San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-23
GRANTS CALMNESS.
The Only Time He Ever Showed More
Than Ordinary Concern.

IMAM oTuknary SOncerh.
81 met" said Gen. Hayes, lat an army
dinner some time ago Col. Bowers, favorite
aide of Grants, and asked him during the
evening, What was the most striking exhi
bition of fear anxiety or a sense of response
bility that you ever noticed in Gen. Grant,
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 one 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 a
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 a severe, determined return attack
by Lees army might be disastrous.
"'Just at dark that night Bowers con-
tinued," said Gen. Hayes, 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
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 log cracked and sputtered in the fire.
Grant stood by, looking at the bright flames,
his hands behind his back, a cigar in his
mouth, saying nothing Suddenly there
broke out on the night air, a mile or two off,
a 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 intently to the
firing. He said to an officer after moment
or two: "Ride forward, see what it is and
com. back to me" The officer leaped into
his saddle and galoped 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 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-
aiming the lines and looking after the men,
Grant was in his tent. Through the fly,
which was open, could be seen the yellow
glimmer of a Pickering candle. Grant al
ways kept a candle burning in his tent at
night when he slept. Bowers, with the rest
Of the officers who remained up, after a
while heard the thud, thud of horses hoofs
gallOping rapidly toward headquarters, and
soon the officer who had been sent out to see
what the firing meant dashed into camp and
dismounted. Bowers got the news from the
officer and went in to awaken Grant, for he
had gone to sleep. The news wasn't i'm
portant, for the firing was simply the enemy
Strengthening its lines, or something like
that, not serious. Bowers went to Grants
tent and looked in. He supposed the general
was asleep, and he didn't think the news of
Importance enough to awaken him. Grant
was lying on his face and hands, and when
Bowers looked into the tent he said well
Bowers, what's upp Grant had evidently
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, that
| ever knew Grant to exhibit"
Gen. Hayes had all through the story tic
deepest attention of his hearers, and as he
approached the finale of the story they were
all on the qui vive for something startling
1t didn't come, and they all laughed The
point of Gen Hayes story was that under
no circumstances, be what they might,
danger or security, did Grant ever, by word
or look, express the slightest fear or anxiety
about anything with which he had to do
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.