The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-08-14
THE MILITARY AUTHOR.
Grants Literary Methods and Ambitions.

Grants Literary Methods and Ambitions.
The New York Commercial Adver-
tiser recently published some interest
ing gossip about Gen. Grant and his
literary methods. 1t describes him as
completely dominated by the desire to
finish his book, that he may leave 1t as
legacy to his family. He sometimes
wakes up in the night, calls for light,
jots down some remembrance, and
then goes to sleep again. He stops in
the midst of conversation to record a
reminiscence.
Once on awakening, after dose of
morphia, and when his attendants
thought that no could not stand, he
walked over to q chair, sat down, and
in his delirium said, as II in great sur
prise: "Well, this is funny. Here are
my books, papers, pictures. and furni-
ture, vet am in Illinois. Harrison,
how did get out herep Someone has
brought me here. wonder what for.
/ am away from my book and no time
should be- lost In its completion. l
suppose shall have to make the best
of 1t. But, by the way, Washburne
and Morton are coming to dinner with
me, and have no clothes on.
"You are not in Illinois," said one of
those present.
THAT'S all right; know what am
doing. Can't see the old barnP
know every inch of this ground"
1t was the action of mind weighted
with ono subject, and to this day the
general does not know what occurred.
Not long ago in the middle of the
night he awoke.
Harrison, Harrison, light the gas"
he exclaimed.
The man servant did so.
Bring me the paper and pencil"
They were brought; he jotted down
an idea, and then ordered the lights to
be extinguished. He was recently
asked:
"What about the story of the sur
render of Gen. Lees swordP"
al didn't take his sword" said the
general, "because ! didn't think it
would be right. Nothing was said or
thought of it."
"But it is usual to take the sword.
isn't FTP"
Eyes; but l wouldn't do it in that
case"
To the writer of this article the gen.
eral said in the course Of conversation:
81 have read good deal in my life,
but know OF no grander man than
Gen. Robert L. Lee"
His usual habit is to rise early, break
fast at 8 o'clock, and get to work by 8
or $50 o'clock. He works steadily I'M
til ~ or l o'clock, and then takes
luncheon. Until recently he had
short ride in the park almost daily.
Later In the afternoon he sometimes
works for two hours again, and some-
times even at night for little while.
He writes in his own room, on the
first floor above the parlor. His writ
ing table-an ordinary card-table-is
set about the middle of the room. He
sits with his back to the bay-window
at East Sixty-sixth street. At his right
hand Is the bureau, and further on the
fireplace. On the opposite side is his
bed. He wears slippers, trousers, vest,
and dressing-gown. On his head he
has black silk cap, or mixed worst
sa Sns e. ne y sselee' 20 a'.a S1as1
toned pair of hard rubber spectacles.
He generally writes with lead pencil
on common MANILA paper. The general
composes with great rapidity, and but
seldom interlines. When trying to ex-
press an idea just right he often gets
up and walks around the room, al
though his locomotion Is strained and
slow, his leg still being lame. 1t is
thought by some that the leg which
was Injured when he fell on the slip
perry pavement was broken and wrong
ly set.
In an adjoining room there is O stem
ographer, to whom, when the general
wishes to record an idea quickly, he
dictates, the stenographcr taking it
down. When debating the general
talks very rapidly, but the swelling on
the neck is so large that 1t interferes
considerably with the clearness of his
speech.
The general keeps by his side many
records from the war department at
Washington, and in handling them Col.
Fred is Of great service to his father.
The general has great deal of conf
dence in the ability OF the colonel. He
said some time ago: "For an ordinary
looking man Fred is the best informed.
particularly on military subjects,
ever saw. When he was in Europe he
showed great acquaintance with the
history of the countries we visited"
1t was particularly unfortunate, says
the writer, that Gen. Badeau, when
Gen. Grant was thought to be dying,
should have allowed the impression to
exist that he, in great part, was the
author of the book. The family WIZ
incensed at the report. Col. Fred
Grant showed the manuscript to a
friend familiar with Gen. Grants writ
ing, and asked whose 1t was. The
gentleman quickly responded: at is
Gen. Grants" 1t is o significant fat
that nothing more is to DO heard of
Gen. Badeau. He has left the house,
bag and baggage, and has not been in
1t for some time.
When the book was completed Gen.
Grant was much delighted. He took
1t to Mrs. Grant, and said:
"Here Is your book. It's all done.
It's the only legacy I have to leave you
or my family"
He invariably refers to the book now
as Mrs. Grants. The first volume of
the book will appear in December. the
second in March. 1t has already over
three hundred thousand subscribers,
which insures a handsome income to
the family.