The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-14
GRANT on THE POTOMAC.
His Hold Upon the Soldiers-Incidents of
the Wilderness Campaign.

Ills Hold Upon the Soldiers-Incidents of
the Wilderness Campaign.
G. h. in Boston Journal
THE Army of the Potomac is fine one and
has shown the highest courage. Still, think it
has never fought its battles through This is
what General Grant is reported to have said
upon his arrival in Washington in March, 1864
In the light of history the remark was a true
one 1t also bespoke the character of the man,
for when fighting had once begun in the Wilder
ness on the 9TH of May it never really ended
until the surrender at Appomatox. The glori-
ous-old Army Of the Potomac thus demonstrated
TO the world that all il had needed during its
ong years of hard fighting and comparative fail
ire, was leader imbued with its spirit. The
men were ready, but they never had until now
a chief who could fight battles through to de-
cisive results.
General Grant came TO rs on the Gath of
March, while we lay in and around Culpepper
Court house The regiment to which the writer
belonged was then part of the Second Brigade,
Second Division, First Army Corps. The First
Corps had been consolidated with the Fifth, and
the gallant General Warren was in command.
Our camp was about two miles from Culpepper,
In which village Grant established his headquar-
tiers. Two days after his arrival he reviewed
our corps. Such was our introduction to the
hero of Fort Donelson and Vicksburg.
After the review was over the men gathered
IN little groups about the camp-fireS and dis
eussed the new commander. The tenor of COM
ment, as near as | remember, was in the
.lS.Ss THAT Of confidence, but the belief seemed
to be quite general that the Western armies,
under Grant, had not up to that time
been called upon to face such brave
troops and such skillful generalship as bad
Abe Army of the Potomac. Let him try Lee
awhile" remarked one soldier somewhat deris-
lively. He'll sing a different tune inside of
three months" We were not then fully aware
of the persistent and systematic fighting habits
of our new General, although familiar.
of course. with his brilliant career in the West
But somehow we seemed to think that other
qualities than those he had already shown were
needed to fit him to cope with Lee, particularly
that of greater strategic skill This was the
natural outcome of our belief that we had borne
harder knocks than had our Western brethren.
But we soon learned that Grant could plan as
well us our adversary, and fight as well, too, and
as the army of the Potomac turned southwark
after its bloody repulse in the Wilderness all
caviling ceased, and a feeling of entire conf
dence- took possession of the men. 1t was to be
a hard campaign, but it promised to put end
70 the war, and that was what we wanted The
whole situation was summed up In a remark
theu heard upon every hand: ''1ts to be a
Kilkenny fight, but our cat has got the longest
tail"
I distinctly remember the good impression
per, when, having day of liberty. L sailed
forth to get peep at him, and waited for hours
bout his headquarters until he should show
iuaseIf He came out finally, and sat down in
ont of the house, and. walking slowly by sew
N times, was able TO study his face almost as
UGH as l wished to. He was smoking of
ranrse, and to my mind. bore more of the ap-
earance of a man spending few days leisure
IN the country than of great commander
charged with a mighty responsibility. He was
In undress uniform, and had not seen him at
the review, and thus become somewhat familiar
with his face, / would not have been able to- dis
ainguish him from others about the house. He
was even less pretentious than many of his staff
While was passing for the last time ne called
his orderly and ordered his horse to be saGflled
His tone and manner were so unaffected and nat
zral that became delighted with the man, and
hurried back to camp TO tell my comrades.
''Welln said one, that's all well enough, but
what do you think of him, anyway My reply
was something like this: $40 tell the truth,
boys, there isn't much style about him, but he's
man of business; you can depend on that"
Grant always rode a blooded horse, and his
staff and other followers found it difficult at
times TO keep up with him. Tho Thirteenth
Massachusetts, Regiment, attached to the first
brigade OF our division, which passed the winter
of ga at Mitchelfs Station, relate with much
gusto an incident which occurred when they
were reviewed. The brigade was IN line waiting
when off in the distance they beheld solitary
horSeman coming at break -neek speed AS he
that il was Grant Attention.! he cried. and
the order was instantly obeyed. Grant rode at
slightly reduced speed down In front, drums
were beaten, arms presented and flags were
lowered, and then he was off again as rapidly as
he came. By-and by Meade and his staff came
along their horses painting. and rode method
cally down the line AS the last one reached
the left of the regiment the men burst out into
q loud laugh
Early in the evening of the first days fight in
the Wilderness we received a small accession to
our membership in the shape of a detachment
which had been guarding signal station upon
Garnetts Mountain. One of the men was the
writer's brother, and as the all-absorbng subject
among us was Grant proceeded right away TO
enlighten his darkened understanding, suppos-
Ing him TO be ignorant of the personal appear
anee. at any rate. OF our great leader. I'm not
so green as you suppose said he. And he then
proceeded 10 tell US how he ard the men in the
detachment, while stumbling about in the forest
n search OF the regiment, had accidentally
ncountared the hero from the West They
I'D seen q man sitting upon the ground whit
ing and smoking, and my brother who was in
sarge OF the detachrsSnt. asked the silent
hitler as 10 the whereabouts of Robinsons
vision In the course OF the conversation he
learned that the man was Grant himself
although he bad not mistrusted il on his APP
proaeh from the unpretentious surroundings.
The General kindly directed him 10 the division.
ard was very cordial in his manner. From that
time forward my brother became enthusiastic
adBairer Of Grant
At one time during the fierce fighting in the
Wilderness our diviaion was moved 10 the right
60 help check an avanee of the enemy. When
We arrived az the threatened point, the troops
were in some confusion. and one gun of battery
was being slowly hauiei to the rear The fiicer