The morning times., 1896-04-26

stepped forward and rode the pony as
If he had grown on it's back.
At West Point Grant was nicknamed
"Uncle Sam,'' by reason of his initials,
and the appelation chung to him through
life. The original name of Hiram was
given him by his parents, because OF their
fascination for Trojan history.
AS boy Grant never had any personal
quarrels. He was quiet and inoffensive,
but not to be outwitted at bargain. AS
a student he is said to have eXcelled only
in mathematics. A gentleman who was
a comrade of Grant at West Point says:
Il remember Grant as a plain, COM
mon sense, straightforward youth; quiet,
calm, thoughtful, and unaggressive, shun
ming notoriety, quite contented, while
others were grumbling, taking 10 his
military duties in very business like
manner; not prominent man in the corps,
but respected by all, and very popular with
lis friends.'
Grant learned the science of war from
Gen. Scott during the invasion OF Mexico.
In speaking of his assignment TO the com
mand of the Union armies during the civil
war, Gen. Grant said:
when ] was first entrusted with high
military authority knew nothing OF STRAIT
egy except what had learned by critical
observation, upon the spot of the modes
and eXpedients by which the genius of
Scott counterbalanced the entrenched po-
Sitions and the numerical superiority of
the MeXicanS.'
AS farmer at Gravois, southwest of st.
Louis, Grant was in the habit of cutting
wood. hauling it 10 Carondelet and selling
II in the market. he is described as being
usually dressed in blouse coat, with his
trousers tucked in the tops of his boots, and
wearing a n old felt hat.
While clerking in his fathers S lea ther store
I.s
of business and his residence three or four
times a day. On each of these trips he
would remark with great emphasis to al
most every casual acquaintance he would
meet
IF am ever mayor of Galena l will
mend this pavement"
NEVER A POLITICIAN.
Grant was never in any sense of the
word a politician, and did not care to
waste time discussing something with which
he was not familiar. While lying before
Eicksburg party of political friends made
IL visit TO his headquarters. When the
subject of politics had gotten under full
swing one of the party addressed himself
to Grant, when the general stopped him and
said:
There is no use of talking politics to
me. | know nothing about it; and. further
more, / do not know of any person among
my acQuaintanCcS who does. But there is
one subject with which / am perfectly ia
miliar; talk of that and am your man.
Nv hat is that, general?' '?aSked the poll
ticians in surprise.
Tanning leather" was the reply.
When Grant was appointed colonel OF
the Twenty first Illinois Regiment he is
described as being dressed very clumsily
in a suit of citizens clothes-an old coat
worn out at the elbo ws and a badly dented
plug hat. His men, though ragged and
barefooted themselves, had formed high
estimate of what a colonel ought to be,
and when Grant walked in among them they
began making fun of him, and cried in
derisIon:
Look at our Colonelv' what a col
onel!' "Oh, what a COLONEL"
When GOV. Yates put Grant In the adiu
tants office and set him to copying the
work was performed for time, and then
Grant finally said TO the governor:
You can get man TO do this work
at 81 day, and If this is all you have 10
give me l shall go back to GaIena."
President LincOln's comments on the
charge that Grant was, during the war,
addicted 10 the excessive use of liquor
are well worth repeating in this connec-
ton. When the President received the
news that VickSburg had fallen number
OF gentlemen were present, some OF whom
were complaining of the rumors in circu-
lation.
sol understand that Grant drinks whisky
to excess" asked Mr.. Lincoln.
YES was the reply.
What whisky does he drnk?'' inquired
the President.
What whisky?" repeated those present.