The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-26
Grant discussed and explained the battles of Ma

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the battles of Frederick the Great, Leutnen,
Rossachs: the Seven Years War, and backwards,
as by a comparative ANALYSIS of the art of war,
as 1t had been developed from the time of Caesar
down to the present day. / shall never forget
tnat most interesting conversation. It showed
that Grant had never forgotten what he
learned at West Point. and in addition TO his
own genius as a commander ne had a profound
and scientific knowledge of the art Of war.
Grant was no adventurer, no accident. He
came from an ancestry Of soldiers. He was
born a gentleman. He was trained to his work
at West Point, Mexico and upon the plains.
Providence gave him the opportunities. He had
the genius to seize them and make immortal re-
nown.
Speaking of Grants mental traits, he had a
curious dislike to music. | remember when we
were in Jerusalem one cold, snowy February
evening, Just as we sat down to dinner, the
party, all weary after the forty miles ride from
Jaffa, an immense band suddenly appeared under
the window, playing German national airs.
General Grant looked up. the picture of despair.
laid down his knife and fork and said: This will
drive me mad 1t seems that the poor Pasha
had ordered the band to Grant
wherever he went, as a token of respect. | had
to 60 out. find the bandmaster. who was a Ger
man, and explain to him that it was impossible
for General Grant TO allow the poor tiddlers and
trombone players to stay out in the cold, snowy
air and play for him. After finishing the air
they went home.
Grant cared very little about architecture or
thN LiC dIlS. l. l. OI0 udS III L
standing before a picture of Titan, which a
young lady was copying. What do you think
of the copy I said, FGeneral9' Well said he,
i would rather have the copy than the original;
and wouldn't have either [ am fond Of Cathe-
drais, and endeavored to entice the General to
visit one in our strolls throughout Europe, but
it always bored him. Architecture he regarded
as a IL mistake, and he always said, if he ever built
q house, it would be of the plainest and simplest
form.
He had a curious aversion to Napoleon; and
when we were passing the Invalides one day,
where Napoleon is buried, l asked Grant to go
IN and look at the magnificent tomb. No he
said, Napoleon was a monster, and / wish to
see nothing concerning him And I said:
How do you rank his geniusF Greatest, per
haps, that ever lived, and that made his crimes
more to be condemned | remember asking
him, also. which of Napoleon's battles showed
the most intellect. He said he was inclined to
think Waterloo, and that nothing but Provi-
dence beiLg against him led to his defeat.
Wellington, he said. showed more character
than genius, and he ranked him with President
Taylor.
Grant was essentially a Puritan. with all the
likes and dislikes to be found in a Puritan New
England nature. He was very English in his
sympathies. and nothing gave him more gratif-
cation than to have brought about the Alabama
arbitration. He believed that the future of
civilization depended upon the closest affinity
between the English-speaking races. | never
heard him discuss questions of faith. He was
SAiAE ~. liC0 inquiry, AIT Nil6U lie met
the Pope at the Vatican he could not have been
more kind and gracious.
Apart from Grants intellectual qualities the
elements of character which predominated were
his simplicity and truthfu!ness. Grant never
told a lie in his life, or anything that had the
seinblance of a lie. He never equivocated. He
was remarkably exact in every statement he
made. especially statements involving mathe-
mates or figures, and it always nettled him for
anyone in the company to make a statement and
not nave it exactly right. Under all this there
was in Grants character a boyishness WI ich was
charming, and which was only seen iu his own
home. He was fond of teasing anyone: re-
member many scenes of this kind with Mr..
Borle, who had been Secretary Of the Navy and
Travelled with US around the world-a noble.
priEcely gentleman. Poor Mr.. Borie was in
delicate health, and had to take the greatest
care of himself. At breakfast in the morning
Grant would cross-question him in a sober
manner of his fOllies and wild ways the night
before.
Il remember hearing him teasing Sheridan,
whom he loved like a son, and of whose genius
he had the highest opinion, by gravely insisting
that Sheridan never fought any battle, but hap
pening to have a couple of correspondents on his
staff. whom he paid we'll, won great fame.
Grants life was a simple and abstemious
one. He cared nothing for the pleasures of the
table. have seen him at a dinner given by the
khedive, sit through a long range of courses and
eat nothing but the soup and cheese. He was
fond of walking. and delighted in strolling off
AhCO o"NN tAN ~ ~ AhtO UOIh SltOltS, anu
getting away from the noise and pomp of town.
"He always regretted being a soldier, and told
me that his early ambition had been to practice
medicine. In the East, where l have been for
some years, and where l accompanied General
Grant, his fame is transcendent. He took a
deep interest In Eastern questions, especially in
China and Japan, and | had many opportunities
to realize, in my dealings with the Chinese gov
eminent, the fact that they had known me,
before l was minister. as the friend Of Grant"
"A good deal has been said about the friends
of Grant. Who are his special friends7"
That is a question / am very glad to answer.
| Grant was a man of world wide acquaintance,
but l should say with a limited circle of friends.
He Was a hard man to know well. This did not
come from suspicion, because he was guileless
as a child, but from shyness. The opinion that
Grant did not know men is a mistake. 1
could tell you a hundred stories of
his opinions of public men. estimates
of their character. but they belong
to the condolences of private conversation. He
was fond of sketching off a public man in a SEN
tence or a story. and many Of these l recall as
infinitely amusing. Lincoln was his special
admiration Of our public men, and of Lincoln he
always spoke as the greatest statesman he had
ever known. His regard for Mr.. Conkling was
profound, and it is curious to recall how that
to Grant in return an affection like unto a
woman. / suppose Hamilton Fish had more
Influence over Grant than any Of his advisers.
Then. in the inmost circle Of his friends, I
should put Senator Edmunds, General Logan,
Admiral Ammen. General Beale, Gen:
Boutwell,. G. w. Childs and Mr.. Drexel, and,
before the attention, Mr.. Washburne. But
Grant was never swayed by his friendship as
people suppose he was. He was affectionate
aud tenacious. remember his son. the Colonel,
telling me one time that he thought Thackeray
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