Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-18
STORIES OF GEN. GRANT.
For One Thing, His Utter Lack ~
Fuss and Feathers"

edtneros
Edmund Kilke in the New York Sun.
In the summer Of 1884 i passed two dsys
at the headquarters of Gen. Grant at CITY
Point, Va, and thus had an opportunity
to observe the way Of life of this NEST
democratic of the Union commanders. He
messed with his staff. and at his table 'sat
Familiarity every member Of his military
household. The expenses OF the mess. i
was told, were divided among the varions
members. not in equal proportions. but nc
cording to the rank of the various mem-
bers, and in a manner satisfactory to al.
There was no show or parade in either fur
piture or courage. Everything seemed Ito
be for use. and arranged to economic both
space and attention. The crockery WAS
scanty and of the plalnest description, azpd
the fare, though abundant in quantity. was
of a quality that might be found on tho
table Of any vell-to-do workingman in the
north. A chop, with a cup of coffee, served
for breakfast a bit of roast beef, with pe-
tatoes and hard tack, fianked by dish
of pork and greens, sufficed for the .
o'clock dinner, which had nather pastry
nor dessert. A cup of tea and slice Of
Tread and butter completed the fare for
the day. The beds were merely camp cots.
some of them without mattresses, and all
the visible toilet apparatus were a few TN
Wash basins, scaaty supply of towels, "a
bit OF looking glass and horn comb.
Every one has read the inventory Of the
generals baggage when he made the Vieks-
burg csmpaign-"a brierwood telescope and
a tooth brush" When l met him at City
Point he had not greatly enlarged his per-
sonal possessions. Except the three stars
Upon his shoulders, there was absolutely
nothing about him to indicate his exalted
rank. His clothes were threadbare and
despite the constant brushing of his ser
want they would present an untidy lock.
due, no doubt, to his habit of going every
where and seeing everything for himself
The general understood the kinship Of
cleanliness and godliness, but there Was
utter absence of fuss and feathers about
him and his entire surroundings. Judgfng
of him by common report. had expected 20
find him decidedly reticent, but, on tae
contrary. L observed that in familiar inter
course he was somewhat loquacious, fond OF
good story, and often giving vent TO "a
grim humor that was decidedly enjoyable.
Illustrative of this phase of his character
some members of his staff repeated to nae
several amusing anecdotes, two Of which,
as have never seen them in print-it may
not be amiss to give to the public.
l was told that when the generals head
quarters were at Culpeper an officer at
tached to the quartermaster's department
who was stationed some half dozen miles
away, desired to consult him on some bust
ness that he deemed of importance The
day was exceedingly rainy and the ROADS
were knee deep in mud. and to avoid I'M
due exposure to the weather, the officer
who was one of the old regime. with a full
dered up close carriage and. as 1t was
likely that night would come on before ne
could return, had the lamps trimmed and
hung out on either side of the drivers seat
Then, with an escort OF twelve cavalrymen,
he set out for headquarters, happy in the
thought that he was proof against the fast
descending rain.
Not far from Cupeper he met an ordinary
looking horseman, attended by only a SIM
gle orderly. and was about to pass him
without notice, when he suddenly recUR-
nized him to be the lieOenant general,
who, In spite of the rain, was making his
usual round Of the army, attended by his
usual slender escort To descend from his
carriage and salute his chief was but the
work Of moment; but the general irrI-
tated by the style and pretension of the
officer. was in no hurry to see him regain
the shelter of his carriage. Walk along
with me little" said the general II
want to talk with you" With polished
boots and unexceptior able kids. Mr. Quar-
termaster did as he was hidden, and, with
touch of grimness, the general led him
through the muddiest part of the road and
did not release him until he was wet to the
skin-aS wet as was the general himself
Then he dismissed him with few curt re-
arks which were not overheard by the
orderly. Their purport, however. was con-
jectured by the generals staff. for they oh
served that the officer never again appeared
at headquarters in close carriage