The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-04-10
Phil Sheridan on Gen. Grant.

The Philadelphia Ledger prints, by permls-
sion, the substance of some remarks during q
conversation by Gen. Sheridan at q dinner
party in Washington recently. The article
quotes Gen. Sheridan as saying:
It is sad to think Of Gen. Grant dying under
such physical torture as is inflicted by this ter
rible disease and under such mental anguish as
/ know he endures in consequence of the un-
fortunate b usiness failure that overwhelmed
him and his family. ! could never comprehend
why the old man (Sil soldiers call Gen. Grant
the old man. went into business, and partlcu-
larly why he set himself up in Wall street From
the time he imbibed this business notion l
have always felt that Gen. Grant was of his
base, and that he had lost that abundance OF
caution that has always charactiZed all his
movement l have listened to him talk about
making money in perfect amazement He
imagined he had 9 talent for making money,
and that his sons all possessed this talent to Q
remarkable degree. He seemed never to tire
of talking about this when we were so situat-
ed as to be free from interruption, and when
we could talk with freedom Of bygone days.
Now / know that Gen. Grant did not possess
the talent er genius for making money. His
nature is too generous and contiding for that
His talent IN connection with money was in an
opposite direction and caused him to get rid Of
money in a very short time. He could never
keep money before he set up in Wall street,
and you all know he is a very bright fellow
who can keep money after he gets there.
What most surprised me, however, was thathe
should talk so much about this newly discov-
cred talent He talked persistently, and he
could talk well when he talked of accommodating
money. AS l noticed his earnestness of man
ner, l sometimes thought that l understood
him in this particular. Still, l could not en-
tirely divest myself of the apprehension I
felt on his account and his very persisten-
cy and earnestness added to my fears.
Why, l never knew Grant to talk about tho
great abilities which he did possess and which
the world recognized. No one ever heard him
talk about his great military talents or
boast about his splendid achievements in the
field, and yet Grant knew that he had extra
ordinary abilities in this direction, because his
movements were brilliant and the success that
attended them showed him this. Indeed, Gen
Grant had greater talent for conducting cam
paigns and fighting armies than he was really
aware of. Nobody, however, ever heard him
talk about what he possessed in this direction
and the simple fact that he descanted so free
~ to me on his money making talents started
q suspicion in my mind that his previously
strong mental forces were breaking up and
that he was rapidly moving away from his
previous well established lines of prudence
and safety.
Later in the evening returning to Gen. Grant
he spoke of the reluctance with which Gen.
Grant left the army to become president.
1on have seen the to the effect
that the sold man" laid plans to secure the
nomination for the presidency in '6S. There
is no foundation for such statements. And /
know whereof l speak. / know that his feel
ings and desires were at that time touching his
future. He wanted, above all things, to re-
main with the army he loved, and whose
idol he is still, and had had no ambition to be
president He doubted his ability TO discharge
the duties of president, but above all, he had
no taste or inclination for civil Office.
The Washington Star publishes an interview
with ]. A j. Creswell, in Gen. Grants cabinet
as postmaster general over five years. After
speaking Of the generals fondness of his fam
lily, eyenness of temper, the unhinching dis
charge of his official duties, and his great cour-
age, Mr.. Creswell said:
/ asked Grant once, if, when giving orders
for an engagement he was not appalled, by the
great loss Of life which would ensue. He re-
piled: No. 1t was war, but / realized what it
meant l never gave such orders until / was
satisfied it was the best course to pursue, and
then l was willing to shoulder the RESPONSE
bIlity." He added many men failed as COM
manders simply because of the un~willingness
to assume this responsibility. He spoke of two
men.who were fearless in this respect, Sherman
and Sheridan. The latter in particular, he
thought was possessed Of ample courage to do
what seemed best, and be responsible for the
outcome. 1t wasn't rashness and heedlessness,
but fearlessness in assuming responsibility for
the results" Grant did not desire to be prosi-
dent q third term for any glory or reputation,
but his sole object was TO reconcile the North
and South, and / think he would have done it
thoroughly. The sohd South would have been
a thing Of the past.