The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-08-20

In consequence.
PwseaAl As.srlss 81 0snsrh 0rsnt.
Ery. H. VINCENT. p.p.. lad.
nv nrsi interview with Mr.. Grant was
in = Dubuque Towa) hotel one Sunday
morning 10 the winter OF is5? and ls6o.
was ., tina. time pastor OF the Methodist
Episcopal church in Gslena, and had gone
to Dubuque the night before on an sex.
change" with the pastor OF tho Methodist
Episcopal church Of that city. the Rev.
Robert Laird Collier. Coming down
stairs on Sunday morning, ! stood few
minutes by the stove in the office OF the
hotel. where a gentleman, whom did not
recognize, saluted me II hear you preach
Mr.. Vincent, every Sunday" be said; Il
live 10 Galena. and my name is Grant"
had at one time been In correspond
enee with the speakers father concerning
the occupancy OF the Covington lky.)
pulpit; but this Mr.. Grant, the son, ! had
never met We II once entered into con-
versation. and the stirring questions Of the
dsy soon occupied our attention. / vas
greatly surprised at the intelligence Of my
newly discovered parishioper. He seemed
10 understand and TO be interested in ma
tional affairs, and discussed men and par.
ties. perils and possibilities, with great
ease, and with remarkable sense and abili.
ty. The conversation continued for half
an hour or more, and was surprised to
find that had man OF such force ana
thoughtfulness in my congregation; for he
assured me that since his arrival in Gale
ma he had regularly attended church.
As he stood by the stove that winter
morning, with his broad shoulders slight.
ly stopped, his compact head and calm
but emphatic manner, then and there
compared him in my thought to the famil-
lar picture OF the great Napoleon; and on
my return home to Galena ! told my wife
OF the discovery and the comparison. !
did not during the first interview learn,
nor had / known before, that be had been
in the army.
After that watched carefully the pew
where my parishioner sat; aud l found
him to be most helpful listener, giving
close attention to the sermon from begin
ming to end; and it was not little fatter.
ing to my professional pride when, four
years later, at City Point, General Grant
introduced me to President Lincoln, say
ing, "Mr. Vincent was my pastor at Gale
ma, and do not think missed one OF his
sermons while l lived there" This ap.
parent praise Of the preacher was simply
an unconscious tribute TO the consci-
seriousness and reverence Of the nearer.
On the breaking out OF the war. Capt
Grant presided at the first war meeting in
Galena. He soon left with company OF
men for Springfield; and on the occasion
Of their departure l was requested to de-
liver the farewell address AN address to
which he kindly alluded when, four years
later, be sent q message to me in Chicago,
asking me to go with him to Galena for
the grand reception which that faithful
old city was eager to give the returning
chieftain The ride from Chicago to Ga.
lena, on the day Of the return in 1865, is
memorable. A special train OF drawing
room cars had been provided for the invi.
ted guests. Every station was crowded
with enthusiastic people to greet the great
conqueror. At Galena the demonstration
was most hearty. The crowd was i'm.
mense. There was touch Of neighborly
affection and pride in the expressions OF
their welcome.
On the way the General asked me to be
his spokesman. He said: "Mr. Wash
burn will deliver the address Of welcome.
I want you to answer for me. l don't
care to speak myself. ! do not say that l
cannot speak; but you may say for me
that never having been accustomed to
making public addresses / do not think
il well to begin now. Tell the people how
thankful I am for their welcome, and tell
them that / shall consider Galens as my
home for the future" These thoughts he
desired me to express for him. Iattempt.
ed II for him. but never wish again to rep.
resent another man on the platform. !
did the best that could, but was embar-
rassed at the time. and much more embar.
raised at the remembrance Of 1t.
People have now come to know that
General Grant was an admirable CONVEX
sationalist. In private be always spoke
with ease, never hesitating for word On
the car that day, he gave me with great
freedom his opinion Of the leading men
of the times: Sherman who WAS just Of
that time speaking little too much FOL
his own good, whom General Grant ably
defended); Sheridan, Stanton. Rawlins,
Lincoln and others. He paid tribute 70
General Shernan's honesty and enthusi-
asm, and to General Sheridan's dash and
and brilliancy. OF Lincoln. among othei
things, he said: II have learned to love
him. He is . wonderful man."
When We reached the station at Galena'
the General seemed positively timid. Mrs
Grant had to urge him TO show himself Il
the crowds that had climbed mp on thu
platform to see him. They want TO SCI
you, Mr.. Grant. Why don't You give then
. chancei" Like an obedient husband. hs
drew near the end OF the car. and bowed
and blushsd Is any modest maiden might
Mrs. Grant always appreciated the sbil-
ity Of her husband. On the day OF BIZ
departure for Springfield in 1861. after th'
public farewell 1t the railway station.
called with nv wife at the Grant home
and had 4 conversation with Mrs. Grant