The Dickinson press., 1889-01-26
GRANTS cALMNEss.
Tho Only Time He Ever Showed More
Than Ordinary Concern.

The Only Time He Ever Showed More
Than Ordinary Concern.
II met" said Gen. Hayes, "at an army
dinner some time ago Col. Bowers, q favorite
aide of Grants, and asked him during the
evening, what was tho most striking exhi-
bition of fear, anxiety or a sense of response
bility that you ever noticed in Gen. Grant?
We'll, replied Bowers, If there was one in
stance above all others where he seemed D
be affected by the stress of care it was during
tho five days fight down in the Wilderness
On ono of the days, think tho fourth, the
fighting commenced early in tho morning
and continued all through the day. AT tho
end of the day there had been great slaughter
on both sides, and we had not carried n
point; wc had been repulsed on every side.
There was not an absolute defeat, but VIC ull
felt that our army had been shaken, and that
possibly severe, determined return attack
by Lees army might be disastrous
Just ut dark that night Bowers con-
tinued," said Gen. Hayes, 1--WE were all
gathered about a log fire that was built on
the green sward at Grants quarters. All
Grants staff were about tho fire, and as the
Pickering flames lighted up their faces it
could bo seen that they were all oppressed
with the greatness of thu losses Of the day
and tho preceding days. Nothing was said.
Tho log cracked and sputtered in tho fire.
Grant stood by, looking at tho bright flames,
his hands behind his back, cigar in his
mouth, saying nothing. Suddenly there
broke out on tho night air. mile or two off,
heavy firing. Itwas evidently n determined
attack on our lines. Tho firing grew rs it
camo nearer. We all jumped up from our
places about the glowing flre and listened
eagerly.
"'Grant stood and listened intently to tho
firing. Io said to an officer after a moment
or two: "Ride forward, SEQ what it is and
come back to me-" Tho officer leaped into
his saddle and gallopcd rapidly out into the
darkness beyond the circle Of light made by
the camp fire. Gradually the firing died
away, vollcys ceased and soon naught was to
be heard save hero and there the sharp report
Of a musket. Grant Strengthened up, yawned
and said: ~ haven't slept any for some time,
and think I'll go to bed" Ho then tossed
away tho stump of his cigar and entered his
tent.'
Bowers" said Gen. Hayes, "remarkcd:
Grant hasn't slept for three or four nights.
l1o has been in tho saddle every night, ex-
amining tho lines and looking after the men,
Grant was In his tent. Through the tlv,
which was open, could be seen the yellow
glmmer of n Pickering candle Grant al
ways kept n candle burning in his tent ut
night when he slept Bowers. with the rest
of tho officers who remained up, after II
while heard tho thud, thud of horse's 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 tho
officer, and went i'll to awaken Grant, for ho
had gone to sleep Tho 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 ill., He supposed tho general
was asleep, nnd he didn't think the news of
importance enough to awaken him. Grant
was lying OH his faco and hands, and when
Bowers looked into tho tent ho said: sWcll,
Bowers, what's upP Grant had evidently
not gone to sleep nt all, tired as he was
"'That query of Grants said Bowers,
was the most striking exhibition of care,
anxiety, sensation, call itwhat you will, that
l ever knew Grant to exhibit"
Gen. Hayes had all through the story tho
deepest attention of his hearers, and as he
approached the finale of the story they wcro
all on the qui vivo 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 d.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.