Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-08
His First Meeting with Gen. <sr.nt-Im.
terest1ng Campaign Incidenta.

GEN. TOWARDS REMINIsCENCEs.
His First Meetfne with Gen. s,r.r.-uu.
terest1ng Campaign Incidents.
From the Christian Union.
The nrst time met Gen. Grant was the 21st
OF October, 1868. The Eleventh corps was then
at Bridgeport, place on the Tennessee where
the Nashville railway crosses the river, and my
headquarters were In tents near the bridge.
Early that morning, taking q return supply
Train, went up to Stevenson, some ten miles
distant, TO pay an official visit to Gen. Hooker.
While there Hooker said that our new military
division commander was en- route from Nash.
vile to Chattanooga, that he was expected on
the Incoming train. Hooker had made prepare
tons to receive the general and have him con.
oucteo 70 ms own quarters. Grant was reputed
as very lame and suffering from the injuries oc-
casioned by the falling of his horse q short time
sent spring wagon and an officer of his staff
10 tne sta,t9ion' but for some reason he did not
AS must take the same train. south bound,
70 get back to Bridgeport before dark its ar
rival found me there in waiting. / had pre-
sa il,1, mat Gen; Grant would remain over
nIsnI WIN Oen Hooker, but this presumption
was not correct. Several acquaintance among
the officers who were on the train met me as I
s!rppeo lnt0 the forward part of the car Gen.
OTaut, sittlng 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.
Wy prise WQcn saw n1ms 1t
had been for some time before the public, the
successful commander in important battles:
tne papers bad said much for him, and several
Ing oy the accounts, had conceived him to be
Of large size and rough appearance. The actual
H man was 9uite diiierent.not larger than Nc,
CleIian, at the time rather thin in flesh and
very pale in complexion, and noticeably self.
contained and retiring
Without rising he extended his hand as
very briefly that it gave him pleasure to meet
me. He then permitted me to continue the
Gen. Hooker's staff officer came with the ten
der 81 the conveyance and the offer OF hospital
ity. me quick reply. made with quiet firnlness,
wishes to see me he will find me on this trai o. !"
l hardly need say that Hooker soon presented
himseil and offered his courtesies in person to
his new commander.
Hooker was tall, of full build rudy, hand.
some, then IN the very prime of bis manhood.
wondered at the contrast between the two men.
ana p0ndered upon the manner OF their meet
ing. Grant evidently took this first occasion to
assert himself He never LETT the necessity for
generaIs-where it was likely to be Questioned
to second Interview. Yet he manifested only
quiet trmness
Gen. Grant and shared a common wall tent
between US. He had humorous expression
which noticed as his eye fell upon liquor flask
hanging against the tent within. "That flask
is not m1ne,' quickly said. ut was left here
by an officer to be returned to Chattanooga.
never drink" Neither do l." was the prompt
rrepy. MS answer was not IN sport; he was Tree
from every appearance OF drinking, aud was
happy indeed to find in his clear eye and clear
face an unmistakabie testimonial against the
many prevalent falsehoods which envy and
rlVairy nad set IN motion, especially after the
battle OF Shiloh.
The next morning, after sunrise breakfast
his chief OF stan, Gen. Rawlins, who in subse-
quent years became Secretary of War, lifted his
general, then lame and SUFFERING" as if he had
been but child, into the saddle. The direct
route across the Tennessee was held by cOnied.
crate Bragg, and the river road on our side was
much exposed to sharpshooters from the other
bank and to Wheeler'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 we We're d,a already deemed too wretched
route was strewn with the wrecks of army
vehicles and dead mules which our indetatig:i-
bic quarternasters had been forced 10 abandon.
1t would have been an awful journey for u well
man journey of more than forty miles. At
times 1t was necessary to take the general from
arms across the toughest places. Yielding to
no he pushed through to
able journey :Thich put Grant en- rapport with
Hooker and IhOnas, gave practical shape to
all good existing plans, and soon changed an
army on the verge Of starvation iu au active
| healthful, well supplied, conquering force
While with the general during Els first visit
TO my bridgeport tent we Were speaking OF
officers OF rank who were dissatisfied with the
size Of their commands. HE had no sympathy
with such grnmbcrs, and as little with the
remark Of mine to the effect that it was hard
for an officer TO pass from higher command
| to lower, II do not think so Howard. A
major general Is entitled to an army division,
and no more. Why, Ibelieve should be flying
IN the lace OF Providence to seek a command
higher than that intrusted TO me-" SUCH was
my nrst Instructive lesson IN the great leader.
lie begat IN me confidence which years aud
experience never leSsened.
For an interview with Gen. Thomas. then
commanding n ho Cpn ,ha,i
went, the 14th of November, 1868, from Look
out valley to Chattanooga. In the evening
room when Gen. Sherman arrived, having left
his marching column back at bridgeport. He
came bounding in after his usual buoyant man.
ner. Gen. Grant, whose bearing toward Sher-
man differed from that with other officers,
being free. affectionate, and good-humored,
greeted him most cordially; He immediately,
reply, THANK you, as well as can be eXpected!'
extended to him the ever-welcome cigar. This
ping his ready flow Of hearty words, and not
even pausing to sit down. He seemed like an
animated boy just in from an exciting out
Grant arrested his attention by some apt
remark, aud then said, "rake the chair of
honor, Sherman" indicating rocker with
"rhe chair Of honor? Oh. no; that belongs to
you, general"
Grant mot whit abashed by this compliment,
said: II don't forget, Sherman, to give proper
respect to age"
well, then, if you put it on that ground, 1
must accept
That night had the opportunity of hearing
the projected campaigns discussed rs never be-
fore. sherman spoke quickly, but evinced much
previous thought, Grant said Sherman would
''bone" DC, study hard) his campaigns from
morning to night on his horse. Gen. Thomas
furnished them the ammunition OF knowl.
edge, positive and abundant, of the surround.
ing mountainous regions of East Tennessee and
northern Georgia. Gen. Grant appeared 10
made Il pointed remark. Thomas was like the
solid judge, confident and fixed in his knowl.
edge of law, Sherman like the brilliant advo-
cate, and Grant, rendering his verdicts, like an
Intelligent jury.
The Odd Of Observation-Disclosures the conference
above referred to a reconnaissance bad been OF.
dered. GeE. Gordon Granger deployed one di.
vision Of the 4th army corps into line in
front of Fort Wood, and supported 1t by his
other two divisions. The 18th corps, under
Palmer, supported the right, and the 1Ith
massed, the left. Gems. Grant and Thomas
stood by the parapet within the fort, and their
staff officers and OrderlieS were near ut hand.
could see both generals from my point of OBJ
serVatOn. was curious to observe them in the
approaching action, now sure to come. At first
| the movement afforded bright array OF arms
The flags waved, and the bayOnets, or the bar
mishers sprang to their places with. gladstone
alacrity, and soon the whole front was covered
with them, and the buglers sounded the adj
vance, all rs IT on parade. The cOnfederates
| in our front doubtless thinking it Grants re,
view OF troops, many of them stood on their
entertainments to behold the fine display
The men seemed to fly over the space