The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-06
GRANTS STOICISM.
General Hayes Tells n Clever story
About His Impassibility.

About His Impassibility.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
Ex.Prosident Hayes was in a reminis.
cent mood last Wednesday night at the
monthly dinner Of the Loyal Legion.
The charming story which no told ab out
Little Phil" Sheridan's first and last
vote was received with applause aud
there was q cheer when he repeated
Sheridan's simple words, "It is my first
vote, and will perhaps be my last, but l
want to vote for Old Abe,' oncew Gen.
eral Hayes then told in his characteristic
way, with gestures that were almost
Coquelinesque in their expressive grace,
a story of General Grants stoicism in
the midst Of impelling peril. General
Hayes said that II was a story of the only
time that Grant ever showed what might
have been called "fcar" had any one
else but Grant been the hero of the
story.
81 met" said General Hayes, 'at an
army dinner, some time ago, Colonel
Bowers, a favorite aid of Grants, and
asked him during the evening; What
was the most striking exhibition of fear,
anxiety, or sense of responsibility that
YOU ever. noticed In General Grantp
We'll, replied Bowers, If there was one
instance above all others where he
seemed to be affected by the stress of
care 1t was during the five days fight
down in the Wilderness On one of the
days, l think the fourth, the fighting
commenced early in the morning, and
continued all thr ough the day. AT the
end of tho day there had been great
slaughter on both sides and we had not
carried point; we had been repulsed
on every side. There was not an
absolute defeat, but we felt that our
army had been shaken and that possibly
q severe, determined return attack by
Lees army might be disastrous.
Just at dark that night Bowers
continued, said General Hayes, we were
all gathered about a log fire that was
built on the green sward at Grants
quarters. All Grants staff were about
the fire, and rs the flickering flames
lighted up their faces il could be seen
that they were all oppressed with the
greatness of the losses of the day and the
preceding days. Nothing was said.
The logs cracked and sputtered in the
| fire. Grant stood by looking at the
| bright flames, his hands behind his back,
q segar in his mouth, saying nothing.
Suddenly there broke on the night air, u
mile or two off, heavy firing, 1t
was evidently determined attack on our
lines. The firing grew as it came nearer.
| We all jumped up from our places about
the glowing fire and listened eagerly.
| Grant stood and listened intentIy to
the firing. He said TO an officer after q
moment or two: Ride forward; see what
IL Is and come back to me-" The officer
leaped into his saddle and galloped
! rapidly out into the darkness beyond
the circle Of light made by the camp fire.
Gradually the firing died away, volleys
ceased and soon naught was heard save
here and there sharp report of n mtlsket.
Grant Strengthened up, yawned and said:
II havn't slept any for some time, and
l think II go to bed" He then tossed
away the stump of his segar and entered
his tent.
"Bowers," said General HAYES, ere
marked; Grant hasn't slept for three oil
four nights. He has been in the saddle
every night, examining the lines and
looking after the men, Grant wvs in
his tent. Through the fly. which was
open. could be seen the yellow glimmei
of the tlickering candle. Grant always
kept candle burning in his tent at
night when he slept. Bowers, with the
rest of the Officers who remained up
after while heard the thud of {
horses hoofs galloping rapidly towards
headquarters, and soon the officer who
had been sent out TO see what the firing
meant dashed into the camp ANA dis
mounted. Bowers got the news from tho
officer, and went in to awaken Grant, fol
he had gone to sleep. The news wasn't
important, for the firing was simply tho
enemy Strengthening out his lines, ol
something like that, not serious. Bow
ers went tot he General S tent and looked
in. He supposed the General was asleep
and he didn't think the news Of import
anco enough to awaken him. Grant wa!
lying on his face and hands, and when
Bowers looked into the tent, he said
Well Bowers, what's up?' Grant had evi
dently not gone to sleep at all, tired as
he was.
" That query of Grants, said Mr.
Bowers, was the most striking
exhibition of care, anxiety, sensation
call it what you will, that l ever saw
Grant exhibit.
General Hayes had all through hi
story the deepest attention of his hearers
and as he approached the finale of tn,
story they were all on the quivive fo
something startling. 1t didn't come ant
they all laughed. The point of Genera
Hayes story was that under no circum
stances, be what they might, danger o
security, did Grant ever, by word or look
express the slightest fear or anxiety
about anything with whicth he had Il
do.