Daily Republican., 1885-05-06
Facts About Ge.eral Grant.


Old soldiers and others who during
the war knew Grant a. intimately a.
men ever know one another criticise
Badoau's anecdotes Of the General and
the narration by that author Of incl
dents of the war In the May century
as being In scme material respects at
variance with their recollection of the
events pretended to be described. Badeau
did not join Grant till after Vicksburg,
and did not know him before, for the
reason, a. 1t IL UNDERWOOD, that, having
little faith in the Generals plans and
ability, he preferred to be elsewhere.
Military men generally are not pleas
ed with Badeau rs o historian and are
free to point out errors Of narration a.
we'll as the want of knowledge of facts.
There is wealth Of interest In the as
yet unwritten camp life Of Grant. He
is commonly known rs the Silent
Man." but there are those who know
how well he can talk who have heard
him talk to the edification and instruc-
ton Of his listeners. As q story-teller
he had few superiors in the army.
They were fortunate who happened TO
be members Of the charmed circle when
his tongue WAS loosed. This was sci.
dom, however, for Of all the actors In
L eho tCov VI 0u6 hO ~ no thO OuO uObb Ill
| earnest. All his faculties were con.
tinually bearing on the great work OF
pu' ting down the rebellion.
Some writer has undertaken to say
that Grant-speaking Of him In the
past tense-was not o writer. This is a
mistake. Few men have been able to OK.
press themselves on paper more read
lily, clearly or forcibly than General
Grant. One of his first com positions oi
note during the war was his proclama-
tion to the people Of Kentucky, dated
st Paduca. So much to the point was
1t, 30 we'll expressed as composition
was IL and so right in every respect
were all it's sentiments that Mr.. Lincoln
was attracted by the proclamation and
had his previous conceptions Of the
author rs an uncommon man strongly
confirmed by It.
Grants orders In the field had nc
uncertain sound. They were character
lied by the conspicuous absence Of the
slightest particle of any ything sav0rine
Of self exaltation. There was never
found in any thing he ever wrote about
"pushinG the enemy. to the WALL
| When he had done it-ae he was all thu
while dOing-he told the tale simply
leaving his part TO be inferred. Hs
did not think of that. This Ii a grea
fact in his character and history. NJ
| one thing is more readily attested by
persons who were near Grant and knew
him thoroughly from fret to last thar
that he never appeared TO realize thA
he was intensely in earnest. Ii,
thought nothing but what was the mex
| thing to be done TO conquer the rebellion
and save the Union.
had as good and as constant op
portunities to observe Grant," said Nj
actor in the war, "as any man, and
never saw him for ON instant betra,
the feeling of selfshness or persona
hardly an officer who did not dress bet
ter, live better or have more comforts
He discarded every thing but the bares
necessary. He had no time to think o
extras Of any kind.
" His habits were the simplest, and
don't think ever saw him in mixel
company Of officers when stranger
from his appearance, would have pick
cd him ont for the great commander
He would probably have been abou
the last to be selected, unless from hi
conversation, and then the modesty O
BIS %SHhsfs mani; Is w0aa''aa aa''a have kept hi2ltx 2
in the rear"
The personal history of Grant durinI
his campaigns when it is written, If l
ever is, will be read with an interes
not less absorbing than his militar.
achievements. Foolish words from
i IGrant are as hard to find as foolisl
actions