Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-27
LoNGsrREETs "REMINISCENCES.
At West Point TOgether-G-est's Court
ship-The War and After.

the truest, as Well as the bravest man that
ever lived" was the remark made by
Gen. James Longstreet, when he re-
covered to-day from the emotion caused by
the sad news of Gen. Grants
death. Gen. Longstreet lives in two
story house of modern style about three
miles from Gainesville, where, amid his
vines and shrubs, he was seen by the
Times correspondent. He was dressed
| In long and many -colored dressing
grown; his white whiskers were trimmed
after the pattern of Burnside's, and he
looked little like the stalwart figure
which was ever In the thiokest OF the
fight during the bloody battles of the late
war.
ever since 1885," said he, al have been
on terms of the closest intimacy with
Grant. | well remember the fragile form
which answered to his name in that year.
His distinguishing trait as a cadet was
| girlish mOdesty; a hesitaucy in pre-
senting his own claims; a taciturnity born
OF his modesty; but thOTOughness in the
accom- pishment of whatever task was
assigned him. AS | was OF large and
robust physique l was at the head of most
larks ana games, But in these young
Grant never Joined because of his delicate
frame. In Workmanship, however, he
was noted as the most proficient in the
academy. In fact, rider and horse held
together like the tabled centaur.
TWO YOUNG LIEUTENANTs.
''In 1912 l was attached to the Fourth
infantry as Second Lieutenant. A year
later Grant joined the same regiment,
! stationed in that year at Fort jefferson,
| twelve miles from st. Louis. The ties
| thus formed have never been broken, but
there was a charm which held us together
Of which the world has never heard. My
kinsman, Mr.. Frederick Dent, WAS a sub
stantial farmer living near Fort Jefferson.
! He had a liking for army officers, due TO
the fact that his son Fred was pupil at
West Point. One day | received an in
yitation to visit his house in order TO meet
| young Fred, who had just returned, and
| asked Grant TO 90 with me. This he
| did, aud Of course was introduced to the
| family, the last one to come in being
Miss Julia Dent, the charming daughter
of our host. 1t is needless to
say that we saw but little of Grant dur
| ing the rest OF the visit. H paid court, i'm
| fact, with such assiduity as to give rise
! to the hope that he had forever gotten
over his diflidence. Five years later, in
| 1S4S, after the usual uncertainties of "a
soldiers courtship, Grant returned and
/ claimed Miss Dent as his bride. | had
been married just six months at that
time, and my wife and | were among the
| guests at the wedding. Only a few
months ago Mrs. Grant recalled to my
memory an incident Of our Jefferson life
that was connected with Gen. Grants
courtship. Miss Dent had been escorted
to the military balls so often by Lieut..
| Grant that, on one occasion, when she
/ did not happen TO go with him, Lieut.,
| Hoskins went up to her and asked, with
pitiful expression on his face: where
| is that small man with the large epau-
lets?'
! IN THE FIELD OF DUTY.
ain 1874 the Fourth regiment was or
| dered to Louisiana to form part Of the
army Of observation. Still later we formed
! part Of the army of occupation in Corpus
! Christi, Tex. Here, removed from all
society without books or papers. we had
an excellent opportunity of studying each
other. | and every one else always found
| Grant resolute and doing his duty in a
/ simple manner. His honor was never
suspected, his friendships were true, his
| hatred Of guile was pronounced, and his
destatiOn of tale bearers was, l may say,
| absolute. The soul OF honor himself, he
never even suspected others either then
or years afterward. He could not bring
| himself to look upon the rascally side OF
I human nature.
"While we remained in Corpus Christi
| an incident illustrating Grants skill and
/ fearlessness as a horseman occurred.
\ The Mexicanswere 10 the habit OF bringing
/ in wild horses, which they would sell for
| 81 or 81. These horses came near costing
more than one officer his life. One day a
/ particularly furious animal was brought
| in. Every officer in the camp had declined
/ TO purchase the animal except Grant, who
! declared that he would either break the
| horses neck or his own. He had the
horse blindtolded, bridled, and sadded.
and when firmly In the saddle be threw Of
| the blind, sunk his spurs into the horses
/ TANKS, and was soon out Of sight. For
/ three hours he rode the animal over all
/ kinds OF ground, through field and stream,
| and when horse and rider returned t.
| camp the horse was thoroughly tanned.
| For years afterward the story Of Grants
ride was related at every campfire IN the
| country During the Mexican war we
| We're separated, Grant having been made
| quartermaster Of the Fourth regiment.
while was assigned to duty as adjutant
| of the Eighth. At the battle Of Moline del
| Rey, however, / had occasion TO notice
| his superb courage and GOODNESS under
| fire. So noticeable was his bearing that
/ his galantry was alluded TO In the Off
/ clal reports.
PAYMENT OF A DEBT or HONOR.
! "ln the long days % our stay IN Louisi-
/ ana and Texas" continued Gen. Long
/ street, Eve frequently engaged In the
| game OF brag and j-cent ante and similar
/ diversions. We instructed Grant in the
mysteries OF these games, but he made a
| poor player. The man who lost - cents
/ in one day was esteemed IN those times n
/ peculiarly unfortunate person. The
I games often lasted an entire day. Years
/ later, in 1853, | happened to be in St.
/ Louis, and there met capt. Holloway and
/ other army chums. We went into the
| pla1tsrs' hotel to talk over old times, and
\ il WAS soon proposed 10 have an Old-ume
/ game Of brag, but IL was found That
/ we were one short Of making up
/ full hand. Wait few m nutes, ,
said Holloway. 'and will ind some one
/ In a few minutes he returned with a man
poorly dressed in citizens clothes and IN
I whom we recognized our old friend Grant.
! Going into civil life Grant bad been I'M
/ fortunate. and he was really in needy cir
cumstances. The next day ! was walk
ing in front Of the Planters when found
myself face % face again with Grant who.
! placing In the palm OF my hand q 5-dollar
gold piece, insisted that should take 10
| In payment Of A debt Of honor over 10
wears old. peremptorily declined 10
take II, alleging that be was out Of the
] sarvicp aud mora ia need of Ia than /