New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-30
GENERAL GRANT.
GEORGE w. CHILDS RECOLLECTlONS.
Copyrighl 1885.

v;l sburr in 1868. The General and Mrs. Uraht
..ma 10 Philadelphia to make arrangements 10
,rt their children at School IN Burlington N ..
From that time our intimacy grew until MS dea'n
shore we're three char tcteristics that were prohi
80 n his life business, Kindness and firmness
No was the most modest of men. Seeing MN as
al 60, nearly twenty gears. or such portions OF
a.. year as he was in the country. i had ample
ennortuaity to notice these qualities We lived on
.s;o;.inc properties on the same land without any
s;vjsion, and might say there never was a day
when we were at Long Branch together but what
,as either in his house or he in mine. never saw
rim II, the war and never saw him in the heid.
correspondent with him during that time, ana every
an,ortunty he would get he would come on W
philadelphia for the purpose of seeing his famiIy'
ona in that way he made great many iriehus.
That was as early as 1853. George ii. Stewartwas
GREAT friend of hls He always seemed to ENJOY MS
visits there as they gave him rest during the time
he was in the army and also when he was Presl-
dent. r..
Much has been published about General Grant
hut there are some things / have not seen sta'eu'
and one is that he bad considerable artistic taste
and talent He painted very wei. ohe "a n''
na,utiurs twelve by eighteen inches perhaps, "o
cave 10 his friend the Hon. A. Il. Bore. OF fDlia-
dc,pba. who was Secretary of the Navy. mat
ncture is, I believe the only one that he painted
winch is known to be in existence. VI the others
there is no trace. He stood very high win MS pro-
Of drawing at West Point, and if he had per
.o,ercd in that line might have made good artist.
He was always apt in mathematics and drawing
The pcture referred to was of an Indian chief at
!. trading post in the Northwest. exchanging skins
.,d f,rs with lot OF traders and trappers. The
Indian stood in the foreground, and was the central
object. He was a noble figure and was well paint
ed in full and correct costume. have seen tue
naintiug often, which has been very much admired
and he took good deal Of pride in 1T himself. lie
gave il to Mr. Borie as that gentleman was, per-
hans. one of his dearest friends aud tho intimacy
kept I'D until the lattcIs death.
General Grant as not an ardent student. Early in
life he was somewhat of q novel reader, but more
lattery he read biography and travels. lie was
careful reader aud remembered everything he read.
hut he had nothing which could be distinctly called
literary taste He was great reader OF newspapers
I remember once his coming down berc when Sher-
mans work had Just been published and asked MN
if be had read the work. He said no." he had not
had time to read it, aud one of the persons present
observed, "Why, General, you won't lind much In
II about yourself. He doesn't seem to THINK that
you were in the war" TIE General said, Il don't
know; have read some adverse criticisms, but
be had read the book over carefully and attcnfyely
] asked him what he thought Of it. well,
he SAID, lit has done me more than Justice; 1t
has given me a great deal moro credit than l
deserved. Any criticism / might make won Id
be that think he has not done justice to Logan.
Blair and other volunteer generals whom be calls
political generals These men did their duty faith
fully and never believe In iInputing motives 10
people, told him that General Sherman had sub
mtted the proof sheets of that part of the book to
me- and Ii struck me in the same way. General
Sherman had sent the proof sheets of that TO me
before the full book was published and asked il
had any suggestions and il thought 1t WAS Just to
the General. IL will be seen by this that General
Grant was always magnanimons to every one he
came in contact WITH particularly his Army associ
ates lie a man who rarely ever nsed tho pro-
noun ia conversation when speaking Of his bat
Ties
In latter years. with his intimate friends. the
General spoke of the War very often and discussed
the battles and in such q way one would hardly
suppose he was in the battles himself. In all his
discussions one would think that Others did the
fighting and he merely saw it; but he never de-
tracted from his own people.
There is one Amusing little incident ] recall,
apropos of large. ful-sized portrait OF General
Sherman on his March to the Sea-" which hangs
in my hail. and which was painted from life by
Hartmann. Sherman sits in front OF tho tent in
white shirt without coat or vest The picture
shows a campfire in front. and the moonlight In
the rear Of tho tents. The criticism Of General
Grant when he first saw it was: THAT is is all very
fne Ii looks like Sherman bnt no never wore a
boiled shirt there. am snrc."
While living in Long Branch there was hardly
Confederate officer that came to the place but that
be visited the General. He was always glad to
see them. and with those men he always invariably
talked over the war. The General had a very high
opinion of Johnston. and always spoke Of him as
being one OF tho very best of Southern generals
and. at dinner, i had the pleasure of getting
Johnston. Grant and Sherman together.
In regard to election matters General Grant was
very close observer and had wonderful judg-
ment in regard TO results One particular case may
be cited. During the canvass Of his second term
toward the latter part there began to be doubts
throughout the country about the election. Vice.
President Wilson, who was then running on the
ticket, wso was man of the people, and had
good deal Of experience IN election matters for
forty years made an extensive tour through the
country, and lie came to my house just after the
tour very blue. He went the ground. and
showed that the matter was In q good deal Of
donbt | went to see General Grant, and told
him about this feeling, particularly as
coming from Senator Wilson. The General
said nothing. but he sent for map
of the United States. He laid the map down on
the table, went over it with his pencil, and said,
eve will carry this State, that State and that
State" until he nearly covered the whole United
etates. 1t occurred to me he might as we'll put
them sll in, and ventured the remonstrance,
think 1t wond net be policy to talk that way the
election now is pretty near approaching" When
ned evcry State that he bad predicted, and that
prediction was IN the face OF the feeling through
out the country that tho Republican cause was
Vice President, who was deeply interested IN the
election, had visited various parts OF the country,
South and West and had come back blue and dis
pirited.