The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-13
GRANT AS A SMOKER.
An Incident at The Hague-A Habit that
Dates from Shiloh.


Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
In the popular imagination General Grant has
always been associated with cigar He has
been called the greatest smoker in the world.
1t is a marked popularity of the man. When at
The Hague, in his tour around the world at the
dinner rendered in his honor by the Dutch King,
cigars were either omitted in the menu or
perhaps it was thought dscourteous to smoke
in the presence of royalty. When General
Grant was therefore, observed to take
cigar from his pocket and complacently light
it--in the presence OF the King there was a
murmur of surprise. But, then," it was said,
"he is a great mana very great man. In the
simplicity Of the Dutch conrt it was thought,
probably that mono but the very great would
dare to smoke on such an occasion. 1t is gen
orally believed that General Grant has been an
ncessant smoker ever since his boyhood It
NAV be news to many to learn that it is only
since the famous battle of Shiloh that the Gen
era became so fond of the weed. A CONNER
cial Gazette reporter. in conversation with an
intimate Cincinnati friend of Grant, was told
the story of the "cigar."
The General, in speaking to a Cincinna ii
friend of the popular idea that he was a lifelong
smoker, said that prior to the battle of Shiloh
he rarely-very rarely-smoked; that only once
in great while did he take smoke" and that
it had never been habit much less pleasure
At the battle of Shiloh he chanced to smoke
cigar while riding over the field, and the news
paper correspondents, seizing upon the incident,
described It graphically in their accounts of the
battle to the papers in the North. The idea of
a victorious commander of a great army, in the
midst of frightful scenes of carnage and destruc-
ton, surrounded by the dangers Of battle, with
a nations life hanging on the result, looking on
calmly and serenely-complacently smoking
a cigar-when most would be overcome
with excitement, If not nervousness was some
thing that appealed irresstibly to popular ad-
miration. Here was man who was not to be
frightened by the dangers of war who know
that in war the mass of men are almost frantic
with the fire of battle; that it meant death ana
destruction; that this was the business of war,
and the coolness of his mind seemed TO say:
'.The only way TO do is to strike blow upon
blow and thus crush the rebellion"
1t was not the idea OF butcher, hut tho idea
of war; and the mistake of the army of the Po-
tomac was in not recognizing it and falling to
follow up victory, leaving its work only
half finished" General Grant expresses it, for
fear there would be greater losses.
Grants admirers and friends, reading Of the
accounts Of the battle, supposed him 10 be
great smoker, and almost deluged him with ci-
gars. Every express brought boxes of cigars as
presents from his Northern friends. AS the
General said, ''there were always two or three
boxes on the table in my tent or headquarters
free for the use OF my stan and visitors Hav-
ing them always at hand ii was but natural that
/ should every little while take a fresh cigar
and in that way the habit grew upon me so that
1t became irresistible, and the people no doubt
are right IN calling me an inveterate smoker
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