Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-11
ANECDOTES OF GEN. GRANT.
lmperturbabilIty-An Incident
of Fort Donelson.

DOhVhoOhf
Gen. Grants r%epuugnance to anything
like snobblshness or ostentation was n
of his marked characteristics. Shortly
after he settled down In New York city
a noted artist desired to paint his por-
trait. Consent being gained, the artist
called OF the house for his first sitting
He Is a man whose elegant department
and aristocratic bearing are among his
prominent characteristics. The general
received his guest In a blunt and open
manner, invited him to the parlor, where
an easel was prepared and the work be.
gun There was q knock at the
door. "Come in" said the general.
It proved to be Mrs. Grant. She wanted
money for marketing. The artist struck
an attitude of heroic indifference at the
easel, while he watched the General pull
out an old-fsshloned, faded, and much
worn pocketbook. 1t was tied with q
black string, which he slowly removed,
got the money, and handed some to HIS
wife. The black string, the veteran
wallet, the filthy lucre, or something In
the transaction itself, shocked the sensi-
biltties of the artist, If the painful ex.
presstons on his mobile face told the
truthful tale, but he managed to resume
work. 1t was a warm day. The artist
psrspired. Presently he went across the
room and pulled q bell-oord.
"What do you want?" asked Gen.
Grant.
Il rang for q servant to bring me a
glass of water" was the reply.
The general got up from his chair and
walked out. In a moment or two he re.
turned with a goblet of ice-water for tho
thirsty artist, who was 30 confused that
he even forgot to express his thanks. The
general paid not the slightest attention to
his confusion, but went on with the sit.
ting as If nothing had happened,
One of the stories of Grants imper.
turbabtllty was told after he had taken
charge of the army of the Potomac. A
visitor to the army called on him ore
morning. The general was smoking and
talking to his staff ~otficers. The caller
inquired of him: General, If you flank
Lee and get between him and Hammond
will you not uncover Washington and
leave 1t o prey to the enemy" General
Grant let a big wave of smoke roll out of
his mouth as he replied in an Indifferent
way, "Yey, l reckon So" Encouraged
in his line of attack on the citadel of in.
formation, the visitor continued:
General, don't you think Lee eau
detach sufficient force from his
army to reinforce Beauregard and
overwhelm Butler?"'No q debut Of IT,
said the General as calmly as before
while he knocked the ashes from his cigar
with his little finger. The shocked face
of the queris5 was evidence Of his
perturbation of spirit over Grants replies,
as he propounded a third Inquiry:
General, Ia there not danger thst John
ston may come up and reinforce Lee, go
that the latter will swing around and cut
your communications aud seizs your sup.
plles!" VERY likely, said Grant, aa he
pulled another wave of smoke out OF his
mouth go as to form a series of rings,
The visitor fastened back to Washington
full Of the horrible fate that was admit
teddy pending oy er Grant and the army,
while Grant and the army went on to
Richmond.
The colonel of a western regiment OBJ
tained from Gen. Grant a s!ck-furlough.
While he was at home he was nominated
for congress and proceeded to CANVASS the
district, applying meanwhile for an ex-
of the furlough till after election
day. Gen. Grant wrots on tbs back of
the papers: "If Col. Blank is able to
travel over his district to electioneer for
congress he lie able to be with his regl-
ment, ard Is hereby ordered to join it
Immediately OF be dismissed from the
service"
Gen. Grant could obey or6e as well
give them. He walked down to the
wharf at City Point one day, absorbed In
thought. The inevitable cigar was in
his mouth. A negro guard touched his
arm and said: "No smoking on the dock,
ssh." care those your orders}" asked
the general, looking up. "YeS, ssh," re-.
piled the Waterman, courteou,ly bus de-
cldedly. every good ORDERS" said
Grant, as he threw his cigar IL the
water.