The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-04-09
PERHAPS HE WAS NOT ASLEEP.
GEN. GRANT.
"reminiscences by One CT His Staff Ofic

"reminiscences by One CT His Staff Officers.
Col. Amos Webster, prosperous lawyer of
Washington, is one of the survivors of Gen.
Grants military family. He was given q po-
sition ON his staff after the General was COM
missiOned Lieutenant General, began duty in
that capacity in the Wilderness compaign, and
served through until the surrender at Apo
mattoy.
~ can say nothing regarding the General"
the Colonel said when approached by Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE representative, but what
has been frequently said before, and better said.
l hardly feel like talking. This trouble op-
presses and pains me, almost makes me sick. |
cannot tell you how 1T hurts me to see the old
General dying such death. It's awful"
Its natural that you should feel So after
having sustained the relations to him that you
did. All of Grants military family were much
attached to him, were they not?"
Very much. He was always kind and con-
siderate to them, thought of them continually,
and showed his fondneSs for them. He had a
very small staf-usually 10 or 12-but they
were all men selected especially for their worth,
and fully trusted. When the old man we
always called him the old man around head
guarters-trusted man he trusted him to the
utmost. If q man deceived him once, however,
that ended him forever"
How was the General in his intercourse
with his subordinateS?"
Every pleasant and familiar. He was credited
with being very reticent man, but among his
staff he was always communicative and familiar.
He consulted his staff constantly and relied on
what they said to him. He counselled con-
stantly with Rawlins, whose judgment always
had the greatest influence with him. Of course
he made up his mind after all was said, and then
twas fixed aud Interchangeable. don't recollect
but one instance of his changing his mind. That
was in reference to sending some infantry to
Sheridan at Dabney's Mills. He was persuaded
to send his infantry and splendid results fol-
lowed. He relished a joke or good story as
well as any man | ever knew, and he was ex-
ceedingly charitable. He gave away money
continually and to everybody. He did it very
quietly, and hated to have il mentioned. /
think he had heart as tender as woman's,
and the sight of misery affected him strongly.
Soldiers widows and children were always
tenderly treated by him. l remember that
after we had established headquarters in this
city, at the corner of and Seventeenth streets,
bright, neatlydressed girl used to como
around selling apples and oranges. One day
she said to the General:
"'Td like to have you recommend me for q
place in the Departments. My father and
brother were killed in the army, and we've
nothing to live ON but what L make selling
fruit
1.-The moment she said she was soldiers
daughter the General began taking visible
interest in her, and he answered:
"'No can't recommend you to the President
now, it was during the fight with President
Johnsonl, but if Pm ever President I'll give you
a place.
''She remembered the promise, and just as
soon as he was inaugurated applied TO him. He
appointed her in the Treasury, where l think
she still is"
"Gen. Grants demeanor was always singu-
larly calm and collected, wasn't it?"
Yes, indeed. / never saw him excited, or
apparently angry, but once A cavalry CON-
mand-a regiment, think-had been ordered
to move in the morning in advance of the in
fantry 1t did not start out as early as it should,
and the infantry got ahead of it, Presently it
came stringing along, going as fast as the
horses could be spurred, trying to get ahead of
the infantry. The day was hot, and the horses
were in a perfect lather of sweat. The General
came along with his staff, and as soon as he saw
the condition of the horses he became very
angry, and pushed on ahead until he came up
to the officer in command, whom he talked to
very sharply about his incapacity, and ended
by putting him under arrest.
"Pve seen him in the most trying places,
but he never showed the least sign of diScom-
posture. Once, during the terrible fighting of
the Wilderness, he was sitting on log on a
knoll, in the rear of the line, with his back
against tree. He had his knife out and was
whiting a stick Suddenly an Aid dashed up
in state of great excitement. His horse was
in lather, his sword was out. and he had lost
his hat He reported, i'll excited language, that
gap had been broken in the line, and the
rebels were pouring through it. The old man
heard him clear through dismissed him, and
then said quietly:
"One of you go over there and see what's
the matter
at turned ont that little space had been
left between the TANKS of Hancock'S and the
next corps, which at first caused little trouble,
but Hancoek's quick eye sooa saw the diff
Guilty and repaired it,"
Ibid he never show any disturbance of mind
over the terrible struggle that was going on?"
No; whatever he may have felt, it never
showed in his countenance."
''How did the mass Of the Army of the Po-
tomac regard him?"