The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-22
RECOLLECTIONS OF
GENERAL GRANT
His Appearance and Manner 10 the
Spring Of 1864.
PENNINd A FAMOUS DECLARATION
Circumstances Under Which the Hero
Of Vicksburg Decided to 'sFight II
Out ON This Line il Ii Takes All
Observation-Disclosures by q War
Correspondent.
From The Philadelphia Record.

FROM the Philadelph1a Record.
During the latter part of April, 1864,
as l entered the Office Of the Philadel-
phia newspaper Of which I was the war
correspondent ! received the order to
proceed at once to Washington, await
the arrival there Of General Grant from
the West and follow his fortunes in the
great campaign it was known he would
inaugurate on taking active command
of the Army Of the Potomac.
II was at the time when Grant had
been appointed by President Lincoln
General of the Armies Of the United
States, after his signal triumphs in the
West, and Grants objective point in
coming East was the capture of Rich
nond, with the aid of the Army Of the
Potomac, with General George G.
Meade in immediate command Of the
army.
/ arrived in Washington almost sim.
ultaneously with General Grant. who
took up his temporary quarters at
Willard's Hotel, where for the first time
l saw the man, who, perhaps had more
responsibilities on his shoulders than
any man who ever lived, and who was
destined to crush the greatest rebellion
the world ever saw and reunite the
great country which had been severed
in twain.
FIRST GLIMPSE OF GRANT.
When I first saw Grant at Willard 3
1t was in the corridor of the hotel in
the evening. He wore the undress uni
form of major general; he was quietly
talking in an unconcerned manner with
two or three officers, with one hand in
his pants pocket and lingering a cigar
with the other which frequently found
its way to his mouth. A Gordon Of idle
gazers stood around him, to whom he
paid no more attention than to so many
fence railings, and after finishing his
| cigar he quietly walked upstairs and re-
tired for the night.
' Hearing the next morning that Gen.
eral Grant was about to take the Or
ange & Alexandria railroad for Bran
dy Station" (the headquarters of the
Army Of the Potomac) l resolved to try
and obtain from him a personal pass,
which ! knew would be of great service
to me when | got down to the front"
Going to the station / found Grant
| seated in a car by himself, reading q
newspaper and smoking a cigar. just
before starting. effected an entrance
to the car, and advanced to General
! Grant. told him who was; showed my
credentials and asked for the coveted
pass. l found the general pleasant and
urbane. and, for him, almost commun-
icative. He asked me for writing ma
terial. and handing him my notebook
and pencil he opened the book and
wrote ME pass.
Arriving at Brandy Station General
| Grant went at once to the quarters
had been provided for him at Culpep-
er. Va. about one mile distant. He
| did not visit Meades headquarters at
Brandy Station once. He kept himself
closeted at his quarters during the few
days he was at Culpeper. and saw no
| one, except ON strict official business.
There was great curiosity on the part
| Of the people of Culpeper. and the SOL
diers to catch sight Of him, but without
success. At one time the writer. in
quest of news as a correspondent, went
to Culpeper to see Grant and obtain
some information. l was denied ad-
mission at the door of his quarters, and
an officer In attendance said: Cen
eral Grant will see nobody except Of
fcially. He seldom leaves his room.
IIe is very busy perfecting his plans
for the coming campaign. and don't
want to be disturbed" The first time
he made himself visible was on the
morning of the 4th of May. He had
given the order for the advance of the
Army of the Potomac across the Rapi-
dan before daylight that morning.
The stirring historical events that oc-
cured after the Army of the Potomac
crossed the Rapidan and plunged into
the Wilderness under Grant, will form
no part of this brief sketch, the only
object of the writer being to recount
some personal "reminiscences Of Grant
on the field of battle as ] saw him dur
ing those memorable days when the
Wilderness and adjoining fields of
Spottsylvania were drenched with hu-
man blood.
GRANT IN THE WILDERNESS.
After visiting a number Of places in
the Wilderness, where men were fall
ing as rapidly as the leaves from tree
in October. l found myself at the head
quarters Of General Meade, in copse
of woods that topped rising piece Of
ground that during the afternoon Of
the second days fight commanded a
view of the woods and shrubbery, where
Hancock's and Longstreet's corps were
facing each other in deadly conflict.
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