The Republican journal., 1885-04-16
Recollections of Gen. Grant.

worldwide sorrow and sympathy evoked by
his decease. All else has been told. His mill
tary record is part of tie history of the Union
he was so Instrumental in saving. The daily
record of his last illness has been presented, in
minutest detail, to an anxious public, and the
certainty that his end was near has brought
forth food of "reminiscences from those asso-
ciated with him in military, civil or private
life. All have their need of praise for the
soldier, the President or the private citizen.
His chiefest laures were won upon the battle
field, and it is as the great soldier that his
memory will be cherished by his grateful
countrymen. In a recent interview. Hon.
Henry w. Hillard, of Georgia, eX-MiniSter to |
Brazil said He rose steadily from the day !
he entered the army. Sagacious, resolute,
prompt, vigilant and unfinching, he emerged
from obscurity to take the chief command of
all the armies of the Union. At that supreme
summit of military command he exercised con-
troll over a greater number of men than any
General of modern times. Up to that time the
widely scattered armies of the Union had wav-
cred and exhibited a want of concert that
brought the cause for which they were muster
ed into great straits, if not actual peril. But
when Gen. Grant took command order rose
out of confusion, and the Disconnected forces,
vast as they We're, co-operated in matchless
harmony" Gen. Edward F. Beale, of New
York, long an intimate friend, says of Gen.
Grant ITO say that | considered him great
man does not express it. He was the greatest
man | knew of. He fought and won battles
the like of which have never occurred in an
cient or modern history
OF another side of his character, Hon. j. a.
J. Creswell of MARYLAND, who was in Gen.
Grants Cabinet rs Postmaster General for
over five wears. says: ''Grant's qualities of
true manliness were more pronounced than
those of shy man | ever knew. In my close
relations with him, while | was member of
his Cabinet. | never heard him say a harsh or
petty thing; never heard him speak impulsively
or use IA profane word. His relations with his
family were most delightful and charming.
There never was kinder or more indugent
father, and | never saw more devoted couple
than General and Mrs Grant. OF course
everybody knows how he loved his daughter.
The meeting between them the other day was
very touching. and the emotion shown by the
old warrior exhibited the depth of his affection.
Gen. Grants great characteristic. however,
continued Mr.. Cresw ell, twas his sublime and
unflinching courage. 1t was of that kind that
no impression could be made upon it by oppo-
sition He discharged his duties always with
out selti>hnesS never stopping to consider how
an action would affect him personally" And
Gen. Beale, above quoted, also says: "Hls
even disposition was something wonderful to
me. aud | have seen him tried almost beyond
human endurance. He never cursed and swore
at people and he never lost control of himself.
He was always able to do what he considered
right"
4 While he was President as during his latter
| days, Gen. Grant was the victim of designing
| men who grossly abused his confidence and
would have forever furnished the memory of a
man differently constituted or less firmly en-
! trenched in the affections of the people. But
the Black Friday and whiskey ring scandals
and the evil doings of Ferdinand Ward have
left no stain upon the name of Gen. Grant.
The bitterest enemies he ever had-he can have
none now-would concede this much Gen.
Sheridan has said of Gen. Grants idea of set
ting himself up in business on Wall street: Il
have listened to his talk about making money
in perfect amazement. He imagined that he
had latent talent for making money, and that
his sons also possessed this talent to a remark
able degree He seemed never to tire of talk
ing about this when We were situated AS to
be free from interruption and when we could
talk with the freedom of bygone days. Now |
know very well that Gen. Grant did not possess
the talent or genius of making money. His
nature is too generous and contiding for that.
His talent in connection with money was in an
opposite direction and caused him to get clear
of money in a very short time. He could never
keep money before he set up in Wall street,
and YOU know he is a very bright fellow. who
can keep money after he gels there" And
Gen. Beale, speaking of Grants mi>fortunes in
New York said Il can understand why some
people should critici>e and disagree with Gen
eral Grant, particularly military men, but
can't understand how man could deliberately
plot to ruin him. General Grant dearly loved
Ferdinand Ward-a son could not have been
dcarer to him. He trusted him implicitly. and
how he could return his love and confidence by
plotting his ruin is beyond my comprehension
That Gen. Grant was not an orator is wei
known. The general impression that he was
not ready talker, but was silent even to mo-
rosene>s i, however, unfounded. Gen. Ores
well is the only one of those whose recollec
tons we have seen in print who corrects thi,
misap prehen>ion. Asked by reporter, GLOW
he talker!" Gen. Creswcll replied
Those who thought Grant couldn't talk made
a mistake. When he became intimate with one
be would talk AS much as any companion
should l have heard him do nearly all the
talking for an hour or two. He was a gooC
talker, but slow, sometimes hesitaing for
word-somelhing never experienced in writ
ing" The writer can also bear testimony or
this point. In 1869 be accompanied Bati
more delegation to the White House to urge The
retention of the then collector of that port
and President Grant after hearing what the
, delegates had to say, not only responded in ;
ready and bu>ness-ke way, but what wa
even more surprising to all present, INDUCED il
bit of humor which put everybody at the
ease and made the interview very pleasan
/,
, readiness in conversation was strengthened b,
subsequent visits to the White House. Indeed
if he had not been ready man he could no
have been so successful General.
One of the gentlemen interviewed spoke @
the regard the people of Washington had TO
Gen. Grant. This is true, but it is also tru,
that his appearance in public there, at TIT
theatres or on the streets, did not cause any
thing like demonstration; perhaps becaus
his presence was SO familiar to all. Will
= President he walked Il great deal, sometime
accompanied by member of his Cabinet or
military man, but quite often alone. Will
! head down, looking neither to the right no
the left, he paced along Pennsylvania avenue
. unnoticed by the majority, but quick to respon,
. to the salutes of friends or of the Occasional
old soldier who had served under him. Ii
F., was rarely without cigar, but it was not al
ways lighted and the man who supplied Gran
with cigars for many years says the Genera
did not smoke many nor such strong cigar
. as people have supposed, but would retain il
: his mouth partly burned and unlighted cigar