New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09
IN CAMP WITH GEN. GRANT.
HIS SIMPLICITY AND ENDURANCE.

HIS SIMPLICITY AND ENDUhaNCb'
From The Pittsburg Bulletin.
Grant was always more at home in camps thaa
in courts; the simple soldiers life suited MN Detler
than the etiquette of Europe even of Washington
Indeed, the commander Of all the armies lived painer
than many OF his subordinates, and doubt II there
was a headquarters, North south, during the war;
where less formanty prevailed. When Judge Camp
bell, the Confederate Commissioner, out from
Richmond in the winter Of 1854, he spent some ttle
while with Grant at City Point, waiting for permission
proceed further ana expressed great aotOnishment
at the simplicity he saw. IL far different, no
said from the ceremony that Lee maintained:
But Grant never entirely laid aside the habits and
tastes his early life he was, indeed. never coarse
vulgar, but he remained plain man to the end
buttoncd up the throat and often unbrushed even
soiled. lie rarely carried sword, even IN battle.
and during many campaigns he wore private sol
dicrs OvcrcOat.
Ills tent was as plain that Of captain; ttle
larger than those Of his staff because he sometimes
wanted to invite important generals into To discuss
his plans. and there was second or inner division.
for Mrs. Grant was Luch with MIN when the a:me.
were not in motion: but there were few general
officers IN the army lodged plainly the chief II
else All Of his personal star shared it with him.
and took their turns In catering for a month AT
time. The table was long one, Tor there were
necessarily many visitors, at the headquarters OF me
would have carved. but on tic right Of the caterer
who presided for the while.
The mess was well supplied with beef, canned vege-
tables, condensed mllk cOlee, rice, etc. but mo
cooking could hardly be considered delicate IN camp
had soft bread, but on the march fell back on
pied the season, and few other such daintles bu:
not regularly. NJ Christmas and THANKSGIVING some
thoughtful patriot Of the North would SEM turkeys
enough 10 90 round: but can't remember canberre,
or mince pies; Grant was very iona OF oysters ana
sble But he had few preferences of this sort and
29 G IN the e1 es He Ws not r the least an
cpcure: what he rclished best was some plain dish
Delmonico never heard OF. ms PECULIARLY renamed
10 the last. Arer all his experience OF courts ~
dinner table, abroad, DE came back Al his own house
% 1T long over HI, meal, and hated TO wait for no
De changed. In the last year Of his life e
would complain when the family were alone II the
delay at table was great or the ceremony elaborate
There never wine or spirits on his table IN tho
IN his prcce If any Of hi, Officers kept whisky
it was in their own tents aud Grant neither "a" IL
Brcahia.t was rarely earlier than and often
late a, 10 O'Clock, late whenever there
jie wa, ready u 1t down lie hardly ever went %
led III 1 or = O'Clock in the morning, and there
used to say that he an lndolent man, ana !
tank he Wa. naturally. His temperament vas
T. eHor'6n after ho Va forty years OF aSe. II
only when spIrrcd On by incentives that he became
80 prompt and energetic.
ihrn. oi course, no one excellcd him. lie could
outrde any Of his staff, go without iood or sieep
longer than the Youngest. endure heat or cold, ~
rain, fatigue, or exposure, apparently without III
Ell ,ct. or any effect at all
Many "a time the march have | watched nm
sitlus upright in his saddle without sign OF being
worn. hours, yes, dos ana nlshts' OF weary i-
ttmsi ~ me baT6T for rest After the arst days fight
az shiloh he la az hiNt under tree, 0ut NE IS'h
VA. furious and ne went INTO ueIu hOspld Aot
shelter. and fell asleep with tne surgeons opeiItns
around him. II Was fortunate that lie Wa nor nsl-
strung or nervous na,c Known HIM leave hurdle
,re her,u,e be- did wish 10 look Oh life uuneces
saily r-ed though when there was need lie eoud
witness slaughter. or otocr II, uuhioNth
The tone Of talk al Grants headquarters was a.
familiar a, the style oil Ens' & an o Han 6pse
had been longest with urant WelS pdIIci .Sl "sy III
in their habits and tastes Rawlns, the aOlest OF ALL
r ~ marked energy and able to hold his own IN con.
Vcrsatiou with the most competent, was al umeS &c.
cidedy un'outh IN hneIase GrahI a hs6 %iS
never proanc in speech but kaWllns Vac ndotuain
and exceedingly 40. lie was profoundly attached 10
Grant but did not always dl'Riay Te r saG 1872
in manner or language whch tle o,leis IndhItlhei,
Grant lapi0ncd thl, because he knew uleIe was no
Intention of di~r,pect. and because he valued Raw
ln~'~ regard and services, but ! once hearu nm
rehul,c Rawlius. 10 during the final movement
toward the lef that ended n me capture 81 Ice. Inc
first day or two ont brought no result the weather
was bad. the roads were almost impossible. ana Raw
Inns wa, very anAon, To- induce Grant n 10 return "a
determined to per,cverc. and Rawlns with the best
@ Sc gre.caGe Of Meade and onc US
two of Grants stan. Finally Grant nettlcd.
and turning short exclaimed WHO commands these
armies General Rawlin>. Won or 10
Rawn, was very much hurt he went 10 his tent
and declared 10 me that he would resign But General
Grant was sorry that De had wounded true a friend
and took an early Opportunity 10 SOothc him ard
show him some mark Of consideration before rs ALL
lie away, 10th To hurt the feelings Of those in
different 10 him but when he touched the Scnsitvene>s
he offended ''''" ''' wiz
But though no ono At that time spoke to him with
sian had been with him long and under the peculiar
experiences Of his early campaign still the whole at
muSpherc Of the headquarters intimate and a
times FAMILIAR. Grant CouvcrSed with great out
Spok"nne>S with all. lie uked a Joke either u tell
one himself or To hear good one he liked t. gossip
ahoW old West Point friends. and 10 tell about his
earlier battles lie always Joined the circle around
the campfire NJ night and his presence seemed no
restraint except that. because Of HIS purity ~
conversation. no one told while he BY. the
sort of stories that often common around camp
language. In all my intimacy with him Of twenty
wears. IN camp at Washington abroad. | never saw
the slightest indication Of rrgularty Of life. opened
all his letters for years. and not ever addressed
10 him that intimated lapse or threatened DIS
closure. Yet though he. thus familiar he never
betrayed secret. military personal that he mcant
to withhold. lie would StOp short I'm conversation at
once II question asked that might lead 20 mod
than he ready To unfold. He could keep his own
counsel better than any man ever knew and Yet noe
seem to be restraining himself -,
For Grant man of much deeper emotions tnai
he revealed. sometimes have Thought tlat ne mao
inst much ambition and even vanity aS any one
else, only the marvellous faculty ~ conccalng boh,
and at any rate he was not NtOd because he was
serene. IT, indeed he was fun ~ designs under ms
mask of lmperturbahilitv and Indifference his intel
ectual quality was all the greater 10 be capable boh
of the restraint and the designs. And who shall "a.
that he had not a right 10 keep his own plans am.
intentions 10 himself II in this he deceived
il was NOT his fault but that the lockers lie
did NOT pretend he did not simulate. Bismarck. !.
they saw deceivcS most completely when he teiis
the absolute truth. and Grant had not few traits
in common with Bismarck.