The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-07

He Talks OF the Wars of the Future and Re
sents q Slender on Grant


He Talks OF the Wars of the Future and Re-
SCENTS Slender on Grant
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
General" asked Captain Mattox. sdo you
think If there was another war that - good
material would offer itself 40 in the last war
material like Grant. Sherman, Thomas and
others?n
..Why. certainly replied the General; ''thsre
are as many good men in the army now a. there
as good generals, too. What they want 10 the
opportunity. That is what makes men great.
Why. in 1861. out OF the Two thousand officers OF
the army there wasn't one who would put his
hand on Grants shoulder aud say, Here's the
greatest general of the war They didnt know
then. IL takes the opportunity to bring men
out There 10 the making of az great generals
now In the army as there was then There
always will be men who will come to the front
in times OF great emergency, and there always
was
"The next war; said General Sherman later,
in answer 60 question from Captain w. q.
Smith, Twill be q terrible slaughter. Men
won't be able TO come together and feht These
machine guns are terrible things, and with them
war will BE- as bloody as big SIMULTANEOUS.
War won't be fought over again a. il was in 6l-
65, and in 10 across the water. Those were
handsto-hand engagements almost Men fought
close to one another. and physical strength and
prowess counted for . good deal, but in the
next war all that will be changed. Then il will
be a slaughter with these terrible machines that
fire thousands of bullets in . minute or So"
General asked az inquisitive young man,
'do you think that the strong. robust young fell
low from the country made better soldiers than
the young men from the cityr
1.-THE late war; replied the General, demon
strated the fact that the boys from the city
could stand more fatigue and hardship and
marching than the country boys. The boys
from the country were stronger always. but
they we're used to regular life and when they
got into the army the irregularity
of the life, its hardships and sx-
posure. weakened and finally killed
many strong young farmer boy, while the
boys from the big cities. being used to irregular
hours. irregular living and unmethodical ways
OF life, could stand any amount OF hardship
without going under. This was proved by the
war. saw il proved in many eases myself.
Young city chaps were tougher in every way.
They weren't so strong physically as the coun-
try boys. but then they could stand the irFeRu-
larity of army life better.
IF there's ever war in this country again /
think the greatest army will be made up Of the
railway men. In the frst place. they are strong
physically. In the second place, they have
learned obedience, and have learned to obey all
orders without questioning them. ibis WASH {
so 10 the late war. for there mon had 70 be
taught obedience. and their lesson was bitter
one sometimes. But, as was saying, the rail-
way men will make grand army. They, above
all other things are Injured to life or srregu-
larity. They are used to fatigue and the hard
ships Of long hours OF work without rest. This
irrseularity of life. which all railroad men know
Is fact, more than anything else, will make
them the best soldiers iu the world, but hope
they will never be called upon to shoulder a
gun"
A delicate question was then ventured upon
BY the inquisitivs young man: General" he
asked, softly lit was said that the day Of the
battle of Shiloh Grant wasn't himselfP
That" retortsd the General, warmly, Twas .
damned lie There were lots of such lies a.
that printed 10 the North about that time. l
saw Grant at 10 o'clock the morning % the lat
tie OF Shiloh, and he was a. sober and cooi .
man a. l ever saw in my life. He hadns
touched a drop Of LIQUOR and didn't all that
day. Grant may have been incorporate 1t
times. but when there was work to do be never
touched drop. and was the coolest, straiehtest
man in the world. remember that day at Shi-
Ion we'll. Why, when night came I'd have given
fifty dollars for drink myself All these
stories about Grant at Shiloh are damned lies.
Grant was an intemperete man at times, and
would 60 on bender. but when there was work
to do he was an anchorite It was only when
the last bit Of work was DONE and be was free
from all care that be would touch LIQUOR