The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-22
PERSONAL.

Gen. w. W. III. Davis, at the request of the Board
of Managers, related at the United Service Club,
in Philadelphia, on Thursday, April Is, The Siege
of Charleston, 1851"
The popular elocutionist, Mrs. Elizabeth Mans
field Irving-whose rendition of Sheridan's Ride
many of the comrades have listened TO with de-
Lights no where so popular as in her own home
Toledo. Last week Commander j. W. Green, of
Forsyth Post, and his wife, gave pleasant little
entertainment at their home, to those interested In
GAR and W.R.C. work. During the evening
Mrs. Irving was surprised by the formal presenta-
ton to her. In pleasant little speech by Mrs. X. G.
Bacon, of an elegant gold badge, set with dia-
monds. This was the gift of her friends to show
their appreciation of her generous services to the
GAR, at home and abroad.
Maj.-Gen John W. Thayer the old Commander
Of the Army of the Frontier is now living quietly
at his home In Grand Island, Neb., occupying him.
self with literary matters and the of his prop
erty. He was IN Washing'on last week on visit TO
Representative Dorsey, OF his State and other old
friends He looks in the best of health and spirits
and his years rest very lightly him 1t will be
membered that previous to the war he was fire.
quently selected by his fellow citizens to command
the volunteer parties which were raised to protect
the settlers of the Territory from the Indians, and
he performed that duty efficiently that, when the
1st Neb. was raised in response to the call of the
President in 1861 he was unanimously selected for
its Colonel. and marched at its head into Missouri
1" remember quite distinctly" he said to THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE, " the first time that / ever met
Gen. Grant, and the excellent impression that he
made upon me. L had been ordered to Pilot Knob
with my regiment to reinforce him, in anticipation
Of an attack by Gen. Hardee, with an overwhelm-
ing force. / got to Pilot Knob in the forenoon and
found him at work in cabin, which he had made
n Al Erzyz
was dressed in plain army flannel, without any in
dication of rank, if remember rightly, and smok-
ing clay pipe. He was busy writing a letter
when entered, and directed me to have a seat.
studied his face as he sat ut work, and favor
ably impressed by it. There pretense or
osentation in it; but the firm, square-sct jaw and
general expression induced the opinion that he
was a man that would be heard from in the course
of the coming contest.
Had you any previous prepossess;on in his
favor that led to this?" THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
asked.
well, knew that he was a graduate of West
Point and had been in the Mexican war, where he
acquitted himself creditably, and this may have
had something to do with my favorable opinion.
After he had finished his letter he turned to me
and asked some questions in regard to my regf-
ment. He expressed surprise and qualification that
so meager a population Nebraska had Git had
only 600 at the time) should send so many men
to the field so promptly. After some further con-
yersation and directions what TO do with my regi-
ment, went away, and in the afternoon he came
down and gave me further directions. We made
ready for the attack, which did not come, Hardee
was informed of Gen. Grants increase of force and
withdrew. All my intercourse with Gen. Grant
impressed with the substantial practical, bust
ncss-ke elements of his character which seemed
to dominate everything else. / next him
the Tennessee River just after the capture of Fort
Henry. was coming up the river in boat, and
reported to him for orders He directed Gen.
Rawlins to give me order to stop all other boats
coming up, take them back with me to Paducah,
and follow in the rear of Commodore Foote up the
Cumberland to join In the assault on Fort Donel-
son, which 1 did, and accumulated quite little
feet at Paducah, with which we assembled the
reaching the vicinity of Fort Donelson
on Thursday, and found the General quite in need
Of our assistance. We had TO come very slowly,
because the orders were to keep in the of the
gunboats, which did not run at very high rate of
speed. We got up IN time to be of service in the
battle and was then with him at Shiloh Corinth
md Vicksburg, until was transferred to the CON-
nand of the Army of the Frontier"
Gen. John W. Fuller, of Toledo, who commanded
division in the Seventeenth Corps during the At
anita campaign, is in North Georgin, revisitng the
Comrade w. S. Odell, of Washington, will leave
Tor Yuoatan in q few days to attend to important
private business
Gen. John B. Turchn, who has been In Wash
ngton for some days upon the invitation of the
r. here TO deliver lectures, is of the notable
men of the war; and has had career of extraordi-
nary vicissitude. He is Russian by birth and
vas educated for. the staff of the Russian army,
md served in that capacity until his 32d year.
gaining great distinction during the Circassian
md Crimean wars He then came to this
country and at the outbreak of the war organized
md led to the field the 10Th H., one of the very
pest regiments in the Army Of the Cumberland He |
vas sent ut first to Missouri where he electrified
ais commanders by an application of the old mill
airy axiom that war must support war. 1t will be /
at that time that were vigorously |
engaged In the policy of guarding the rebels |
chicken coops and onion beds n line of operation |
hat did not at all suit the vigorous Russian who |
vas determined to have his men well fed and cared |
or ut whatever cost IT might be to the enemy. In |
S62 he was in command of a brigade in Mitchells |
Division. and was Athens, Ala, when Gen.
iobt. L. McCook was murdered by guerrilas. In
eyenge his brigade burned the town, and q very