The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-08-27
IncIpEH7s IN eRAHT's LIFE.
General Towards First Meeting
with tho Always Victori-
ous Commander.
Grant, Sherman, and Thomas at Ohatta-
nooga-Interesting Campaign In
cidents-Ths Veto of tho In
fation Bill of 1874.

Tennessee where the Nashville Railway
crosses the river and my headquarters were
in tents near the bridge. Early that morn
tng, taking return supply train, went up
90 Stevenson. some ten miles distant, TO pay
an official visit 10 Gen. Hooker. While there
Hooker said that our new military division
commander was en- route from Nashville 10
Chattanooga, that he was expected TO arrive
on tho incoming Grain. Hooker had made
preparations to meet the General and have him
conducted TO his own quarters. Grant was
reported as very lame and suffering from the
injuries occasioned by the failing OF his
horse short time before in the streets OF
Now Orleans. Hooker sent spring wagon
and an officer OF hts star to the station, but
Cor some reason he did not 40 himself.
AS i 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 re-
main over night with General Hooker. but
ahis presumption was not correct. Several
aoquaintances among the officers who were
In the train met me as / stepped into the
forward part OF the car. General Grant.
sitting near the rear OF the car, was pointed
out to rue, and i passed on at once. as was
proper to pay my respects to him.
Imagine my surprise when saw him. no
had been for some time before the public,
the successful commander in important
battles; the papers had said much for him,
and several viruent sheets much against him,
and so, judging by the accounts, had con-
ceived him TO be OF large size and rough APP
pearance. The actual man was quite differ
ent-not larger than Mcclellan, at the same
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 sgni-
fed very briefly that it gave him pleasure TO
meet me- He then permitted me TO continue
the conversation.
Gen. Hooker's staff oficer came with the
tender of the conveyance and the offer OF
hospitality. The quick reply, made with
quiet flrmness, at the time astonished ma:
sIf Gen. Hooker wishes to see me, he will
f1nd me on this train" / hardly need say
that Hooker soon presented himself, and Of
fered his courteses in person to his new
commander.
Hooker was tall, OF full build. rudy,
handsome, then iuUhc very prime of his
manhood. Wondered at the contrast be-
tween the two men, and pondered upon the
manner or their meeting. Grant evidently
took this first occasion TO assert himself. He
never left the necessity OF gaining proper
ascendency over subordinate Generals
where IL was likely to be questioned-to n
second Interview. Yet he manifested only q
quiet firmness.
Gen. Grant and shared n common wall
tent between us. He had humorous ex-
preston which noticed as his eyes fell upon
a liquor flask hanging against the tent WITH
an: THAT flask il not mine, quickly said.
at was left here by an officer, to be returned
to Chattanooga never drink" "Neither
do l." was the prompt reply. His answer
was not in sport; he was free from every ap-
pearance of drinking, and / was happy in
deed to find in his clear eye and his clear
face an unmistakable testimonial against the
many prevalent falsehoods which envy and
rivalry had set in motion after the battle Of
Shiloh.
The next morning. after q sunrise break
fast, his Chief-of-Staf, Gen. Rawlins, who in
subsequent years became Secretary of War,
lifted his General. then ''lame and suffering"
as If he had been but child, into the sad
die. The direct route across the Tennessee
was held by Confederate Bragg, and the river
on our side was much exposed to
sharpshooters from the other bank,
and to Wheeer's 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
tSa wretched and too dangerous for the
wagons. This route was strewn with the
wrecks of army vehicles and dead mules
which our interchangeable Quartermasters had
been forced to abandon. 1t would have been
an awful journey for a well mana journey
OF more than forty miles. AT times IL was
necessary to take the General from his horse,
The soldiers carried him In their arms across
the toughest places. Yielding to no weari-
ness or suffering ,ho pushed through TO Chat
tanooga, reaching Gen. Thomas the evening
of the 22d or October. 1t was this remark
able journey which put rant on rapport
with Hooker and Thomas, gave practical
shape to all good existing plans, and soon
changed an army on the verge of starvation
into an active, healthful well supplied, con-
quering force.
While with the General during his first
visit to my Bridgeport tent we were speak
dng of officers OF rank who were dissatisfied
with the size of their commands. He had no
sympathy with suon grumblers, aud as little
with the selfshly ambitious. He said, in
answer 10 a remark of mine TO the effect that
IL was hard for an officer to pass from a
higher command TO a lower, ~ do not think
so, Howard. A Major-GeneIal Is entitled TO
an army division, and no more. Why, be-
lieve should be flying In the face OF Provi-
denceto seek a command higher than that
Entrusted to me-" Such was my first in
.structive lesson in the great leader. He be-
.gat in me a confidence which years and ex-
perience never lessened.
For an interview with Gen. Thomas then
commanding our Army of the Cumberland, L
went, the 18th OF November, 1853 from
Lookout Valley TO Chattanooga. In the
evening several officers were sitting
together in an upper room when
Gen. Sherman arrived. having left his
marcring column back at Bridgeport He
came bounding I'm after his usual buoyant
manner. Gen. Grant. whose bearing toward
sherman differed from that with other off,
GERS, being free, affectionate, and good.
humored, after the How are you, Sherman
and the reply, "Thank you, as we'll as can
be expectedl'' extended the ever welcome
cigar. This Sherman proceeded to light,
but without stopping his ready flow OF hearty
words, and 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
remark, and then said, "Take the chair of
honor, Sherman" indicating a rocker with
high back.
'sThe chair of honori Oh, no; that belongs
to you, General
Grant, not whit abashed by this compli-
ment. said: II don't forget, Sherman, TO
give proper respect to age"
WELL then. II you put it on that ground,
must accept it,
That night had the opportunity of hear
ing the projected campaigns discussed as
never before. Sherman spoke quickly, but
evinced much previous though. Grant said
Sherman would "bone" q. G., study hard) his
campaigns from morning to night on his
horse. Gen. Thomas furnished them the
ammunition OF knowledge, positive and
abundant, of the surrounding mountainous
regions OF East Tennessee and Northern
Georgia. Gen. Grant appeared to listen
with pleased interest and now and then
made pointed remark. Thomas was like
the solid Judge. confident and fixed I'm his
knowledge of law, Sherman, like the brilliant