The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-04-11
"REMINISCENCES OF GRANT.
Interesting Recoliections of Mr.. CresweIi
About the

both personally and officially, we know
no one better qualified to form a just es-
innate of his character than Mr.. Cres-
well. The following interview had with
representative of the Washington STIR,
is therefore not only interesting as a per-
sonal tribute to the great soldier, but
equally valuable as affording accumula-
tive evidence of the greatness OF the man,
whose heroic contemplation of death is
exciting great admiration of his charac-
ter.
81 have" says Mr.. CreswelI more
admiration for Gen. Grant. than for any
man | ever saw. | knew Lincoln and
knew Stanton, and those two, with Grant
make the disCinS uished trio; Grant, the
great soldier; st nton, the executive
officer, and Lincoln, the great arbiter.
Grant S qualities of true manliness were
mere pronounced than those of any man
ever knew. In all my close relations
with him while | was a member of his
cabinet | never heard him say Il harsh or
petty thing; never heard him speak I'M
pulsively or use Il proiane word. His re-
lations with his family were most delight
ful and charming. There never was a
kinder or more indulgent father, and
never saw more devoted couple than
Gen. and Mrs. Grant. OF course, every
body knows how he loved his daughter
The meeting between them the other day
was very touching, aud the emotion
shown by the old warrior exhibited the
depth of his affection.
Gen. Grants great characteristic,
however, continued Mr.. Creswell, was
his sublime aud unhnching courage. 1t
was of that kind that no impression could
be made upon it by opposition. He dis
charged his duties always without selfish
ness, never stopping to consider how an
action would affect him personally. All
he wanted to know, What is Just, what
is right?' | remember al instance of this
kind At the time we had postal treaty
with Japan which gave us almost entire
control of the Japan postal service. When
their relations grew more intimate with
us and with other nations, they desired
to have charge of their own service, and
took steps iii that direction. After the
japanese minister had talked with me
abouo a treaty to that effect | went to
Grant and laid the matter before him. l
found that he had but one idea, to do
what was right and just towards Japan.
pointed out to him that if he sould sign
such treaty we would be surrendering
our control of the Japanese service and
would be subjected to severe criticism
especially on the Pacific coast. But isn t
it right?' was his reply. Can there be
any doubt about ito' | told him | only
wanted to advise him of the consequent
ceS He was satisfied that the treaty was
just and he signed it. | remember the
time when he refused 20 sign the bill
which appeared to be a detection from
the course we had determined upon for
the resumption of specie payment. There
was an immense pressure brought to bear
on Grant to sign the bill. Republicans
of prominence urged it, thinking the bill
would prove a satisfactory half way
| measure | think Grant personal in
ciinatiou was to sign it. Secretary Fish
and myself were the only ones in the
cabinet who opposed its approval. AT
the cabinet meeting, when it was cpnsid-
cred. Grant drew from his desk a paper
and read it. 1t was . message to Con
gress returning the bill with his sigma
tire. ! said. 1 regret very much that
gou should feel it your duty to pursue
such course That isn't my view Of
the matter. he replied. Il wanted to do
what was best and wanted to test myself.
so wrote all | could III behalf OF the
bill, but it doesn't satisfy me- and he
refused to sign it. If he had signed it, it
would have caused us unlimited trouble.
Grant never lost his head. When we
came SO near being engaged in war with
Spain on account of the Nirglnius affair
there was good deal of excitement at
the cabinet meeting, and a war with
Spain was imminent. Grant knew what
war meant, and by his ccolness and sound
Judgment prevented 1t. He was assisted
in this by the Spanish representative in
this country, who was a naval officer.
He, too knew what fighting meant, and
these two really prevented war. In
circumstances where most men would be
apt TO lose their heads on the field of bat
tie, for instance, Grants mind seemed
all the stronger and clearer. Rawlins
told me once that in the confusion of the
battlefield Grants orders were more ex-
plict and clearer than when everyth ing
was quiet. lie seemed never to get con
fused. | asked Grant once if when Civ
ing orders for an engagement he was not
appalled, by the great loss of life which
would ensue. He replied, No, it was
war; but | realized what it meant. |
never gave such orders until was salts,
fed that it was the best course to pur-
sue, and then was willing to shoulaer
the responsibility He added that many
men tailed as commanders simply be
cause of an unwillingness to assume this
responsibility. He spoke of two men
who were fearless in this respect Sher
man and Sheridan. The latter in plrti-
cular, he thought was possessed with
ample courage to do what seemed best.
and be responsible for the outcome. 1t
wasn't raShneSs and heedieSSneSS, but
tearlessneSs i'll assuming responsibility
for results.
seen. Grant wrote with great facility
His style, like his character, was the en-
bodiment OF dlrectneSS. He used few
metaphors and little characterization and
never two words where one would do
preterring Saxon words to Latin or
French. He never heSitated for word,
and always went right to the point. He
wrote all his own papers, notwithStand
ing the reports to the contrary, and all
his messages were framed and written by
him. Those who thought Grant couldn't
talk made a mistake. When he became
intimate with one he would talk as much
as any companion should. | have heard
him do nearly all the talking for an hour
or two. He was Il g0uG talker, but slow,
sometimes heSitating for a word, some
thing he never did in writing. He either
had implicit confidence in IA man, or he
had none. He was quick to form an es-
innate OF a man. and if his suspicious
were once aroused his firm Jaw would
shut like trap, and he would remain
cold and silent, and by his appearance
would chill a Speaker, no matter how
earnest lie might be. He was always
modest and unassuming, never presented
himself as a hero of any occasion, and
never introduced military subjects in
conversation.
Gle had very quick eye. and it was
surprising to me how he could take in
the whole topography at a glance. | re,
member once, while he Was visiting me
at my farm, took him a long drive
around the country. | took a by-road,
intending to strike the main road but
missed my way. Finally | laughingly
confessed it. Where did you want to
go?' he said. 4 wanted to strike a road
which would take me to the village
which lies in that direction He stood
up in the buggy, and, looking over the
surrounding country, said: If you will
let down the fence here, drive over this
field aud then through that gap up
yonder, | think you'll strike the road you
want on that ridge Why do you think
SOP | asked. Well, you say the village
is in that direction, (pointing). Up there
| see quite a settlement. The people who
live up there will have a way to reach
the village, and they couldn't find
better way than along that ridge did
as he advised and found the road lust