The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-05
GEN. HOWARD'S "REMINISCENCES.

Quoted to his own quarters. Grant was reputed
as very lame and suffering from the injuries
occasioned by the falling of his horse short
time before in the streets of New Orleans.
Hooker sent spring wagon and an officer of his
staff to the station, but for some reason he did
not 60 himself.
AS must take the same train, south bound. to
get back to Bridgeport before dark, its arrival
found me there in waiting | had presumed
that General Grant would remain over night
with General Hooker, but this presumption was
not correct Several acquaintance among
the officers who were the train met me
as l stepped into the forward part of the
car General Grant sitting near the rear
of the car, was pointed out to me, and passed
on at once. as was proper, to pay my respects
to him.
Imagine my surprise when saw him. He had
been for some time before the public, the sue
cessful commander in important battles; the
papers had said much for him, and several vir-
ulent sheets much against him, and SO, judging
by the accounts, l had conceived him to be of
large size and rough appearance The actual
man quite different-not larger than Nc
Clellan, at the time rather thin in flesh and very
pale in complexion, and noticeably selfcontained
and retiring.
Without rising. he extended his hand as was
presented, smiled pleasantly. and sgnfed very
briefly that it gave him pleasure to meet
He then permitted me to continue the converse
ton.
General Hooker's staff officer came with the
tally. The quick reply. made with quiet firm
ness, at the time astonishes me: IF General
Hooker wishes to me he will find me on this
train" hardly need say that Hooker soon pre-
scented himself and offered his courteses in
person to his new commander
Hooker tall of full build. rudy. hand
some, then in the very prime of his manhood l
wondered at the contrast between the two men,
and pondered upon the manner of their meeting.
Grant evidently took this first occasion to assert
himself He never left the necessity for gaining
a proper ascendencv over subordinate generals
where it was likely to be questoned-toa
second interview. Yet he manifested only
quiet frmness.
General Grant and shared a common wall
tent between Us. He had a humorous expression
which noticed as his eyes fell upon a liquor
flask hanging against the tent within: THAT
flask is not mine, quickly said at was left
here by an officer, to be returned to Chattanoo-
ga. | never drink" ''Neither do l." was the
prompt reply. His answer was not in sport; he
was free from every appearance of drinking, and
| was happy indeed to find in his clear eye and
his clear face unmista bable testimonial
against the many prevalent falsehoods which
envy and rivalry had set in motion, especially
after the battle Of Shiloh.
The next morning, after q sunrise breakfast
his chief of staff, General Rawlins who in sub
seQuent years became Secretary of War, lifted
his general, then lame and suffering" as if he
had been but child, into the saddle. The di-
rect route across the Tennessee was held by
was much exposed TO sharpshooters from the
other bank, and to Wheelers spasmodic raids.
Yet almost without escort Grant risked the
journey along the river, through Jasper, across
swollen streams, through deep mud and along
roads that were already deemed too wretched
and too dangerous for the wagons. This route
was strewn with the wrecks of army vehicles
and dead mules which our interchangeable quarter
masters had been forced to abandon. 1t would
have been an awful journey for we'll mana
journey of more than forty miles. AT times it
was necessary to take the General from his
horse. The soldiers carried him in their arms
across the toughest places. Yielding to no
WEAKNESS or suffering, he pushed through to
Chattanooga reaching General Thomas the
evening of the Odd of October. 1t was this re.
markahle journey which put Grant en- rapport
with Hooker and Thomas, gave practical shape
to all good existing plans, and soon changed an
army on the verge of starvation into ar active.
healthful, well supplied conqucring force.
While with the General during his first visit
to my BRIDGEPORT tent we We're speaking of OH
GERS of rang who We're dissatisfied with the size
of their commands He had no sympathy with
such grumbers, and as little with the selfshly
ambitious He said in answer to a remark Of
mine TO the effect that it was hard for officer
to pass from higher command to a lower. Il
do not think SO, Howard. A ma or- general is
entitled to an army division, and no more. Why,
/ believe should be flying in the face of Provi-
dence to seek command higher than that
intrusted to me-" Such was my first instructive
lesson IN Inc great leaQer. tie OegaC IN me
confidence which years and experience never
lesSened.
For an interview with General Thomas then
commanding our Army of the Cumberland, |
went the l4th of November, 1868. from Lookout
valley to Chattanooga. In the evening several
officers were sitting together in an upper room
VIXEN General Sherman arrived, having left his
marching column back at Bridgeport He came
bounding in after his usual Duoyant manner.
General Grant. whose bearing toward Sherman
Il wi ot DaTO hai
afectionate. and good-humored, after
the How are you, Sherman and
the reply, ''Thank you. we'll
can be expected! extended the ever welcome
cigar. This Sherman proceeded to light, but
without stopping his ready flow Of hearty words,
ard not even pausing to sit down. he seemed
like an animated boy just in from an exciting
outdoor game.
Grant arrested his attention by some apt re-
mark, and then said, Take the chair of honor.
Sherman" Indicating rocker with high back.
1.-The chair of honor! Oh, no; that belongs to
you, General"
Grant, not whit abashed by this compliment,
said: Il don't forget, Sherman, to give proper
respect to age"
well then, if you put it on that ground, L
must accept it."
That night had the opportunity Of hearing
the rejected campaigns discussed as never be
fore Sherman spoke quickly, but evinced
much previous thought. Grant said Sherman
would bone Ii. e., study hard his campaigns
from morning to night on his horse. General
Thomas furnished them the ammunition of
knowledge positive and abundant. of the sur
rounding mountainous regions Of East Tennes-
see and Norther. georgia General Grant ap.
peared to listen with pleased interest, and now
and then made pointed remark Thomas was
like the solid Judge, confident and fixed in his
knowledge of law, Sherman, like the brilliant
advocate, and Gratt, rendering mis- verdicts, like
an intelligent Jury.
The 23d of November following the conference
above referred to a reconnaissance had been or
dered. General Gordon Granger deployed one
division OF the Fourth army corps into line in
front of Fort Wood, and supported it by his
other two divisions The Fourteenth corps,
under Palmer. supported the right, and the
Eleventh, massed, the left. Generals Grant and
Thomas stood by the parapet within the fort,
and their staff officers and orderlies were near at
hand. could see both Generals from my point
IF oh I wa r11rinuS m obSarra them