Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-06-13

vertiser publishes extracts from Gen Grants
forthcoming book, which will be entitled:
Personal Memoirs of u. s. Grant, The
book will be in two volumes of about five
hundred pages EACH The first volume and
nearly all the second are now written The
book will, it is claimed, contain the inside
history OF several important operations,
hitherto undivulged or Incorrectly described.
The dedication of the work is in the follow
ing words
These volumes are dedicated to the American
soldier and sailor" U. 3. GRANT,
New York. May, 28, 1885.
In describing his origin Gen. Grant says
he is Of the eighth generation In descent
from Matthew Grant, who came to America
from Dorchester, England, in 1880 and set
tied at Dorchester. Mass. Gen. Grants
zreat-grandfather, Noah Grant, was an OH
GER in the English army in the war Of 1850,
against the French and Indians, and his
grandfather, Noah Grant, fought in the rev.
olution against England.
Grant was born at Point Pleasant, O.
he received his appointment to West Point
through Hon. Thomas Morris, senator from
Ohio. The fact that he had no early leaning
toward a military life is shown by his at
first wishing to refuse the appointment His
father, man not to be refused, told him to
20, and he went His reluctance aross from
. fear that he would not pass the examine
lion.
On May "a, 1851, Grant wrote to the adju-
tant general offering the government his
military service in any capacity. No notice
was taken of the letter, and 1t Is not pre-
served in the files of the war department..
Gen. Grant, in describing his first meeting
with the enemy, when he commanded q regi-
ment, naively admits that he was very much
frightened On seeing the retreat Of the
opposing force, without awaiting attack,
the idea struck him that their commander
was probably as much frightened a. he was.
This view Of the matter remained in his
mind, and he never thereafter felt trepida-
hon in the presence Of the enemy.
In his comments upon the much discussed
battle Of Shiloh, Cen Grant disssnts from
the idea that IL johnson had not been killed
the confederates would have won and ami
hilated Grants army. He remarks: IFS"
defeated the confederates at Shiloh. We
should have been disgracefully beaten s'if'
all tho bullets fred by us had passed harm
lessly over the enemy, and ''if" all OF theirs
had taken effect.
The fact that johnson was leading brig
ade to make charge which had been re-
peatedly ordered, is evidence that there
was neither the universal demoraliza-
ton on our side nor the unbounded conf
dence on theirs, which has been claimed.
There was in fact no hour during the day
when doubted tho eventual defeat of the
enemy.
Grant says that Col VIM. Preston John
stons description of the battle is very graph
ic and causes the reader to wonder why the
federal troops were not all killed. / wit
messed the fight, somewhat sarcastically
adds the general, and l see but little in the
description that can recognize. The con-
federate troops fought well and deserve com
mendation enough for their bravery and en-
durance on the 9th of April, without de-
tracing from their antagonists or claiming
anything more than their due.
The general makes amends to Gen. Arson
Med. McCook by explaining remark in his
Century articles ON Shiloh to the effect that
McCook was unwilling to pursue the enemy
on April :, because OF the condition Of his
troops. Grant says the remark has been mis-
interpreted He sustained McCook and
merely mentioned the fact as matter Of
history. He then pays high tribute to Nc
Cooks gallantry.
Gen. Grant first met Lincoln when called
to Washington to receive his commission as
lieutenant general in March, 1894. I'm my
first interview with Mr.. Lincoln alone, he
stated to me that he had never protested to
be military man, or to know how cam
paigns should be conducted. and never
wanted to interfere in them, but that procras-
tination on the part Of commanders and the
pressure of the people at the north, and OF
congress, which like the poor he had always
with him, had forced him into issuing his
well known series of executive orders. He
did not know but that they were all wrong,
and did not know that some Of them were.
All he wanted, or had ever wanted, be said,
was that some one would take the RESPONSE
bility and act, and call on him for all the
assistance needed"
Grant first met Stanton at Louisville. Stan.
ton handed him two orders, saying he could
take his choice. Both created military d.