Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-20
GRANTS CALMNssS.


Auo OBiy lime ne Ever showed hlOr0
Than Ordinary Concern.
81 met" said Gen. Hayes, sat an army
dinner some time ago Col. Bowers, q favorite
aide of Grants, and asked him during the
evening, What was the most striking exhi-
hitior Of fear, anxiety or q sense of response
bility that you ever noticed in Gen. Grantr
Well replied Bowers, If there was one in.
stance above all others where he seemed to
be affected by the stress of care it was during
the five days fight down in the Wilderness.
On ono Of the days think the fourth, the
fighting commenced early in the morning
and continued all through the day. At the
end of the 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 all
felt that our army had been shaken, and that
possibly severe, determined return attack
by Lees army might be disastrous
Just at dark that night Bowers con-
| tinued,n said Gen. HAYES, I" we were all
| gathered about log fire that was built on
the green sward at Grants quarters All
! Grants staff were about the fire, and as the
pickering flames lighted up their faces it
| with the greatness of tho losses of the day
and the preceding DAYS Nothing was said.
| The log cracked ard sputtered in the fire.
Grant stood by, looking at the bright flames,
his hands behind his back, cigar id his
mouth, saying nothing. Suddenly there
broke out on the night air a mile or two of,
heavy firing. 1t was evidently determined
attack on orr lines. The firing grew as it
came nearer. We all jumped up from our
places about the glowing fire and listened
eagerly
"'Grant stood AMI listened intently TO the
firing He said to an officer after moment
or two: Ride forward, see what it is and
come back to me" The officer leapei 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 TO
be heard save here and there the sharp report
of a musket. Grant Strengthened up, yawned
and said: Il haven't slept any for some time,
and think I'll go to bed" He then tossed
away the stump of his cigar and entered his
tent
Bowers" said Gen Hayes, remarked
Grant hasn't slept for three or four nights.
He has been In the saddle every night, ex
amining the lines and looking after the men
Grant was in his tent Through the fiy
which was open, could be seen the yellow
glimmer of Pickering candle Grant al
ways kept a candle burning in his tent al
night when he slept. Bowers, with the resi-
of the officers who remained up, after
while heard the thud, thud of horses hoof
galloping rapidly toward headquarters anc
soon the officer who had been sent out to sex
what the firing meant, dashed into camp anC
dismounted. Bowers got the news from TIT
officer, and went in to awaken Grant, for b,
had gone to sleep. The news wasn't i'm
portant, for the firing was simply the enemy
strengthening its lines, or something lik
that, not serious. Bowers went to Grant
tent and looked in. He supposed the genera
WAS asleep, and he didn't think the news o
Importance enough to awaken him Gran
was lying on his face and hands, and whel
Bowers looked into the tent he said: We'll
Bowers, what's upT Grant had evidentl,
|, not gone to sleep at all, tired as he was.
" That query Of Grants, said Bowers
was the most striking exhibition of care
anxiety, sensation, call it what you will, tina
ever knew Grant TO exhibit"
. Gen. Hayes had all through the story tn
deepest attention of his hearers. and as h
approached the finale Of the story they wer
all on the qui vive for something startling
, 1t didn't come, and they all laughed Tn
point of Gen, Hayes storT YVES that unde
, no circumstances, be what they might
danger or security, did Grant ever, BY wor
, or look. express the slightest fear or anxiet
about anything with which be he'd TO do
| Cincinnati Commercial Gazette