ceiye the Commission. Stansen had op
posed it, but Grants influence had beer
| strong enough to override Stanton.
THAT the commission finally failes
| in accomplishing its mission said Mr.
Stephens, credit entirely TO Mf. Stan
tons opposition"